Chapter 25
ISLA
We’d just returned to West End after a catered event, and I felt so much better. Work did wonders in taking my mind off Ciro. Jon shadowing me also helped. He was going to be a fantastic family doctor. He had all the qualities: intelligence, patience, humor, kindness. And he was easygoing.
Each time I started talking about “my ex,” Jon listened for a bit then redirected me in a smooth, seamless fashion.
Doctor Jon was one of the good ones. It was a shame I didn’t want anything more than friendship from him. I needed to clear the air. Stringing guys along wasn’t something I did.
“I like catering gigs better than working in the restaurant,” Jon said as we packaged the leftovers for the homeless shelter Falina donated to.
“Yeah? Why’s that?” I asked.
“Because I get to talk to you more.” His gaze dropped to mine. “I like you, Isla.”
“Oh damn…”
The way he looked at me told me I’d said that out loud. Shoot.
A wry grin played on his full lips. “What? Am I not your type? Too tall? Too handsome? Too funny?”
“Yes. You’re too tall.” I snorted, then turned serious as his eyes remained locked on mine.
“I know my height can be overwhelming,” he said, teasingly. His gaze lowered to my lips then flitted back up to my eyes. He repeated the action several times. It made me more than a little nervous.
“You’re a great guy. Truly. It’s just, well, I’m not over my ex. It wouldn’t be fair to you.” There. I said it. Honesty to the hilt.
“Oh.” He took a step back. “I just thought all that talk about your jerk of an ex was you hinting you were available.”
“I am available. Technically. I’m just not over him. I feel like a fool for saying this, but I’m in love with a man who won’t ever love me back.” Oh, the embarrassment of admitting something so private and personal.
“Well, he’s the bigger fool.” Jon shook his head as if shocked.
I giggled a little. “The biggest damn fool. But he’s the father of my daughter and we’re forever bound by her. I might’ve gotten over him if it wasn’t for her.”
His dark eyebrows shot up. “You have a child?”
I hadn’t mentioned Pippa during my rantings about Ciro. Doctor Jon looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“That’s the look of a man ready to run for the hills.” I giggled harder. Tears filled my eyes and I wiped them away with the back of my hand. “I have a baby girl.”
Jon raked his gaze over my body. “Wow, you don’t look like you’ve had a baby.”
“Well, it was almost eight months ago.”
“The father isn’t in your life?”
“He wasn’t until recently.”
“Damn. Crappy timing for me.” He elbowed me playfully, flashing a jovial smile. But his eyes showed disappointment. Would he really want me even though I was a mother? Jon had a bright future and could find a pretty woman with no attachments. I had baggage.
“He didn’t know about the baby. Now that he does, I’m certain he’ll want her in his life.”
“What about wanting you?” He moved closer. Perhaps me being a single mom didn’t faze him.
I needed to end this conversation stat.
“If I’m going to make it the last hour of our shift, I need some caffeine.” I deflected, dashing out of the kitchen to the front.
Jon followed.
“You’re an avoider,” he said from behind me.
“I am not. Do you want one?” I jerked my chin to the machine as I prepared my latte. I was an avoider or a deflector, as Alba called me. But talking to Jon about Ciro seemed wrong. We hadn’t known each other very long. He was just very easy to talk to.
Jon hovered over me. “Sure, whatever you’re having is fine. Now answer my question. What about you? Does your baby daddy want you?”
“Yes, he does.”
I froze hearing Ciro’s growly voice. Jon moved away from me as I turned around.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Ciro, more than a little surprised.
“I thought I’d have dinner, then we could pick up Pippa together.” Ciro’s eyes flitted from me to Jon, then back to me.
“Oh. Sure. Um…” I bit the corner of my bottom lip. This was awkward.
“I’m Jon.” He extended his hand to Ciro. “Isla’s friend.”
“Ciro Remotti.” He shook Jon’s hand formally, then returned his attention to me.
“Show me to my seat… please.” It wasn’t anger in his eyes but jealousy.
Ciro was usually overly confident and cocky.
However, I’d witnessed this rarity a couple of times, like this morning when he’d thought I had a boyfriend.
I came out from behind the bar. “Sure. Follow me.” I led Ciro to a table in Chris’s section. It was after eight, and the bistro had slowed down. “Here you go. Chris will be with you in a moment.” As I turned, Ciro grabbed the tips of my fingers.
“Join me,” he whispered, his lips at my ear. The warmth of his breath released a colony of butterflies in my stomach. “Please.”
Two pleases in less than sixty seconds. Who in the hell was this man?
“I’m working.” I turned to face him. The draw to him was increasing in strength.
“Can’t you cut out early?” He scanned the room. “Looks kind of empty.”
“I, um… Um…”
“Isla? Everything okay?” Falina asked, a slight curl to her lip. Crap. Of course she’d seen me with Ciro. She was the nosiest person I knew.
“Yes. Everything is fine.” I tried to pull my hand from Ciro’s, but he wouldn’t let go. Instead, he snaked his other hand around my waist, stepping beside me.
My breathing hitched, enjoying how he touched me more than I should.
A shiver worked down my spine and goose bumps covered my arms. I should fight the glorious sparks igniting in my body.
Nothing good would ever come from falling under his spell again, but I couldn’t deny he was doing a marvelous job chipping away at my walls.
“Ciro Remotti.” He nodded, letting go of my hand, but his grip on my waist tightened. He extended his hand to Falina. “And you are?”
“Falina Frank, owner of West End.” She shook Ciro’s hand and recognition flashed on her face. Her eyes flitted to mine and she held my gaze as if reminding me of our previous conversation. She didn’t need to worry. I wouldn’t let Ciro walk all over me.
“She’s also Alba’s cousin. I should get back to work.” I tried to peel his fingers off me. Tried and failed.
“What about dinner?” he asked with a wicked glimmer in his eyes.
“Ciro.” I glared at him.
“Go ahead. We’re slow,” Falina said. How could she take his side?
“Join me, My-la.” He moved closer to me.
A lightning bolt of desire shot into my pussy as my defenses dwindled.
“I’ll clock you out.” Falina darted off. What was she doing? Leaving me alone with Ciro was stupid. At least we were in a public place.
But what would happen when we were alone together?
Ciro pulled out my chair and I sat. What else could I do? Ciro won this round.
Over the next half hour, we shared a bottle of wine as Ciro talked about his time with Pippa. I listened, wholly engrossed.
Tonight, everything about him was genuine and amiable as he stared at me from across the table. The way he spoke, his smile, and his sexy laugh turned me to putty.
I missed this so much. Missed him so much.
“What did you do after you left Alba’s?” I nervously made figure eights with the spoon in my tomato bisque soup. “Where’s Paolo?”
“I left him guarding Pippa and went to the hotel, showered, and drank a little. Called Roman and then took a short nap.”
“Was Alba okay with him staying at her place?” I shifted in my chair nervously. Alba hadn’t texted, so I had no clue she’d been left alone with Paolo.
“I didn’t give her a choice.” His expression was unreadable as usual.
“Of course, you didn’t. What Ciro Remotti says, everyone obeys, right?” Suddenly, my appetite was gone. I pushed my bowl away and pursed my lips tightly together. Arrogant jerk.
“Don’t overreact. I’m just protecting my child as I should’ve been from the start.”
“Oh, please.” I waved my hand in the air. “You were flexing your muscles. Pippa wouldn’t be in danger if you hadn’t discovered her.”
Fury flashed in his eyes, but he reined in his anger a second later.
“Yes, well, Paolo is with her.” He drank his wine, cool and calm.
It was rare for Ciro to lose control. Admittedly, I was baiting him because I hated how his aura overpowered me.
If he yelled and made threats, I could hold onto the ill feelings I had for him so much easier.
“You told Roman about Pippa.” It wasn’t a question. I knew Ciro would never hide her from his family. I was confident they’d all hate me too.
“I did. And—”
Chris interrupted. “Can I get you both anything else?”
“No, thanks.” I shook my head.
“Just the check,” Ciro replied.
Chris nodded and was off.
“Well?” I urged Ciro to continue.
“Let’s talk about Roman later.”
“Sure.” I sipped my water. The bistro probably wasn’t the best place to talk about Pippa.
Chris promptly returned with the bill. He eyed me as if searching for a sign that I might need help. I didn’t. Ciro would never physically hurt me.
But he could destroy my life if he fought me for custody of Pippa. My stomach twisted into knots.
Stop thinking like that. He wouldn’t be so cruel.
Of course, he would. He’s the head of an Italian crime family. He can make me disappear forever if he wants.
What was I to do? Anything to keep my daughter…
Ciro didn’t even read the check. He removed his wallet from his back pocket, put two fifties in the padded folder, and passed it to Chris.
Confusion swept across Chris’s face. “Do you need change?”
“Thank you, but no.” Not once did Ciro take his eyes off me.
“What are you doing?” I asked Ciro. Our meal wasn’t more than forty dollars. I was confident Chris had given me the employees’ discount judging by his wide grin. “I only had a cup of soup.”
“What do you think I’m doing?” Ciro’s brown depths smoldered in the dimly lit room. I loved it when he looked at me this way. As if I was the love of his life and the only woman he’d ever want.
But I knew better. The redhead grinding on him the day I went to tell him I was pregnant flashed behind my eyes and transported me to the palm tree I hid behind…