CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It took me a minute to remember where I’d heard that name and realized Luciano must be the man meant for Philippa. “Did you explain that Philippa was busy at the moment?” I asked Harper.
“Luciano just walked in, so we didn’t get much of a chance to talk,” said Harper. She turned to Luciano. “Wait here, I’ll notify Philippa.”
As Harper rushed away, Rhonda and I exchanged worried looks.
A few minutes later, Harper appeared alone. “Philippa asks Luciano to meet her in the kitchen staff room. They’ll have privacy there.”
“Staff room?” said Luciano looking surprised.
Rather than try to explain, I led Luciano to the private room.
Philippa met us at the door and threw her arms around Luciano. “Hello, old friend. What brought you here?”
He hugged her. “Actually, your father did. He suggested I make the journey here to see you because your mother has delayed the family trip to Italy.”
Frowning, Phillipa stepped away from Luciano.
“Oh, dear. Is this about our grandfathers and their wish for us to marry? I’m glad you’re here so we can get this settled for all time.
Neither one of us wants to dishonor them, but we’re going to have to face our nonnos and tell them how we really feel.
It was a sweet idea that isn’t going to happen. I thought they knew that.”
“I tried to tell your father the old family idea was not ever going to work and then decided it was better if it came from both of us. Besides, I’ve always wanted to see Florida.”
Harper popped her head inside. “Everything okay?”
Philippa put her arm around Harper and said to Luciano, “This is my new roommate. Harper Lewis. She’ll be glad to show you around while I work for the next couple of days.” She glanced at Harper. “You’ll do it, won’t you?”
Harper’s cheeks turned a pink color almost as bright as her strawberry-blond hair, and she nodded.
“You have a choice,” Philippa said to Luciano. “You can stay in the guesthouse with Harper and me or move in with my friend, Chet Waring, one of the chefs. He’s staying in an apartment right here on the property.”
“Staying with Chet is a great idea,” I interjected, already wary of problems arising with Philippa’s parents.
“I’m happy to stay anywhere you want to put me,” Luciano said politely, “but I want plenty of time to be able to talk privately with you, Philippa.”
We turned as Chet knocked and entered. “Hey, Phil, we need you.” He stopped and looked over the crowd, resting his gaze on Luciano. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s okay,” said Philippa. “I want you to meet Luciano Bolino, my childhood friend. He’s visiting for a while.”
Chet smiled and gripped Luciano’s hand. “Welcome.”
“Thanks.” Luciano’s gaze switched to Philippa and back to Chet.
“I truly am glad you came,” said Philippa, rising on her toes to give Luciano a kiss on the cheek before leaving with Chet.
Rhonda knocked and came into the room.
I knew her so well I could see her mind racing with all kinds of matchmaking possibilities. I sighed. If Rhonda had her way, she’d somehow make something romantic work between the four of them.
Harper said to Luciano, “Okay, I said I’d help you and give you a tour. Where’s your luggage? Let’s get it and get you settled. But first, I need to check in with my boss and let him know I’ll be gone for a short while.”
“No worries. I’ll tell him,” Rhonda said. “You go ahead and make sure Luciano feels welcome.”
As they walked away, Rhonda grinned at me. “I just might be able to help two couples at once.”
“You can only do so much,” I said. “But it does seem as if Luciano came to Florida to settle things between Philippa and him.”
“He’s adorable,” said Rhonda. “But Harper with her pretty hair and green eyes is cute as a button. They’d make an adorable match.”
I faced her. “We have to be very careful not to influence any person in that foursome because we have parents who care a lot. Maybe too much.”
“Okay, okay. I get it,” said Rhonda. She clasped her hands and winked at me. “Oh, to be young again. Such challenges lie ahead for them.”
I flung my arm around Rhonda’s shoulder. “C’mon. Time to go. I’ll check in with Annette later to see how the meal is going, but I want to be home with Vaughn. I never know when his work will take him away again.”
###
When I pulled into my driveway, I noticed Stephanie and Randolph Willis’s car parked to one side. I was happy for the chance to spend time with them.
One Christmas, when the hotel was too full to accommodate them, I’d invited them to stay at my home.
They’d been Robbie’s adopted grandparents ever since and had easily become a part of my family.
For someone who’d grown up with a cold, perfectionist grandmother, they, like Consuela and Manny, were like parents to me.
I got out of the car and eagerly headed inside.
Cindy greeted me and then raced away to Randolph who was sitting on the lanai.
“Hello,” I said, hugging Stephanie and then Randolph. “What a nice surprise.”
Vaughn kissed me and said, “We met at Robbie’s swim practice, and I invited them for dinner. I’m grilling some steaks.”
“A delightful suggestion,” I said. “I’ll change my clothes and join you.”
“I’ll help with dinner in any way I can,” said Stephanie. In her early seventies, she was healthy and active.
“Great. We can gab in the kitchen,” I said. “There’s so much to tell you.”
“If it’s about Jonny Arno, I have news for you too,” said Stephanie.
I checked in with Robbie, who was playing video games in his room and went to change.
A few moments later, I met with Stephanie in the kitchen. Vaughn had poured her a glass of red wine and left a glass of it for me.
I lifted my glass and clinked it against Stephanie’s. “I’m glad you’re here. How’s our boy doing with his swimming?”
Stephanie chuckled. “Robbie has a natural ability to do well. And his long arms help.” “Spoken like a true grandmother,” I teased. Stephanie had tried for children of her own and had had miscarriages. Robbie and his friends helped fill a previous empty part of her and Randolph’s lives.
I handed a head of lettuce to Stephanie, and she went about cleaning it for a salad while I quickly made my special garlic and blue cheese dressing.
“What did you want to tell me about Jonny Arno? I asked her.
“We were invited to a soft opening for a select group in the neighborhood. I’m certain Brock Goodwin is the one who provided him names because several of our friends in the same condo building were invited too.”
“How was it? Were many people there? Was the food good?” I asked, unable to stop myself.
Stephanie laughed. “Hang on. I’ll tell you about it. But first, who is the chef he’s claiming you stole from him.”
I filled Stephanie in on the details of hiring Chet Waring and how he came to Sabal. “He’s talented, hardworking, and flexible. We’re delighted to have him. Especially now that Jean-Luc has broken his ankle.”
“Oh, dear!” Stephanie exclaimed. “What are you going to do about that?”
“Chet and Ricardo are handling the kitchen staff. They’re a great team and are working together.
They’ve come up with a special prix fixe meal which is serving as a test program for others.
The only complication there is that the meal is Italian because of Chet’s experience with Italian food and the ability to have an actual Italian person to help with the meal. ”
“Oh, but Jonny will be angry about that,” said Stephanie. “He’s a particularly unpleasant man. He wore his chef’s uniform for the opening, but I can’t see how he did much of the cooking. He spent his time drinking and talking to all of us.”
“He thinks of himself as a celebrity chef who deserves all the attention for work done by others. That’s how Chet explained it. How was the food?”
“Very good,” said Stephanie. “But a little fussy, if you know what I mean. All rich sauces and lots of seasoning. Jean-Luc’s meals are so much more … genuine. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, it does. Subtlety is important, giving one a tasty surprise.”
Stephanie gave me a steady look. “Don’t aggravate Jonny, sweetie. Promise?”
“Rhonda, Bernie, and I have talked about it. We’re not in competition with Jonny. We have our own style, our own success to maintain,” I said. “But we don’t want to irritate him. Rhonda and I want to keep as far away from him as possible.”
Vaughn entered the kitchen. “More wine for the ladies?”
Stephanie and I held out our glasses.
“We’ll join you men soon. We’re just about done here,” I said. “I’ll ask Robbie to set the table.” Vaughn and I thought it was important for Robbie to participate in entertaining by doing such things. We were a family.
###
Later, lying in bed with Vaughn, I snuggled up against him and listened as he shared his concerns about Jonny.
“Randolph said he’s known men like him and doesn’t like the idea of him opening a restaurant here.
He thinks the mafia is part of the operation, either in the supply chain or with the real estate. ”
“You know that can happen in the hospitality industry and others,” I said. “Until now, I’ve never had any worrisome thoughts about it. But Jonny is a vindictive kind of person and he’s under a lot of pressure.”
Vaughn studied me. “Ann, you promise me you’ll speak to someone outside your hotel security team about your concerns.”
“I will. Let me talk to Roberto Gonzales in our security team about who’d be best to approach. It will make me feel better, too.” I lifted my face to kiss him, and all talk of security disappeared.