12
Fast Cars
Working at La Casa, Dani found that her days flew by and before she realised it, it was Thursday.
She’d hardly seen Jerome the last two days.
He’d been around though – his car was always present, a constant reminder.
Dani was appalled at how much the sight of the sleek, black Maserati made her giddy every morning as she pulled up into the car park.
She slid out of her seat and closed the car door behind her. It was nine thirty.
The familiar sound of Pavarotti accompanied by Capo could be heard as Dani opened up the back door leading into the restaurant.
“Buongiorno.”
“Buongiorno, Dani! Come stai?“ Capo beamed. Dani had made it her mission to learn Italian, so every day, Capo would throw a few new phrases or words for her to pick up on and then he’d test her on them.
“Bene, e si?“ she replied, grinning.
Franco winked at her and she blushed slightly. “Eccellente! You remembered?”
Dani wrinkled her nose shyly. He really was such a good man and after what Gia revealed to her about him being instrumental in helping teenage Jerome, Dani couldn’t help but feel genuine affection for him. “Espresso?”
“Si.“ He beamed. Dani’s eyes swept around the kitchen, focusing on each member of staff, every one of them nodding their hellos and indicating they too wanted a coffee. It had become their new morning ritual. Dani would come in at around nine thirty and make each of them a coffee. Previous to this, they’d staggered their coffee fixes, but since Dani had arrived, they all enjoyed their ten minute break together.
Dani immediately set to work on the coffee machine, remembering each colleagues’ preference. Double espresso for Franco, Americano for Silvanna, Jamie liked a cappuccino and the rest were espressos, except for Carmen, who liked a ristretto at this time.
As the machine bubbled away, Dani’s phone rang and she searched for it in her bag. It was Adam. “Hi.”
“Hi. I just got an inquiry about your car.” Dani had forgotten that it was being advertised in the paper today.
“My car? Already?” Dani jammed her phone between her shoulder and ear as she moved the coffee cups around, then put the next ones under the spouts where the coffee started to filter through.
“Yeah, I know. He’s a dealer and wants to get in before anyone else I think. He wants to see it today.”
“Oh, well I’m working most of the time, so I won’t be able to show him it.”
“I know. I was going to tell him to come there around lunch time and I’ll come down there to show him, if that’s alright. See what he’s going to offer.”
Dani carried on arranging the now full cups on the tray as she spoke. “Sure. Just come in for the keys.”
“Great, it’ll be around one thirty.”
“See you at one thirty, then. Bye.”
Adam hung up and Dani took her phone away from her ear. She looked up and caught sight of Jerome’s reflection in the mirror behind the bar, observing her. Dani instantly blushed. His mouth twitched into a smirk. “Buongiorno.”
Dani took a deep breath and turned around to face him. “Buongiorno.“ Her voice betrayed her nervousness. Why did he make her so nervous? Jerome leaned forward on the stool he was sitting on.
“Are they keeping you busy?” he jerked his head in the direction of the kitchen.
“Er, no. I just offered… I mean… that’s okay, isn’t it?
” Crap, maybe she shouldn’t be so presumptuous.
This was their morning ritual and usually only the kitchen staff were around.
She’d gotten so comfortable with most of the staff now, but maybe she was overstepping the mark.
Jerome cocked his head to one side, unsure of what she was implying.
“Of course it is, as long as you make me one too.” He grinned, making his whole face light up. Dani’s heart fluttered, visibly relaxing. She loved it when he smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes softly meeting the laughter lines around his mouth. “I’ll take those through for you while you make it.”
“Oh, um, thanks. Do you want a double?” Dani remembered he only had a double in the morning.
Jerome hopped off the stool.
“Yes, that’s right.” He lifted the tray and walked towards the kitchen.
Dani stood for a moment, drinking in his perfect physique as she absent-mindedly twiddled the end of her ponytail.
He was wearing dark blue suit trousers and a matching waistcoat over a white shirt.
Dani focused on his behind. She’d never noticed what an amazing ass he had.
He tended to wear his suit jacket, so it was usually covered.
Holy mother of God, he was just so yummy.
He pushed open the kitchen doors and slipped into the kitchen.
Dani blew air out of her mouth, shaking her head. Shit, she had it really bad.
PETER STARED AT THE monitor while Dani began to make coffee for her and Jerome. He sighed inwardly. Crap. That’s all he needed. He rubbed his hand over his face and tried to process what had unfolded before his eyes.
Peter had come in early today and found Jerome freshly showered and hovering outside his office.
He’d noticed that Jerome had been spending more time at La Casa over the last few days, even if it was holed up on the first floor.
He’d hoped it was because the staffing at Level One had finally been organised and that things were slowly working themselves out between Liz and him – until today.
When Peter had arrived, Jerome had been standing nervously at his door.
“Buongiorno. Were you looking for me?“ Peter asked, as he stepped closer and they greeted each other warmly. Then he unlocked the door.
“I wasn’t sure if you were in yet,” replied Jerome.
They walked into the office and Peter quickly pulled out a large file. Jerome, in an unguarded moment, allowed his gaze to rest on the monitors. He watched Dani arrive and head to the kitchen. Peter reached into a drawer, oblivious of Jerome’s focus.
“Can I give you this to take to Angie? It’s all the invoices. I forgot to take them home last night. You’re going to Level One, aren’t you? I’ve told her you’ll leave them in reception and she can come down and get them.”
“Er, yes, in a while. Sure, I’ll take them.”
Peter handed him the file and shrugged out of his jacket so he could settle into his chair to review the monitors and place some orders.
He looked up at Jerome and caught him staring at the monitor that showed the main restaurant.
Dani was walking out of the kitchen. He was about to ask Jerome if he needed anything specific, remembering he’d been waiting, when he caught Jerome’s gaze riveted to the monitor.
It took Peter all of a millisecond to understand why Jerome was spending more time at La Casa.
It was because of Dani. One look at Jerome’s face and the way he was looking at the monitor was enough.
Peter furrowed his brow. That was going to at the very least, make things awkward and at the worst, make things extremely difficult.
“So, did you want anything?” Peter asked, pulling Jerome out of his trance.
“Um. No. I’ll just take these then.” Jerome quickly turned and headed out of the office.
Peter leaned back in his chair and stared at the monitor, watching Dani start to make some coffee, then reach for her phone.
Jerome entered the restaurant and he hesitated before walking over to the bar and lowered himself onto a bar stool.
He put the file down as Dani carried on with her phone conversation and simultaneously made the coffees.
All the while, Jerome observed her as she obliviously carried on.
Peter stared at the monitor, gauging Dani’s reaction.
Double crap, thought Peter. It was bad enough Jerome had the hots for Dani, but what made things more complicated was that Dani obviously felt the same way about him.
Peter rubbed his eyes with his thumb and finger, then scanned the monitor recordings from the night before.
FROM BEHIND THE BAR, Dani stared blankly at Jerome shifting back on the stool.”
“So you found a buyer, then?” Jerome waited for her to respond but it was clear she was confused.
“For your car. The phone call,” he explained.
“Oh. Yes.” Dani gave a slight shake of her head. “It went in the paper this morning. Adam’s coming down at one thirty to show him it.”
“Your brother-in-law,” he confirmed.
“Yes.”
“And you’ll be buying another? A Smart?” He stifled a smile and Dani grinned, remembering their previous conversation.
“Possibly. I do like them. I suppose you think I should buy an Italian car,” Dani teased.
Jerome shrugged and his smile widened.
“I think they’re a little out of my league.” Dani lowered her voice.
“Oh I don’t know. I think you could have whatever you wanted.
That’s if you really wanted it, Italian or otherwise.
” His blue eyes fixed on to Dani’s face and his expression suddenly became intense.
Dani stood still, unable to reply. She knew they were talking about her car, but the atmosphere had changed and she felt that his comment meant something entirely different.
She swallowed hard. Pull yourself together, girl.
“Er, well. I need to look at all my options. I don’t want to rush into anything and make a mistake, again.” Well two could play at this game, she thought, feeling a little reckless.
Jerome rested his elbow on the bar and pulled his bottom lip between his thumb and forefinger, his eyes still boring into Dani’s. Dani found it hard not to focus on his mouth, wondering how soft those sculptured lips were. His gaze alone was making her heat up.
“So this car, was it a mistake?” He dropped his eyes momentarily to his cup, then picked it up to take a sip.