14 #2
“Yes, it was…” Jerome paused, trying to find the appropriate superlative. Adam narrowed his eyes at him, waiting. Then Jerome decided to change tactic. “Well, it was very sweet of her. I appreciated the gesture.”
Adam’s expression relaxed a little. “It was nice seeing you.” Adam put out his hand and they shook.
“Likewise.”
Adam caught up with his party as they left the restaurant.
He turned to wave to Dani when he reached the door, but her attention was directed to one of her tables.
His eyes fell on Jerome who was still standing by the bar, his gaze riveted on Dani as she spoke warmly to a couple.
He frowned, then walked out of the door.
Jerome headed up to where Joseph was sitting and greeted him warmly.
Joseph insisted he sit with them. He explained that Jenny had agreed to manage the spa so they were hoping to open before Christmas.
Jerome visibly started to relax, his previous bad mood forgotten thanks to Joseph distracting him with news of the hotel’s progress and the varying problems he’d encountered.
“Cosimo has been a godsend. He’s taken over all my accounts now, so thanks for that. ”
“Glad I could help. Are you fully staffed up?”
“Mostly, yes. I’ll need a couple of managerial staff after the New Year, but until then Jenny and I will manage.”
“When exactly are you thinking of opening?”
“Ideally, I’d like to open now, but it looks like I’ll need another month.”
“Can I get you anything?” asked Dani softly.
“An espresso please.” Jerome looked up at Dani and she smiled.
“Of course. Have you decided on dessert?”
“I really shouldn’t,” moaned Jenny. “But they’re so good here.”
“The cannoli is light and the combination of creamy ricotta and crisp shell isn’t too sweet.”
“Damn, you’re good!” Joseph shook his head, chuckling. He dropped the menu onto the table. “How can anyone say no to you? I swear if you read out the whole dessert menu, everyone would order the whole lot!”
Jerome grinned up at Dani, causing her to blush. “So is that a yes to the cannoli, then?” Dani asked sweetly and Joseph laughed.
“Definitely. I shall hold you personally responsible for every pound I gain.”
Dani laughed softly at his remark and went to the bar to order their coffee.
“Where did you find her? I could do with someone like her.” He leaned forward, directing his question to Jerome.
“We got lucky.”
“I’d say. I’ve been watching her. That table over there have been constantly bringing her back and forth for no reason and she hasn’t batted an eyelid. They’ve been rude and difficult and she’s handled everything they’ve thrown at her.”
Jerome swivelled round discreetly to see which table Joseph was talking about.
He immediately recognised the party of three.
They were regular customers. David was a large plumbing merchant with a number of branches throughout the region.
He was in the restaurant a minimum of twice a week.
He was flashy and rude and Jerome didn’t like him at all, but he spent an awful amount of money in both La Casa and Sky, and had also enrolled himself and his executive staff at Level One. “Yes, he’s a regular.”
Dani brought over their coffees, then paced over to the kitchen to get the desserts. David summoned her over and said something to her which made Dani tense a little. She nodded and went into the kitchen. “Table eighteen would like some more tomato sauce, Capo.”
“More?”
“Yeah, he’s just showing off to his guests. There was more than enough.”
Capo shrugged and ladled some into a white porcelain gravy boat, “Detto, fatto!”
Dani looked at him, puzzled.
“It means, no sooner said than done.” He beamed.
“Oh I like that. Detto, fatto.“ She committed it to memory.
Carmen put out the cannolis on the counter. “We use it a lot.”
Dani snorted. I bet they do, she thought. She picked up the gravy boat and took it to David’s table and was surprised to see Jerome stood by him.
“Ah, thank you, Dani. You’re a sweetheart.” David grinned at her, then patted her arm and she nodded curtly. Jerome flinched at the overly familiar gesture but was pleased to see Dani was unfazed by it. She went back to retrieve the cannoli and took them over to Joseph.
Jerome left David’s table and walked over to where Dani was just entering another order. “Is David giving you a hard time?”
“No, it’s okay. He’s just showing off to his friends.” She shrugged it off. The truth was she really didn’t like David in the slightest. His comments were always lewd and he pushed the boundaries of familiarity, making Dani edgy. But she knew it was part and parcel of the job.
“He’s harmless, but he is an ass,” muttered Jerome.
Dani stifled a chuckle at the very apt description. “Yeah, he is. Don’t sweat it, I can handle him.” She shrugged, looking up at him.
A grin spread across his face. “I’m sure you can.”
The staff had all returned for the evening shift by five o’clock.
Kuch was restocking the bar while the rest of the restaurant staff who’d stayed on busied themselves getting the restaurant back into some sort of order.
Luckily, there’d been a lull around five.
Peter was checking over the reservations for the evening at the bar.
“What’s it like tonight?” asked Dani.
“We’re rammed packed, and I’m worried we’ve overbooked.” He rubbed his forehead.
Dani leaned over to see.
“We’ve this large party in, so they’ll take up four tables. That might leave us short if the first lot of customers linger over coffee.”
Dani’s brow creased as she scanned over the restaurant.
“Why don’t you put the party over in that part there?
” she pointed to where she meant. “If the tables are connected that’ll open up space here.
Bring down a table from the private room, just for tonight, so you can accommodate at least one of the parties if the earlier customers take their time. ”
Peter narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips together. “Yeah, that’d help.”
“And it won’t infringe on other tables. They’ll still be enough space between them.”
“You’re right. It’ll alleviate the stress. Thanks. I’ll get Richard and Pino to bring a table down. Once the rest of the staff gets down, go and get something to eat.”
“Sure, no problem.”
Dani sat in the private room with Pino, Richard, Kuch and Augustino. Capo had sent up their dinner of mushroom risotto and salad. It was delicious. They ate quickly, knowing the restaurant would start filling up.
“Man, it’s been crazy today.” Pino stretched. “I hardly had time for a smoke. You seem to have got the hang of everything.” He gave Dani a wink.
“Thanks.”
“We’ll be going out on Sunday again. Are you up for it?” Kuch stood up and collected their plates.
“Um, sure.”
“Good, don’t forget to bring some clothes,” he chuckled, “and leave your car.”
Dani grinned, “Okay. Do you think you could send me the photos you took today? I never got to take any.” Dani flushed a little as she asked. She had desperately wanted to take photos but thought it might be inappropriate.
“Sure. Message me your email and once I get home, I’ll download them and send them to you. Nicole will probably put them together in an album. She’s photo mad. You want just the cake or all of them?”
“Er… just send all of them. Thanks, Kuch.” Dani’s stomach fluttered a little at the thought of having a photo of Jerome. She shook head slightly. She really was behaving ridiculously but it still made her smile.
Kuch nodded and headed for the male changing room as Dani made her way to the female changing room to freshen up and re-apply her makeup.
She looked at herself in the mirror and frowned.
Her hair needed redoing. She pulled out her hair tie and brushed it, then decided to put it up into a loose French plait, allowing a few tendrils to come out.
She checked herself over. Yes, definitely more of an evening look.
She was going to have to bring a few extra accessories down if she was going to work more afternoon shifts.
Luckily, the restaurant was still quiet when she returned to the floor.
There were a few people sitting at the bar and around five tables were already seated.
Dani scanned her area and was pleased to see it was still empty, giving her time to get herself organised.
Her eye caught sight of a table in the main restaurant.
The Ferrettis were all seated together in Rosa’s section.
She recognised Jerome’s older brother, Cosimo.
She liked him, he seemed like such a gentleman.
There was also Arsenio, who had Jerome’s daughter sat on his knee.
He was teasing her and she squirmed on his lap as he blew raspberries into her neck.
Gia was sitting next to Jerome’s son, and Liz and Jerome were sitting next to each other.
Dani narrowed her eyes to focus on Liz. She really was very pretty, even though she always looked so moody.