20
Sexpot
Dani stretched her arms over her head. It was the first time she’d had a shift off since she’d started at La Casa.
She wasn’t entirely sure what to do with herself.
If she’d been living alone, she’d have been doing her laundry or housework, but Chloe had thankfully managed to take over all of that.
She sighed to herself. Well she needed to arrange a doctor’s appointment.
She yawned, trying to recollect all the items on her mental to-do list. Maybe she should start on her fitness DVD.
She reached over to her phone on her bedside table and looked at the time.
Five past eight. The message icon showed she’d had a message come through at three forty-five this morning.
Strange, she thought. Her heart plummeted, wondering whether it was Jez.
Dani quickly opened it and was relieved to see it was from Peter, telling her he was pretty sick and wouldn’t make it in today.
He asked if there was any chance she could go in this morning as they’d be short staffed.
Dani pulled herself out of bed and headed for the bathroom, thankful of a reason to get up. Her fitness DVD could wait but her doctor’s appointment couldn’t. She’d call the surgery later.
Dani pulled into La Casa’s car park at nine forty, parking next to Jerome’s Maserati. She headed for the back entrance and was greeted by Franco and Rico having a cigarette.
“I thought it was your morning off.” Franco looked surprised.
“Chef asked me to come in. He’s sick and we’re always busy on Friday lunch.” Dani shrugged.
“Can’t keep away, eh?” winked Rico.
“Something like that.” Dani winked back, then practically skipped through the doorway.
It wasn’t long before Dani was serving up the morning coffees as usual.
She stepped back into the restaurant and started on her own.
The reservations book was on the bar where Peter had left it last night.
Opening it up to today’s date, she scanned the large list of bookings and mentally tried to accommodate them in the restaurant.
She was so engrossed in what she was doing, she hadn’t sensed Jerome walk into the restaurant.
He stood observing her for a moment. Dani nervously twiddled with the end of her ponytail.
She often did that when she was concentrating, he noted.
“So you’re not a Smart girl after all?“ his raspy voice made Dani jump and she swung round to face him. He gave her a crooked grin that made his whole face light up, then started pacing towards her. Dani stood transfixed for a moment, caught in his gaze. “Your car?” he added, mistaking her hesitation to respond for confusion. He’d reached up to her by now.
“Oh, I see. Hmm, it would appear not.” Dani shrugged, pulling herself together.
She couldn’t believe how happy she was to see him.
To anyone watching, the evidence was all over her face.
Lucky for her, they were alone. He stepped a little closer and leaned against the bar in that casual manner he had.
His exquisite burgundy three piece suit, crisp white shirt and black tie erased any casualness about him.
He always looks so comfortable and confident in his own skin.
Whatever he wore only extenuated his incredible good looks and perfect body.
In Jerome’s case, the man definitely wore the suit, not the other way around.
Dani put down the book and hopped onto a bar stool. “I went for the Italian option rather the Smart option.” She grinned, and Jerome let out a soft laugh.
“Well I’m very glad to hear it. They’re a little more stylish and definitely racier.” He arched one of his eyebrows.
“Apparently.” Dani paused, unsure of what to say next, her body suddenly feeling very aware of his close proximity. “Would you like an espresso?” Dani jumped back off the stool, needing the distance and something to occupy her fidgety hands.
Jerome fixed her with his brilliant eyes. He was doing that staring thing again, making her flustered. “I’d love one.”
Dani rounded the bar and got to work on Jerome’s coffee, glad she had something to occupy her attention. Desperate to fill the silence between them, Dani placed the cup and saucer on the bar and added, “Um, I just hope they’re reliable too.”
Jerome was sitting directly opposite her now and though the bar was between them, Dani felt a distinctive pull, which had her leaning up against the bar.
“Well, that all depends on how you handle them. They’re surprisingly fast but very smooth, as long as they’re serviced regularly, cared for.
And if you’re not overly rough with them, they’ll fulfil your every need,” Jerome answered.
His voice had become smoother, lower, more intimate.
His eyes blinked slowly at her and his smile was softer, sweeter.
Dani swallowed, trying to calm herself. Why was he so damn good looking and why did she always feel they were having an entirely different conversation? “I’ll try to remember that,” she answered quietly.
Jerome rested his elbows on the bar and laced his fingers together, then rubbed his clenched knuckles across his lips.
He continued to stare at Dani and for a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
He always touched his lips when he thought, Dani noted.
She just couldn’t seem to drag her eyes away from his mouth.
“Buongiorno.“ Gia’s melodic voice jolted both of them. “What are you two talking about?”
Both Jerome and Dani turned towards Gia and said in unison. “Cars.” They both looked at each other. Dani shook her head as she stifled a laugh and Jerome chuckled.
“Cars? What is it with you two and cars?” Gia was up by the bar and she leaned to kiss Jerome who’d already gotten off his stool.
“Dani’s just bought a new one, Mama.” Jerome picked up his coffee and took a sip, his eyes flitted over to Dani.
“Ah, si. You got one like mine. They’re a dream to drive, and fast too!”
Dani stifled a grin and turned to the coffee machine.
Jerome masked his chuckle with a cough and answered with a straight face. “That’s exactly what I said, Mama. She most definitely picked the best option.” His eyes caught Dani’s for a split second.
“Er, espresso Gia?” asked Dani. The question was redundant, seeing as she had already turned to the machine and started preparing it.
“Please, Daniella. I thought it was your morning off.”
“Chef asked me to come in as he’s not well.”
Gia perched herself on the stool next to Jerome. “Oh?”
“He messaged me last night. He didn’t want to bother you with it.” Jerome pushed the open book towards his mother. “Dani was just looking over the bookings for lunch and tonight.”
Dani placed Gia’s coffee on the bar and smiled gently at Gia.
“Well come over to this side of the bar and let’s get it all sorted.” She beckoned Dani with her hand and then patted the stool next to her.
Jerome got up from his stool, quickly knocked back the remains of his coffee and buttoned his suit jacket. “I’ll leave you two to it. I’ll be back by twelve to help out.”
He bent down to kiss his mother goodbye and then turned to Dani. “Thanks for coming in today. We really appreciate it.” His eyes danced as he looked down at her.
Dani felt her face redden slightly. “Um, that’s okay. I’m happy to help.”
“Well we’ll have to compensate you.” Gia patted her arm affectionately. “Won’t we Jerome?”
“I’m sure we can work something out,” he replied to his mother, but his eyes stayed fixed on Dani.
Dani sat mesmerized by the intensity of his stare.
Her heart thumped hard against her ribcage, convinced that it was audible in the quiet of the empty restaurant.
Then Jerome stepped back and was gone. Holy shit, what was that all about?
Between Gia and Dani, they managed to organise the lunchtime and the evening bookings.
Dani suggested they implement a program into the existing computer for reservations and table planning.
Gia grinned at her, explaining Peter had often suggested it but because she wasn’t very computer savvy, they’d stuck to writing everything down in the book, for her sake.
“I could teach you if like?” Dani suggested.
“How to use the program?”
“Yes. I could show you on Monday, when the restaurant’s closed.”
“But I know very little about computers, Dani,” cringed Gia.
“It’s not so hard once you get used to it, Gia. I could show you a little bit every day and on the afternoons I’m not working.”
“You’d do that?”
“Sure. I used this program all the time before. It just makes everything easier and you can store everything too. You’ll be able to see how often customers come in, log in their details, and other stuff. It’s really useful.”
“Well, if you can spare the time, I’d really like that.” Gia smiled back.
JEROME PULLED UP AT Level One. Peter’s illness had thrown his schedule out, and he’d have to quickly deal with anything pressing, then get back to La Casa.
Thank goodness his new managers were settled in and proving to be more than capable.
He pulled out his phone and hit Liz’s number on the speed dial.
It rang a few times before she answered. “Liz?”
“Hi.”
“Hi, um look Peter’s sick, so I’m going to have to cover him today and probably tomorrow. I know I said I’d try and spend more time, but –”
“It’s okay, Jerome. Really. I understand,” interrupted Liz.
Jerome swallowed hard as she spoke. This was not the reaction he was expecting. He was convinced she’d be aloof at best, angry at worst.
“What’s wrong with him? I hope it’s not too serious,” she continued.
“His throat,” Jerome answered, still reeling over her response. “It might mean that I get home a bit later for the kids.”
“That’s okay. I’ll be home for when they get in. Don’t worry, really.”
“And there’s tomorrow, you know Saturday’s hectic…”
“I can bring them down after lunch so your mum can see them, if you like. I’ve a few meetings at my agents over the weekend, so really don’t worry about me.”