A Little Slice of Heaven (3 page)

BOOK: A Little Slice of Heaven
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Kyle, I’m Gianna Randazzo,” she said instead. “Welcome to
Villa Mare
. You can start your employment by bussing this table.” With her chin, she gestured to the dirty dishes and silverware on the stained tablecloth.

He hugged the sleeves of what must have once been a very expensive jacket, now creased with greasy dirt. “Egads, what a frightening thought. I don’t know if I can.”


Relax. I’ll help you.”

A quick look at the pizzeria door, however, sobered her instantly. One more discomforting task waited—convincing Claudio she hadn’t lost her mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

 

When Gianna reentered the restaurant with Kyle, her grumpy godfather stood behind the counter, arms folded over his chest, that perpetual frown on his face.


Oh, so we going to do some work now,
cara
?”

She dropped the silverware into the stainless sink with a loud clank. “You mean you can’t handle this place for five minutes without me?”


Five-a minoots.” He blew air out of his mouth with a rude noise, and then nodded at Kyle beside her. “Dis the bum?”

Way to make the poor man feel welcome, Claudio.
“This
gentleman
is our new employee. Kyle Hayden. He’s graciously agreed to help us out for a while.”


He’s
-a gonna help
us
?”

Claudio’s sarcasm cut through her like a rusty saw. Squelching a wince, she turned on the water and scrubbed the pile of dishes with vigor. “That’s right.”

She looked up in time to see Claudio focus all his displeasure on Kyle. “You ever work in a restaurant before?”


Um, no,” Kyle replied.

A stream of Italian curses flowed from the old man’s sneering lips followed by the inevitable, “Your papa, he no gonna like this.”


My father will like this just fine.” She slammed her scouring pad on the sink’s edge, turned off the water, and then dried her hands. “By the time Mom and Dad return from Italy, Kyle will be an old hand at this business.”

Claudio glared at Kyle, a rooster defying a grizzly bear. “So you’re her latest wounded kitty, eh? You don’t look like the others. You too big and strong to need a little girl to take care of you. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Gianna gasped. “Claudio!” If she couldn’t rein in the old man’s grouchy streak, Kyle would probably consider sleeping in the streets more comfortable than working here.

Kyle folded his arms over his chest. “Ten days ago, old man, I would’ve agreed. But having spent time outdoors, I’m willing to swallow my pride if it gives me a chance to win back some of what I lost.”


You may want to start with a shower.” Claudio sniffed. “You stink.”

Embarrassed on Kyle’s behalf, Gianna stepped between the combatants before more insults, or worse, tomato sauce, got flung. “Why don’t I show you the apartment upstairs? You can get a good night’s rest. Then you’ll start work tomorrow.”


You letting him stay upstairs?”

Claudio couldn’t have sounded more surprised if she’d announced she planned to keep a gorilla in the apartment. She arched a brow. “Problem?”

He shook his head. “It’s your family’s apartment. What can I say?”


Nothing you haven’t said before.” She grabbed the key dangling from a red lanyard near the pantry wall. “Come on, Kyle.”

Claudio’s last rejoinder followed them into the hall. “You gonna tuck him in and read him a bedtime story, too?”

****

Kyle followed her up the narrow staircase, doing his best not to stare at her swishing hips. Someone who had given him back his self-respect did not deserve to be ogled. Even if her backside enticed him to teach her the naked samba.

But inside the close hallway, he got a good whiff of his own body odor and winced. Jeez, a hamper of used gym socks smelled better than he did right now. Gianna must have Kryptonite fortitude to stand in this confined space with him.


Don’t let Claudio scare you,” she said. “I know he’s gruff and looks like a gargoyle, but he’s an old softie at heart.”


Oh, yeah, I’ll bet.” If she heard the sarcasm in his tone, she didn’t address it. She simply fiddled with inserting the key into the doorknob.


The apartment’s a small one bedroom,” she said, craning her neck. “And I’m afraid there’s a little bit of all of us stored here. We’ve had the place as long as we’ve owned the restaurant.”

When she finally turned the knob, the wood creaked, but didn’t budge.


For a while my grandparents lived in this apartment.” She threw her shoulder against the door. Bam. “Then my brother, Joey, moved in last year before he went away to college.” Bam. “Mostly, we use it when we have social plans after work now. You know, to take a shower and change. Beats driving all the way home or showing up at a function stinking of garlic and tomatoes.”

At last, the door swung open, and she stumbled against the force. Righting herself, she took his hand to draw him inside. She hadn’t lied about the size. Good God, his sister’s Yorkie, Chauncey, lived in more palatial quarters than this hovel.

The kitchenette contained a two-burner stove, a refrigerator the size of a small man and a wall oven, all in some molten gold shade. He sniffed and surreptitiously ran a finger across the sixties-style Formica countertop. Clean. And warm. And dry. Sure as hell beat the places where he’d laid his head in the last few days.


You should have everything you’ll need to be comfortable.” With a sweeping hand, she encompassed the two front rooms. Beige-striped wallpaper, filmy and faded, covered the living room, clashing with orange-cushioned rattan furnishings. “If not, let me know what you’re missing, and I’ll pick it up tomorrow before coming to work.”


Th-thank you,” he managed, though his throat nearly closed at the words. Whether from lack of practice or out of awe for her beneficence, he didn’t know. The sheer rockslide of her generosity humbled him. He didn’t even know people like her existed outside of sappy old Jimmy Stewart movies. Hell, he was no Jimmy Stewart. Had never pretended to be.

With halting steps, he followed her to the bathroom. When she flipped on the light, black and pink tiles assailed his sense of good taste. The shower curtain, filled with goofy starfish on a peach background, did nothing to ease his suffering.


My father’s the fastidious sort.” She drew his attention to the top drawer of the vanity, withdrawing several travel-sized articles, all in original packaging. “Since we only use this place sporadically, he insists on keeping the toiletries well stocked and fresh. Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, shaving cream. It’s all here.”


Thank you. Again. I don’t think I said it properly the first time.” Even now the words tripped from his tongue, more foreign than ancient Greek.

She looked up from the drawer, a tremulous smile lighting her features. “You did fine. Clean linens are on the top shelf of the bedroom closet. And until we can get you a few things of your own, my brother has some old clothes stored in the dresser in the bedroom, too. The shirts might be a little snug, but they’ll do temporarily. No food in the kitchen, but I’ll fix that tomorrow.”

On that note, she left the bathroom. He extinguished the light and trailed behind, but she turned again. “Why don’t you stay here and get your bearings? I’m sure you’ll want to shower…”

A rosy hue infused her cheeks. Was she embarrassed for mentioning his current state of filth? Hell, it wasn’t like he didn’t know what he looked like, or smelled like.


Actually,” he said, hoping to put her at ease. “I’d love a shower. And maybe a shave. If it’s all right with you.”

Her eyes softened, and her smile returned, as bright as a toothpaste ad. “Take as long as you like. I want you to be comfortable here.”

He had to bite back the caustic reply that sprang to his lips. Was she for real? She certainly sparked an interesting quandary. Especially when he considered he’d spent the last thirty years of his life not giving a damn what anyone thought of him.

He knew the moment his scrutiny unnerved her. Her gaze fell to the floor, and her feet shuffled back and forth as if she’d stepped on hot coals.


Um, I think I’ll go downstairs and help Claudio,” she murmured, never moving her attention from the threadbare carpet. “I’ll put the key on the counter on my way out.”

Without another word, she exited the apartment, leaving him to wonder what made such a soft-hearted person tick. But he didn’t wonder long. The lure of a hot, steamy shower was too strong to ignore. His pores screamed to be clean again.

A quick turn of the tap filled the bathroom with a noisy squeal, and then the heavenly sound of falling water. Not from the hellish rain he’d become accustomed to, but from the head of a spigot. And not icy cold, but comfortably hot.

After removing his filthy clothing, he stepped into the tub and allowed the water to cleanse his mind and body. Ah, God, was there any more perfect pleasure in life?

Funny how a mere week and a half ago he would have taken such a luxury for granted. But by now, he’d gone without a shower for far too long. And he couldn’t get clean enough. He reveled in the watery needles and fresh-scented soap.

By the time he found something decent to wear and headed downstairs, the restaurant was closed and locked for the night.

Gianna was gone. And with her departure, loneliness settled around him again, silent and suffocating.

****


Have you heard anything from the bank yet?”

The curiosity in Joey’s voice carried over three thousand miles of phone lines.

Resentment surged in Gianna, who sat on her bed, half a dozen throw pillows propped on the headboard. The bank. Another mountain she’d yet to scale, looming, ready to bury her in an avalanche of hopelessness.


Is that why you called? To harangue me about the daycare center?”

Joey sucked in a breath.

Good. He realizes he’s stepping on a live wire.


No,” he replied after a moment. “I called to chat with my big sister. Catch up on Setquott Beach news. So if the daycare center’s off-limits, tell me what’s up with the Wedding of the Century. Have you heard from Frank at all?”

At the mention of her ex, she plucked a stray nylon thread on her comforter, wrapping it around her index finger in rapid swirls. Tighter and tighter, cutting deep lines into her skin. Snap! With a sharp sting, the thread popped off the down quilt. Good. She was close to sobbing anyway. At least, now, she had a better reason to cry than over Frank.

For the first few months after the school debacle, she’d shed enough water to fill the county’s reservoir. Then one day she’d decided she’d had enough. No more crying over someone completely unworthy of so much remorse.


I haven’t heard from either of them since I mailed back the invitation.” Bitterness rose in her throat like smoke, choking her airway.

Two days after she’d made her no-more-tears vow, the wedding invitation had arrived. In a moment’s pique, she’d scrawled her intention to attend—with a guest—and dropped the offensive cardboard into the nearest mailbox.


Besides, I don’t want to hear from him.” She swirled her tongue around her injured fingertip until the throbbing eased. “He made his choice. I hope he’s happy with Rachel.”


You keep telling yourself that,” Joey replied. “Practice in front of a mirror. Eventually, you might sound convincing.”


Ha.” The retort came out flat, humorless, like Gi herself.


You have every right to feel hurt,” Joey said.

His bedside-manner-in-training mode prickled the fine hairs on her nape.


Rachel’s a witch,” he added. “The only reason she sent you that wedding invitation was to rub your nose in her triumph. What better way to humiliate you than in front of two hundred guests?”


I know.” She sighed. Another huge mistake in a catalog of huge mistakes. “Which is why I think I’ll just blow off attending.”


Oh, no you don’t.”

His impatience threw an invisible wall between them.


Who was it said, ‘Looking good is the best revenge’?” he asked.

Oh, sure. ‘Cuz she looked so hot these days. “I don’t know. Angelina Jolie?”

The wall crumbled beneath his deep laughter.


Doubtful. But it doesn’t matter. Angelina’s got nothing on you.”

Despite the gushiness melting her bones, she snorted. “Yeah, right.”


Listen, Gi, you wanna move on with your life? Or do you wanna wind up a bitter old lady living alone in some dilapidated house with fifty cats for companions?”

Ouch. Bristling, she sat up straight and set her feet on the floor. “That’s hitting below the belt, Joey.”


All’s fair in love and war.”

When had her baby brother become this font of old adages? Next he’d be telling her every cloud had a silver lining. “You’re just chock full of clichés tonight, aren’t you?”


And you’re angrier than a wet cat. So focus that anger on something useful. Go to the wedding with some super-stud on your arm. Both of you dressed to kill. Show Frank and Rachel that Randazzos always rise above.”

How long could she hedge about her dearth of dates? Better to come clean. Maybe he could help. Then again, maybe not. “Which reminds me.” Deep breath. “Do you know where I can rent a super-stud for the evening?”


You mean you haven’t found a date yet?”

The surprise in his tone both warmed and depressed her. “Not unless you count the ROMEOs. Every one of them volunteered for the task.”

BOOK: A Little Slice of Heaven
4.27Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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