Into the Fire (16 page)

“You did the right thing, Lila.” To her surprise, it was Betsy who spoke. “You gave it a shot. You were honest with him. Even though it didn’t work out, and he may never understand the gift you gave him, you did a beautiful thing. I’m proud of you.”

Jenna cleared her throat. “Yeah, it pains me to say this, but don’t count him out just yet. Jack-off always was a little slow. His dad had a heart attack then you threw him a hell of a sucker punch. Did you race out the door as per your usual method of operation?”

“What do you mean?” Lila asked, stung.

“Lila, honey, you cut and run. It’s what you do. Are you having thoughts of moving back home with your father?”

Betsy giggled. “You do love a dramatic exit. I really enjoyed watching Jack look for you at the graduation ceremony, knowing you were already on a train out of town.”

Lila felt her mouth drop open. “Is this what you call being supportive?”

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself, and don’t you dare pack a bag unless you are coming to visit one of us. Why don’t you go see Jack’s friend, you know, the one he hates. Get him to offer you a job, and you can make Jack jealous.”

“Perfect!” Jenna squealed.

Lila felt no urge to make Jack jealous, but she did have a powerful craving for a Long Island Iced Tea Float and a conversation with a woman who knew what it was like to love a Calabrese man. “No promises. That train is looking pretty good, but I’ll think about what you said. I’ll talk to you soon.” Lila hung up.

Was Jenna right? Did she cut and run? It hurt to think about it, but maybe that meant it was true. Hadn’t she almost bolted out of Inferno last week? And she hadn’t finished her art degree because she had been devastated by what Adam had done. His indifference had shattered her. She’d skipped graduation because she hadn’t wanted to face Jack after losing the competition. Now she was ready to pack her bags and head home once again. Did she really want to start her life all over? Or was she just afraid to stay in New York and come to terms with the fact Jack didn’t want her?

“Ouch,” she whispered aloud. The truth really did hurt, but it was also enlightening. Empowering. She wasn’t going to give up because Jack Calabrese was a stubborn ass.
Hell, no.
She would have to find a cheaper apartment and get another job, but she loved New York, and she was going to stay. Somehow. With that thought firmly in mind, she changed into street clothes, grabbed her purse, and headed out the door to get as drunk as possible on high-proof ice cream. She wasn’t flat broke yet, and now she didn’t have to buy a train ticket.

Chapter Eighteen

Lila’s head was pounding. At every subway stop, she wanted to switch trains and head back home to bed, but she refused to give in to the impulse. Since she’d overslept, she was already running late, and this was too good an opportunity to lose. For the chance to keep her apartment, she would work for anybody.

Marie had arrived at the shop Friday night and found Lila halfway through her second Long Island Iced Tea Float. Since it was doubtful she’d ever brave the long line again, she had gone for the gusto. In short order, Marie had dragged her back into the kitchen, fortified her ice cream with a healthy shot of high-proof rum, and demanded to know why the hell Jack looked so miserable on his opening night.

Lila had told her everything.

After more rum, she had even shared Betsy’s idea for making Jack jealous. Marie had declared it genius and called Zane on the spot. Three minutes later, Lila had a new job, starting at eight the next morning. Unfortunately, she hadn’t taken the certainty of a hangover into consideration.

She rummaged in her purse for her phone. She’d barely had time to down a cup of coffee, and hadn’t checked for messages since she woke up. It wasn’t there, and she sighed as she realized her phone was still by her bed, where it had been all night. Pathetic. Jack wasn’t going to call.

When the train stopped, she got off as fast as she could. She hustled up the steps and down the street, glad Standing Room was only a few minutes walk. She was going to be right on time after all.

Zane answered her knock at the back door. “Done with your Jack snack already, huh?” His gray eyes were full of laughter. “You’ve come to the right place.”

“Uh…” What on earth had Marie said on the phone?

He chuckled. “Just kidding, sweetheart. Come on in. Any chance you know how to tend bar? I’m short-handed, and we’re going to be slammed for lunch.”

Her heart sank. He wasn’t going to let her hide in the kitchen? She could barely think straight this morning. The fast pace of bartending might kill her, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. “No problem.”

“Great. Do you mind cleaning lettuce and helping out in the pantry until the bartenders get in?”

“I’m happy to do anything.” She took the apron he handed her and wrapped it around her waist. Reflexively, she patted her pants pocket for her phone then remembered she didn’t have it. It was for the best. She didn’t need to be any more distracted than she already was. Even with all the booze in her blood, she’d seen Jack, cold-eyed and furious, in her dreams all night. The image haunted her, even though she knew he probably wouldn’t care she was working for Zane. It would be one more reason to hate her.

Zane introduced her to the pantry chef and said, “Have fun, kids.”

“Thanks.” Lila forced herself to smile, hoping they would keep her busy with brainless tasks like spinning lettuce, polishing glasses, and cutting bar fruit all day. She could do that in her sleep. She could definitely do it with a hangover and a broken heart.

…

Jack stayed up all night. He spent most of it in his father’s hospital room. The nurse came into the room in the middle of the night and found him holding his father’s hand, but she didn’t throw him out.

When the New York Times hit the stands, he was waiting. The reporter was as good as his word. It was all there in black and white. Heart pounding, he sneaked back to his father’s room and left a copy of the review by his bed with a note.
Here’s hoping it’s not too late for any of us. Love, Jack.

He sat in the back of a taxi, counting the blocks until he reached Lila’s apartment. Hopefully the article would do some of his talking for him, but he still had to find a way to make her give him one more chance. When he reached her door, he paused, wondering if he should wait outside until a reasonable hour.

He lasted ten minutes in the hall before he knocked on the door. Hell, it was after eight already.

She didn’t answer. He knocked again, louder. Nothing. No sounds from within, either. No hint that she was there, but not answering the door. Desperate, he called her phone, but it went to voice-mail.

Had she cut and run again, like she had after the competition? Determination rose inside him, and he knew he would search the city, the state, the country, even the world, to find her. It hadn’t been easy to locate her the first time, but sometimes being a Calabrese was an advantage.

He dialed again, this time taking a deep breath and leaving a short message. He wanted to do his groveling in person, but first he had to find her.

Exhausted, he went home to shower. He fell into bed, and when he struggled out of black sleep several hours later, she hadn’t called him back. He left her another message, getting closer to begging, then tucked the newspaper article in his pocket just in case and went to Inferno.

His cooks wouldn’t arrive until three, so the only person in the kitchen was Emily. “You look like shit, boss. Party too hard?”

He shook his head and sank down on one of the stools in the bakeshop. “I spent the night at the hospital.”

“How’s your dad?”

“Still sleeping.”

She nudged a cookie across the table. “I read the paper this morning.”

“I know I’m an idiot.” He buried his head in his hands.

When she didn’t reply, he looked up and scowled. “Thanks a lot. I think you’re supposed to disagree with me or at least try to make me feel better.”

Her brown eyes were amused but cautious. “I have a feeling I’m about to make you feel worse.”

“Impossible.”

She shrugged as if to say
you asked for it
. “Zane Brampton just called and left a message for you. He made me write it down.” She handed him a piece of paper.

Lila’s working for me now. Come and get her, sucker.

“No fucking way.” Jack stood up so fast he knocked the stool over.

Emily grinned and held up another cookie. “One for the road?”

Jack shook his head, already moving toward the back door. He ducked into the closest taxi. “Standing Room.”

A ten-minute ride in a cab had never felt so long. This time, he didn’t hesitate to use the back door. It was open, so Jack pushed into the kitchen and found himself in the dish room. Judging from the line out front, and the speed at which the two dishwashers were moving, it was a busy lunch. He couldn’t care less. He was going to drag Zane off the line and kill him.

He stalked into the kitchen proper, and found service in full swing. Zane was calling off orders, but he stopped when he saw Jack. “I’ve been waiting for you. Did you come to see how good Lila looks working in my restaurant?”

Jack swung at him. Zane caught his fist in his palm, something he’d had a lot of practice doing in the past. “Don’t take it out on me, Jack. You’re the one who told her to leave.”

“How do you know?” Jack growled.

Zane smirked. “I saw the paper.”

His face got hot as Zane continued, “Sappiest fucking thing I’ve ever read in my life, but I called you as soon as I finished the article.” Zane released his hand. “Now, quit being an asshole and go talk to her. She’s tending bar, but I didn’t fill out her paperwork. She doesn’t belong here.”

Jack’s thoughts flashed back to Zane’s Good Samaritan-like warning about his father’s health last week. “Why are you helping me?”

“Because I’m hoping one of these years you’re going to forgive me for being a stupid kid.”

“Fat chance.” But his voice lacked conviction, and Zane’s faint smile told Jack he knew it.

“Or maybe I just want you to owe me one.” Zane shoved him toward the dining room. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

…

Lila was about to pass out. Zane hadn’t been joking. They were slammed. She lined up another half-dozen beer glasses and wiped rum-scented sweat on her sleeve, ignoring the new customer sliding onto the bar stool in front of her. He was going to have to wait.

“Lila?”

Her hand jerked, and she poured beer all over the bar. She grabbed a towel and focused on the spill, afraid she was hallucinating. Jack’s voice was soft, almost tentative. What if she looked up and he was still furious? Or worse, only wanted a drink? Just because he was here didn’t mean he was here for her.

“Lila,” he called again softly.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

Her heart slammed in her chest at the sight of him. He held out a folded newspaper. “I don’t suppose you read the paper today?”

She took it out of his hand and glanced down. Four stars. “Congratulations,” she said, filled with bittersweet happiness. “You deserve it.”

He shook his head. “I never would have known I could do it if it weren’t for you. I never would have had enough faith in myself. Would you read the review, Lila? Please?” His green eyes were dark with torment. She looked down at the headline,
Inspiration Behind Inferno,
and then she couldn’t stop reading. He’d told the reporter everything—the competition, the menus, Personal Chef—and he’d given all the credit to her.

She looked up at him, stunned. “Jack, you make it sound like…” Hope swelled inside her, so fast and hard she could barely breathe.

He walked around to her side of the bar. “Like you’re my inspiration? You are. And not just because the menu would be entirely different if it were up to me. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since the competition. I looked for you for months. When I found you at Personal Chef, I talked my buddy into hiring you for his bachelor party, hoping to see you again. I told myself it was because I wanted to give you a piece of my mind. I couldn’t believe you made love to me and then lied about your competition menu. I was angry with you, but I was also confused. I’d never felt a connection with anyone like the one I felt with you. I didn’t even care about winning the stupid competition anymore. But then I woke up alone, and I saw you cooking ribs, and I just snapped. I wanted to teach you a lesson, but the joke was on me. I won, and my father gave me Inferno, but every time I walk through the door, I think about you. You deserved to win.”

She started to protest, but he kept talking. “I want to be with you, Lila. The contract I made you sign was stupid and the truce was a pathetic excuse to spend time with you. When we’re together, I feel like a different person. I feel whole. I was devastated when I thought you’d changed the Inferno menu to hurt me. I was even more upset when I realized I was wrong and I’d sent you away. I’m so sorry, Lila. I’m a complete idiot. I’ve taken advantage of you at every turn. I’m no better than that asshole art professor, but I love you. I hope you can find it in your heart to give me another chance.”

Tears spilled out of her eyes as she reached forward to take his hands. “I didn’t deserve to win the competition—you won it fair and square. You changed your game plan, but you didn’t choke. You cooked recipes you’d only heard me describe, and the judges loved them. In fact, you probably made my duck better than I would have.”

She clasped his cheeks between her hands, needing to make a confession of her own. “I didn’t mean it when I said what happened between us meant nothing. It meant everything to me, and I was afraid to admit it. That’s why I kept leaving before you woke up. That’s why I kept leaving, period. I almost packed my bags and hopped on a train last night, but I decided to stay. I was hoping you’d come to your senses.”

“I did. I totally did. I was terrified I’d lost you…” His eyes gleamed and a mischievous smile teased the corners of his mouth. “You wouldn’t believe how relieved I was when I remembered you agreed to continue working for me.”

She jerked her hands out of his grasp and put them on her hips. “What are you talking about? You threw me out on my ear! You’re lucky I’m even talking to you.”

Jack nodded solemnly, still grinning. “I know. But you promised to consult on the Inferno menu if I talked to my father, remember? Guess what?”

“Really?” She launched herself into his arms.

“Hey, you two!” Zane called from the door to the kitchen. “Get busy in your own restaurant!”

Jack ignored him. “I held his hand all night, too. You were right about everything, including my father, and I’m so grateful to you. I didn’t need a new menu, but I do need you. Please give me another chance. I love you, Lila. Stay with me, and I’ll do everything in my power to be the man you deserve.”

She wasn’t going anywhere. “I love you, Jack. Just the way you are. You don’t have to change a thing for me. That’s what I was trying to tell you.”

“In that case, I have a proposition for you.” His eyes glowed with tenderness. Slowly, he lowered his head and claimed her lips. “Forever.”

It took her a second to realize it wasn’t her heart thundering—the crowd sitting at the bar was pounding and clapping. She pulled his head back down for another long kiss. “Finally, an offer I can’t refuse.”