She didn’t have the strength to argue with him, especially not when he tucked her in his arms for a long hug, one that melted her resistance completely. He made her feel so vulnerable, and she realized he was freeing her from being in constant survival mode. With him, she could stop running even if only for a little while, to rest, to breathe, to regain her strength.
“We’ll head home soon. I just want to stop by the restaurant.”
“Yourrestaurant?” she asked, her eyes closing as she breathed in his scent. She’d never thought she’d be a woman who loved cuddling, yet here she was utterly content to never move again so long as Angelo had his arms around her. The comforting reassured her and stirred little butterflies in her bellywhenever his lips strayed across her forehead or the crown of her hair.
“Uh huh,” he murmured and kissed the top of her head. “Can you play my fiancée in front of my employees? I’m sure my uncle knows I’m engaged by now because I can’t imagine my dad not telling him. He wouldn’t tell anyone else without hearing from me that it was okay.” His tone was teasing but the look he gave her was serious.
“You really think I should?” She lifted her head up to stare at him. “What if everyone is upset later when… when we break up?”
“I want to show you my world. If I bring in some random woman, it would raise more questions than if I brought in my fiancée. I don’t let just anyone into my kitchens.” He winked. “Who cares what they think, whatever happens between us. It only matters to you and me.”
She considered his offer seriously and decided she really would like to see the place that made him so happy, the place where he felt he belonged.
“I would love to see it. Your family told me so much about it. Your parents and your brother are so proud of you, you know.” She’d heard so much praise for Angelo’s talent and hard work while he was in the hospital.
“Oh? They did?”
“Yes. They think that what you have accomplished is incredible.”
This time it was Angelo’s face that darkened with a blush. He must not hear compliments like that enough she realized.
“That’s nice to hear,” he admitted honestly, his voice a little rough with emotion.
He cleared his throat, bent and grabbed the handles of her book basket and headed to the cashier.
After they finished buying her books they headed to his restaurant. The Italian Village was like nothing Kara had everseen before. The walls of the entire restaurant were painted to look like a rolling countryside and the exteriors of an Italian village. Lights had been wired behind painted windows to illuminate the dim restaurant, as though a customer was walking into a village square on a summer evening. Some of the windows even had curtains, drapes or window boxes full with real flowers. It looked like they were almost on a movie set but the space was full of tables and booths. Dinner was just starting to be served as Angelo led her pass the hostess stand.
“Candace,” Angelo greeted.
“Mr. Vertucci!” Candace left her stand come over. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better,” Angelo replied. Then he grasped Kara’s hand. “Candace, this is Kara my fiancée. I want to show her the kitchens.”
“Y—your fiancée?” Candace started at the words her face turning red as she glanced at Kara.
“Nice to meet you, Candace,” Kara said. She could tell the young woman had a crush on Angelo, and it was equally clear that Angelo had no idea.
“It’s really great to meet you, Kara!” Candace offered her genuine smile before she turned to Angelo. “Your uncle is in the kitchens,” Candace said.
“Thank you.” Angelo led her through the restaurant toward a pair of metal doors at the back. They stepped into a massive kitchen space with metal countertops and stoves with at least a dozen men and women in white aprons preparing meals. Exquisite aromas carried through the air to tease Kara’s nose. So this was Angelo’s world. Fresh herbs hung from special racks and a cook nearby was placing basil leaves into big stew pot. The room was hot, perhaps too hot, she guessed if she had to linger near the stoves. Everyone moved quickly, expertly, but thebustling environment was intense, one step away from chaos. Yet it worked magnificently from what she could tell.
“My famous tomato basil soup,” Angelo said to Kara as they both watched the cook stirring the leaves in the soup.
“It smells amazing,” Kara slid closer to Angelo, her hand tightening around his.
“Angelo!” A booming voice cut across the kitchens making all of the cooks look up and find Angelo.
They were suddenly surrounded by kitchen staff in an instant and everyone was talking at once. A man who looked so much like Matteo was at the center of the greeting crowd.
“Zio,” Angelo released Kara’s hand only briefly to hug his uncle.
Zio, Kara had learned was Italian for uncle. It had been used many times teasingly by Angelo’s family at Christmas.
“Everyone, this is Kara,” his throat tightened. “My fiancée.”
The word fiancée rippled through the cooking crowd with clear surprise.
“Congratulations, Mr. Vertucci,” one of the cooks said as he smiled warmly at Kara and his boss.
