“You are some kind of cocky, you know that?”
“The best kind. We should get ready. It’s time to head back to Carrera’s for Elsa’s feast.”
There was no clock in the room, she’d left her phone in the car. “What time is it?”
“It’s five-thirty,” he replied.
“Wow, we’ve been at it for a while.”
“Not long enough.” He kissed her, then escorted her to the bathroom.
Her neat French twist had turned into an explosion of hair, but it was the happiness in her eyes that surprised her the most.
She was having fun with him. More fun than she’d had in a long, long time.
An hour later, she parked in front of Slash and Carrera’s home. Up the walkway she went, then she tried the front door. It was locked, so she rang the doorbell.
Seconds later, Slash swung it wide. With a smile, she said, “There you are. Everything okay?”
Simone entered the house. “All good.”
As they headed toward the kitchen, Slash murmured, “If you need to talk… about anything.”
“Thank you for being there for me. I’m ready to start work on Monday.”
“Training’s gonna be fun.”
They entered the kitchen. Gabriel and Teddy were seated at the counter. Carrera was helping his grandmother at the stove. Slash returned to the center island to finish cutting vegetables for a salad.
Gabriel turned. “I thought Luciano was with you.”
Simone shot him a cool smile. “Why would you think that?”
Mischief danced in Gabriel’s eyes. “Brotherly intuition.”
He knows.
Simone had too much on her mind to care. She sidled next to Slash. “What can I do to help?”
Slash pulled out another cutting board and knife, then slid vegetables toward her. “Elsa said it isn’t a salad unless there’s ten different vegetables.”
“Ten,” Simone said as she rinsed a few mushrooms.
She glanced over at Gabriel and Teddy. “Gabriel, what do you do in Italy?”
“I own several wineries and I run Euro Operations at Santini International,” he replied. “I’ve been in Italy for several years now.”
Elsa put her arm around Gabriel. “I wish I could see you more.”
“I’m here all the time, Elsa.” He kissed the top of her head, and she smiled.
“You’re a good boy.”
“No, I’m not,” Gabriel pushed back. “I’m a baddy.” He winked at Simone.
“He is, G-ma,” Teddy said as he swiped a celery stick and started munching on it.
“Luciano is approaching the front door,” the surveillance system announced.
