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I mentally ran through my close friends. Cal’s schedule was too unpredictable, but Hannah was an option. We weren’t close, but she was family. “Antonio Ricci, must be serious if you’re calling me.”
“It is.” I explained what I needed and crossed my fingers. “Can you help me out?”
“I want to say yes, but I have a big delivery arriving tomorrow and my house will be a kid-free zone for the next week or so. Sorry. Maybe I can take half a shift and stay with her at your place?”
It wasn’t ideal, but if it was my only option I would make it work. “All right Hannah, thanks. Let me make a couple more calls and I’ll let you know.”
“Cool.” She ended the call abruptly and I laughed at finding someone with worse phone manners than mine.
There was one more option and I sucked in a deep breath, let it out slowly and dialed. “Ollie, I need a huge favor.” I went through the whole tale once again and begged for his help. “It’s just for a day. I leave tomorrow night and I’ll be back the day after.”
“I can do it. I might not have been present during the important years, but I remember how to take care of tykes when they’re Rosie’s age. Keep ’em safe, fed, clean and happy.”
My shoulders sank in relief. “Thanks Ollie. I owe you one.”
“Nah, you don’t. That’s what friends are for and it’s a good lesson I’m glad to see you’re finally learning. Maybe if I had asked for help back in the day, I wouldn’t have lost so many years with Augusta.” The sadness in the old man’s voice was a punch to the gut.
“I had a good teacher drill that lesson into me until it became second nature.”
He laughed. “Nice of you to say.”
“It’s not nice, it’s the truth. I’ll even share this story at the next meeting.”
“Good. Good. I’ll see you tomorrow for dinner then.”
“Perfect. Thank you, Ollie.”
“None necessary,” he said again, his voice a low grumble that said the man still didn’t know how to accept kind words. “I’ll keep your girl safe.”
“I know you will.” As soon as I got off the phone with Ollie, I texted his daughter. “Cooking lesson number two tonight?”
Her response came back almost immediately. “More lessons? I’m a salad dressing expert now, and as such, I’ve learned all I can from your culinary brain. But thanks for the offer.”
I shook my head before I came up with the perfect response. “Then you can show me everything you’ve learned by cooking me dinner. Tonight at eight. That should give you plenty of time to plan something to wow the pants off me.”
“An ice cold beer could do that.”
Damn I loved this woman’s wit and the way she didn’t try to spare my ego. Ever. “I’ll bring the beer. Eight o’clock, Augusta.”
She responded with three eyeroll emojis.
“Don’t hesitate to call if you need any tips or tricks. I’m full of them.”
More emojis, this time crying laughing ones. “You’re full of something. Eight o’clock.”
Her easy acceptance surprised me a bit, and I wondered if that meant she was starting to see things my way. Pleasure didn’t have to be meaningless, and tonight was the perfect night to show her that.
Gus
“Pizza is fine. Pizza is more than fine considering he just invited himself to dinner.” I stood at the kitchen counter, covered in flour while I chatted with Megan.
“You could have said no,” she offered with a hint of humor in her voice. “But you agreed, so some part of you must want to entertain him for a night. Maybe more.”
I scoffed. “I just figured that agreeing would end whatever this is sooner rather than later.”
“I don’t know, Gus. It sounds like it might be the beginning to me.” Megan’s sing-song tone made me smile despite myself as I wrapped the pizza dough to let it rise while I showered and got changed.
“Beginning of what? Antonio’s newfound interest in me is out of boredom, and it will pass soon enough.” I wasn’t sure of much when it came to Antonio Ricci, but I was certain that his interest in me wouldn’t last.
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Megan offered on a sigh. “I’ve known Antonio most of my life so don’t let the bad boy image fool you. He’s sweet and kind, and more than capable of commitment.”
“Oh please, Megan. Even if I believed that, I’ve seen photos of his ex-wife. If, and that’s a big if, Antonio settles down again, it’ll be with someone beautiful and glamorous, not someone spends most of her days in scrubs.”
“Shut up, you’re gorgeous and you know it. More importantly, Antonio seems to know it, so why don’t you just enjoy having the attention of a handsome man, and maybe get yourself laid in the process.”
