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“Nothing,” she replied with her most saccharine smile. While she would like nothing more than to stand around telling off her ex for his various dating crimes and misdemeanors, she had better options for channeling the power flooding her veins. It was only a date, but it felt like so much more. A new beginning, a fulfillment of all she had to offer. Tonight, the taping would propel DeLuca’s Ristorante into prosperity and later … later, she would have Jack.
Twenty-Six
Showtime!
The restaurant had never looked better and even if it was on the Cooking Channel’s dime, a full DeLuca’s was about as gratifying a sight as Lili could have wished for. And while she knew Jack was the main attraction, the curious looks she got confirmed that she was a draw in her own right. Two guys had passed her their numbers. One woman had asked if she was bicurious. Maybe there was something to Tad’s theory of Lili as poster woman for curvy gals everywhere. Have the hot guy and eat your cake too.
Ducking the television camera that seemed to be stuck to her butt like white on long grain, she recapped her father’s menu. Veal meatballs followed by his famous gnocchi with brown butter and sage. For carne, he offered juicy bistecca, and Lili almost pitied Jack who was left serving lamb chops to the steak-loving clientele that they had lined up for the taping. The coup de grâce was creamy hazelnut gelato and rasberry sorbetti for dolci. It was the ideal menu to showcase her father’s cooking.
It might even be enough to win.
Lost in her thoughts, it took a few moments to register Tad calling her over to the bar.
“Take a gander.” He inclined his head in the direction of the water station.
Her gaze alighted on Gina, whose furtive hunch made it clear that customer hydration was the furthest thing from that girl’s mind. Lili turned to Tad and got an eyebrow jump in return. Her thoughts exactly.
Marching over, she tapped Gina’s shoulder and was rewarded with a guilty hop. “Geez, Lili, could you not do that?”
Over her cousin’s fuzzy veil of hair, Lili spied a plate of Jack’s lamb chops with rosemary-truffle oil potatoes. “This had better be good.”
Gina blew out her cheeks like a pissed off chipmunk. That’s when Lili noticed the large container of sea salt behind the plate.
“Don’t tell me you’re sabotaging Jack’s dishes!”
She got the distinct impression that Gina would have placed her hand over Lili’s mouth if she thought she could get away with it. “Shut up, would you? It’s only a couple of dishes here and there. Just leveling the playing field.”
“What possessed you to do this?” Lili surveyed the room in a panic, seeking out Gina’s evil conjoined twin, Angela. Her pliable cousin wouldn’t be acting alone.
“It’s no big deal. Marco said it would be better for business if we won.”
“Marco!” Lili gasped, trying to haul air. Sweat trickled between her breasts and a cold weight settled in her belly. Grabbing Gina by the shoulders, she pressed down, forcing her stunted cousin even shorter than her five foot-two inches. “How many dishes have you ruined?”
Her cousin squirmed, but Lili dug into her flesh, willing her to answer. She was prepared to resort to slaps if necessary.
“Two or three. But nothing’s been sent back. Nobody knows.”
“You stupid, stupid girl.” Which sounded ridiculous because Gina was four years older than Lili. “Have you any idea of the position this puts us in with Jack? He could have picked any restaurant and this is how we repay him.”
“Oh. Em. Gee,” Gina drawled. “You’re on Team Jack now because you guys swapped fluids? How about some respect for how we defended you online?”
Lili imagined steam coming out of her own ears. There had to be a better way to make a living. Gina’s piss-poor attitude and sorry dearth of skills had meant she was flying close to the sun for a while now. There was only one possible way to handle this.
“You’re fired.”
Her cousin squeaked in amusement and her hair bobbed in unison with her shoulders. “Good one, Lili.”
“I’m serious. Give me your apron, I’ll take over your station.” She thrust her hand out stiffly, readying for the tremor she could anticipate rolling a tsunami down her arm. “Now.”
Like something out of a children’s book illustration, Gina’s big eyes flew even wider. “I—I can’t believe you’re taking Jack’s side against the family. I was going to ask you to be my maid of honor!”
Aw, that was so sweet, and it would be so much fun to see the look on Angela’s face… Stand your ground. Do not let her play you. “I don’t want you anywhere near food or the customers,” and when Gina still didn’t make a move, Lili added, “Don’t make me get Dad out here.”
At the mention of Lili’s father, her cousin’s face collapsed. With her parents passed on, Gina’s closest male relatives were her brother, Tad, and her uncle, Tony. The foolish girl might think she was doing the family a favor, but the mere mention of its patriarch was enough to shake loose the realization that she had screwed up. Spectacularly.
Slowly, she handed the apron over. “Everyone’s been served their entrées. Desserts should be up in ten.”
Feeling wobbly, Lili donned the apron and tried not to melt at the sight of her cousin’s rapidly-welling eyes. For the love of Frank, bitch knew Lili was a sucker for the waterworks.
