Jacob—totally oblivious to how close he is to losing his head turns and grabs a chair to pull up to our table. He sits much too close to Lizzy for my liking. I bite down my temper and focus on Jacob reading over the contract Lizzy has handed him.
“I’m sorry,” Jacob says, holding his hand out to me. “I got so excited. It’s nice to meet you. You’re Dante Di Lorenzo, right?”
“Yes, I am. It seems my assistant is more famous than I am,” I tease and wink at Lizzy.
She squirms in her seat. I shouldn’t enjoy the response so much. However, I take it in like it’s another bite of food. I eat it up, feeling like myself for the first time in so long, I can’t remember.
“This is a dream come true, but…you’re sure I’ll never have to deal with that woman in my restaurant? No offense.”
“My wife won’t step foot in the restaurant. I’ll make sure of it,” I reply.
“If he fails, I’ll handle it. You don’t have to worry about her. You work for the Di Lorenzo family. We take care of our own,” Gio reassures him.
“Cool, cool. I just want to look this over.” He nods to himself and flips through the pages. The rest of us return to our plates.
Ten minutes goes by before Jacob signs and someone from the restaurant’s staff comes to rush him back to the kitchen. I can’t say I’m not happy to see him go. However, before he leaves, he pushes my buttons one last time.
“Hey, I have to go. How about you give me your number and we can have dinner. I’ll get those photos then?” Jacob says as he stands.
Lizzy blushes. I hate that she’s blushing for this guy. I’m tempted to grab the contract and tear it up.
Lizzy looks between Gio and me. I pick up my phone to busy myself so she can’t read my reaction.
“I…um, I don’t know if this is appropriate. I’m on the clock.”
“Oh, cool, no problem. I follow you on the gram,” he says with a nod and smile. “I’ll drop in your DM and we can set something up there. My handle is Jacob eats.”
He gives another crooked smile and winks. I throw back my fresh drink and stand, tossing a few bills on the table.
“Let’s go,” I say a little too sharply.
I’ve had enough of this. I don’t care if Lizzy’s dating life is none of my business. I have limits.
Chapter 4
Family
Dante
“It’s good to have you back home,” I say to my dad with a genuine smile on my face.
He arrived back home yesterday. I took some time off to bring Bella by to spend time with her grandfather. She’s been talking her great-grandfather and great Uncle’s ears off nonstop—Uncle Lucas isn’t my real uncle. He’s my father’s best friend.
Dad and I were able to escape to his home office before she pulled us into her tea party with the new tea set her grandpa brought her from Italy.
“I wasn’t sure if I would make it back in time for the holidays. So much going on back home. You know how things can get. If it weren’t for Bella, I think I’d still be in Italy at this very moment.”
“Yes, I figure it might have been Bella’s phone call.” I chuckle.
Bella found her way into my phone and called my father herself, begging for his return. She told him sternly she wanted his presence for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“Ah, yes, did you hear the part when she threatened me if I didn’t make it back for her birthday?”
“Yes, yes, I did.” I laugh, lifting some of the stress off my shoulders.
“I missed you all. It was good to have some time away, but there’s nothing like home and family. How are things going at the office?”
My father had his own business to run before he sold and retired, but he has always taken a vested interest in the Di Lorenzo empire, guiding me where he could.
“At the office, things are great. We just acquired an amazing chef. The newest acquisitions are going well. Things are looking great.”
“Um, but at home?” he questions, seeming to pick up on my tone.
“He’s still married to a troll,” Dario says as he strolls into the room.
I sigh and push a hand into my hair. If I don’t do something with my hands, I might choke my brother. I understand his disdain for Bethany. She verbally attacked his best friend, and he hasn’t forgiven her for it. I can’t blame him.
I blow out a breath and turn my attention back toward my father. “How did you do it? After mom left…” I pause for a moment as the bitter sting sets in. “How did you raise us and move on with your life?”
He sighs. “I know I made things look easier than they truly were. I was crushed after your mother left, but I had three boys to raise. I didn’t have time to think about myself.