“I’ll be back to help.”
Dante
I grunt at her soft-spoken reply as I work my jaw. I want to tell her she can’t have the night off. She needs to accompany Bella and me on our date.
It’s that fucking dress. That asshole better not touch her. I feel violated all over again. In fact, I feel more rage now than I did last night. I’ve been trying to shove this part of me back in its box since I returned to the house.
It’s the only reason I force myself to let her have her date. Lizzy doesn’t deserve the man I am. I don’t think she would survive me. As she fidgets and looks all shy, I know she wouldn’t.
“I’m only a phone call away,” I grumble.
“I’ve been on dates before. I’m not a child,” she says.
“Clearly. Listen…” I shake my head. “Bella, let’s go.”
Bella walks toward me, looking over her shoulder at Lizzy. It takes everything I am to walk out and not say another word. I pull my phone and text Zek with instructions.
I may not want to personally keep an eye on Lizzy and her date, but I do want to ensure her safety at all times. I work my jaw as I think about all I’ve dragged her into. I still don’t know what Gio was thinking.
Chapter 26
Sweet Date
Lizzy
I’d be lying if I said this hasn’t been a really nice date. Jacob has taken me to a friend’s restaurant. The ambience is nice and romantic. Jacob has been nothing but polite.
“How’s your salmon?” he asks, pointing at my plate with his fork.
I cover my mouth as I chew on the jasmine rice and lemon garlic salmon. The flavor bursts in my mouth. It’s delicate, but palette awakening. The lemon garlic sauce works really well with the crispy skin of the fish. It’s divine.
“Oh my God, it’s delicious. It’s not fishy and the lemon garlic sauce is perfect. I love a crispy skin. This is totally it.”
“Thanks,” he winks at me.
I tilt my head to the side. “You say that like you made this.”
He smiles. “I may have had something to do with the prep. I wanted dinner to be perfect. Anthony was once my sous chef. He was able to finish things off for me once we arrived.”
I nod. “Okay, I see you, Jacob.”
“I’m glad I finally get to see you. So, how’s the new job going? Bella? That’s her name, right?”
I nod. “It’s going well.” I don’t elaborate as I’m not comfortable talking about Bella to anyone outside of those involved in her life and care.
“The kid is like five or something, right?”
I nod but don’t give a verbal answer. “I may not have like Dante’s wife, but that was sort of messed up what happened to her. I think it’s sort of cool you’re there for the little kid.”
“How’d you hear about it?” I say, feeling protective of Dante and Bella. I know for a fact they tried to keep everything out of the press.
“Gossip travels through the restaurants. I thought you were just his nanny, but I’ve heard that you’re actually part of his travel team. You were instrumental in the merger he closed a few weeks ago. Nice work.”
I shrug, ready for a change of subject. Even if I didn’t sign an NDA, I wouldn’t feel comfortable gossiping about my boss’s life. Especially not as a part of his live-in staff.
“How’s the restaurant going?” I already know the answer, but it’s the first thing I can think of to change the topic.
“It’s great. We have some critics coming in next week. It’s been an awesome transition for my career. You know, with the whole fiasco with Dante’s wife and all. I thought I was finished after that shit went viral.”
“What exactly happened?”
He rolls his eyes. “I don’t want to speak ill of the dead. When you have time, Google the chef surprise. It was really a silly overreaction to what she felt entitled to. I knew who she was, so I made sure the meal was cooked to perfection. Go figure.” He shrugs and takes a sip of his beer.
It doesn’t sound like it’s worth my precious brain cells. I’ll pass. I can only imagine what I’ll find.
Jacob smiles at me. For the millionth time, I hold my breath to see if that spark will hit me. Nothing. I feel as if I’m on a date with a new friend.
“Tell me, Izzy, what do you do for fun other than game.”
I don’t tell him how much I hate being called Izzy outside of my channels. I hold that one in because after the other night with Dante painting my toes and his unexpected words, I promised myself I’d really try my best to make this work with Jacob. For my sanity.
“I love to read. Give me a book over people any day.” I clamp my mouth shut as I realize what I’ve said.