I stop our hostess, Shabel. “Hey, which table is asking for me?”
She turns and points to the exclusive tables where all our VIP guests make reservations to sit. My mouth falls open as soon as I see who’s sitting at the table.
I groan, I’m not in the mood for this. I almost turn and head back into the kitchen. However, Lou stands the moment he sees me and waves me over.
“Carleen, you look lovely,” he says as I stop at his table. He leans in to kiss my cheek. “Mom, I want you to meet Carleen. The friend I was telling you about.”
“Hello,” I say and hold my hand out.
She takes it limply as she rolls her eyes over me appraisingly. I stiffen and take my hand back. I don’t need this woman’s approval.
I’m not even interested in her son. I frown at her and her red hair and blue eyes. She looks nothing like Lou. It’s time for her to get a touch-up on her hair color.
“Nice to meet you,” she says.
I dismiss her and turn to Lou. “What are you doing here?”
“I was telling my mother how good the food is here and I had to bring her in. I was hoping you were working tonight so I could say hello. I hope things aren’t too busy and that I’m not keeping you.”
“Well, we are pretty busy tonight.”
He frowns. “That’s unfortunate. We’ll have to come by some other time so you can sit and eat with us. Maybe my brothers can join us next time.”
“Yeah, sure,” I say to be polite.
Lou leans to kiss my cheek again, but before he can complete the gesture, I’m tugged out of the way. I know it’s Dario instantly. My body hums from his nearness.
“Has everything on the menu been to your liking?” Dario says, his voice deep and his words firm.
“Actually, we haven’t eaten yet,” Lou replies.
“Um, that’s strange. People usually call for the chef after they’ve eaten, not before. Unless they are special friends of ours.”
“I am a special friend of Carleen’s. My name is Lo—”
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Dario cuts him off.
I groan. This is not how I wanted these two to meet, not that they ever needed to meet after the level Dario and I have taken our relationship to.
“Not everyone can be a Di Lorenzo,” Lou’s mother huffs. She looks Dario over and turns up her nose.
I can’t slap this man’s mother. I can’t slap this man’s mother.
“Ma.”
“What? She works for one of the largest names in the industry, what’s the big deal? I’m not impressed.”
“Nor do you need to be,” I snarl. “And for your information, I’m co-owner of this establishment. I work with Chef Di Lorenzo, not for him.”
She waves a dismissive hand at me. “Well, excuse me. Your father must be very proud of you,” she says to Dario with a smug smile on her lips.
“Ma,” Lou grinds out. He then sticks his hand out to Dario. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“And yet, I still can’t recall who you are or why it matters.”
“I’m Carleen’s boyfriend.”
I choke. “Excuse me, what?”
“I mean, we’re taking a little break, but—”
“No, I told you I didn’t think we should see each other anymore. You were the one who tried to bogart me into taking a break.”
“Carleen,” Lou hisses. “Can we not make a scene and talk about this later?”
“No,” Dario and I say in unison.
“Lou, I’m in a relationship. I have no intention of seeing you again, not in a romantic sense.”
“Or any other.” Dario places a possessive hand on the back of my neck.
“Is he who you’re seeing?”
I roll my eyes and suck my teeth. “If you must know, yes.”
Lou narrows his eyes at Dario. Then looks to me. Something crosses his face before I can get a read on it.
“You said he was only a friend.”
“Okay, Biz. Well, now he’s not and we have a kitchen to get back to, so can you go somewhere else and sing about this?”
Dario snorts. I didn’t mean to become all sarcastic, but I’m annoyed, tired, and becoming frustrated. Lou’s face has turned several shades of red by now. Just when I think I’m going to have to kick his ass or restrain my man from doing so, Jace appears.
“Is there a problem here?” he asks.
“It’s fine. I’m done here.”
“Not a moment too soon. You were wasting your time anyway,” Lou’s mother mutters.
I suck my teeth and turn to head back into the kitchen. I leave Jace and Dario to their conversation as I calm my temper. I don’t need this type of stress in my life.
Dario comes up behind me as I wash my hands, once I’m back inside. He wraps his arms around me and tightens his embrace.
“Biz Markie? You said she’s just a friend?” He chuckles in my ear. “I might have been wrong. You are more like me than I thought. I’ve definitely rubbed off on you.”