A Kind of Romance (3 page)

Four customers greeted my father the moment we stepped inside. I smiled wanly and shook hands with them all, pretending to listen to their names and backstories, knowing full well I’d forget them the moment I stepped away. There was a short line at the counter. Normal activity for this late in the morning. Ten forty-five wasn’t quite breakfast or lunchtime. I surveyed the store, idly separating obvious tourists from the locals as I waited for Dad to finish up with his fan club. Jason was behind the counter, ringing up a customer while— Huh, there he was. Benny. He was pointing out various bagels to a young woman dressed from head to toe in purple who couldn’t decide between the oat bran and cinnamon raisin.

He looked different today. The blue streak was gone, and I didn’t detect any makeup on his face. There may have been a touch of eyeliner, but it was discreet. I wondered at the lack of cosmetics. Abe certainly wouldn’t have told him to go without. My brother firmly believed in a “live and let live” philosophy. Surprisingly, piercings, tats, and makeup were nonissues for my father as well. As long as his employees were friendly and turned out in clean red, black, or white T-shirts with the Bowery Bagel logo, he was happy.

Benny must have caught my stare. He looked up suddenly and smiled. I had a feeling it was Dad he was pleased to see, but I didn’t mind. Damn… he had a nice smile. Maybe I’d been distracted by the lip gloss when I last saw him at the hospital, because I felt as though I were seeing him for the first time. And I liked what I saw.

Until he spoke.

“Hi there, sugar! Imagine meeting you here!” He batted his eyelashes in an over-the-top manner that made me squirm before turning to greet my father with a more subdued “How are you, Mr. G?”

“I’m excellent! They say I’m anemic and my blood pressure was much too low, but otherwise, I’m perfectly healthy,” Dad reported.

“Well, you look fantastic.”

“Thank you. So do you. But where is the color? I liked the blue.” My father’s eyes twinkled merrily.

Dad was in his element. This store above all the others made him happiest. Perhaps it was because this was where it all began. He’d lived with his family in the apartment upstairs and worked here since he was ten. He even met Mom in the store when she came by with some friends one fateful day four decades ago.

“I was requested to go au naturel for my cousin’s wedding next month. I’m giving it a try today. What do you think?” Benny asked, striking a vogue-inspired pose with his hands framing his face theatrically.

I chuckled in spite of myself. He was charming in a weird way. Emphasis on
weird
.

“You look good,” I commented awkwardly.

“Thanks.”

We shared a smile. It wasn’t an intimate thing. No sparks flew this time. No bells chimed. We may have held eye contact a little longer than normal, but it was friendly. Not a big deal. I stepped back when a customer came up behind me to place an order, and watched Dad chat with Jason before making his way to the back room.

I knew from personal experience that the baking was done for the day. The kitchen opened at four a.m. and closed at ten. Whoever was back there now would be cleaning and preparing for tomorrow morning’s crowd of bagel lovers. Bowery served basic lunch fare and welcomed afternoon food tours, but this location shut its doors at four o’clock every afternoon. It was funny how much I knew about the daily routine here. Sure, I’d worked here or at one of the Brooklyn stores when I was a teenager, but it was more than that. I couldn’t forget this shit if I tried. And believe me, I’d tried.

What I didn’t understand was why Benny wanted anything to do with it. If his family ran a restaurant across town, why work here too? His altruistic sensibility was a little… suspicious. Then again, why should I care? If Benny wanted a job and Dad needed a friendly employee he could trust, it wasn’t my business.

I leaned on the café bar and pulled out my cell to check in with Gina. Other than a reminder that I had a business lunch at one p.m., there were no emergencies. I grilled her on a couple of accounts as I let my gaze wander back to Benny. His black T-shirt was a snug fit. He wasn’t muscular in the slightest, but he was toned. Without makeup, his features seemed sharper. More pointed and angular. If he was taller and a lot less fabulous, I might actually be attracted to him.

When I glanced up again, he caught my stare with a wicked grin that inexplicably went straight to my dick. I returned it with a cocky one of my own and pocketed my cell. Benny untied his apron from around his waist as he moved around the counter and came toward me.

“Done for the day?” I asked politely.

“Well, here anyway. Next stop is Johnny’s at five. Six hours of freedom! Sheer heaven. I don’t know what to do with myself first,” he exclaimed, stifling a yawn.

I gave a half chuckle. “Sleep? What time did you start this morning?”

“Five a.m. This schedule is gonna take some getting used to. I shouldn’t have gone out last night, but I couldn’t say no to disco-karaoke night.”

“Hmm. Dad told me your family owns Johnny’s. I haven’t been there in a while, but I like that place.”

“Yeah. Most people do. It’s authentic
italiano
.”

“I’m curious… why take a minimum-wage job working at a bagel shop with early morning hours when you have a job at your family’s place?” A less accusatory note might have been a smoother approach, but finesse wasn’t always my strong suit.

“Come again?” Benny dropped his affable tone and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked fierce. The sudden change was sexy as hell, though I couldn’t begin to say why I thought so.

“It just seems… odd.”

“You don’t want me here?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t care if you’re here, and it isn’t my decision either way. If Dad and Abe want you… you’re in.” I shrugged, adding, “I’m just curious.”

“I took over when Rand quit. They needed the help, and I could use the extra cash. Besides, your dad is a good man. He’s always gone out of his way to be cool to me. The food biz may or may not be my thing, but people are. And your dad is good people. Don’t worry. I’m not planning on ingratiating myself for a place in his will. I’m not a hustler and for better or worse, I’ve got enough family to share a few times over. I don’t want yours.”

Benny finished his speech with a head bob, then turned on his heel. I grabbed his elbow before he got anywhere.

“Hey. I’m sorry. I’m not accusing you of anything. Really.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets, feeling more than a little chagrined. “It’s nothing I would do by choice. That’s all.”

“Which part? Work here or help someone out?”

I chuckled softly. “Both maybe. But hey… I appreciate that you care about him and want to be here. He likes you too. Then again, he likes everyone so….”

“Gee thanks,” he snorted. “I don’t think it’s a matter of your dad liking everyone. It’s more that he’s willing to give people a chance. Even me.”

Benny turned away again, but this time it was Dad who stopped him when he returned from the kitchen. He sat heavily at one of the bistro chairs and tapped the seat next to him, beckoning Benny to sit for a moment.

“Pops, I should get going—”

“Tell me how your week has been. Have you decided who you’re taking to your cousin’s wedding?” Dad asked, willfully ignoring me.

Benny shrugged. “No one. I’m going with my mom and Aunt Luisa.”

“You should take someone. Take Ezekiel! You can go, can’t you, son? It’s a great solution. You need someone with a fancy suit, and Ezekiel certainly has more fancy clothes than….”

Oh boy. Here we go again.

I tuned him out with practiced ease, figuring I’d let him run out of steam before I patiently reset expectations. Preferably without losing my temper. In this case, I had to guess Benny would set Dad straight before I was forced to say a word. No doubt he could kindly tell my meddling father not to be ridiculous. Awkward letdowns always sounded better coming from strangers. And I could guaran-damn-tee Benny didn’t want to attend a family wedding with a guy he met three days ago any more than I wanted to go with him. It was absurd.

Imagine my surprise when I resurfaced from my reverie to my father clapping his pudgy hands before looking up at me with a satisfied grin as if to say, “My work here is complete.” Oh shit. What had I missed?

“…that’s a Saturday afternoon. Of course you’ll be free, right, son?”

“Excuse me?” I sputtered.

Benny jumped to his feet and burst out laughing. “You should see your face!” He stood on his toes and whispered in my ear. “Don’t worry. Just play along.”

He whirled away, saying something about grabbing his bag, while I watched in wonder, torn between thinking he smelled good and being very concerned I’d been flattened by a steamroller and had yet to recover. I shook my head in confusion and tried to refocus. I didn’t know where to begin. Not when my father was giving me
that
look. The one that said, “See? I took care of you.” Not good.

“I’ve got to get back to the office. Hector will drop me off first, then take you back home. Ready now, or do you want him to come back for you?”

“I’m ready. Let’s offer Benjamin a ride too and—”

“No. We’re leaving now. Benjamin can find his own ride.”

Dad furrowed his brow at me impatiently. “That’s not very nice. Besides, you need to discuss—”

Benny reappeared on the sidewalk a moment later with a cherry-red man-bag slung over his shoulder, a bright blue baseball cap, and a pair of Tom Ford tortoiseshell sunglasses. Somehow he managed to make the simple ensemble seem like haute couture. He looked elegant and confident. An undeniably appealing combination. But I still wasn’t going out with him.

“I’ll see you next week, Mr. G. Call me if you need anything.”

“Wait! Do you have Ezekiel’s number?” my father asked offhandedly.

Benny smirked and drew his sunglasses down his nose before giving me a mischievous look I couldn’t quite read. “What’s your number, honey?”

I stared at him incredulously and shook my head. “Look, Hector is waiting and—”

“Tell him I’ll be right there,” Dad said, shooing me away with both hands like an irritating bird. “I’ll give Benjamin your number.”

My face heated with a flush of embarrassment. I had to get out of there before I went fucking nuts. Why was this always the way things worked between us? It’s like he lived to torment me. There was no way he truly thought Benny and I were destined to be anything besides casual acquaintances, so why did he insist on making everyone uncomfortable? Maybe the better question was why I let him get under my skin. If I were smart, I’d play along like I was in on the joke instead of a taking everything so damn seriously. It was harder with him than anyone else in my life.

I was practically vibrating by the time Dad finally got in the car. I made a valiant effort to let it go and not let his constant meddling bother me. I lasted two blocks. Well, maybe closer to one and a half.

“Why did you do that? I’m not going to a wedding with some queen I met three days ago in the hospital emergency room. Not happening.”

My father raised his bushy eyebrows and feigned a look of surprise. “That’s a touch uncomfortable. If you felt so strongly, why didn’t you say something?”

I let out a rush of air and then smacked my head hard with my palm. This was a futile discussion. A one-sided foray into madness. It was pointless to engage. A smarter man would have smiled and changed the subject. I was a fucking moron.

“I did! You don’t listen. He’s a nice enough guy. I guess. But he is not. My. Type!”

“Are you shouting at me?”

“No. I’m not. I’m… I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Exactly. Which is why you should listen to me. And what is this ‘type’ talk? Benjamin is a good-looking young man. You said so yourself.”

“Sure he is. Look, I’m going to go back to work where I can deal with insane people who actually make sense and try to forget my father playing shadchan with me and someone who is entirely… too fabulous to take seriously.”

“I’m surprised you remember what that word means.”

“Matchmaker. I have an encyclopedic memory, Pops. I remember a lot of things I wish I didn’t.”

“Ah… and maybe now we come to the truth behind your tantrum,” he said sagely.

“Tant—” I threw my hands in the air and huffed. “I give up.”

“Good. Benjamin is good people. I’m old. And I see things you don’t. One day you’ll thank me. You’ll—”

“I’ll thank you to not set me up with anyone. That’s what I’ll thank you for. Please… leave my personal life alone.” I stared out the window, willing the traffic gods to cooperate.

“Why? So you bring home another taker like that Taylor character? Not on my watch. He was trouble.”

“Taylor wasn’t that bad.”

“Well, he wasn’t that good either. Listen… I know you think I’m a busybody—”

“You
are
a busybody,” I agreed.

“All I ask is that you talk to Benjamin when he calls you.”

“That’s the only thing, eh?” I eyed him dubiously as I stuffed my laptop inside my briefcase and prepared to exit. I was grateful to finally reach my destination. Now I just had to curb my desire to jump out of the moving vehicle before it came to a full and complete stop.

“Yes. For now. Ezekiel….”

I climbed out of the backseat and waited impatiently with one hand on the car door.

“Yeah?” I prodded.

“I almost died and—”

“You hit your head! You didn’t die. Stop it.”

“Well, these near-death experiences can’t be taken lightly at my age. Not long ago, I would have welcomed death.”

“Oh geez, Dad.” I glanced at my watch, sorry my attempt at kindness led me to yet another gospel according to George Gulden.

“It’s true. I would have given anything to be with your mother again.”

That stopped me. Maybe he knew it would. I was my mother’s son and always would be. There was no part of me that would ever turn away from even a casual mention of her name.

“She’s not dead, Dad.”

“But she’s not alive either. Not really.” He swallowed hard and continued in a low tone. “My heart breaks a little every day still. Maybe it’s what landed me in hospital, eh? I’m only human and though I have so much to be grateful for, I can’t help wishing things were different. They aren’t. We deal with the cards we’re dealt, right? The one thing I do know is your mother wants me to be sure our boys are all happy. I don’t mean to be a bother but… your happiness is my number one goal.”