Scrumptious (22 page)

Joe retreated to the bar.

Marlene’s eyes had held nothing but rejection. Again. He had gone all in too soon, with the wrong hand, and she had knocked him out of the game. He had hoped that working together all week might make him feel as necessary to Marlene as she felt to him, that his talk of falling in love and making promises might inspire her to give it a shot, that his skill with food would persuade her. Not the case. She liked the sex, but this love thing was something he had been working on all by himself.

He hadn’t planned to offer Big Daddy the money, but it had seemed like such a simple solution. Joe wanted to work at Chameleon. He wanted to stay in Norton and build a life with Marlene. Sucked for him that she just wanted her old life back. She had made it abundantly clear that she didn’t want to start a new one with him.

Joe knocked back a shot of tequila and grieved the loss of what had been so briefly within his grasp. It hurt, he wasn’t surprised to notice. Not the tequila
—
that was good. The rejection. The rejection hurt. Goddamn, he had really wanted that new life.

Parts of him were waking up, after what felt like having been asleep forever. He jerked his head at the bartender to order another shot and settled back against the bar to let it all wash over him. He had a good view of Marlene’s table, and, for the next two and a half hours, he watched her play, stock-still and staring, oblivious to the buck-naked strippers all over the room. Joe only had eyes for Marlene.

When he saw Olivia edge through the door followed by Sean Kindred and a delicate old woman who must be Olivia’s grandmother, he stood. The backup had arrived. He wasn’t needed here anymore. There was no doubt in his mind that Marlene could win this game. She’d been gaining chips steadily. The best thing he could do for her was get out of the way. He’d leave, even if he didn’t particularly want to go. Hopefully, he’d hear the call of the road before he hit the highway.

Joe had quit drinking after the second shot, but he felt maudlin. He was going to have to embark on his new life alone. He was grateful to his mother for waking him up to love. His heart hurt like hell at the moment, but it would be fine eventually. He knew he would recover. That was the thing about life, it kept moving. He had missed so much already. He’d better get moving. But where?

Another chunk of his grief cut loose and in its wake, he discovered something astonishing.

He wanted to talk to his father.

***

The game was on.

Marlene checked her cards. Junk. She remembered to tuck her hair behind her ears before she bet. She lost. She would have to work fast. She didn’t have enough chips to sacrifice two hundred dollars right and left.

Marlene flopped a straight. Sweet Jesus. She shook her hair back, trying not to be
too
obvious, and bet half her stack. She didn’t want to make anyone suspicious.

Damn. Only one customer.

She raked in the ten thousand dollar pot. A great start, but she still had a long way to go.

More junk. She bet and tucked her hair behind her ears again.

The guys took her money.

With her tell well-set, she began to fold, fold, fold.

In
another
life, I could fall in love with you
.

Guess she didn’t have to wonder what Joe had meant anymore. It was a wonder she hadn’t known at the time. Maybe on some level she had. Too late now.

Whatever Joe’s words had meant to him, Marlene knew what they meant to her. She knew from the tips of her toes in their wannabe stripper shoes to the roots of her too big hair. She had fallen in love with him.

Fat lot of good that it would do her. She was doomed. They were doomed. Joe couldn’t even discuss the topic of love without imagining them on another planet, and she had her own issues with commitment.

The sooner Joe left Norton, the better.

Marlene tossed her big hair over her shoulders, bet a solid hand, and collected the pot.

She could tell the old man was getting impatient with her. They’d already been sitting here for three hours, and she’d only tripled her money. Thirty thousand dollars. Marlene could do this all night if she had to, but the old man was beginning to yawn, and the guys at the table were starting to look protective.

Marlene wondered how long she had to win this game fair and square before the funny business began. Rocky looked like he might have a pocket full of aces in his Armani suit, and she didn’t think he’d be slipping them to her.

Marlene checked her cards. Aces. This had to be the hand.

She bet five grand.

The tight-assed player to her left raised to ten. Too good to be true. By the time it got back to Marlene, four other players had called, including Big Daddy.

Marlene called. Another five thousand.

She returned Big Daddy’s measuring gaze with a vapid stare that almost made her eyeballs cross, and twirled her hair around her finger. She shot a smoky smile at Rocky, who was hovering about three inches behind Big Daddy and had been steady in that zone for an hour now. Rocky gave her a glare.

The flop hit ace, queen of clubs, jack of hearts. That gave her three aces. Marlene was first to act, and she tucked her hair behind her ears as she bet ten thousand dollars.

Everyone folded but Big Daddy Capozzi.

The turn was a junk club, and she checked.

Big Daddy bet another ten thousand. Four to a flush and a straight draw. Marlene knew all along Big Daddy was holding kings, and now she
knew
he had the king of clubs. Damn. Almost any club, any king or any ten would wreck her.

No choice. She was committed. “Call.”

“Let me see those aces, little girl.” Big Daddy said.

Marlene laid her cards on the table.

It was all up to the river. The table was tight. The room still. Even Keith had escaped from Nikki and was watching the game now.

Marlene sent a prayer and a silent promise up to the heavens.
Red
card. Red card. I will do anything for a red card. I will teach Keith to cook. I will clean the employee bathroom. I’ll even go to my father’s wedding. God, please, no clubs and no tens. Just give me a red card.

Marlene closed her eyes.

She heard the dealer lay down the river card.

Keith’s groan rose above the music.

Her eyes slammed open. It was black. Clubs. The jack of clubs.

Marlene’s heart shuddered, beat, then began to pound.

She whooped, “Keith, you jackass, you almost gave me a heart attack!” Big Daddy had hit his flush, but Marlene had a full house. She’d won.

Marlene tossed her hair over her shoulders and shook like the girls on the stage.

She giggled. Whoa. Big Daddy was even better at cursing in Italian than Olivia’s father.

A sweetly familiar voice cut through the room. “Benito Dante Pasquale Capozzi, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

“Nonna Lucia!” Marlene jumped to her feet and ran to embrace Olivia’s grandmother.

Nonna Lucia stood with Olivia, Sean Kindred, and a truly terrified-looking Anthony. Nonna held Marlene in her arms as she continued to stare down Big Daddy over Marlene’s shoulder. “These are my children.”

Marlene breathed happily. Even after traveling all day, Nonna smelled of lemons and the olive oil she used on her skin. She felt her world spin wildly and then center on its axis.

“Where’s Joe?” Marlene asked.

“He said he had to go move his truck,” Olivia replied.

“How long ago was that?” She hadn’t noticed Joe leave or her friends’ arrival. She had been too busy praying for an ace and her own salvation. Joe hadn’t seen the end of the game?

“About half an hour. Nonna wouldn’t let me interrupt the game. She wanted to see you beat Big Daddy. Apparently, he’s had it coming for a while.”

“Explain,” Marlene demanded.

Olivia caught sight of Keith sitting at a table with Nikki. Her eyes narrowed to slits. Sean frowned and nudged Olivia with his shoulder. Reluctantly, she turned back to Marlene. “Nonna Lucia and Benito Dante, aka Big Daddy, were sweethearts, back in the old country. When Nonna moved here with her family, she met my grandpa and got married. By the time Big Daddy found her, it was too late. He never forgave her. It’s kind of romantic, if you squint a little.”

“Speaking of romance, is the wedding reception over yet? Did my cake make it through?” she asked.

“Cake was fine. It’s still going on though. Jacques came in to dish, and Johnny’s working the bar.”

“Johnny? From across the street?”

“Yeah. He had two other bartenders at his place, and it was a slow night anyway. I think he and Joe are friends,” Olivia said. “Anthony was a big help, and Danny stayed to close so we could pick up Nonna Lucia. Danny said thanks, by the way.”

They turned to look at Olivia’s grandmother.

“Lucia.” Her name on Big Daddy’s lips was an explanation, an apology, and a prayer. His eyes silently begged her forgiveness. Then Big Daddy dropped his head.

Nonna drifted toward him. “Ah, Benito,” she whispered.

“No squinting about it,” Sean said under his breath.

Marlene shot Olivia a look. “What’s he doing here?”

“Actually, Sean’s the one who put it all together,” Olivia said. “He discovered Capozzi made the offer on Chameleon. In addition to carrying a torch for Nonna, Big Daddy always wanted the restaurant.”

“He was willing to give it up pretty easily.” She told them about Joe’s offer and Big Daddy’s agreement and condition.

“Joe was going to lay down a hundred grand to cover Keith’s losses? Just like that?” Olivia said.

“Not quite,” Marlene shifted in her high heels. “I think he really wanted Chameleon too. He said he didn’t want to go to California anymore.”

“No shit, Marlene. I’ve been trying to tell you that all week,” Olivia said.

Marlene shook her head. “I told him I didn’t want him to stay.”

Olivia groaned. “Of course you did.”

Marlene thought she had gotten past the resentment, but it ripped her in half to know that Olivia wanted Joe to stay at Chameleon. She shook her head, ashamed of herself. The restaurant was the important thing. “I’m sorry. Of course Joe should stay,” she said thickly. “I wasn’t thinking about Chameleon. You need a chef. Joe is perfect.” Marlene swallowed hard. “It’s just…” She shook her head. “Tell Nonna I’ll see her soon. I’m going home.”

Chameleon was safe. Keith was under control, probably for the rest of his life, from the proprietary look on Nikki’s face, and Olivia and Sean were standing side by side. They looked good together. Anthony stood near them, dazed, but cheerful for the first time since Marlene had met him. Even Nonna Lucia glowed, luminous under Big Daddy’s dark gaze.

Everything was good.

Hot tears burned Marlene’s eyes, and she squeezed them shut, stunned by her overwhelming misery. She moved toward the door.

A soft hand gripped her arm, pulling her back. Olivia was behind her, shaking her gently by the shoulders. “Jesus, Olivia, let me go.” She did not want to cry in public.

“You think I’m going to hire Joe?” her friend demanded.

“Well, yeah, like I said, he’s perfect.”

Olivia shook her head. “I’m not hiring anybody.”

“Not this again. You have got to get some bodies in that kitchen! You can’t run with a skeleton crew anymore. If you don’t want to hire Joe, pick a name off of a résumé. Hire somebody!”

“I’m not hiring anyone,” Olivia insisted. “You are.”

Olivia’s words didn’t make sense. Too many hours staring at the cards. She had missed something important here.

“I want you to do the hiring. And the firing,” Olivia announced.

“Olivia, use smaller words, please. My brain is fried.”

“Wouldn’t you be mad if I hired Joe?”

“Olivia, Chameleon needs a good chef. Joe is better than good. Hire him.”

“What about you? If I hire Joe, will you stay at Chameleon?” Olivia asked.

Marlene didn’t have to answer the question. The truth was in her eyes, and she knew that Olivia could see it. “It’s for the best,” she said. “I should have left when you brought Keith home.”

Olivia flinched. “I’m sorry, Marly. I was an idiot not to realize you left the line because you didn’t want to work with Keith. I understand why you’re so angry. Join the club. Joe’s pissed. Nonna’s pissed.” Olivia grimaced. “She gave me an earful on the way from the airport, by the way. I deserved it. And more. It would serve me right if you turned me down, but it would also break my heart. Marlene, please, I’m begging you. Don’t leave me. I can’t do this without you. Please, please be my chef
—
accept the job you have been training to do for fifteen years. Chameleon needs you. I need you. Don’t quit on me now.”

Tears clogged Marlene’s throat and made it impossible to speak. Olivia didn’t want Joe to be her chef. She wanted Marlene.

Finally.

Olivia mistook Marlene’s silence for refusal and scrambled for words. “I don’t blame you for wanting to say no, Marly. I pushed you too far. I’ve had my head up my ass
—
” She burst into tears.

“Yeah, well, I’m used to that.”

Olivia sobbed harder.

“I’m not going to lie,” Marlene cleared her throat. “I’ve had my moments. I did call your grandmother.”

“Yeah, but you also stuck by me. You fixed everything. You called Pymco and pushed our order through, even with no credit. You organized the staff to pull off a wedding in twenty-four hours. You made a beautiful wedding cake. You fixed Joe’s sauce and you figured out who was sabotaging Chameleon.” The list embarrassed and thrilled Marlene.

“Joe did that.”

“Yeah, well, you won my restaurant in a poker game. Holy cow, does that mean it’s yours now?”

“Nonna had it covered.”

“Would you shut up? I’m trying to apologize.”

She shut up.

Olivia’s eyes still held tears. “Marlene, you are the heart and soul of Chameleon. I am so sorry I’ve been such an idiot. It was bad enough that I married Keith, but I never should have given him your job. I’ll probably apologize every day for the rest of our lives for doing that. Will you ever forgive me?”