“You must be Sloane. I’m Zack.” A nice-looking man in a black apron smiled down at me. “I was wondering when you were going to stop by.”
“You were?” I was confused.
“Are Savannah or Abigail with you?”
Oh, he must be friend of theirs.
“No, they’re at home.”
“I see. Will there be anyone joining you?”
“No, just me.”
He looked puzzled before he pulled out the seat across from me and sat.
“Well, in that case, welcome. Do you mind if I explain the menu to you?”
“That would be nice.” I smiled at his ease and listened as he warmed up to explaining all his restaurant had to offer. In the end, I couldn’t choose, and he was delighted to make the choices for me.
He rose and called out my order to someone in the back then turned back to me. “Will your father be joining you at some point during your stay?”
My stomach twisted. How did he know my father?
“Ah…” I stumbled. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“If he does, please let me know. I have a bottle of Oban with his name on it.”
“Will do,” I whispered as he hurried away to speak to someone else. How strange was that conversation?
My phone pulled me from my confusion, and without looking at the caller ID, I answered.
“Sloane Harlow.”
“Are you avoiding me on purpose?”
My eyes shut as my annoyance took over. My ex…
“No, Grant, something just came up.”
“So I heard.” His tone dripped in sarcasm. “Well, I need you back in the city by Friday.”
“That won’t be happening.”
“You promised you’d be free.”
I shook my head. He never listened to me; he only barked out orders. Sometimes I wondered what he really saw in me. He often treated me like more of a client than someone he recently dated.
“I’m not even in Washington, Grant.” I tried to even out my breathing.
“So, your father was telling the truth. You are working on a case in North Dakota.” Seriously? I was going to kill my father. “Or is it that you’re still mad at me?”
“I am still mad at you.”
“Come on, baby, you know it was a misunderstanding.”
“That’s not how I remember it.”
“She is a colleague—”
“Colleagues don’t spend the night.”
“We were working late, and we fell asleep.”
I felt my anger rise to the surface. “Grant, there is so much more than just what happened with her.”
“Like what? It’s no secret I’m an ass, but I love you, and I know you love me too.”
I mouthed a “thank you” to Adam as he set my dinner down.
“I’m your arm candy when you need someone to puff up your ego.”
“Is that such a bad thing for you to do for me?”
“No, if you returned the favor once in a while, maybe, but you don’t. You know that deal was mine. I worked hard on that client, and you took it from me.”
“That’s what you’re pissed about?” He laughed like I was crazy for thinking that was a big deal. “Sloane, look what you just landed, one of the biggest mob cases of the decade. Mind you, I know you lost, but still, you got the job.”
Holy Christ! Jab number three hundred.
“Grant, we are too different. You really need to find someone who is more what you need.”
“We’re perfect for each other. You know it, I know it, and your parents know it.”
“Just because my parents like you doesn’t mean we’re a good fit.”
“I want to see you.”
“No.” I went to hang up when something plowed through my memory. “By the way, did someone call you looking for my new number?”
“One of your field runners called about two weeks ago. Why?”
Oh, my God, Grant!
“Because that wasn’t one of my runners, that was a client who I’d very much like to not hear from ever again.”
“Sorry,” he muttered sarcastically. He hated to be proven wrong. “But, Sloane, seriously, I need you—”
I hung up the phone and rubbed my forehead. I wished I known how vain Grant was before he burrowed his way into my life and my father’s. He reminded me of an alley cat I’d fed and now he wouldn’t leave no matter how many times I sprayed him with the hose.
“Everything okay?” I heard Zack ask.
“Not even a little,” I muttered with my head in my hands.
“Well, my mother always said a hot meal and a sweet dessert helps the heart heal faster.”
“How did you…”
He stepped closer. “Call it intuition.” He smiled knowingly.
After he left, I dove into the amazing fig and prosciutto pizzettes, and if I had been totally alone, I would have licked the plate. My glass was never empty, and once my dinner was finished and I’d settled back in my chair, a lovely glass plate of tiramisu was placed in front of me. I took the first taste, and before I knew it, I had eaten the whole thing. It was to die for.
Zack refused my money, and in spite of my protests, he sent me on my way. He said family was everything and that I was family. How could a complete stranger be so kind?
I sent a quick text off to Dell and headed for the door. Just as I was about to step outside, I saw an older woman with her shoulders hunched over sitting on the side of the room. She looked beyond finished. When she sniffed, I pulled out my package of tissues and handed them to her.
“Oh,” her bloodshot eyes found mine, “thank you, dear.”
“Of course.” She went to hand the package back to me, but I shook my head. “I have more.”
She dried her eyes, took a deep breath, and brushed her sandy blonde hair off her shoulders. “I never knew a person could cry this much.”
I could tell she needed someone to talk to, but I knew Dell would arrive any minute, and I needed to go.
“I hope your evening gets better.” I sent her the best warm smile I had in me, and that seemed to help her a little, because she matched it with an attempt at a smile and a nod.
I hurried up the street to where I had agreed to meet Dell. The wind whipped my hair and blocked my view as I placed my bags in the giant trunk then tugged the handle and hopped onto the warm leather seat.
“Thanks, Dell, for getting here so—” Oh! My hand went to my chest as John waited for me to buckle up. “Sorry. I thought Dell was coming for me.”
Tripper’s big wet tongue licked the side of my head. “Hey, boy!”
“Back,” John ordered, and he obeyed. “He called and said he needed to get back to the house, and as I was on my way into town, I offered to swing by and grab you.”
“I hope I didn’t put anyone out by staying so late.”
“Nope, you’re good.” He pulled away from the curb. “Did you have fun?”
“I did.” I tried to warm my frozen hands in the air vents. “I met Zack and Adam—who, by the way, is quite the little charmer.”
“So I hear.” He smirked behind his hand.
“I don’t think I have ever had such a great meal before.”