dinners.”
Nico blotted his mouth with a napkin, then said, “Rafe, you truly are gifted.”
Rafe bowed graciously.
“And, Marianna.” When Rafe turned to see her half-eaten meal, he frowned. “Why you not eat?”
She smiled slightly. “You give everyone enough to feed an army. Half was plenty.”
“You’ll take the rest home?”
She nodded and Rafe motioned for Allegra to get her plate and put her food in a take-out container.
Rafe chatted with Nico, calmly, much more calmly than Dani felt, but the second Allegra returned with the take-out container, Marianna jumped from her seat.
“I need to get home. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight, but I’m exhausted.”
Nico rose, too. “It is late. Dinner was something of an afterthought. I promised Marianna I’d get her back at a decent hour. But I knew you’d want to see her after her year away, Rafe.”
Rafe kissed her hand. “Absolutely. I’m just sorry she’s too tired for us to catch up.”
Dani frowned. Nico’s little sister didn’t look tired. She looked pale. Biting her lower lip, Dani realized she’d only known one other person who’d looked that way—
Rafe waved her over. “Say good-night to Nico and his sister.”
Keeping her observations to herself, Dani smiled. “Good night, Marianna.”
Marianna returned her smile. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of you since Nico loves Rafe’s food.”
Nico laughed, took both her hands and kissed them. “Good night, Daniella. Tell your roomie I said hello.”
Daniella’s face reddened. Louisa had been the topic of most of Nico’s questions when she’d sat with him and his sister, but there was no way in hell she’d tell Louisa Nico had mentioned her. Still, she smiled. Every time she talked to Nico, she liked him more. Which only made Louisa’s dislike all the more curious.
“Good night, Nico.”
After helping Marianna with her coat, Rafe walked his friends to their car. Dani busied herself helping the waitresses finish dining room cleanup. She didn’t see Rafe return, but when a half hour went by, she assumed he’d come in through the back door to the kitchen.
Of course, he could be talking to beautiful Marianna. She might be with her brother, but that brother was a friend of Rafe’s. And Nico had said he wanted to bring Marianna to Mancini’s because he knew Rafe would want to see her. They probably had all kinds of stories to reminisce about. Marianna might be too young to have been his first kiss, his first love, but she was an adult now. A beautiful woman.
Realizing how possible it was that Rafe might be interested in Marianna, Dani swayed, but she quickly calmed herself. If she decided to stay, watching him with other women would be part of her life. She had to get used to this. She had to get accustomed to seeing him flirt, seeing beautiful women like Marianna look at him with interest.
She tossed a chair to the table with a little more force than was necessary.
Gio frowned. “Are you okay?”
She smiled. “Yes. Perfect.”
“If you’re not okay, Allegra and I can finish.”
“I’m fine.” She forced her smile to grow bigger. “Just eager to be done for the night.”
As they finished the dining room, Rafe walked out of the kitchen to the bar. He got a bottle of wine and two glasses. As their private dinner became a reality, Dani’s stomach tightened.
She squeezed her eyes shut, scolding herself. The dinner might be private for no other reason than the restaurant would be closed. Rafe probably didn’t want to be alone with her as much as he wanted her to eat a meal, as hostess, so she could get the real experience of dining at Mancini’s.
The waitresses left. The kitchen light went out, indicating Emory and his staff had gone.
Only she and Rafe remained.
He faced her, pointed at a chair. “Sit.”
Okay. That was about as far from romantic as a man could get. This “private” dinner wasn’t about the two of them having time together. It was about a chef who wanted his hostess to know his food.
She walked over, noticing again how his tight T-shirt accented a strong chest and his neat-as-a-pin trousers gave him a professional look. But as she got closer, Louisa’s high, high heels clicking on the tile floor, she saw his gaze skim the apricot dress. His eyes warmed with interest. His lips lifted into a slow smile.
And her stomach fell to the floor. This was why she’d never quite been able to talk herself out of her attraction to him. He was every bit as attracted to her. He might try to hide it. He might fight it tooth and nail. But he liked her as more than an employee.
She reached the chair. He pulled it out, offering the seat to her.
As she sat, her back met his hands still on the chair. Rivers of tingles flowed from the spot where they touched. Her breath shuddered in and stuttered out. Nerves filled her.
He stepped away. “We’re skipping soup and salad, since it’s late.” All business, he sat on the chair next to hers. He lifted the metal cover first from her plate, then his own. “I present beef brasato with pappardelle and mint.”
When the scent hit her, her mouth watered. All thoughts of attraction fled as her stomach rumbled greedily. She closed her eyes and savored the aroma.
“You like?”
Unable to help herself, she caught his gaze. “I’m amazed.”
“Wait till you taste.”
He smiled encouragingly. She picked up her fork, filled it with pasta and slid it into her mouth. Knowing he’d made this just for her, the ritual seemed very decadent, very sensual. Their eyes met as flavor exploded on her tongue.
“Oh, God.”
He grinned. “Is good?”
“You know you don’t even have to ask.”
He sat back with a laugh. “I was top of my class. I trained both in Europe and the United States so I could ascertain the key to satisfying both palates.” He smiled slowly. “I am a master.”
She sliced off a bit of the beef. It was so good she had to hold back a groan. “No argument here.”
“Wait till you taste my tiramisu.”
“No salad but you made dessert?”
He leaned in, studied her. “Are you watching your weight?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Then
