“I can do that,” I say easily. “Do you have a business card?”
She grabs the tiny bag hanging from the back of her chair and pops it open, digging around until she has a matte black business card clutched between her fingers. “Here you go,” she says as she hands it over.
I take it from her, letting my fingers touch hers, and she jerks her hand back like I bit her. I’m such an asshole for doing this, but I want to see if she’d report to Stella that I’m flirting with her. If she does, that means Eleanor knows. And if Eleanor knows…
Who else knows?
Actually, I could be totally wrong and flirting with Eleanor is making her increasingly uncomfortable because she has no real interest in me. If that’s the case, I need to stop and act like a regular human being and not some guy who’s trying to score a free haircut in return for a date.
Damn, when I think of it like that, I sound like a potential sleaze.
“I’ll call and make an appointment.” I keep my voice even. Shift away from her so I’m not sitting so close. Keep my expression completely neutral, so she doesn’t think I’m trying to flirt with her anymore. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She offers a shy smile as she puts her purse away and then rises to her feet. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
“Why did you flirt with her?” Caroline asks the moment Eleanor’s out of hearing distance. “I thought you weren’t interested.”
I shrug. “She seems nice.”
“Eleanor is very nice. But I realized something once you started talking to her.” She pauses and I wait for what she has to say. I’m sure it’s not positive. “You’re a shark. You’d probably eat her whole.”
“Maybe she wants me to eat her whole.” I blink at her, the very essence of innocence.
Caroline makes a disgusted face. “You were gross when you were a teenager, and it looks like you haven’t changed a bit.”
“Oh give me a break, Caro. I was just giving you shit.” I sock her lightly on the arm and she returns the gesture, then forgets about me completely when her fiancé calls her name.
This gives me the chance to look around for Eleanor, and I spot the back of her leaving the room, a woman clad in red lace walking beside her.
I can’t help the smirk that spreads across my face. Looks like Eleanor ran off to tell Stella all about me flirting with her. This almost confirms that she knows about the hookup.
Interesting.
“Hey.” I turn to find Michael Ricci looming over me, and my nuts immediately shrivel up. Please don’t tell me he found out I had sex with his little sister. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.” I clear my throat. Michael is a big dude. Taller and broader than me, with thick, black brows, and matching black hair. He’s usually got a smile on his face, but right now he looks serious.
Deadly serious.
Michael plops into Eleanor’s abandoned chair, turning toward me. “I was talking to my nonna a few days ago, at our weekly family dinner.”
“You guys have a weekly family dinner?” Stella has never mentioned it, though it’s not like I keep track of her comings and goings.
Okay, that’s a lie. I do keep semi track. And I notice she always disappears mid Sunday afternoon and returns later in the evening.
“Yeah. Every Sunday.” Bingo. “Anyway, Nonna was telling me that you were going to help her sell her house.”
“Well, I don’t know about that. I told her it has a lot of potential,” I say with a nod.
Michael scowls. “None of us want her to sell it.”
Uh oh. “Then I won’t help her.”
“But it would be great if you could help her fix it up. She mentioned that too, that you figured with some major remodeling, she could make a lot of money when she sold it,” Michael says.
“Yeah, I did say that. I don’t know many contractors in the area, since I just moved back here, but I’m sure I could find someone to help coordinate the project with me.” I’m confused. They don’t want her to sell it, but they want it to be remodeled. I’m guessing so their lovely grandmother can enjoy a like-new house well into her old age? Truthfully, she walks with a cane and her bedroom is upstairs. That can’t be easy to deal with day after day.
“I’d manage the project myself, but the restaurant here keeps me busy. Plus, we’re opening another one in Monterey so I’m pretty booked out for at least the next six months. But I know people,” Michael assures me with the confidence of a man who truly does know people. “Some contractors in the area. I could put in a few calls for you.”
“Really? That would be great. But I need to ask you a question.”
“Go for it.”
Maybe I shouldn’t ask this, but I’m going to anyway. “Are you doing this to help your grandmother? Wanting her house fixed up so it’s more modern and easier for her to get around and use?”
“Well, sure.” Michael blinks at me, as if I just confused him. “I love my nonna. We all do. We want what’s best for her.”
“She mentioned to me when I was there with Stella the other day that she wanted to live in a condo by the ocean.”
Michael waves a hand. “She always says that.”
“Yeah, because I think she means it.” I let my words sink in for a minute, though Michael’s not reacting. “Maybe you should ask her if she wants to stay there before we fix it up.”
“She’ll want it fixed up,” Michael says firmly. “I know she does. Stella said good things about you, she assured us we can trust you, so we want your help.”
“She said that about me?” I’m surprised. And now I feel like an asshole for flirting with her friend on purpose.
Michael nods. “She did. So maybe you should come to the next family dinner.”
“I thought it was just for family.”
“We have guests. Stella brings a friend around every once in a while.” Michael’s eyes narrows as he contemplates me. “She’s never brought a male friend, though.”
I need to remember that none of her family knows we’re living together. I don’t know how we’re going to get away with it, considering her father still comes into Sweet Dreams a couple days a week and Tuscany is across the street from our building.
“We’re just friends,” I reiterate. “Caroline is my sister.”
“Stella said that. We love Caroline.” Michael stands once more and pats my shoulder so hard I shift forward. “Tell Stella to bring you to dinner on Sunday. We can discuss the project more with my father and brother.” I notice how he doesn’t mention the women in the family. “I should have some contractors lined up for you by then too.”
I watch him walk away, wondering what I’m getting myself into. Working with Stella’s family, helping out their beloved grandma. Getting closer to the Ricci clan.
Sounds dangerous to me.
Thirteen
Stella
The moment we’re in the bathroom, Eleanor checks every stall, making sure no one is in the room with us. Then she turns the lock on the door so no one can barge in on us either.