Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
I nodded, secretly pleased.
“Good.”
“You want a table?”
“In the staff section.” I didn’t want to be disturbed for a bit.
“You want the usual?”
“Please.”
“You know where it is.”
I walked to the back, around a corner that provided some privacy. There were two booths and, at present, both were empty. I slid into one, removing my jacket and rolling up my sleeves.
A moment later, Wanda set down a vanilla milkshake in front of me. “Sandwich is coming right up.”
“Thanks.”
I sipped the cold shake, the sweet drink refreshing and delicious. We had the best milkshakes around. I shut my eyes, relaxing, waiting for my sandwich.
A few moments later, there was a noise as another staff member came around the corner.
“Oh.”
Somehow I recognized her from that one breathy sound. I opened my eyes and met the hazel gaze of Violet Nelson. Before I could speak, Wanda came in and slid my plate in front of me. She looked between Violet and me and laughed. “Twins.” Then she left.
I glanced at Violet’s tray and chuckled. We both had a Reuben sandwich and fries. A vanilla shake. She began to head to the other table, and for some reason, I held up my hand. “Join me.”
She slipped in, and I picked up my sandwich, taking a large bite. The hot corned beef and tangy sauerkraut hit my tastebuds, and I groaned. “Damn.”
Violet laughed, following suit, although her bite was much smaller. “I think they make the best Reuben around. I had it last night too.”
“I agree. Try the clubhouse, though. Or the burger.”
She grinned, taking a sip of her shake. “If I eat this way every night, I’ll have to jog to work.”
I stopped, the sandwich partway to my mouth. “You aren’t walking, are you? With the shift you’re working?”
“Oh no. I drive.” She smiled. “It is very generous of you to give us such great parking rates.”
I shrugged, relieved. “We try to think of what people need. We want our employees to be happy.” I took a sip of my shake. “Wanda says you’re a rock star.”
She laughed. “It’s a great place. People are happy for the most part, the food is good, the other staff are nice.” She yawned. “I have to get used to the hours. But I’ll be fine.” She bit and chewed, swallowing her sandwich and eating some fries that she doused in ketchup. “Speaking of which, thank you for the help with the apartment.”
“You settle in all right?”
She laughed dryly. “I opened my cases. Luckily, there was a sofa there, so I’m fine.”
I wondered why I disliked the word fine so much. I pretended not to know anything and finished my sandwich. “You need a couple pieces of furniture?”
She frowned. “Pardon?”
“We replace stuff all the time. We just renovated an entire floor. We have a bunch of dressers, tables, chairs. You can take your pick.”
She eyed me suspiciously. “I don’t take charity.”
I loved her independence. Her refusal to show any pity for her situation.
“We always let staff get things first. Then we donate the rest.”
It was a bit of a lie. We did donate.
“Oh. I could use a dresser, I guess.”
“Okay. You want to pick?”
“No, I just need some drawer space.”
“Fine. I’ll have one dropped off.”
“Um, maybe a lamp if you have one? I like to read, and the only light in the place is an overhead.”
“Yep. Plenty of those.”
She finished her sandwich and stood. “Thank you, Mr. Ricci.”
“You’re welcome, Ms. Nelson.”
“My friends call me Vi.”
I smiled ruefully. “You have to call me Mr. Ricci.”
“I know.”
Then she leaned down and kissed my cheek. It was fast, unexpected. Soft and sweet. “Thank you, Aldo,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome…Vi.”
We stared at each other. There was no disguising the heat between us. It was a living, breathing thing. My fingers twitched with the need to touch her. My body yearned to feel her close. As close as I could get her.
Before I could give in to my impulses, she grabbed her plate and left.
I stared after her, amused by her forwardness, and holding my cheek.
Why, I wasn’t sure.
Except I was smiling.
Then I picked up her milkshake and finished it.
I was sure it was sweeter because her lips had touched the same straw.
Except, that was crazy and impossible.
Right?
CHAPTER 5
ALDO
“That one.” I looked around. “That lamp.” I pointed to a particularly nice chair. It looked like the one in my private suite, only smaller. “Add that too.”
Every floor of the hotel had a different style, different furnishings. The farther you went up in the building, the more lavish it became. Roman insisted on the best, no matter what floor it was, and he employed a crew that did nothing but inspect the rooms and change furniture and fixtures if they became damaged or tired-looking. Everything was maintained to be top-notch. We did recycle some of the more extravagant pieces to the lower floors, so they, too, looked high-end. We donated a lot, clearing out the storage area at least once a year. I made sure to pick nice, comfortable, top-quality pieces for her. Violet.