If the Ring Fits.... Jackie Braun

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СКАЧАТЬ months of restaurant fare, his mouth watered at the offer of a home-cooked meal. “Anything you cook is my favorite, Mama.”

      “So my job is easy. Come early.” He heard her laugh. He loved the sound, especially since there had been a time after his father’s death when he’d feared he would never hear it again.

      “How about if I come by now and bring some pastries with me?” he offered. “That way at dinner I will not have so many questions to answer and we can have a relaxing visit.”

      “Suit yourself.”

      Despite Lucia’s seeming indifference, he knew she was pleased. He also knew he would be pumped for answers promptly upon his arrival. Most would center on his love life. Not surprisingly, his mother thought he should be settling down. Even as he thought about Astrid and the relationship that had just ended, his gaze was drawn back down the street to where a royal-blue awning yawned over the wide windows at Expressive Gems.

      “Ci sono?” His mother’s question snapped him back.

      “Yes. Si. I am here. I will see you soon.”

      “A presto,” she repeated in Italian before hanging up.

      * * *

      For the next couple of weeks, Rachel worked late. She didn’t mind the long hours. Besides, it wasn’t as if she had a reason to rush home. The house seemed so big and quiet these days, half furnished as it was. Maybe she should get a dog. Or a cat, since she would soon be without a yard.

      “Or maybe I should get a life,” she muttered aloud, rising from her chair to stretch out the muscles in her back.

      Her shoulders ached from hunching forward. She was working on the piece for Tony and was pleased with her progress. So, too, was she pleased with the progress the contractor had made on the upstairs apartment in so short a span of time. It helped that it was the off-season for construction and she had been clear on what she wanted. Already, plans had been drawn up and the framework for closets and the bathroom was under way. Overhead, the sound of hammers echoed. It was costing her extra, but she’d requested that the work not be done during regular business hours out of deference for her clientele. Because of the noise, it took her a minute to realize that someone was knocking on the front display window.

      Tony grinned at her from the opposite side of the glass. The weather was more hospitable today. He had no need for a trench coat. In fact, he wasn’t wearing a coat at all. Rather, he had on a thick wool sweater that fit snugly over his broad shoulders and chest. He looked plenty warm. Hot, in fact. Rachel broke out in gooseflesh again.

      “Mr. Salerno.”

      “Tony,” he stressed.

      “I was just thinking about you,” Rachel said as she ushered him inside.

      Even though it was true, she realized immediately that it was the wrong thing to say. A bedroom smile creased his cheeks and she swore his hazel eyes turned smoky.

      “That is exactly what a man hopes to hear from a beautiful woman. Tell me, carina, about these thoughts.”

      Briefly, she considered flirting back. It wasn’t only the fact that Tony was a client that stopped her. She was too out of practice.

      “I, um, your necklace is almost ready. Did you come by to see it?”

      “What if I said I came by to see you?”

      She smiled, not sure how to respond. He said things such as this to the women who worked for Rachel, so she knew he didn’t mean anything by it. Still, it had her flustered and tongue-tied. A fresh onslaught of hammering started upstairs and saved her.

      “Santo cielo! What is that racket?”

      “I’m having some renovations done.”

      “You’re adding a second story to the shop?”

      She shook her head. “Actually, I’m having the bulk of the square footage turned into an apartment, leaving a small storage attic for the shop.”

      “This is an older building with a lot of charm and a good location, especially for a young professional. You should have no problem finding a renter.”

      “I already have one lined up.” At his raised eyebrows she added. “Me.”

      Tony pointed toward the ceiling. “You plan to live there?”

      “I do. As soon as the renovation is finished, which should be before spring.”

      “It cannot be very big.” He grimaced. “Forgive me. That was rude.”

      “That’s all right. As for the apartment, it doesn’t have to be big. It will just be me.” She shrugged. “And maybe a cat.”

      “A cat?” He shook his head. “No. Dogs are much better company.”

      “Oh? Do you have a dog?” she inquired.

      Tony shook his head. “No. Unfortunately. I am away too much of the time to have one now. But I did when I was a boy in Italy. A Bracco pointer.” At her puzzled expression, he added, “It is a breed of hunting dog that is quite popular in Europe. My father spent months training the dog to spot game birds.”

      “So it was a good hunter,” she guessed.

      “I do not know.” A shadow passed over his face. “My father died before he was able to hunt with her.”

      “Oh. I’m sorry.”

      The corners of his mouth turned down and he shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”

      Which she took to mean he didn’t want to talk about it. She understood perfectly. Her father had deserted her a long time ago, too, but time hadn’t healed that particular wound, not completely anyway.

      “Well, dogs need a yard and I won’t have one living here. Cats are more independent.”

      “Which is why dogs make better pets. That is, if companionship is what you seek.” Just that quickly, his smile changed from charming to seductive.

      “I—I—I really haven’t decided on a pet. Just thinking aloud,” she explained hastily.

      Overhead, the pounding crescendoed, followed by a thud that shook the rafters.

      “Pazzesco! Is it like this all day long?”

      “In the evenings only. I’ve asked the contractor to save as much of the noisy work as possible for the off-hours. Construction doesn’t make for good background music,” she added wryly.

      “I would have to agree.” He glanced toward the ceiling again before turning his gaze on her. “Will you have a design studio up there or will you continue to work on your jewelry down here?”

      Rachel frowned. “I guess I hadn’t really given that much thought.”

      Mal hadn’t liked her to bring work home, so she’d never followed through with her plans to turn one of the spare bedrooms of their house into a design studio. But she СКАЧАТЬ