“Got to spend money to make money,” I say acidly.
At that, Willow grabs her phone away from me, her fingers brushing mine. “You know what, Benito? I’ve had about enough of this pouty bullshit act. You want to know about the restaurant that you think I’m stealing recipes for? You want to know how much damage I’ve done to Benito’s?”
She says my name a little mockingly, and for a hot second, I’m ashamed that I named my restaurant after myself. It sounds pompous as hell, especially after seeing all the good she seems to try to do. But I shove that away.
My work is my life.
I am that restaurant.
There is no me without it, and no restaurant without me. We may as well share the same name. We share the same heart, soul, and identity.
“Tell me,” I say, baiting her. “Go on. You have three more minutes.”
“Nice of you to keep track, but I only need one,” she seethes, her anger catching up to my own. “One year from now, a Pancake Circus is going to open up. It’s a family-friendly themed breakfast and brunch place. The original location in Florida is open for dinner, but our analysis led us to decide what would thrive best in Star Falls is a place that fills the need for large seasonal breakfast crowds and a consistently high-quality breakfast and brunch experience.”
“Breakfast and brunch experience?” I repeat numbly. “Pancake fucking Circus?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. First of all, the place she’s opening has nothing to do with Italian food, let alone dinner. So, she couldn’t have been serious about stealing my recipes…could she? And second, she has a point. I’ve always thought Star Falls needed something better than thehole-in-the-wall strip-mall breakfast diners. I see the vision, and even worse, I don’t hate it.
“It’s fantastic,” she says defensively. “But the good news is that in twelve months, another family will have their dreams come true, someone in Star Falls will be the recipient of a ten-thousand-dollar grant, and I will be on to the next project.”
My stomach sinks.
Not just at what she’s said about dreams coming true, but the grant amount. I had no idea it was that much. A chunk of cash like that would allow me to do a massive roof repair without spending a penny out of pocket. The roof could last another couple of years with a major repair job like that. The grant really could be the answer to my prayers.
But even worse, she’s only here to supervise the build. She’ll be gone in a year.
Two hours ago, I would have thought that was the best damn news I’d heard all week. But now, it sinks in my gut like a lead balloon.
“I’m not here to poach anything, steal anything, or cause you any grief, Benny,” she says, her cheeks flushed with anger. Her blue eyes pop against the rage staining her cheeks, and I come around the counter to confront her, my anger dissipating like the steam over my mug of tea.
“So why did you run, then?” I ask, my hand on her arm. “Willow, why the fuck did you leave the other night?”
My business aside, this is what I really want to know. This is what’s gutted me and eaten away at me the last week. The anger drains out of me in a rush as soon as I say the words, and I release her arm, my hands and knees feeling weak, like I’ve opened myself up and admitted something so big that the sheer effort has worn me down.
Willow reaches for my hand and slowly laces her fingers through mine. “I was surprised myself,” she says quietly. “I thinkit just hit me all at once. Who you are. That your employee had come to me for help. I felt trapped, in a way. I don’t know how to be honest. I just ran. I’m sorry. I have been looking for a way to apologize all week.”
I tighten my fingers around hers. “Showing up at my restaurant was probably the worst way to do it.”
She nods. “I know. You’ve got me in knots, Benito Bianchi. I’m…” She pulls her hand away from me. “I never stay in one place for too long. I never get too attached, but I was feeling attached. You sounded attached. You said…”
I remember what I said. I have been replaying the moment in my head on a loop all week. “I know what I said,” I rasp out. “I’m so glad I found you.”
We’re both quiet, nothing but the hushed sounds of our breaths as we consider what we’ve just said.
“You were just supposed to be a hookup,” she says quietly. “That’s all this can be.”
“I don’t do relationships,” I tell her. “You don’t have to worry about getting attached to me. It’s not going to be a problem.”
“What you said about finding me…”
“Forget it,” I tell her. “Your pussy was in my mouth, babe. Have you tasted yourself? Of course I was fucking glad I found you.”
“Are you still?” she asks, lifting her face toward mine.
“Areyouglad?” I ask. “Do you want to be found by me?”
“For now,” she says. “While I’m here in Star Falls.”
“I can handle an expiration date,” I tell her. “I’m actually really good with keeping things fresh.”
