“Leo.”
“Bakes muffins and cookies. Italian pastries and bread aren’t his thing.” Shaking her head, Gina couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re being ridiculous, Mama.”
“Still…”
“I happen to know just how much he loves your cannoli.” Appeasing her mother, she kissed her cheek. “I’ll get you a cappuccino, okay?”
“All right.”
“I’ll take a coffee, too,” Sara chimed in, pulling her long blonde hair into a pony. “Make mine a hazelnut latte with an extra shot.”
“You got it.”
Gina stepped outside. Leaning back against the brick wall, she inhaled a gulp of brisk March air and sighed. “Madone.”
Just before nine on a Thursday morning, Beanie’s was a madhouse. She expected as much. It was a popular spot. Leo, Katie, and Kelly were busy behind the counter, serving customers. Taking her place in the back of the line, Gina contemplated getting some of Leo’s buttery banana-nut muffinsjust to piss her mother off. She wouldn’t. That would be childish. She was tempted to, though.
If only she would quit with the meddling and keep her opinions to herself.At least where my love life is concerned. Not that she had one, and that was the point, she supposed. Gina realized her mom just wanted to see her happy and settled with someone, but there was plenty of time for that.Someday, in the faraway future. Unlike most of the girls she knew, she wasn’t in a hurry, and she wasn’t desperate. And while she thought he might have been once, Vinny Passarelli was sonotthat guy.
“Gina,ma belle.” Wearing a green sweatshirt emblazoned with a sparkly silver shamrock, Leo leaned across the counter, kissing both of her cheeks. “Coming home from work?”
“No, uh, I’m helping Mom out in the bakery today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Two hundred and fifty cannoli.”More like three hundred, but who’s counting?
“You need a pick me up,bébé. What’ll it be?”
She gave him her mom’s and Sara’s orders, then added her own. “And a quad-shot latte for me. A little sweet—”
“And a sprinkle of cinnamon.” He winked. “Leo knows.”
After Kelly swiped her card, she moved to the end of the bar to wait for the coffee.
Katie smiled. “Hey, Gina. Haven’t seen you in a while. How’ve you been?”
“Okay. How about you?”
“Living the dream, babe.” She placed a drink carrier in front of her and popped one of her drinks into it. “What do you need, Matt?”
“Can I get a refill, babe?” The guy handed Katie his empty cup, and leaning over the counter, he planted a kiss on her cheek. “Please?”
“Sure, gimme a sec.”
Rude.
When Katie turned away to pour him some coffee, he turned to look at her. “Hello, pizza girl.”
Her breath caught.
She took a good look at his face this time. Brown hair, streaked with blond, fell past his shoulders. His warm brown eyes appeared kind. Straight nose. Full Cupid’s bow lips. He was a pretty boy—almost too pretty, not that she should think of a man that way. Matt McCready was the same age as Tony’s, for fuck’s sake.
“I have a name, you know.”
“Gina.” He smiled at her, and she almost forgot how to breathe. “I remember.”
“You two know each other?” Katie handed him his refill.
