I laugh. “Oh, that’s alright. Lisa’s getting your drinks, so I don’t mind helping. Our specialty is the osso bucco, which we don’t usually have on Saturday nights, but my girl here loves it, so I couldn’t not serve it to her.”
Vin glances around the restaurant, brows arched. “You don’t have it on Saturday nights? Why? Because you’re so slammed with two tables that already finished?”
Siena kicks him under the table.
“Matti, control your woman,” Vin growls.
“You’re on your own. Siena doesn’t play where Sophie is concerned.” Matti looks up at me. “I think Emilia will have osso bucco in her DNA thanks to you. It probably won’t surprise you that I’ve never gotten to try it even though you feed her every week. I’ll definitely be having that tonight.”
Lisa comes back with the drinks, setting down glasses of water and wine glasses, then opening the bottle of wine.
“You know what I want!” Siena laughs. “Osso bucco with lasagna, and can we get some arancini for the table?”
“Absolutely!”
Siena’s such a sweetheart. She and her sister, Emily, were like sisters to me growing up, and since we lost Emily in a plane crash last year, Siena and I have gotten even closer.
Giovanna leans forward. “Lasagna for me. I love it when you make it with the Neapolitan ragu.”
I beam at her then shift my gaze to Tommy. It takes him a second to realize I’m waiting for his order, and when he does, he looks at Giovanna.
She smiles at me. “He’ll have the lasagna, too.”
“Vin?”
Vin is looking Lisa up and down as she pours his glass of wine. “Are you on the menu, princess? Since you’re not busy, I can take you in the back and serviceyou, if you like.”
Lisa blushes. “Maybe when I get off—”
“Oh, you’ll get off, I promise.”
Tommy groans, and Matti laughs, while me and the girls exchange an eye roll.
Lisa is built like a Brazilian bikini model, but young and uncertain. She glances at me for help. “Umm….”
“I’ve got this, Lisa. Thank you.”
By the time I turn back to Vin, his focus is back on the menu. “You’re the one who brings pastine to Siena?”
I glance at Siena, who nods. “On occasion, but Siena’s pastine is excellent.”
“My pastine is your recipe,” Siena notes. “You never give yourself credit, Soph. Your food is amazing.”
Vin glances around the restaurant with a smirk. “If it’s so amazing, why’s it so fucking dead in here?”
I smile. “I understand the Garden of Olives has a nice long wait on the weekends, if that’s your sole criterion. You’re welcome to go there.”
“Oh, Jesus,” Tommy murmurs, with a glance at Giovanna.
Vin slams his menu on the table, grimacing. “What they serve is neither Italian nor food. You know they microwave everything they serve? Fucking chemicals and cardboard is what that is. If your food is anything like that—”
“It isn’t,” I cut in. “But there is a special secret menu if you’re interested.”
I instantly think of a dozen ‘special’ things I’d like to add to that secret menu—my pussy on a platter, for starters.
Instantly, I have his full attention. “There wouldn’t happen to be gnocchi on it, would there? Because that’s my favorite, and no one gets it right.”
“Would you be interested in a spinach ricotta gnocchi? It will take a little longer, but I promise it’s worth it.”
