“Are we the only customers?” Alexanderasked.
“We’re technically closed tonight,” Toni admitted. “But Pop was cooking anyway for our cleaning party, and Lizzie called in a favor. Trust me. This isnota problem.” She winked atElizabeth.
Elizabeth blushed and hung her purse on the back of the chair. She didn’t know why she was so nervous. Alexander loved her. She loved him. Still, her hands shook and her heartpounded.
“Miss Grimaldi knows something I do not,” Alexander said, holding herchair.
“She’s one of my best friends. I think you can call her Toni. And she’s trying to maketrouble.”
Elizabeth accepted the glass of wine he poured her and lifted it to return his toast. “To the rain,” hesaid.
“The rain?Why?”
“Because if it weren’t for the rain, I never would have met you, and that would have been a tragedy. I can’t imagine my life without you,Elizabeth.”
There’s so much I want to say toyou.
She took a significant gulp of her wine. “I hope you’re hungry. Papa Grimaldi is the best. Nonno Guiseppe started this place. Papa’s father. Toni manages it now, but Papa still cooks everynight.”
“I’m hungry for a lot of things,” he said with a sly grin. “But dinner is definitely one ofthem.”
Toni rushed out with a plate of sliced meats, a small basket of bread, and a bowl of herbed olive oil for dipping. “Your dinners will be up in about fifteen minutes. And Pop said you couldn’t leave until he got to meet your man. After dinner,though.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Probably wants to interrogate you,” she toldAlexander.
Toni chuckled. “I’d say that’s likely. I’ll go check on your clams.” She winked at Elizabeth as she rushedoff.
Elizabeth’s stomach churned, and she fumbled for the clasp on herpurse.
“Elizabeth, are you all right?” Alexander reached across the table and touched herarm.
Get yourselftogether.
“I…just need the ladies room. Give me just a minute?” What she really needed was fresh air, but since no one was going to let her take a walk around the block alone—least of all her own fears—she’d settle for splashing some cold water on herface.
Alexander rose and offered Elizabeth his hand to help her up. “Don’t belong.”
Latin American guitar tones filled the narrow hallway on the way to the bathrooms. Elizabeth rounded the corner, and a rough hand yanked on her wrist, spinning her around until something hard jabbed into herribs.
“Don’t make a sound, or I kill all ofthem.”
