Kathleen stared at the man across from her expectantly. He needed to drink his wine and go.
Valardi just stared back.
“So, I take it that means you’re joining me for dinner?”
“Yes,” Enzo said easily. “And I hope you’re hungry.”
Kathleen shook her head. “Not really. After the day I’ve had, honestly, I think just this glass of wine will do.”
Enzo gave her another cool, assessing gaze, then, glancing over her shoulder, he raised his chin slightly. Antonio appeared almost instantly, moving with unusual speed. Enzo spoke to him in Italian, leaving Kathleen completely mystified, and more than a little pissed off.
Antonio nodded and scurried away.
“What was all that about?” Kathleen asked.
Enzo picked up his wine and took a sip. “I just ordered dinner,” he said.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Kathleen responded. “I thought I was pretty clear that I wasn’t hungry.”
Enzo’s face broke into a grin. “Oh, you were clear. But everybody needs to eat.”
Kathleen’s palm itched with the incredible urge to slap the grin off this man’s face. Who the hell did he think he was, ordering her dinner? “And what exactly did you order?” she asked tartly.
“It’s a surprise,” Enzo said, his grin widening enough to show a flash of his even, white teeth. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
The temptation to storm out was huge. The only thing stopping her was the fact that this man, this complete and utter jerk, was apparently a friend of her brother’s. Obviously, Jamie trusted him because he’d sent him here to check on her.
But then the thought hit her like a lightning bolt and, alarmed, she straightened in her seat. How did she know that was true? This man had just walked in and said her brother sent him. How did she know he was who he said he was?
“How do I know you are who you say you are?” she asked, eyes narrowing.
Enzo had been about to take another sip of his wine when he stopped and cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you say you’re a friend of my brother’s. How do I know that’s true?”
He gave her another assessing gaze, then nodded slightly. “Good point. Why don’t you call him and ask?”
Kathleen picked up her phone from the table and hit her brother’s number. He answered immediately.
“Kathleen, are you okay?”
“Did you send some smug, condescending pain-in-the-ass to check on me?”
There was silence on the other end, and then he chuckled. “As a matter of fact, I did. His name is Enzo Valardi. I’ve known him since we were kids. You’re safe with him, Kathleen.”
“What does he look like?” she demanded. In for a penny, in for a pound. She wanted to be sure and more importantly, she wanted Valardi to know that she, too, could be a pain in the ass.
Drake chuckled again. “He’s tall with black hair and a scar on his chin that I gave him when we got into a fight after drinking too much.”
Kathleen leaned forward, “Huh. I didn’t notice it, but now that you mention it, I see it. Okay then.” She sighed. “I’m fine as I said before. You didn’t need to send him.”
“I know,” Drake responded. “But it made me feel better. After everything that’s gone on, I have to know you’re safe.” Her brother’s voice was tight, and she knew he was fighting the PTSD that had developed since she’d disappeared from his life all those years ago. It was hard not to react to it in a way. It made her feel awful, as if she’d hurt him on purpose. It was not something she would ever get over, either.
“Fine,” Kathleen said grudgingly, through clenched teeth. “I am safe. You can send him away now.” With that, she clicked off the call and set her phone down.
“You can go,” she said flatly. “We’re good. My brother knows I’m safe. You’ve checked on me.”
Enzo sipped his wine, then set the glass on the table. “Oh, I don’t think so. I just ordered a lovely dinner. I think I’ll stay and enjoy it, at least.”
