I hadn’t mentioned Pippa during my rantings about Ciro. Doctor Jon looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“That’s the look of a man ready to run for the hills.” I giggled harder. Tears filled my eyes and I wiped them away with the back of my hand. “I have a baby girl.”
Jon raked his gaze over my body. “Wow, you don’t look like you’ve had a baby.”
“Well, it was almost eight months ago.”
“The father isn’t in your life?”
“He wasn’t until recently.”
“Damn. Crappy timing for me.” He elbowed me playfully, flashing a jovial smile. But his eyes showed disappointment. Would he really want me even though I was a mother? Jon had a bright future and could find a pretty woman with no attachments. I had baggage.
“He didn’t know about the baby. Now that he does, I’m certain he’ll want her in his life.”
“What about wanting you?” He moved closer. Perhaps me being a single mom didn’t faze him.
I needed to end this conversation stat.
“If I’m going to make it the last hour of our shift, I need some caffeine.” I deflected, dashing out of the kitchen to the front.
Jon followed.
“You’re an avoider,” he said from behind me.
“I am not. Do you want one?” I jerked my chin to the machine as I prepared my latte. Iwasan avoider or a deflector, as Alba called me. But talking to Jon about Ciro seemed wrong. We hadn’t known each other very long. He was just very easy to talk to.
Jon hovered over me. “Sure, whatever you’re having is fine. Now answer my question. What about you? Does your baby daddy want you?”
“Yes, he does.”
I froze hearing Ciro’s growly voice. Jon moved away from me as I turned around.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Ciro, more than a little surprised.
“I thought I’d have dinner, then we could pick up Pippa together.” Ciro’s eyes flitted from me to Jon, then back to me.
“Oh. Sure. Um…” I bit the corner of my bottom lip. This was awkward.
“I’m Jon.” He extended his hand to Ciro. “Isla’s friend.”
“Ciro Remotti.” He shook Jon’s hand formally, then returned his attention to me. “Show me to my seat…please.” It wasn’t anger in his eyes but jealousy. Ciro was usually overly confident and cocky. However, I’d witnessed this rarity a couple of times, like this morning when he’d thought I had a boyfriend.
I came out from behind the bar. “Sure. Follow me.” I led Ciro to a table in Chris’s section. It was after eight, and the bistro had slowed down. “Here you go. Chris will be with you in a moment.” As I turned, Ciro grabbed the tips of my fingers.
“Join me,” he whispered, his lips at my ear. The warmth of his breath released a colony of butterflies in my stomach. “Please.”
Two pleases in less than sixty seconds. Who in the hell was this man?
“I’m working.” I turned to face him. The draw to him was increasing in strength.
“Can’t you cut out early?” He scanned the room. “Looks kind of empty.”
“I, um… Um…”
“Isla? Everything okay?” Falina asked, a slight curl to her lip.Crap. Of course she’d seen me with Ciro. She was the nosiest person I knew.
“Yes. Everything is fine.” I tried to pull my hand from Ciro’s, but he wouldn’t let go. Instead, he snaked his other hand around my waist, stepping beside me.
