“We,” she corrected him. “Ain’t no way I’m staying in Creepy Secret Zone alone, bud.”
With a loose plan in place, they finished their ice cream and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. Teddy felt rejuvenated, in part, because of the sugar hit, but more so because he had someone on the inside at TSM.
Someone he hoped had answers to the questions that plagued him.
THAT AFTERNOON,just after three, he and Sydney rolled into Santini Ristorante, their laptops tucked in their backpacks. He was on his home turf, at the family business, checking on his team. And he had his woman by his side.
For a brief second, his world felt normal.
The first dinner seating started at five, so Teddy had time before the team got busy with customers.
“You got the sexy-sexy vibe goin’ on, babe,” he said. “Your hair looks great.”
Sydney was dressed in a snug, white sweater and form-fitting black pants. She’d pulled her hair into a French twist, the updo giving off movie star vibes.
“All for you, baby.”
“I promise you, we’re gonna have a regular date,” he murmured. “You deserve way more than this.”
She stood tall, dropped a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thisisa regular date for us,” she whispered. “We’re assassins. This is asnormalas it gets.”
“If this was a date,” he said, “you wouldn’t have your laptop.”
“Gotta make the most of my time while my man runs his business like a boss,” she murmured. “Love you in a Santini suit, my sexy badass.”
As they made their way through the main dining room, Sydney told him she’d hang at the bar.
“No,” he pushed back. “Don’t put your back to the room. We’ll sit in the owner’s booth. How many weapons do you have?”
“Two,” she replied. “You?”
“Same.”
They shared another kiss before he seated her. “I gotta check in with the staff. Can I bring you something to drink?”
“I’m fine. Go do your thang. Introduce me to everyone as Sierra Turner, including Tara.”
One nod before he made his way to the kitchen, checked in with his head chef. “Everything good?”
“Mr. Santini, we are flying without a net,” joked his chef. “No Santini to boss us around.”
Teddy chuffed out a laugh.
“I hope Mr. Gabriel he stays in Italy. Mio Dio, what a micromanager.”
Again, Teddy chuckled. “Talk to me about tonight’s menu.”
After the chef updated him, he checked in with the kitchen staff. Two call-outs, but they were prepping ahead of schedule. Next stop, his head waitress. She was on it, and her staff was at full capacity.
“How was Thanksgiving here?” he asked her.
“Crazy busy, but the tips rocked. It was a great weekend. Sorry you missed it, boss.”
“Sorry I couldn’t be here.”
“Don’t let Gabriel manage us again,” she said. “He’s off the freakin’ rails.”
Teddy laughed. “Yeah, that sounds like G.”
