30. Thirty

Chase

Dave and I both turn, and I see Val stiffen as Tony and Cristina approach us. I put my arm around her waist.

Tony Bernardi is tall with classic Italian good looks. He has dark hair and brown eyes. Looking at him now with Cristina, I can’t believe Val ever said yes to his marriage proposal. He looks like the prick he is.

Tony’s eyes rake over Val from head to toe as they stop in front of us.

“Valentina? You look nice. Have you lost weight?”

“No, I haven’t. Chase, this is um... Anthony Bernardi and my cousin, Cristina. This is Chase Knight, my husband.”

We do not shake hands. I look Tony right in the eye. It’s a civilized pissing contest. I’m winning until Tony says, “I heard Valentina found someone else. Just in time, too. I’m sure her inheritance had something to do with it. Right?”

I hear Val catch her breath at Tony’s snide comment. Before I or Val can respond, Dave steps forward.

“Val’s inheritance? Don’t you know who this is? Chase Knight, of Knight Security, his family’s company, was just featured in Billionaire Magazine.”

Tony frowns down at Cristina. “I thought you said he married her for the money?”

Cristina’s thin face gets twin stripes of red across her cheeks. She glares up at Tony. Val’s cousin is very thin, and some would consider her a classic beauty, except for her cold green eyes and what I consider her resting bitch face.

“I don’t know where you got that idea from, Tony,” her face turns almost ugly as she narrows her sharp gaze at Dave, “Come on, Tony, let’s go so Dave can get back to work.”

With that, they enter the elevator, and I hear Val give a sigh of relief when the doors close.

“Yep, Tony’s just as condescending as I remember. I do believe those two deserve each other.”

We glance over at Dave, and Val says, “Thank you.”

He gives us a brief nod and then walks into what looks like a copier room.

Val swipes her badge and shows me around her department. I wave at the team members I met at the pub and those who came to the cookout. We stop to talk to Ellen for a few minutes and then Val shows me her office.

“This is your office? It’s tiny.”

“It’s all the room I need. Besides, I wanted to sit within the department. I like to be as accessible as possible to my team of programmers.”

“How big is your uncle’s office?”

“Huge. Why do you ask?”

I shrug. “I know your uncle likes to intimidate people. Carson’s offices are really big as well. So, who am I to judge? Maybe it’s a CEO thing.”

We wave our goodbyes as we leave and head to the ground floor.

I hold the door of my truck open and watch Val as she climbs in. I will never get tired of that view.

“Do you have a preference?”

“Not really. You choose.”

“Do you like pizza?”

“I’m Italian, remember?”

I hit the speed dial on my cell phone, “I’m calling in an order—extra-large Joseph’s special. No anchovies. The name is Knight. We’re on our way now. Dine in.”

I grin at Val. “You’ll like their pizza.”

Then I put the truck in drive and head toward the Northside of Jacksonville.

When we walk in, I tell the hostess we called in a pizza. We skip the lunch line and she shows us to a table.

Once we get our drinks, Val looks around. “This is nice.”

“Wait till you taste their pizza. Jacksonville’s finest. It typically takes about forty-five minutes for the pizza to cook. That’s why I called it in.”

I continue, “If you look over there, at that brick wall, see the old mural? When they remodeled the place, they discovered an old painted ad for bread and other signs. They decided to leave it as-is for everyone to enjoy.”

“Wise choice. I like to see a little bit of history in these older buildings.” Val looks up at me.

“What do you like about Jacksonville?”

“It’s home. I grew up here. I like the area, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. You?”

“Well, Jacksonville is a large metro area, but what I love are all the smaller neighborhoods and communities. Like San Marco, Avondale, or Riverside. Then you have the Northside, Westside, Southside, Downtown, and last but certainly not least, the beaches.”

“Do you like the beach?”

“Yes, very much. My dad loved the ocean. He was always taking my mom and me to the beach. I don’t think I’ve even been to the beach this year. I’ve been too busy with the new software.”

“We should go. What about this weekend? We’ve both been working hard. We deserve a break and where better to relax than the beach? As long as the weather is good. Is that okay with you?”

“Absolutely.” the server drops off our pizza and serves Val a slice, then hands me one too.

I take a quick bite of the hot, gooey pizza and then watch Val’s face as she takes a tentative bite.

She smiles up at me, and I see her dimples flash. “This is excellent.”

“I knew you’d like it.”

“I love it. Next time, we’ll have to get anchovies.”

“No, don’t ruin this pizza. No messing with perfection.”

I hear Val laugh.

After I finish off the last few slices of pizza, I look over at Val.

“They have those pieces of fried dough with powdered sugar you like.”

“Zeppoles?”

“I think that’s what they’re called. With raspberry or chocolate sauce?”

“Those are Zeppoles. I couldn’t eat another bite, but maybe next time.”

“Do you want an order to go?”

“No, they’re best when eaten very hot. You know Carlucci’s sometimes needs lunch catered. Do you know if they offer catering here?”

“I’m pretty sure they do. I believe Knight Security uses them.”

“We’ll have to come back again. It’s a little too far for takeout.”

“They have a restaurant practically on Atlantic Beach. Different atmosphere; they have outdoor seating, but the pizzas are the same. So, which beach do you like to go to? Atlantic, Jax or Ponte Vedra?”

“You pick. Surprise me!”

Val gives me a wide smile. She seems to have gotten over whatever was bothering her a few weeks ago. I’m glad. I like seeing Val happy and content.

I can’t wait to see Val in a swimsuit, all slick with suntan lotion. I’ll be sure to help her apply it. I grin just thinking about it.