Chapter 2

Delilah climbed off the bus and looked up the street as she shuffled to the side of the bus-stop shelter.

"Sorry," she said when a woman tripped on her luggage and gave her a dirty look before hurrying away.

"This day just gets better and better," she mumbled, hugging her suitcase against her leg before pulling out her phone. Her destination was already entered, but she wasn't sure what direction to head.

She studied the map, then looked up at the surrounding buildings, confused. She'd grown up in this city but didn't know this area at all, and it had been a long time since she'd used public transport—even longer since she'd had to find her way through a city on foot.

After pointing her phone in one direction, she turned, sighing. She shouldn't feel humiliated, but she did.

Only a few short weeks ago, she had driven herself everywhere and enjoyed an office with a nice view of San Diego. One of the perks when you carry the responsibility of running a small but incredibly successful business.

Now, she was on the other side of the country in a city covered in thick gray cloud.

You live and you learn , she thought as the crowd dispersed. The idiom gave her little comfort, so she focused on what did give her comfort. She was about to see her cousin for the first time in years. And he had plenty of successes to celebrate. Hopefully it would be enough to help her forget about her failure.

She headed down the street, dodging pedestrians as her mind drifted back again to what life should be.

If only she'd known her prosperity had been too good to be true. That much success so quickly had to be connected to a shady deal. She'd just never expected her partner to stab her in the back like he had. André had been one of the most genuine people she'd ever met. Or so she'd thought. And she was usually so good at reading people.

When she turned the corner, she checked the map on her phone again and stopped, her frustration keeping her from caring about the people grumbling as they sidestepped around her.

If she hadn't been so desperate, she would have headed back to the airport. Everything about this day was doing a magnificent job of humbling her to the point of misery.

Someone bumped into her, knocking her backpack off her shoulder.

"Hey, watch it," he said before pressing his phone back to his ear.

She glared at him as she hiked her backpack back onto her shoulder, then pulled her suitcase around and headed in the other direction.

After almost twenty minutes, she knew she was getting close when the street changed. It had all the hallmarks of money. Stores that she would have shopped in a month ago lined the sidewalk. Now, she couldn't afford to breathe the air.

When her phone said she was fifty feet away, she scanned the signs as she walked until she saw the one she was looking for.

A smile followed a burst of emotion that pressed tears into her eyes.

Carpi was becoming a go-to restaurant in town, known not just for its cuisine but for the live music and sophisticated atmosphere that made reservations essential.

Luca had been modest about how far he'd come, but she'd read the reviews. A thriving upscale restaurant in a lavish part of the city was no small feat.

Then her smile faltered. She used to be invited to restaurants like this. Now, she'd be serving in one. But she couldn't let Luca see her disappointment.

After a quick cleansing breath, she returned the smile to her face and checked the door. It had been left unlocked like Luca had promised.

She entered slowly, wanting to appreciate every detail. The stylish decor in the room was dark with delicate lamps adding splashes of light, more for elegance than illumination. It was too posh for her taste, but he'd have a clientele that was at home here and would open their pockets to enjoy the ambience.

At the far end of the room was a stage where the live music would be playing tonight. If she remembered correctly, Luca had said they had several jazz fusion performers. Although she didn't have the slightest idea what that was.

Along one wall was a swanky-looking bar. Besides dinner guests, the restaurant boasted a truck load of patrons who came to spend as much money on drinks and listening to the music.

But none of that was for her. Not anymore. She was here for the paycheck.

"D!"

She spun around as a short man with thick, dark hair and angled features hurried toward her. "You made it!"

"Hey, Luca." She kissed his cheek. "What a great place you have. The articles I read do it more justice than you do. This place is impressive."

He clasped his hands in front of him. "I don't like to boast. Especially when things are going so badly for you."

"Please don't tiptoe around me. The only reason I agreed to take this job was because you had no hint of pity in your voice when you offered. I don't need your charity."

Except she did. After they took her house and her car, and everything in between, she had little choice.

"You are here as my special guest. And your help is greatly appreciated. I am overwhelmed."

"Now you're gushing."

"You don't like gushing either?" He pouted. "You're a tough woman to please."

"You're family, Luca. That's enough. If you want to gush, you can gush about your restaurant."

"It is spectacular, isn't it?" He turned in a wide circle, taking it all in. "But magnificence doesn't come cheap. The marble cost a fortune."

"Marble?"

He pointed to the strips of veined stone in the wall. "I always get comments about it, so it was worth it. But leave it to my own flesh and blood not to notice."

"It looks great. And it's not that I didn't notice, I just hadn't gotten around to seeing it yet. I've been too busy admiring everything else. You've done a great job with the place."

"You should see it at night. When it's full of the people and the music's playing, something magical happens."

Delilah lifted a skeptical eyebrow. "Magical, huh?"

"Just wait. You'll see."

"Where's Trish, by the way? I thought she'd be here."

"Trish moved to Chicago."

"Moved? When?"

"A few weeks ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You had enough on your mind."

"Does that mean things are over between you two?"

"They sure are. We had an all-out brawl in here, so everyone knows. Two fiery personalities clashing in one momentous eruption. It wasn't pretty."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I liked Trish."

"Everyone liked Trish. She was a likable person."

"Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?"

He shrugged. "I should be sadder, but I think it was over for me a month or two before things came to a head."

"Oh."

"Yeah, but enough about that. How was your trip?"

She let her backpack fall to the ground as she let out an extended groan. "It was long. So long."

"How many times was your flight delayed?"

"In which state?"

"I can't believe it took you four different stops to get from California to Virginia. That has got to be the most convoluted route ever."

"Convoluted, maybe, but it was super cheap."

"I could have bought you a better ticket."

"You're already doing enough for me."

"And I'm even more sorry I couldn't pick you up from the airport. If I didn't have that delivery coming in today?—"

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. Lots of people travel on the bus. It's not like I haven't done it before. It's just been a while."

His face crinkled like he wanted to say more, but he shook it off and said instead, "Let's get you settled in, but then I have to leave you to an afternoon of relaxation. I still have a lot to do before we open for dinner."

"You need me tonight?"

"No way. I'm not going to make you work on your first night. You must be exhausted. I want you to rest up. You've got jet lag to get over too."

"Thank you. I'm always surprised at how a three-hour time difference can mess you up for days."

"I have rostered you on tomorrow, but it's just training. If you need more time to settle in, you let me know."

"No, I'll be fine. I don't want any special treatment."

"That's too bad, 'cause you're going to get it. Follow me."

He led her through the kitchen, where he introduced her to a couple of people. Then they went through a short hall, where he pointed at a door. "That closet is my office."

"Closet?"

He stopped to open the door, and she peered inside. It was a small room that probably had been a large closet once upon a time.

She nodded. "I see."

"It does the job I need it to."

He pulled the door closed and continued to a narrow staircase. Her suitcase bumped the walls as she carried it up.

"The apartment's not very big," he said when they reached the top. "But you'll be comfortable."

"I hope you know you didn't have to do this for me."

"It wasn't being used. I'd rather have someone in there than let it collect dust."

He unlocked the door and ushered her into the apartment.

"Here we are." He handed her the keys. "Home sweet home. I'm sure it's much smaller than your last place. But it's got everything you need."

She stepped past him. "This is beautiful." The room itself was basic, but someone had gone through a lot of trouble decorating it. A shelf in the kitchen was stacked with gold-rimmed plates, and a bowl of fruit had been placed on the small dining table.

The jewel-toned couch matched small accents in the room, and when she went to the bedroom to leave her suitcase, she saw the bed was covered in a stylish bedspread with an old-fashioned wardrobe against one wall.

When she returned to the living room, she ran her hand across a soft cream-colored blanket draped on the back of the couch.

"Maryanne Dupont is her name," Luca said.

"Who?"

"She helped me decorate the restaurant and did me a favor when I knew you were moving in. After everything you went through, I wanted you to feel at home. I know what a step down this is."

"Don't say that. You've been amazing. I appreciate everything more than you can know."

"I know you appreciate it. You've always been like that. Even as kids I don't think I ever heard you complain."

"Don't worry, I'm sure I did my fair share."

"Still. This is a step down. A big one. And I want you to know that I understand being a waitress in my restaurant is only temporary until you get back on your feet."

"I don't know what I would have done without you. So many people turned their backs on me after what happened." She cleared her throat to push away the emotion that threatened. "No one believed me."

"You paid a high price for what that guy did. Did he have to face any consequences?"

"Nope. He cashed out and disappeared before the collapse."

"Karma will get him in the end. You hang in there, and you'll be back on top in no time."

"Honestly, I think I'm lucky not to be in jail."

"You have to put all that behind you. You're a brilliant businesswoman. Something amazing is around the corner. I know it."

"I hope you're right." Except she didn't think he was. She couldn't see any way to claw her way out of the hole she was in. After being declared bankrupt, a lot of her options had been taken away and would be for some time. "But I'm going to make the most of my time here."

"I know you will." He squeezed her arm. "I've got to get back to work, but you let me know if you need anything."

"I will. Thank you. This place is great. I know I'll be very comfortable here."

"Come down when you want some dinner. Everything's on the house."

"You don't have to do that."

He threw his head back and lamented at the ceiling. "Stop being so stoic and let me spoil you a little."

"Okay. If I'm hungry. I don't know that I will be, but if my stomach starts grumbling, I'll come down."

"When you start smelling the aroma from the kitchen, you'll change your mind."

After Luca left, she stared at the door for a minute. One thing she had determined to do was not let herself sulk, and she'd done a terrible job of that so far.

"Right."

She kicked off her shoes, then went to her bed, bouncing on the end of it. It was springier than her last one.

"This is going to be good. A fresh start."

She slid up the bed and fluffed the pillows.

"Luca, you are an absolute gem."

She laid back, and her head sank into the down pillow.

Her intention was to get back up in a minute and unpack, but her eyes got heavy, and she fell asleep instead.