Town of Chance: Attacking Innocence (The Dare 8)

“You couldn’t hold down a job in one place?” Antonio asked very seriously.

She chuckled. “No, I wanted to gather as much insight into the restaurant business as possible to determine this was the right course of study to take.”

“Well, what did you learn?” Billy asked her as the waiter placed down the wine glasses and poured each one.

“I enjoyed most aspects of running the business, although I found the finances most intriguing and difficult. I was handling budgets, correlating supplies, payroll, and expenses to meet a certain number. In a few of the places as I determined my strengths I actually helped them to save more money and to profit more. I learned a lot and then I went on for my MBA.”

“What made you move back to Chance?” Billy asked her and then took a sip of wine.

She leaned back and played with the base of her glass. She didn’t like talking about herself. Billy seemed truly interested, and Antonio just put her on edge and made her feel immature and not at his level. That annoyed her for some reason. Usually she ignored people like that, but for some reason she felt compelled to prove something to him and she didn’t even know why.

“I missed my dad, and a good friend of his was having some trouble with his small business. I came back to visit and help out his friend and soon his friend was offering me money to assist him and rebuild his business. I started hanging out with all my old friends and fell back in love with Chance. I decided to stick around.”

“We’re sure glad you did,” Salvatore told her and then kissed her shoulder.

She felt her cheeks warm as she reached for the glass of wine.

“Sounds like you’re a hard worker and have great experience, so why hasn’t anyone hired you yet?” Antonio asked, doing the same thing again. Making her feel like there was something wrong with her.

“Antonio,” Billy said his name and gave him an angry scowl.

She could do this. She could handle his attitude.

“Well, to be honest, I’ve gotten offers but they weren’t right for me.”

“Maybe you’re being too particular. Can’t pay your bills without money,” he said and then stood up from the table. “If you’ll excuse me a moment,” he said and then walked away.

She felt a bit insulted but then Finn snorted and shook his head.

“Don’t take offense to Antonio’s attitude, Missy Ann. He tends not to trust anyone and always thinks someone is after his money or wants something from him,” Finn said to her.

“After his money? Why? Is he wealthy or something?” she asked.

This time Billy and Salvatore chuckled.

“What we failed to explain earlier when my brother was saying we own this restaurant and the marina, is that we also own the strip mall, the new condominium complex going up and the new marina and restaurant going there as well,” Billy told her.

She felt shocked and then looked at Finn and Salvatore who seemed to be waiting for her reaction. In her mind she realized that they brought her here perhaps in hope that their brothers, Antonio and Billy, would feel an attraction to her and be interested in a ménage relationship. Which she wasn’t completely ready for. But then she also realized that Antonio saw her as a gold digger, a woman without a job, any stability, and looking for a free ride. She stood up.

“I need to use the rest room,” she said and Finn, Billy, and Salvatore stood up, too.

“Missy Ann, are you okay?” Billy asked her first. She looked at him and gave a nod. But her thought pattern must have been different than what they expected.

“I didn’t tell you to upset you or make you feel uncomfortable,” Billy said to her.

“I’m fine. I’ll wait in the hallway after I’m finished and you guys can meet me there to take me home.”

Salvatore touched her hand to stop her. “Take you home? Why? We haven’t even had dessert.”

“I’m not feeling well. I appreciate the hospitality. And your restaurant is beautiful. Good luck with your endeavors. Excuse me, please,” she said and eased away from Salvatore and Finn. Salvatore scrunched his eyes at her as he watched her head between the tables and crowded restaurant and past the bar.

* * * *

“God damn it! Freaking Antonio and his damn insecurities. Can’t he tell that Missy Ann isn’t after our money?” Finn exclaimed and plopped back down into his seat. They took their seats as well.

“He’s just on guard. You guys surprised us yesterday when you called and told us about wanting us to meet a woman. She’s young, too, and doesn’t seem to be focused on any career path,” Billy said to him.

“She is focused, but some things happened to her several months ago and she only recently felt safe enough to try to get back to a normal routine,” Salvatore said.