He glanced at his watch again. "I really have to go. Eat. I mean it, Francesca. Don't give the money or the coat to anyone else. I'll know, and I won't like it."
She made a face. "Should I be afraid of you?"
For the first time amusement softened his features. "Only if it keeps you from giving away my coat and ensures you eat today." He reached out and bunched her hair in his hand and then allowed the strands to slip out of his fist. "Don't forget to buy a decent pair of shoes."
"I'll use your coat, but the money... I don't know when I can pay you back."
"Pietro pays a decent wage." He turned away from her.
"I don't have the job yet."
"You have the job." He lifted a hand and started down the street, moving easily, quietly. Looking more gorgeous than ever.
"Wait. How do I return the coat?" she asked a little desperately. He'd made it clear he wanted his coat back.
"I'll find you."
She watched him stride away. Watched how people on the sidewalk moved out of his way. He seemed to flow across the sidewalk, a force to be reckoned with. She felt a little bit battered, as if she'd been in the middle of the sea during a terrible storm. She didn't move, not for a long time. She huddled there in his long coat and forced herself to breathe deep, trying not to feel faint.
Joanna caught her by the arm. "Oh. My. God. Did that just happen? Tell me that didn't just happen." She practically shook Francesca in her shock.
Francesca glanced through the window of the deli. No one had moved. The attention of every individual in the store remained completely riveted on Stefano Ferraro. She ducked deeper into the warmth of the coat. The cashmere smelled like him. Was warm like him. Elegant like he was.
"What did just happen?" Francesca asked Joanna. "Because I have no idea."
"He just told Tio Pietro to hire you. Ordered him."
"He can't do that." Francesca frowned, alarmed.
"Yes, he can, and he did. No one goes against a Ferraro. No one, Francesca."
"Great. Your uncle is going to blame me for having someone step in and tell him what to do in his own store."
"No, he won't. He's excited that he gets to do a favor for Stefano. That's rare and it means something. You do a favor for one and they all feel they owe you. The entire family. That's huge, to have a Ferraro owe you. Tio Pietro was practically dancing around the shop."
"Why would that man get so angry because I didn't have a coat?"
Joanna looked confused. "I have no idea. I just know it's super-cool that you attracted his attention. I've been around for years, since I was a little girl, and they all know my name and they know me, but they've never taken that kind of interest in me."
Francesca clenched her teeth. "Why would that be?" she asked, already knowing the answer and not liking it.
"We don't exactly run in the same social circles. That family is total celebrity. Everyone knows them."
That didn't make Francesca in the least bit predisposed to feeling better about Stefano Ferraro's interest in her. "I don't know them. I don't want to know them." Which wasn't altogether true. She'd heard the name. She knew the name was associated with an international bank and a very prestigious hotel as well as a racing team.
Joanna caught her arm and tugged in the direction of the deli's door. "Come on, it's cold out here. Tio Pietro wants to meet you."
"You said them. There's more than one of him?" She knew a Ferraro drove a race car, but surely the name wasn't that uncommon.
Joanna nodded solemnly. "And they're all that gorgeous. I kid you not. Stefano's the oldest. He has four brothers, equally hot. One sister, totally beautiful. When they walk around together, people just stare at them. That's how hot they are. Each one of them is super-cool as well, which makes them all scorching hot. I'm a little in love with them, including their sister. That's how totally gorgeous they are."
Francesca couldn't help it. She started to laugh. She hadn't laughed in months. It was good to see Joanna again. She was not in the least complicated, nor did she want to be. She always found humor in everything and she loved to party, go to clubs and dance the night away.
"I can't believe Stefano Ferraro claimed you."
The statement tumbled out, leaving Francesca feeling weak and more confused than ever. As they entered the store, all eyes turned to her. The deli was eerily silent. Color infused her face. She wanted to turn and run.
"Joanna, come behind the counter and help out while I talk to your friend," Pietro ordered, beckoning to his niece.
Joanna squeezed Francesca's hand. "Tio Pietro, this is my best friend, Francesca Capello."
"Yes, yes, you talk about her all the time," Pietro said, beaming. He waved toward the customers. "Hurry, before they take their business somewhere else. I'll look after Francesca for you."
He indicated for Francesca to follow him and she did, winding her way through the throng of people, back behind the counter. Once behind the counter, she was up close to the smells of the food and her stomach growled again. She found herself pulling the coat closer around her like a shield, trying to hide from all the eyes staring at her. Trying to hide the fact that she was starving. She followed Pietro through a narrow hallway to the rather messy office.
Pietro waved her toward a chair. "Sit. I'll get you an application, but that's just because I need your information. A mere formality."
She winced, wishing it were easy for the average person to get a new identity. She'd actually made inquiries only to find out it would be impossible when she didn't have money and didn't know anyone in the criminal world - well, only one someone - so she'd remained Francesca Capello. Her fingers gripped the outside of the coat, gathering the material into her fists, holding so tight her knuckles turned white.
"Tell me how you know Stefano Ferraro. It sounded as if you just met, yet he said..." He trailed off, clearly looking for more information.
She looked across the desk at Pietro, her heart beginning to pound. She needed this job. She wasn't good at lying, but... She didn't know what to do, how to answer him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Masci, I never laid eyes on him before today." There. She told the truth. She found s
he was trembling from head to foot. She had to get the job. She leaned toward him. "Please. I'm a really hard worker. I've had tons of experience. Really." She just couldn't put down any references. Not a single one.
Pietro sat back in his chair, frowning at her. "You've never laid eyes on him before today?" He repeated her denial softly. Thoughtfully. "He claimed you. He asked me to take care of you for him. Do you have any idea what that means for us? How can you not know him?"
She was getting desperate. Food had been scarce for the last few weeks. Hiding in old buildings trying to stay alive when you were being hunted could make food not a first priority. The bus trip had been long. She had to save her money to try to get a place to stay. That didn't leave a lot for food.
"I met Joanna in school - in college. When... things happened to me... to my family, she was kind enough to help me out. I took a bus out here from California because she thought I could work in your store and build a new life here."
He put both hands on the desk. Flat. Leaning toward her. Eyes piercing. Her heart sank.
"Are you running from the law?"
Relief was so strong she wanted to cry. She shook her head. "No, sir. I'm not. I did get into some trouble back home, but I'm not in trouble with the law. I really need this job. I don't have much money left..." That reminded her of the folded bills Stefano Ferraro had stuffed into the pocket of his very warm coat.
"Why would Stefano Ferraro ask a favor of me for you? Does he know your family?"
She shook her head, feeling dizzy. "I swear to you, I don't know him. I don't know why he gave me his coat, or acted the way he did."
"He took you outside and had a conversation with you. What did he say?"
"Nothing. He didn't want me to give away his coat. He said I had to buy some shoes with the money. He was being kind."
Something in his eyes shifted. "The Ferraros are a lot of things, but they are not kind. He wants you taken care of. My niece has asked as well. I'll hire you. You can start tomorrow. Fill out the papers and I'll go get you food. You look as if you haven't eaten in a while."
Francesca had to admit she didn't think Stefano had helped her out of kindness, but certainly Pietro's expression was kindly, and she sagged with relief. She was going to put down the entire incident with Stefano as weird, treat it like he meant the gesture kindly. She wouldn't spend his money, but she'd wear his coat and then hang it carefully in her apartment until she figured out how to get it back to him.