The Playboy of Rome

He kind of figured she would. “And what did they say?”

He wasn’t so sure he wanted to hear the answer because Lizzie looked far too confident. What did she know that he didn’t?

Lizzie perched on the arm of the couch. “They were sorry to hear about your grandfather.”

“And?”

“And when I mentioned that you’d taken over the restaurant, they were intrigued. They pulled up some old footage of you with your grandfather and they’re convinced transitioning the spotlight from your grandfather to you will work.”

He should have known that eventually being on television even for a few seconds would come back to bite him. He just never expected this. Who would want him on television? He knew nothing of acting. And he wasn’t inclined to learn.

“Lizzie, I haven’t agreed to this. Any of it.” And he didn’t want to either.

“But what choice do you have at this point? If your attorney was going to uncover an easy out, he’d have told you by now.”

Dante’s hands pressed down on the granite countertop. He wanted to argue with her. He wanted to point out that this idea didn’t have a chance to be a success. But even his solicitor wasn’t rushing in, promising that all would be fine. In fact, his solicitor had said quite the opposite. That trying to break the contract would cost him money and time.

The television exposure would definitely give the ristorante added publicity and the asking price could easily be inflated. As it was, he’d been forced to lower the price to unload it quickly, but now there wouldn’t be a rush. He could ask for a more realistic price and perhaps someone else would step forward that would want the ristorante without buying the family recipes.

Lizzie tossed her oversize purse on the couch. “Besides, if you help me out, I’ll help you out.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“If you agree to do the filming each morning before the restaurant opens, I can help you around Ristorante Massimo.”

His brows rose. “You’re offering to work for me?”

“Sure. What else do I have to do with my time?”

There had to be a catch. There always was. Everybody wanted something. “And what are you expecting me to pay you?”

She shrugged. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“I’d just like a chance to do what I would have done

with your grandfather.”

“And that was?”

“To learn from him. He was planning to teach me as much as he could while I was in town. I came to Italy with the sole intent to work my butt off.”

Dante eyed her up. “You really don’t want anything else but to learn?”

“Why do you sound so skeptical?”

He shrugged. “I’m not used to people offering me free help.”

“I wouldn’t get used to it. Not everyone can afford to do it. But the studio is paying me to be here, and with you providing free room and board, it should all work out.”

At last he found the rub. “You intend to continue to live here? With me?”

“Is this your way of saying that you plan to kick me out?”

“You have to admit that after what happened in the vineyard the idea of us living and working together isn’t a good one.”

“Why? Are you saying that you want to repeat that kiss?” She moved forward, only stopping when she stood on the other side of the counter. “Are you wishing that you hadn’t stopped it?”