“I am?” He placed a plate and glass in front of her. “Perhaps we should talk about something else, then.”
“No. I want to know why you’re in such a good mood. Have you made up your mind about the television show?”
Please let him say that he had a change of heart.
His gaze lowered to the table as he took his seat. “Are you sure you know what you’re asking?”
“Of course I do. All you have to do is fill in for your grandfather. And teach me everything you know.” Did this mean he was truly considering the idea? Were her dreams about to come true?
“You really want to learn from me?”
She nodded.
The silence dragged on. Her stomach knotted and her palms grew damp. Why wasn’t he saying anything?
“Well?” She couldn’t bear the unknown any longer. “Where does that leave us?”
“It leaves us with a meal that’s going to get cold if we don’t get through this first course soon.”
“But I need to know.”
“And you will. Soon.”
Was that a promise? It sounded like one. But what was soon in his book? She glanced down at her salad. How in the world was she supposed to eat now?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
HE MUST HAVE lost his mind.
That had to be it. Otherwise why would he even consider going along with this arrangement?
Dante stared across the candlelit table at Lizzie. He noticed how she’d moved the food around on her plate, but she’d barely eaten a bite. She had to be hungry because it’d been hours since they’d stopped at the trattoria on their way back to Rome.
And this food was really good. In fact, he had to admit that he was impressed. Maybe taking her under his wing wouldn’t be such a hardship after all. His solicitor definitely thought it was the least painless course of action. Easy for him to say.
But the deciding factor was when the potential buyer of the ristorante had been willing to wait the two months. His solicitor said that they’d actually been quite enthusiastic about the ristorante getting international coverage.
But what no one took into consideration was the fact that Dante was totally drawn to Lizzie. And that was a serious complication. How in the world were they to work together when all he could think about was kissing her again? He longed to wrap his arms around her and pull her close. He remembered vividly how the morning sun had glowed behind her, giving her whole appearance a golden glow. It had been an experience unlike any other. And when their lips had met—
“Is something wrong with the food?”
Dante blinked before meeting Lizzie’s worried gaze. He had to start thinking of her in professional terms. He supposed that if he were going to take her on as his protégée, he might as well get started. He’d teach her as much as possible within their time limit.
“Now that you’ll be working here, there’ll be no special treatment. You’ll be expected to work just like everyone else.”
“Understood.”
“As for the food, the chicken is a little overcooked. You’ll need to be careful of that going forward.”
A whole host of expressions flitted across her face. “Is there anything else?”
It wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting. He thought she’d be ecstatic to learn that she’d be working there. And that she’d get her television spot. Women. He’d never figure them out. In his experience, they never reacted predictably.
“And use less salt. The guest can always add more according to their taste and diet.”
Her face filled with color. Without a word, she threw her linen napkin on the table and rushed to the kitchen.
He groaned. He hadn’t meant to upset her. Still, how was he supposed to teach her anything if he couldn’t provide constructive criticism? His grandfather should be here. He would know what to say and how to say it.