“You just have to promise me something.”
“What is that, Rocco?”
“You just hired the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Let’s not be so quick to do that again, huh?”
“Maddie?”
“Yes.”
“You say that about every single woman I hire,” she says, dismissing my request with a wave of her hand.
“I’m not kidding. This is different…”
“Oh, no. You and I had this conversation. You promised me you would leave my staff alone from here on out. Maddie is no exception.”
She’s right. I’m a fool for even thinking I have a chance with her. Maddie is nothing like the other women in my life.
“Yeah, no, I agree. I told you I would change. You have my word.” I say the words, but I didn’t want to.
“Okay. Good,” she said, keeping her eyes on me. “Give me a couple of days to find some replacements. We can let Tasha and Mary go Wednesday after their shifts. That should give me time to train some new girls and get them ready for the weekend crowd.”
Joanne looks at me for a long time without saying a word. She’s worse than our mother was. I couldn’t have a private thought without her knowing what I was thinking.
“Why do I not believe you about staying away from my girls?”
I shrug and look away without saying a word.
“Leave Maddie alone. Please. I need her here. She is an excellent pastry chef and I don’t want you ruining her before she has a chance.”
“I didn’t say anything,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
“I know that look. I don’t like that look. It’s more than knowing a new girl is working here.”
“Can’t get anything past you, can I? Honestly, I will admit, I’m having a hard time getting her out of my head.”
“It’s more than that. I can see it in your eyes. Rocco, I need you to focus. Please.”
“What the hell do you want me to do? I didn’t hire her. She just shows up in my doorway and stops me dead in my tracks.”
“Shit.” She rubs her forehead because she knows. She knows how I am with women, and this woman has already done something to me.
“Tell me what to do, Joanne. Unless you are going to tell her she can’t work here, you need to tell me what to do. I don’t understand this. I love women with long hair, she has short hair! No, it’s not even a sassy sexy bob, it’s shoulder length. How boring is that? I love women with experience. Maddie is so innocent I wouldn’t put it past her that she is a virgin! I love women with curves and moves, she has none of that!”
“I’m not getting rid of her. Not unless she screws up, or screws you.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It’s not fair that you think with your dick. She is your pastry chef, Rocco, not one of your lovers. What is the problem?”
“I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“Try harder.” She goes back to her menus and looks back up at me after a few moments. “We are done here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me that.”
I smirk and lean over the desk, giving her a peck on her forehead before leaving for the night. I am in trouble, and Joanne knew this. I’m hoping deep down that she does something about it, before I am forced to.
The next day is slow at the restaurant, so I hole myself up in my office and catch up on some paperwork. I’ll use that excuse because it sounds better than trying to stay away from trouble.
When the shifts end, I clean up, shut down my computer and smile as I leave my office, proud that I make it through the day with only thoughts instead of acts.
I walk into the dining area and look around. Everything is cleaned and put away as it should be. I peek in the restrooms and upon inspection, they are spotless as well. Walking back through the dining room, I hear a noise in the kitchen.
Maddie is leaning over the deep kitchen basin, washing some large cooking pots.
“You’re here late,” I say, leaning against the wall. I startle her and watch her body move as she turns and looks at me.
“I didn’t know anyone was still here. I was just trying out a few recipes before leaving. I hope that is okay. They came out beautifully. I was thinking we could use them on tomorrow’s menu.”
“That is up to Joanne.” I want to move the strand of hair from in front of Maddie’s face. It hangs there, taunting me, teasing me. I want to move it, I want to touch her. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“No. I’m just cleaning up. I’m almost done.”
My presence makes her uneasy. Her body language clearly shows that I affect her. If she only knew how badly she affected me, too. How am I supposed to stay away from such an angel when all I can think about is her?