Making His Baby(163)

She knows I know more. “When we hired you, Maddie, I had told you we would be making some pretty big changes. This includes the restaurant and the staff. It is one of the reasons we decided to hire you. Do you have an issue with something?”

“No. I just, I guess I feel bad for her. I want to know the type of situation I am becoming a part of.”

“Okay,” she says, listening for my next bit of discourse.

“I sort of caught her and Rocco together and…”

“And you want to be sure she isn’t being let go because of that?”

Well, when she put it that way, it sounds like I’m divulging more than I should, especially about my boss.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to rat them out.”

“Maddie, I’m well aware of my brother’s extra-curricular activities in and outside of this restaurant. But it seems although we both want to see this place succeed, I have been the one working hard in actually trying to make it happen. Recently, something has finally gotten to Rocco enough that he does too. He came to me and recommended that we hire new waitresses to replace the mediocre ones we have been trying to work with. Looks aren’t enough to run a successful restaurant.”

“I agree.”

“We don’t mind paying a little more for quality employees. This is why we hired you. Your school gave you such high recommendations, I couldn’t say no. I am hoping my decision wasn’t made in haste.”

“No, ma’am. I mean, Joanne,” I say with a smile. “I will do my very best.”

“I know you will. Is there anything else?”

“No.”

“Okay, then. I’ll let you get back to your work.”

“Thank you.” I walk out, second guessing my ability to do this job successfully. The actual job itself is not the issue, it is the male boss I have to answer to who worries me most. I need to lay down the law the next time I have the chance, before there is no chance here for me.

I see Rocco walking through the dining area to the kitchen and I take a deep breath. What better time than the present, right?

I walk in behind him and continue my work at the counter, allowing him to do whatever it is he needs to do. I watch him go through the supplies, reading the labels and marking something down on his clipboard as I struggle with the words to say. I sort of said my piece when he chatted to me last night. Was it enough? I watch him and try to read him. He doesn’t look at me or even try to strike up a conversation.

“Can I talk to you, Rocco?” I blurt out.

“Sure,” he says without looking. He continues to take inventory without skipping a beat.

“I saw Tasha earlier. She was really upset.”

“She has a reason to be.” He walks into the back room and continues his inventory there. I follow him, determined to make sure he knows I am not available to him.

“Can I ask you why she was fired?”

“She’s not a very good waitress, never has been.”

“Then why did you keep her on for so long?”

He turns and looks at me, and it isn’t just a look. He penetrates me with his eyes. I feel it deep in my stomach and suddenly, it’s hard to breathe.

“Why do you care what happens to her?”

“She seemed upset. I just…”

“Wanted to help her? Wanted to save her from heartache? We didn’t have any sort of love affair, if that is what you are worried about.”

“I… didn’t mean that.”

“Tasha is a good person. I kept her on because of that. I wasn’t thinking about the restaurant. But I do know I should have let her go a long time ago. She just isn’t a good waitress. I kept her on my staff for the wrong reasons. I guess I was selfish. I know that now, thanks to…” He looks at me and my stomach does a flip. Am I that reason? Everything I want to say to him dissipates into thin air.

“I don’t know what you are talking about?” My body stiffens and my throat constricts around my words. The air feels heavy around me. This wasn’t what I wanted to happen. “You just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

“You shouldn’t lie to me, Maddie.” He looks me straight in the eyes. I want him to kiss me like I imagine him kissing me at night. However, he doesn’t move. The only movement that I can sense is the pounding of my heart and the sound of my pulse in my ears.

“We both know better, don’t we?”

I nod, not knowing what else to do. My mouth is dry and my fingers turn cold. I feel the heat he gives off as he leans into me. His fingers run up my arms causing goosebumps to chase after them. The combination of it all sends my mind spinning. He forces my head up and looks into my eyes and it was all it took. The connection I fought between us since the first time I saw him strengthened and wove itself around us so quickly I lost the reality around me.