'Elegant. Gracious.' Dani sighed as she remembered the other woman's patience with her children. 'Their family is like something out of a movie. All those kids and the household runs smoothly. Ian's in a wheelchair and a couple of the kids have Down's syndrome. Trisha's deaf. I know the others are special-needs kids, as well, but I don't know the reasons.'
'Why that woman would burden herself and her husband that way is beyond me,' Gloria said. 'Who needs eight children with problems? It's ridiculous. She's practically a martyr. Does she want to be on a stamp?'
The mini outburst was vintage Gloria. Dani couldn't help smiling. 'So you haven't changed totally.'
Gloria sighed. 'Apparently not. But I'm working on it. I've met Katherine a few times. She's lovely and gracious-reasons why we were never close.'
'She was so nice to me. I don't think I would have been able to act that way if I'd been her.'
'Perhaps not. Still, watch yourself. The situation is complicated.' Gloria shook her head. 'You'll do what you want to do. You've always been stubborn.'
'I get that from you,' Dani said, then pressed her lips together. 'I mean-'
Gloria grabbed her hand. 'Stop! Stop backtracking. You do get that from me. Maybe it's just from watching me be stubborn all your life. Dani, I still want to be your grandmother. We have a history. I want you to think about forgiving me for all I did. Is that possible?'
Dani wasn't sure. Did forgiveness imply trust? Because she wasn't totally ready to believe Gloria wouldn't turn on her again. Still, under the circumstances, saying 'Of course it's possible,' seemed the right thing to do.
Dani flipped through the receipts for the night. Not bad for a Wednesday, she thought as she did a quick mental tally. Nick's pasta special had been a huge hit and they'd sold a fair number of her wine pairings, as well.
It had taken Dani the better part of a week to convince Bernie to offer wine pairing suggestions. He kept telling her that guests found it insulting to be told what wine went with what foods. As if the management assumed they were too stupid to figure it out themselves.
Dani argued that people liked being given ideas that allowed them to try a wine they might not have taken a chance on otherwise.
Their compromise had been to add a wine pairing to half the specials and see if they sold. She had a feeling Bernie would want to add more pairings to other items on the menu.
Her minor success pleased her. She wanted to do well in her work. This was her first real job outside the Buchanan empire, so in her mind, it was a make-it or break-it situation.
'Dani, one of our guests wants to talk to you. He didn't say why.'
Dani smiled at the server. 'Thanks, Eddie. Which table?'
'Fifteen.'
'I'll head right over.'
A request to see a manager could mean anything from a tirade to praise for exceptional service. Things ran smoothly enough at Bella Roma that Dani wasn't worried.
She rounded the corner and was halfway through her 'Hi, I'm Dani Buchanan. How may I help you?' when she recognized the lone diner. The power suit was familiar as were the dark eyes and stubborn jaw.
'This is a surprise,' she told Alex Canfleld.
'I heard the food was good.'
She glanced at the menu in his hand. 'I take it you haven't ordered. Would you like a few suggestions?”
'Are you going to spit on my food before they bring it to me?'
She grinned. 'It depends on why you're really here.'
'Maybe I just want to get to know you.'
'Oh, please. I may not have gone to law school and lost my humanity, but I'm not an idiot.'
'You went to Cornell, which is tough to get into, and I never said you were an idiot.'
As she stared down at him, it occurred to her she wasn't disappointed he'd shown up at the restaurant. Interesting. She also noticed she sort of enjoyed bantering with him. They were both verbal and quick.
But he hadn't answered the question-why was he here?
'Being an idiot was implied,' she said.
He motioned to the chair across from his. 'You could join me.'
'Or I could not.'
He glanced around at the dining room. 'It's after nine. Your dinner crowd has left. Have dinner with me. We'll get to know each other. I'll even let you pick the topics we discuss.'
Somehow she doubted that. He'd been less than friendly the last time they'd been together. She was ambivalent-understanding his need to protect his family and hating that she was considered the enemy. Still, she pulled out a chair and sat down. 'I want to order the food,' she told him.
'Why am I not surprised?'
'And the wine.'
'Will you cut my food into tiny pieces and feed me, as well?'
'Only if you have bad table manners.'
Eddie walked over and looked at her.
'Mr. Canfield and I will be having dinner together, Eddie.' Dani placed the order, picking her favorites, then chose a bottle of Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese.
'Nice,' Alex said when Eddie left. 'The wine's a little pricey.'
'It's worth it. Besides, you're rich. You can afford it.'
He raised his eyebrows. 'You're assuming I'm buying.'
'You did the inviting.'
'This is your place.'
'Fine. You can take advantage of my employee discount.'
He nodded. 'I appreciate that.' He passed her the bread basket. 'How are you enjoying your job here?'
The implication being it was a new job. She wasn't surprised he knew that-no doubt dragon-boy had investigated every aspect of her life.
'I like it a lot. Bernie and his mother are great. I know Mama Giuseppe makes everyone crazy, but I think she's very entertaining. The kitchen staff are terrified of her. I like the food, the staff and the regulars. I hope to be here a long time.'
'Why the restaurant business?' he asked.
'I never thought about doing anything else. I grew up as a Buchanan. I want to say it's in my blood, but I guess that isn't true. It's what I know. Why did you go to law school?'
'My soul was getting in the way of being a ruthless bastard. I knew they'd suck it out of me.'
She glared at him. 'I answered
'Fair enough. I wanted to do the right thing. Be on the right side of the law. For that, I needed to understand it.'
That surprised her. 'You consider yourself an idealist?'
'Why not?'
'You're in corporate law and you're working on a presidential campaign. Is there idealism left in either place?'
'Democracy is alive and well.'
'So is the need to raise millions of dollars for nearly every kind of campaign.'
'We can still make a difference, either on a local and individual basis, or nationally and globally.'
He was serious. She hadn't expected that.
'I'm getting worried,' she admitted. 'I don't want to have to like you.'
'I'm totally charming.'
'Not to me.'
'It's a subtle charm.'
'Apparently.'
Eddie appeared with the bottle of wine. After he opened it, she hesitated, as if not sure who would do the
