As soon as he pulled open the door, the soft murmur of voices and mellow music rushed out to meet them. He breathed in the enticing aroma of fresh-baked bread and Italian sauces. The familiar sounds and smells filled him with contentment.
His gaze scanned the cozy restaurant and connected with Tony Moretti’s.
Tony hurried across the room to greet him, his eyes wide with delight. His friendly robust voice and thick Italian accent wrapped around him and drew him in.
“Jay, my boy. Come, come in. Isabella will be so happy to see you. It has been too long.” He threw his burly arms around Jay and squeezed. Dino, Jay’s childhood best friend, came up beside Jay and the two exchanged a hug.
Tony turned to Dino. “Dino, call your mother.”
A moment later, Isabella came bustling out of the kitchen. Jay’s heart warmed at the sight of her. No matter how bad things had been at home, he’d always known he could count on Isabella. She’d treated him like one of her own, even scolded him and steered him in the right direction when he got into trouble. And he got into a lot of trouble.
Wiping her hands on her apron, she said, “Jay, come here.” She hugged him and kissed both his cheeks. Wispy gray hair, always kept pulled back in a tight bun, tickled his skin. He inhaled her familiar comforting scent as she pulled him closer. Isabella stepped back, her brows furrowed. In the span of a moment she went from happy to mock angry. “What? You have no time for your family no more, now that you’re a big fancy scientist in the city?”
“Sorry, Isabella. I’ve been working day and night. I promise to stop by more often. How is Grandmother?”
“Her ninety-eighth birthday is next month.” She cocked a brow. “You’ll come, yes?”
“Have I missed one yet?”
Smile restored, Isabella squeezed his cheeks, her face softened. “Ah, you are a good boy, Jay Cutler. You have a good heart.” She turned to Tony and lifted her chin. “Did I not tell you he had a good heart?”
Tony sighed patiently. “Yeah, you did tell me, Issy. You told everybody. But we all knew he was a stand-up guy when he took my cousin’s kid to the prom when her date stood her up.”
Isabella’s smile widened. “I knew you’d turn out different from the others.” Isabella turned to her husband Tony and threw her hands up in the air. “Did I not say he would turn out different from the others? That he wouldn’t leave broken hearts all over the city like the rest of the rascals in his family? Jay is anything but a ‘Cold-Hearted Cutler.’”
Jay swallowed the lump gathering in his throat. Up until recently, his track record certainly hadn’t been so great. He was well on his way to following that fate. Jay snuck a peek at Laura. Thanks to her, he now knew there was more to him. His heart softened. He wanted to be a better man. For her. And for himself.
Tony gave a patient smile. “Yes, Isabella, you told us.” He winked at Jay. “Many, many times.”
Anchored to Jay’s side, Laura stood there slack-jawed and soaked up the exchange between Jay and these warm, friendly people. She’d seen glimpses of his nurturing side many times before, but to see the shine in his eyes as he devoured the love around him made her heart ache with longing.
She took a moment to peruse the intimate restaurant. The atmosphere was easy, casual, and inviting, just like the owners. Balanced on top of red-and-white-checkered tablecloths she observed wax-coated Chianti bottle candle lamps. The walls were painted with vibrant hues, each color playing off the other.
The sound of Jay’s voice pulled her back. “I’d like you all to meet Laura. We work together at the lab.” Jay turned to Laura and introduced Dino, Tony, and Isabella.
Planting her hands on her wide hips, Isabella focused her attention on Laura. Laura felt slightly uncomfortable as the woman’s glance panned over her curvy figure, assessing her. Laura leaned into Jay, seeking his comfort.
“I like this girl, Jay. She doesn’t look like a carrot stick. She has lovely round angles like a woman is supposed to have. She looks like she eats real food, not just lettuce.”
As Laura smiled at Isabella’s endorsement, she felt Jay’s eyes trace the pattern of her shape. His pleasure resonated through her and made her pulse leap. It appeared to her that, although she didn’t fit his usual descriptive requirements, Jay appreciated her curvy figure, too. Excitement coiled through her veins. Maybe he did have it bad for her.
Isabella turned back to Jay. “Is this one for keeps?”
Jay rolled his eyes and clutched Laura’s hand. “Isabella, you ask me that every time.”
She frowned and waved her hands wildly. “And I will keep asking until you give me the answer I’m looking for.”
He squeezed Laura’s hand. A gesture she was accustomed to, an indication to play along.
“Yes, Isabella, she’s for keeps.”
Laura’s heart lodged in her throat and she worked furiously to swallow it down. If only he really was playing for keeps.
Features softening, Isabella clapped her hands together and threw her arms around Laura in a welcoming embrace. “I knew it, I knew it. Tony, come, we must celebrate.” She flicked a glance at Dino. “Dino, seat them at the family table.”
Dino motioned for them to follow. He fell into step beside Laura and whispered, “I hope you’re not in a rush. Mother hasn’t seen Jay in a couple of months and she’ll want to go over every childhood story with him again. If you’re really lucky, you’ll escape before she brings out the photo album.”
Laura smiled and felt an instant camaraderie with Dino. She gave a quick laugh as her second wind blew through her. “I’m in no rush at all.”
Following Dino’s lead, Laura and Jay moved toward a large round table at the back
