“Um,” I say, licking my lips and running my hands over the front of my apron. “Can I help you?”
He lifts his eyebrows, a half-smile on his face, and he nods ever so slowly. “You can certainly help me all right.”
I swallow. Hard. “And what is it that you’d like? We have pizza by the slice or…” I exhale, feeling his eyes level with mine.
“Not sure what I want you to serve me is a slice of pizza.”
“No?” My voice is three octaves higher, but his gaze unnerves me in the most delicious way.
He shakes his head. “I think I’d like something else from you.”
“Like what? We have calzones… but they take fifteen minutes to warm up.”
He laughs, his hands on the counter. “I don’t want a calzone. I want a date.”
“A date?” I snort. Then, mortified at the noise I’ve just made, I cover my face. “God. Um. Look, I don’t —”
“What? Don’t date?”
“I don’t even know you.” I look over my shoulder, sure my brother Tony is going to be back any minute.
“I’m Matt. What’s your name?”
“I’m Mirabella,” I say softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “And I just think… maybe you should…”
He crosses his arms, giving me a teasing grin. “Give you my number?”
I laugh nervously. Wishing my life were different. But knowing Tony’s take on any man who tries to flirt with me. And Matt isn’t just flirting. He asked me out. At least, he sort of did.
I hear the back door open and Tony whistling. “I’m sorry,” I say, “but I have to get back to work… maybe I’ll see you around?”
“Just like that? Not even gonna pretend you’re not interested?”
“I am… but…”
“But what?”
Tony calls out to me. “Hey, Mirabella, come unload these groceries.”
“Bye,” I say softly, spinning around and walking away. Matt calls after me, but I’m long gone, and Tony gives me a scowl before heading to the front of the pizzeria.
I wanted to stay and talk to Matt.
But girls like me don’t always get what they want.
I grab a slice of pepperoni, folding it in half and taking a bite, leaning against the fridge, doing my best to listen in on whatever Tony is doing to ruin my chances with a man who looks like a serious piece of pie.
Chapter Two
Matt
When this burly-ass dude walks out with tats and slicked back hair, I know exactly what kind of guy he is. Not the kind I take too kindly to, especially since he has Mirabella clearly freaked out.
I clench my jaw, wondering what their connection is, my stomach popping as I fear the worst. One look and I decided she was mine… but what if she’s already someone else’s?
“Did she get ya yer food?”
I’ve totally lost my appetite, but I’m not ready to leave this pizza shop. “Just a slice of pepperoni,” I manage to say.
He rings me up and I give him some cash, adding a twenty to the tip jar in case it’s Mirabella who gets the money at the end of the shift. He hands me a plate with my order and tells me to come again. “And sorry, my sister gets weird with customers sometimes. She’s too shy for her own good. It’s why I usually have her in the back making dough. She gets nervous.”
I nod slowly, taking in his words. “Sister?”
“Yeah,” he says with a shrug.
“She didn’t seem shy.”
He laughs. “Yeah? Well you musta won her over. She’s shy and she’s fragile.”
“Fragile how?”
“Not like a flower, like a bomb.”
My eyes widen. She sure as hell didn’t seem like a grenade.
“She’s been through hell is all. And so, I make sure to look out for her.”
“Okay…” I say. “Do you think I could talk to her? I—”
He cuts me off. “Look, it’s a bad idea, okay? Just leave well enough alone.”
Frustrated, I shake my head. “If she’s in the back room, can’t she at least be the one to—”
“Fine. Mirabella, you here? This guy wants to talk to you,” he calls out. No answer. “See, she’s not interested.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” I say, dropping the plate in the trash, wondering what the hell is this guy’s deal. I walk to the door, pissed.
As I turn to go, I hear him mutter under his breath. “She’s been hurt enough already. Don’t need a guy like you adding to her trouble.”
Mirabella
I listen to their conversation, up until Tony tells Matt that I’ve been through hell. Tony thinks he’s protecting me, but it just makes it