you went out for lunch and it wasn’t with the girls? Don’t be such a prude. Have some fun for a change.”
Samantha left the office .
How bad could it be? What kind of question was that? She couldn’t lunge into a relationship with a man as dangerous as Jake. Not after her previous experience with him. If that’s what it was like to kiss him, she could only imagine what it would be like to…
No, she had to be careful to keep their rela tionship more business-like until she worked out a way of keeping her feelings in check. Nevertheless, the thought of lunch alone with Jake caused a sensual tugging inside her that she couldn’t override.
He’ d been teasing when he said he wouldn’t kiss her. She could taunt him right back. This might turn out well after all. Now she was in the power position.
Maybe Samantha was right.
It was time to have some fun.
* * *
Rachel caught a cab to Darlinghurst, crossed the street and searched for Mancini’s. Jake said there would be a small sign at the end of a laneway. It made her wonder why he’d chosen such a dodgy looking place.
Entering though an oversized battered door, she went down a set of dark wooden stairs and turned a corner to enter a large, friendly basement room.
The ceiling was warped and looked like it might cave in as large dark wooden beams struggled to hold its weight. The walls were whitewashed, forming the backdrop to an eclectic mix of paintings of landscapes and piazzas of Italy. The roughly hewn wooden tables were largely unadorned.
Rachel was transported to another country and felt as if she’d chanced by an Italian trattoria on her travels. This wasn’t at all what she was expecting.
“So you made it here alright?”
Jake’s voice was deep and guttural, intoxicating even when his words were matter of fact.
She turned to face him. “Of course.”
He took a step back, a subtle smile washing across his face as his eyes skimmed the length of her figure. The crimson top she wore was clingy and its deep V neckline exposed rather more cleavage than was usual for her. The top might not have been her first choice if she’d known she was having lunch with Jake, but he could look if he wanted.
A young waiter knew Jake by name and seated them at a small rustic square table in a corner. He handed them menus and placed cold water on the table.
“Shall we order first or go through the agenda?” Rachel asked.
Jake’s lips curled up at the corners. “What agenda?”
“I thought you wanted to meet over lunch. I presume we’re here for a purpose.”
“Oh, we are.”
She looked him in the eye with an air of confidence to match his own. “Well there’s no need to let me in on the secret.”
The head waiter, a rotund Italian fellow, came over to their table.
“Jake, so nice to see you again ,” he said loudly. “And who is the lovely signorina?”
Jake introduced her to Carlo.
“ Bellissima .” Carlo was even louder than before.
“And was the last lady Jake brought here also bellissima ?” Rachel asked.
“ Certamente ,” Carlo said. “ Molto bellissima . But she wasn’t a signorina. It was his mother, Signora Austin.”
Not the answer she was expecting. So Jake was close to his mother.
H e then ordered a glass of red wine for himself and sparkling mineral water for her.
Carlo continued. “The cook has done a wonderful job with the pasta arrabiata today but it will not be as ‘hot’ as your signorina.”
“Perfect,” Jake said. “We’ll have an antipasto platter to start and two pasta dishes for mains.”
Carlo left them.
“So you’ve decided what I’m having for lunch, have you?” Rachel asked.
“Actually I didn’t decide what we’re having. Carlo did. That’s the secret to ordering at this place. I have them bring me whatever is freshest and best on the day. That’s why I like it here. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but the food is excellent. Just simple
Samantha left the office .
How bad could it be? What kind of question was that? She couldn’t lunge into a relationship with a man as dangerous as Jake. Not after her previous experience with him. If that’s what it was like to kiss him, she could only imagine what it would be like to…
No, she had to be careful to keep their rela tionship more business-like until she worked out a way of keeping her feelings in check. Nevertheless, the thought of lunch alone with Jake caused a sensual tugging inside her that she couldn’t override.
He’ d been teasing when he said he wouldn’t kiss her. She could taunt him right back. This might turn out well after all. Now she was in the power position.
Maybe Samantha was right.
It was time to have some fun.
* * *
Rachel caught a cab to Darlinghurst, crossed the street and searched for Mancini’s. Jake said there would be a small sign at the end of a laneway. It made her wonder why he’d chosen such a dodgy looking place.
Entering though an oversized battered door, she went down a set of dark wooden stairs and turned a corner to enter a large, friendly basement room.
The ceiling was warped and looked like it might cave in as large dark wooden beams struggled to hold its weight. The walls were whitewashed, forming the backdrop to an eclectic mix of paintings of landscapes and piazzas of Italy. The roughly hewn wooden tables were largely unadorned.
Rachel was transported to another country and felt as if she’d chanced by an Italian trattoria on her travels. This wasn’t at all what she was expecting.
“So you made it here alright?”
Jake’s voice was deep and guttural, intoxicating even when his words were matter of fact.
She turned to face him. “Of course.”
He took a step back, a subtle smile washing across his face as his eyes skimmed the length of her figure. The crimson top she wore was clingy and its deep V neckline exposed rather more cleavage than was usual for her. The top might not have been her first choice if she’d known she was having lunch with Jake, but he could look if he wanted.
A young waiter knew Jake by name and seated them at a small rustic square table in a corner. He handed them menus and placed cold water on the table.
“Shall we order first or go through the agenda?” Rachel asked.
Jake’s lips curled up at the corners. “What agenda?”
“I thought you wanted to meet over lunch. I presume we’re here for a purpose.”
“Oh, we are.”
She looked him in the eye with an air of confidence to match his own. “Well there’s no need to let me in on the secret.”
The head waiter, a rotund Italian fellow, came over to their table.
“Jake, so nice to see you again ,” he said loudly. “And who is the lovely signorina?”
Jake introduced her to Carlo.
“ Bellissima .” Carlo was even louder than before.
“And was the last lady Jake brought here also bellissima ?” Rachel asked.
“ Certamente ,” Carlo said. “ Molto bellissima . But she wasn’t a signorina. It was his mother, Signora Austin.”
Not the answer she was expecting. So Jake was close to his mother.
H e then ordered a glass of red wine for himself and sparkling mineral water for her.
Carlo continued. “The cook has done a wonderful job with the pasta arrabiata today but it will not be as ‘hot’ as your signorina.”
“Perfect,” Jake said. “We’ll have an antipasto platter to start and two pasta dishes for mains.”
Carlo left them.
“So you’ve decided what I’m having for lunch, have you?” Rachel asked.
“Actually I didn’t decide what we’re having. Carlo did. That’s the secret to ordering at this place. I have them bring me whatever is freshest and best on the day. That’s why I like it here. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but the food is excellent. Just simple
Similar Books
