Just as she was about to do so she heard Giovanni call her name, and she turned as he moved to her side.
‘Cristo has a family emergency. Can you work his shift this evening?’
She didn’t hesitate. ‘No problem.’
Together they went through the dinner menu, Cristo’s work was re-assigned, and Lily checked the large pantry and cold room.
Busy didn’t cover it as the restaurant began to fill with evening clientele, and deft speed became essential as the wait-staff presented order after order for the kitchen staff to fill.
The need to work well together became paramount, and Lily did what she did best, worked under pressure by focusing on what needed to be done.
There were a few moments of light relief as Hannah’s sense of humour came to the fore.
‘Canadian on table five isn’t happy with his steak.’ She achieved an impressive eye-roll. ‘Medium rare in Canada is not what we served him. He wants the meat pink with a red-blood centre. No oozing blood, but close.’
A fussy customer needed to be a happy customer. ‘OK.’ Lily fired up the grill, cut a fresh beef fillet, seared, checked and plated it. ‘Good to go. With the chef’s compliments.’
Within minutes Hannah reappeared to collect another order. ‘Success. Although he would have preferred Canadian beef.’
‘Really?’
‘Really. I very politely explained the restaurant only bought the finest beef from a hill farm owned by a caring family whose stock was personally hand fed.’
Lily’s eyes gleamed as she tamped down the urge to laugh. ‘You didn’t.’
‘Uh-huh. He appeared impressed.’ Hannah collected the order and sailed back to the restaurant.
The pace was fast, and it was good to reach the late evening plateau where most of the customers had moved on from their main course and were content to linger over dessert and coffee.
It was almost the end of the evening shift when Giorgio, the maître d', entered the kitchen and crossed to Lily’s side.
‘There is a gentleman who wishes to speak with you.’
She cast him a look of surprise. ‘Did he give you his name?’
‘James. Signor James.’
Her ex? Ex-fiancé, ex-friend … ex-everything?
James? Here in Milan, at this particular restaurant? You have to be joking?
Coincidence didn’t stretch that far.
While it wouldn’t have been difficult for him to connect her to Sophia, there was no way her aunt would divulge where Lily lived or worked. Yet somehow James had managed to find out, and for some reason, he’d decided to board a flight to Italy and force a personal confrontation.
Hell … the silent curse stuck in her throat.
Like she needed this?
Calm, she could do calm, and she offered Giorgio a wry look. ‘The man is an ex-fiancé and no longer a friend of mine.’
‘You do not want to speak with him?’
‘Please. If you don’t mind.’
Giorgio inclined his head, and Lily returned her attention to plating up an order, unaware the maître d’ slipped into the private office and made a phone call before returning to the front desk.
Hopefully James would accept the relayed words and leave.
Yet there was a certain degree of trepidation as she dispensed with her apron and bade the remaining kitchen staff goodnight.
Surely James wouldn’t wait for her?
Except there he was, standing at the edge of the pavement as she exited the restaurant, making it impossible for her to avoid him.
With long strides he moved towards her and attempted to take her hands in his own, swiftly she locked them together behind her back.
‘James,’ Lily acknowledged stiffly. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘To convince you, in person, that I made the biggest mistake of my life.’ He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘Emails and phone calls weren’t achieving anything.’
What could she say that she hadn’t relayed verbally at the time, and later via email?
‘Our relationship was over the moment I walked into my home and discovered you in bed with another woman.’
‘It didn’t mean anything.’ He took a step closer. ‘I was a fool. Please give me a second chance,’ he implored with desperation. ‘I love you.’
She doubted he ever had.
‘We’ve done this. Let’s not do it again.’
‘Lily—’
‘Just. go, James.’
‘Lily, I’m begging you. Please.’
She didn’t see it coming and she should have, as he pulled her close and brought his mouth down on hers with a hungry force that stunned and sickened her as she fought to free herself.
With a deep-throated growl she kicked him hard and took advantage of his momentary surprise to wrench away from him.
‘Don’t touch me, you … imbecile. She wiped a hand over her mouth and glared at him in a manner that spoke volumes. ‘If you come near me again, I’ll have you arrested for harassment.’
‘You can’t be serious.’
‘Very.’ Succinct and vehement.
He went to reach for her again … and this time Lily was ready for him.
‘Don’t.’
‘I suggest you take Lily’s advice,’ a deep, slightly accented familiar voice drawled, and she swung around to face Alessandro leaning against his gleaming black car parked at the kerb.
How long had he been standing there?
Lily tilted her chin as she regarded his inscrutable features. ‘I can manage this.’
‘Of that I have no doubt,’ Alessandro concurred in a silky drawl that sent shivers scudding down her spine.
James, however, directed Alessandro a resentful glare. ‘This is between me and my fiancée and none of your business.’
‘Ex-fiancée,’ Lily corrected at once. ‘As of almost two months ago.’
‘We’re working at reconciling.’
‘There is no we,’ she assured with considerable force.
‘And no chance of a reconciliation. ever.’
Alessandro switched his attention to James. ‘A definite no, wouldn’t you agree?’
‘She doesn’t know what she wants,’ James declared in a dismissive tone, and failed to notice the tension edge up a notch.
‘It doesn’t appear to be you.’
‘Really?’ James spared him a hard look. ‘And you are?’
‘A friend.’
James turned to Lily and indicated a compact hire car. ‘I’ll follow you home, and we can talk in private.’
Alessandro searched Lily’s features. ‘Is that what you want?’
He reminded her of a panther,