Page 18 of Dirty Hearts

“Okay, why though?” Pa never gave anybody special treatment. So far, I’d noticed Gino treated them like royalty. I’d never seen them before because we tended to come here as a family on Sundays. Also, I’d been away a lot.

“Ava girl, you ask too many questions,” Pa huffed, tossing around a few chopped vegetables in his skillet. They sizzled.

“I just want to know.”

“They’re important. You see them come back here, you serve them. That’s your task.”

Vague, but that was what he was like.

“Okay. Here’s Mrs. Archer’s order.” I hung it on the little wire that held the customer orders, then headed back out to the floor.

Mr. Gorgeous zeroed in on me again, and his interest seemed to pique as I got closer.

“Luc, she’s coming over to us,” the guy said in that purposefully not whispering tone.

“Hi,” I said acknowledging them both as I got to the table. “I just came over to find out if you need anything else.” I didn’t know how I kept the quiver out of my voice, or my knees from turning to water.

“Yes,” Mr. Gorgeous declared, straightening and tucking a lock of his hair behind his ear. “I’d love a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich.”

I’d readied my pen to take down his order, but then I looked back to him and arched a brow.

Was he serious?I couldn’t tell.

Pa said these guys were important. Did that mean making them whatever they wanted? We were what I’d call an up and coming restaurant in the sense that we stocked various fine wines and did homemade dishes that were divine.Sandwiches though…

Not so much.

“We don’t really do sandwiches here…”

While the brother muttered something under his breath, Mr. Gorgeous smiled, introducing me to the dimples in his cheeks. As if he weren’t gorgeous enough as it was.

“Oh, I heard it on good authority that you do.” He straightened, and the sleeve of his biker jacket tightened over the bulge of muscle in his arm.

“I’m sorry. Forgive my brother,” the brother said, shaking his head. “He’s a damn prick.”

At first, I felt a little thrown and silly because I wasn’t sure what to do or how to respond.

“Luc, can’t a guy order his favorite sandwich?”

Luc stood and placed a wad of cash down on the center of the table. As far as I knew, he hadn’t asked for the bill, and it looked like that wad of cash contained three hundred dollars easily. So much more than what anything on the menu would have come to.

“We have to bounce. Meet Henry, then head to Raphael’s. You know he hates when we’re late.” Luc looked to me, and the bright blue of his eyes sparkled. “Compliments to the chef. Great meal. We’ll be back.”

“Thank you.” I stared at him as he headed to the door and noticed that while Mr. Gorgeous stood, he hadn’t followed Luc.

I looked him over as he stared at me. My cheeks warmed, and I knew that I was blushing uncontrollably.

“Did you want the sandwich?” I had to talk, say something. That was what came out of my mouth.

He chuckled. “Not so much. That was just a clever ruse to talk to you. See, now you’ll remember me.”

Like I was likely to forget him. “Okay.”

His smile widened, reaching his eyes. “What’s your name, Angel Doll?”

I pressed my lips together. “It’s, um… Ava. Ava De Luca.”

“De Luca?” He thought for a moment. “Like Mario?”