Page 62 of Boss with Benefits

I walked around the deli counter and scrounged through the fridge, pulling out an Italian club. The smell of vinegar and salami wafted from the paper-wrapped sandwich, making me ravenous. I tore it open and took two large bites.

And then, out of nowhere, Rachel appeared. She was in her roller skates, gliding between tables and customers, drawing smiles and curious glances. She was wearing her Roller Derby uniform, which was essentially a tiny skirt and a fitted top that showed off her toned midriff. Her hair, a fiery red that day, was braided like a crown around her head, and my heart did that annoying skip thing it did whenever I saw her.

“Hey, Dad.” I stepped behind the counter. “What’s she doing here?”

“She came in an hour ago and ordered lunch.”

“Did she say anything?” I asked. I hadn’t spoken to her since I dropped her at her apartment the night before.

“No. But she does bring a bit of sparkle to the place.” He winked, then went back to his slicing.

I walked over to Rachel, who was now inspecting the cannoli with exaggerated seriousness.

“Rachel,” I said. “Why are you here?”

She turned to me and smiled like it was totally normal for her to be hanging out in my parents’ deli. Except, it wasn’t. I’d come here to busy myself and keep my mind off her. And here she was.

“Hey, Boss. Had a bout in Brooklyn this morning and thought I’d swing by for lunch.” She grinned, and a little hope floated in. I’d been missing her like crazy. It hadn’t even been one day, but every cell in body had yearned to see her.

My dad joined us, wiping his hands on his apron. “You skate well today?” he asked.

“Crushed it,” she said. “But also got crushed a bit. Occupational hazard.” She lifted her leg to show a darkening bruise on her thigh.

My father whistled. “That looks painful. Need ice?”

Rachel shook her head. “Nah, I’m tough. But thanks, Mr. Jacques.”

“Call me Johnny,” he insisted, smiling warmly. “You kids behave. I’ve got a pastrami to conquer.”

He walked back to the counter, and a pang of affection for the old man pressed against my ribs. He was an older, more content version of me—dedicated to his work and fiercely loyal to his family.

“Follow me,” I said, guiding Rachel to a corner table away from the lunch rush. She plopped down across from me, and I couldn’t help but notice how her skirt rode up, leaving nothing to the imagination. I snapped my focus to the menu on the table, even though I knew it by heart.

I thought saying I love you out loud would unburden the beast that had been clawing at my insides, but it had only made it more ravenous. Especially when the only thing that would sate it was sitting right in front of me looking scrumptious.

“Have you reached out to Lulu?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

Her bright expression faltered. “Not yet. Not sure I will.”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want,” I said.

She held my gaze like she was searching for something. The intensity of it lit me up, and I glanced away. There was no way I was getting a boner in my parents’ deli. But when I snapped my gaze back, she was still staring. A touch of longing crossed her features. But longing for what? Comfort? Friendship? More?

“Show me around the deli,” she said, already standing.

“Sure,” I said, and she hooked her arm in the crook of my elbow, gliding next to me.

I pointed out the framed photos of long-deceased family members on the walls, the history behind some of our oldest recipes, the secret to our famous pastrami.

There was a staircase at the back of the storeroom, and Rachel took a few steps up on her toe stops.

“What’s up here?” she asked.

“We own the entire building, including the apartment upstairs. It was recently renovated. We’re trying to decide if we want to rent it out or leave it as a place where family can stay when it gets a bit crowded at my parents’ place down the street.”

Rachel’s eyes lit up. “Can I see?”

I hesitated, but she was already pulling me up the stairs, and I was amazed how fast she was on her skate-clad tiptoes. The apartment was small but cozy with modern fixtures and luxury finishes. It had a bright kitchen and a long living room that overlooked the street. Rachel wandered around, touching and opening everything, her curiosity infectious.

---