Page 43 of Always Be True: Tino
Really? As Natalie put the finishing touches on dinner, he studied the room. The table and chairs were obviously high-end antiques, but he preferred furniture with clean lines rather than covered in so many curlicues. The matching hutch was crammed full of china in a pink floral pattern, the kind made for a woman’s delicate hand, not a soldier’s callused fist. The rows of hand-painted plates decorating the walls didn’t help matters.
The bottom line was that it didn’t feel at all cozy to him, although it probably wasn’t fair to compare it to the kitchen at his mother’s house. That room had been the center of action for the Lukash clan. He and his brothers had done their homework at the table while Joe had worked on his crossword puzzle and Marlene had baked an endless supply of cookies for the men in her life. She did have good china, but she’d wisely kept it safely tucked away out of the reach of the rambunctious boys she’d taken into her home and her heart.
This room, with its decidedly feminine décor, wouldn’t have survived long around Tino and his two brothers back in the day. As far as he was concerned, the only warm and welcoming feature of this kitchen was Natalie herself.
After pouring the wine, Tino carried the cut-crystal glasses over to where Natalie stood in front of the stove. She dipped a teaspoon into the broth and held it out for him to taste. “Think it needs more salt?”
He wrapped his hand around the delicate bones in her wrist to steady her hand as he gently blew on the hot liquid before tasting it. As he sipped the rich broth, he kept his gaze pinned on hers, enjoying the small intimacy. Her eyes stared into his as her breath hitched just a bit.
“Perfect.”
The single word hung in the air between them. Was she wondering if he meant her or the soup? In truth, he wasn’t sure himself. Finally, he released his hold on her and stepped back. The small distance gave both of them room to breathe.
She blinked hard before turning her attention back to their dinner. “Would you mind setting the salads and bread on the table while I dish up the soup?”
He did as she asked while she served up the rich soup. Everything looked and smelled delicious even if it seemed odd to eat such rustic fare with linen napkins, bone china, and sterling silver flatware. Maybe that’s how Natalie’s family always set the table, not that he was going to ask.
When they were seated, he made an effort to start a conversation. “Did you visit your grandfather this week?”
“Yes, I did. He seemed to be feeling a little more energetic this time, but that might be because his ongoing war with the beagle next door has escalated again.”
Tino looked up from buttering a thick slice of the bread. Did people actually do battle with beagles? Judging from Natalie’s grin, the fight was more entertaining than dangerous.
“Okay, I’ll bite. Exactly what does canine combat look like?”
She laughed. “Well, recently an innocent bystander came close to being a casualty. Digger—that’s the beagle he’s been feuding with—dug up one of Grandpa’s prize rosebushes. Luckily, the gardener was able to salvage the poor plant.”
“How did your grandfather retaliate?”
“He ordered a complete blockade of the fence line between the two yards. He thought a row of decorative rocks along the bottom edge of the fence would prevent the dog from digging his way under again.” She paused to sip her wine. “Evidently Grandpa badly underestimated Digger’s determination to frolic in what he clearly sees as an extension of his own yard. The day after the rocks were put in place, he found Digger sleeping in the sun on the wicker loveseat out on the patio.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Ordinarily it wouldn’t have been.” Natalie grinned. “But that rosebush I mentioned? The little rascal dug it up again and then dragged it up on the loveseat like some kind of prize he’d captured.”
Tino tried to imagine how his mother would react if some neighbor’s dog insisted on tearing up her yard. He wasn’t sure what she’d do, but it wouldn’t be pretty.
“What does the dog’s owner say about what he’s been doing?”
“I doubt my grandfather has ever told them. Grandpa considers Digger a worthy opponent and would never risk doing something that would cause the little beast any problems.”
“I think I’d like your grandfather.”
His comment clearly pleased her. “I’m guessing the two of you would really hit it off. Maybe one of these Tuesday mornings you could come with me to visit him. He doesn’t get much company, and I’m sure he’d appreciate seeing someone besides me.”
“If I’m not helping my brother on the job, I’d like that.”
After that, the topic of conversation drifted from one topic to another. Tino had seconds on the soup. Afterward, she made coffee and served it with a plate of brownies. They took their cups and the goodies down the hall to the living room. Just like the kitchen, most the furniture looked as if it had been in place for eighty years or more. Afraid neither of the chairs would support his weight, he settled in the corner of the sofa, the only piece of furniture in the room that looked as if it had actually been bought for comfort.
Even better, Natalie sat down next to him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her leg against his. He was about to sip his coffee when he noticed the tight grip Natalie had on her own cup.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, not really. Well, maybe.” She bit her lower lip and finally gave him a worried look. “It turns out that I have a favor to ask of you.”
He set his coffee aside and angled himself to look more directly at her. “And that’s a problem?”
“It’s just that I’m afraid you’ll say yes when you really want to say no. I promise it’s okay if you do. It’s short notice, and you might not want to go, anyway. I wouldn’t want that.”
