Page 70 of Operation Sunshine
They ate standing up at the counter, their shoulders brushing occasionally, laughter bubbling up over too-buttered toast and Ben’s tragic attempt at cutting fruit.
If only it could stay like this.
Ben lingered in the quiet, in the illusion that morning could stretch forever, not daring to tug at the thread that would unravel it.
Lunch was kind of slack, and Ben took advantage to grab a bowl of pasta sprinkled generously with parmesan.
Franco breezed into the kitchen. “I’m thinking of going outside and doing a striptease. It might bring in more customers.” He tookone look at Ben’s bowl, and grinned. “Ooh, good idea.” He dished up a bowl for himself, ladling something over it from a pan at the rear of the stove.
Raj snorted. “I wouldn’t go down the strip-tease route. It’s cold out there. Your dick will shrivel to the size of a peanut.”
“I bet Ben would warm it for him,” Mina muttered.
Several pairs of eyes focused on her, and her cheeks turned scarlet.
Lexie chuckled. “Mina’s getting bolder. I like it.”
Ben didn’t know how to react, but decided saying nothing was the best move. To his surprise, Franco didn’t take up the gauntlet either. His eyes gleamed, however.
Willow came into the kitchen. “Okay, it’s officially dead out there.”
“It’ll pick up later,” Franco remarked in a confident tone.
She took one look at Ben’s lunch and groaned. “I’m starving.” She helped herself to some pasta, then leaned against the counter. “So, Lexie… are you going to come clean about your mystery weekend plans?”
Lexie’s ears turned pink. “Not so mysterious,” she grumbled. “It’s just dinner with Priya.”
Willow’s face lit up. “ThePriya? The one from the wine tasting a few months ago?”
Lexie tried to look annoyed, but her mouth tugged upward anyway. “Yes. That one.”
Willow clapped her hands together. “Sweet. You have Franco to thank for that, you know. He practically shoved you into getting her phone number.”
Franco rolled his eyes. “You were both standing there making eyes over the pinot and refusing to say anything.Someonehad to save the poor sommelier from dying of second-hand embarrassment.”
Ben chuckled. “Is this a string to your bow I know nothing about? Franco Rossi, Matchmaker?”
Willow laughed. “That’s nothing.” She glanced at Lexie. “Remember when he set up Chloe with that barista from around the corner? They’re still together. What’s it been now, a year?”
“Year and a half,” Franco corrected, with a touch of pride.
“His skills aren’t limited to staff,” Willow said with a smile. “He has a gift for getting customers talking to each other.” She frowned. “What were their names? The guys who both ate alone that time, until Franco worked his magic? Then they spent the rest of the night sitting at the corner table, drinking wine and talking until closing time.”
Lexie’s brow furrowed for a moment, and then she grinned. “Leo and Javier. They were in here a few weeks ago.” Her eyes sparkled. “Wearing matching rings.”
Ben blinked. “You weren’t kidding about him having a gift.”
“And don’t forget Paul and Melissa,” Willow added. “Remember Marco’s trivia night?”
Ben frowned. “Trivia night?”
She gave a fond smile. “One of Marco’s bright ideas that wasn’t really so bright.” She glanced at Franco. “He nudged two participants into talking to each other.”
Franco’s flushed face was adorable.
Willow grinned. “Ben’s got the right idea. You should open a side business, you know that? Franco’s Matchmaking Service. Guaranteed results.”
Raj turned around, his head tilted to one side. “Funny how you could sort out everyone else’s love life, but not your own.” He coughed. “Past tense, of course.”
