Page 19 of For Butter or Worse
Leo looked away as he considered what she was saying. In many ways, the entertainment world was all about who you knew. And he didn’t know any chefs beyond the ones who worked for Vinny’s. So what could be better than giving him clout? Having friends in food would mean he wouldn’t have to prop himself up on another person’s platform, least of all Nina’s.
“To be honest, Leo, you don’t have any better offers. We can buy each other time, which we both need.” She locked her jaw, then said, “Take the night to think it over.”
Nina stood and looked around the room, then knocked on the wooden table. “This is a really special place. I can feel that. Mine means just as much to me, you know?”
She searched his eyes, almost pleading. He couldn’t help feel a pang of guilt as her eyelashes fell, and she shook her head in resignation. What would his dad do in this situation?
His dad wouldn’t be in this situation, of course. And even though Leo didn’t owe her anything, hewasin the unfortunate position of being up a creek with Nina handing out the last remaining paddle on earth. He would either have to swallow his pride and accept his fate, or continue to close down his restaurants and force people out of jobs. He had to try and save what his father had built. If not for himself, then for everyone who depended on him.
And there were plenty of people who needed him to succeed, his mom and brother included. Where would it leave his family if Vinny’s went under? His pulse ticked up at the mere thought of having to shutter their restaurant.
He knew what he had to do, whether he wanted to or not, so he stopped Nina before she reached the front door. “We have a deal,” he called out.
She turned to eye him. She didn’t have a maniacal, cartoon-villain grin, the way he assumed she would. She looked stoic as she nodded back, binding her success to his.
He swallowed hard. This was either the best or the worst decision he’d ever made in his life. And he genuinely didn’t know if he’d survive whatever Nina had planned.
8
NINA
“Sophie, I can’t do this. I’m a terrible liar. People will know we’re faking everything,” Nina said. “I think my elbows are sweating.”
She gripped then released the steering wheel, pretty certain that if she squeezed any harder it’d break in half. And maybe she deserved a broken car. After all, she’d somehow wandered into an alternate dimension where she and Leo were in a relationship, they had to trust each other and, worst of all, her career depended on all those things. So, apparently, she was experiencing some kind of cosmic punishment for being mean to Leo. Why not add broken car to the trash fire of her life?
“‘Kim, there’s people that are dying.’” Sophie’s stern voice boomed over the Bluetooth speakers in the car. “And, yes, you just made me quote the Kardashians, so you know you’re being a brat.”
Nina had called her sister for a pep talk. It wasn’t going well. “Why do I keep calling you when I’m in crisis mode?”
“I have no idea, you know I don’t do self-loathing well.” Sophie sighed, loudly. “And stop complaining about going on a date with Leo O’Donnell. Do you know how many times I’ve imagined covering that man in caramel and licking it off?”
“Come on, Soph.” Her sister had always loved talking about sex. She was also pansexual, and always said she was attracted to people, not gender. Which Nina admired in many ways, because for all the openness Sophie had about sex and love, Nina was the opposite. She had a hard time opening up about her feelings, even to her own sister.
Which probably explained why Nina was irked by the idea of Sophie thinking about Leo in a way that was R-rated.
Then she spotted him in her rearview mirror. Nina nervously shook out her shoulders. “He’s here. I’ve gotta go.”
“Love you. Stop being such a Kim.”
“You always know what to say. I still love you,” Nina said as she hung up.
She nibbled her bottom lip. Her car windows were tinted just enough that he wasn’t able to see her staring at him from the mirror. He looked casual, in jeans and a navy sweater with his hands in his pockets—almost as if he was just a regular dude, and not the man who had been slowly draining her of her will to live. As he looked around the parking lot, his eyes landed on her car.
She slid down in her seat, as if that would save her from his laser-beam eyes.He likely knew the make and model from their parking spots being next to each other on set. Why hadn’t she ever bothered to “accidentally” open her car door into his? A missed opportunity.
He walked toward her, trying to squint through the windows, and when he got to the driver’s side door, he looked at her with something akin to concern.
She didn’t immediately move, as her body felt like a Popsicle that was stuck to the inside of the freezer. But then he tapped on the window with his knuckle, and she quickly sat up. She realized that she probably looked a bit unhinged—her face was practically smashed against the steering wheel. But she also felt like she had lost a piece of her mind by agreeing to this, so there was that.
When she opened her door, he immediately said, “Glad we’re both thrilled to be here.”
“Surely I can’t be the first woman to try and hide from you?” She got out, grateful she’d worn her heavy boots, which always made her feel a bit like Lara Croft.
“Oh, is that what you were doing? You’re so short, I just assumed you were normally eye-level with the steering wheel.” He gave a little shrug.
She rolled out her shoulders. “Charming, as always.”
“Remember to tell the reporters that when they ask how our date went!” He gave an exaggerated thumbs-up, then turned and walked toward the ice-cream-shop entrance.
