Page 9 of Claimed By The Devil

“Busy as always,” the man smiles.

“That’s because you’re the best chef in town, Tommy,” Danny tells him and I smile. My father never treats his employees with that kind of respect.

“Who is this beautiful lady, boss?” Tommy wipes his hands on a kitchen towel and steps toward us. He takes my hand and kisses it gently.

“This is my girl, Tommy. Her name is Deirdre,” Danny tells him and I can see the wheels turning. His smile fades for a moment then he pulls himself back together.

“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Deirdre. I hope you enjoy your evening,” he says and scurries back behind the pass.

“I guess I should expect that from everyone that I meet when I’m with you.”

“They’ll adjust.”

“How do you know that?” I question him.

“Because I’ll make them adjust,” he squeezes my hand and leads me to the dining room. “They keep a table in the back for me at all times.” He takes me to the table and pulls out my chair.

“This is very nice,” I admire the beautiful dining room with its crystal candelabras and vaulted ceilings.

“Just wait til you taste the food. I wasn’t kidding when I said Tommy’s the best chef in town.”

A waitress approaches with a big smile and asks, “The usual from the bar, Danny?”

“Yes, and two glasses,” Danny replies.

“Alright, then,” she looks me up and down then walks to the bar. Once there, she whispers something to the bartender who leans over and looks my way.

I squirm in my chair, feeling a heat rise inside my body.

“What’s wrong?” Danny asks.

“It’s nothing. I guess I’m just causing a little scene,” I tell him.

“What? Her? Don’t let her get to you. She grew up in the old neighborhood and has had a thing for me since the seventh grade. Her attitude has nothing to do with who you are. You could be anybody and she’d act the same way,” he explains.

“Did you ever date her?” I ask.

“Why? Are you the jealous type?” he chuckles.

“No, sorry, I was just…”

“It’s alright, little girl. I’m just teasing, and no, I have never dated her. She was never my type.”

“What’s your type?”

“You,” he leans in and kisses my cheek.

The waitress, who was returning with a bottle of wine and two glasses, visibly scowls when he kisses me. I catch her eye and smile until she nods and looks away. It feels good but out of character. Yesterday, I would have tried to hide under the table. Being with Danny just awakens a confidence in me that I didn’t know was there.

Danny pours the wine into the glasses and holds one out to me, I hesitate and then whisper, “I just turned twenty.”

“Oh, no. We shouldn’t break the law,” he quips and hands me the glass. “A toast to the beautiful Deirdre Vito. I’m honored to have you by my side.”

I blush a little and look down at the table.

“No, baby, no. You have no reason to be bashful,” he taps his glass against mine and we drink.

6

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