Design for Love ((Women of Landry's Landing and The Fabrizio men)

by Quinn, Shelli

  “Hold it, before any of you start plotting anything just let me handle Gabe and Brenda.” London said as she headed for the door.

  “Brenda, didn’t say her name was Barbie?” Asia asked in confusion.

  “No, I think she said her name was Becky.” Gigi said.

  “Who in the hell cares?” London said over her shoulder as she left the kitchen with the tray that Asia’s staff had prepared while they were talking. When she arrived at Gabe’s table, she smiled as she served their order.

  “One house special for you sir and one glass of iced water for Brandy, enjoy.” London said as she turned to walk away.

  “My name is Barbara.” The woman said cheerfully.

  “Whatever.” London said over her shoulder as she went to Justin’s table. “I’m almost done so what would you like for dessert?”

  “You’re talking about something from the menu right?” Justin asked with a smirk.

  “I was unless you want to be carried out of here on a stretcher.” London said with a smirk of her own.

  “Alright then, I’ll have whatever you’re having.” Justin said.

  “Good choice, I’ll be back in a minute.” She said before turning for the kitchen.

  The second London entered the kitchen her sisters started with the questions firing them at rapid fire speed not giving her a chance to answer one before asking another.

  “What happened?” Gigi said.

  “What did they say when took them their order?” Asia asked.

  “Why didn’t you dump his food over his head?” Indy asked.

  “Is Gabe still out there with his date?” Gigi asked.

  “Did that bleached blonde broom handle really come to my café and order a glass of water?” Asia asked with irritation.

  “Why didn’t you just accidentally on purpose spill the glass of water in her lap?” Indy asked.

  “Damn, do I need a lawyer because I’m getting questioned like ya’ll are five-0 or something. Look, everything is fine but he’s about to get a taste of his own medicine. So, one of you can finish waiting on Gabe and Brittany because I’m going to join Justin at his table.” London said as she took off her apron and freed her hair from its ponytail.

  “Now you’re talking London, because making Gabe jealous is the best way to handle this situation. You'll scare some sense into him.” Luc said with a grin.

  “Luc might be onto something. Nothing moves a man quite like jealousy.” Gio said with a smile.

  “That is probably true but London, I don’t want you to leave this Inn with Justin. I mean it, don’t leave that dining room with him. We don’t know him well enough to trust him alone with you.” Pierce said with concern.

  “Thanks for worrying about me Pierce, and I promise not to leave the Inn. You know it’s kind of nice having concerned big brothers to watch out for me. It’s a delightful change from dealing with my crazy-ass sisters, not that I don’t love you guys. I mean ya’ll are great sisters and all, but sometimes ya’ll, can be a bit much.” London said with a smile.

  “You know what, I’m going to let the fact that you just called us crazy yet again, slide since you’re dealing with this Gabe situation. However, little sister or not if you keep using that c-word to describe us, I will be forced to whip your ass.” Indy said.

  “Yeah, like Gio is going to let that happen.” London said.

  “Watch it heifer, in case you’ve forgotten, I won’t be pregnant forever.” Indy said.

  “That’s true, but luckily for me. You are pregnant at the moment so my ass is safe for now.” London said with a wink as she blew her older sister a kiss before slipping out the door with two slices of Asia’s secret surprise mousse pie.

  “I swear I’m going to hurt that child.” Indy said as she shook her head, causing the others to laugh.

  Chapter Two

  London returned to the dining room area to join Justin at his table. She made sure to take the empty chair beside him instead of the one across from him. He smiled at her, and she smiled back as she leaned over in order to whisper something to him. He grinned before leaning towards her to whisper back making her giggle as she flirtatiously touched him on the arm.

  Across the room, Gabe was watching the entire scene, and he was not happy. His date sat next to him chatting away, and he had her tuned out, not listening to a word she said. He’d been so fixated on what London was up to that he didn’t notice when Asia and Luc had approached his table. The two of them exchanged knowing glances when they saw the expression on Gabe’s face.

  “Hey Gabe, I’m surprised to see you here tonight.” Luc said.

  “Yeah, and I’m even more surprised to see that you brought a date…here…to Landry’s Landing Inn, so…what’s up with that?” Asia asked sarcastically.

  “What? Did one of you say something?” Gabe asked barely paying attention because he was too busy watching London.

  “Yes, I said something boy would you pay attention when I’m talking to you?” Asia yelled.

  Gabe glanced towards her briefly before turning his gaze back to where London was sitting. “I can hear you just fine, Asia.” He said as he kept his eyes fixed across the room.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your date?” Asia asked.

  “Oh yeah, Asia and Luc this is uh, uh this is my dinner companion.” Gabe said pointing to the woman sitting across from him but keeping his eyes on the woman across the room.

  “Hi, my name is Barbara.” The woman said.

  Neither of them had a chance to reply before Gabe started a rapid fire of questions. “Why is London sitting with one of the guys from the construction site? And does she have to act like she’s having such a good time with him? What is she thinking spending time with a guy she barely knows?” He asked as he continued to stare at her.

  “Maybe she was thinking the same thing you were, when you decide to bring your date here. You know, probably something like why the hell not?” Asia said with irritation in her voice.

  "Well, in case you haven't noticed brother, you seem to be in a bit of hot water with the Landry women." Luc said with amusement.

  "Yeah I'm kind of sensing that, especially with your wife glaring at me like I stole something." Gabe said.

  "No, not like you stole something it's more like you lost something. Like your damn mind, you can't really be this stupid." Asia said as she continued to glare at her brother-in-law.

  "What did I do? London's the one over there flirting like there's no tomorrow. All I'm doing is having an innocent dinner.” Gabe said defensively.

  "Oh who are you kidding, Belinda here looks anything but innocent?" Asia said pointing to Gabe's guest with her thumb.

  "My name is Barbara." The woman said sounding irritated.

  "Oh yeah that's right, anyway, Gabe you do realize this wasn't exactly the smartest thing that you could've done." Asia said dismissing the woman's word as easily as she'd said them.

  Gigi and Pierce entered the dining room from the kitchen and approached Gabe's table smiling politely.

  "Hi Gabe, we see that you've brought a guest." Gigi said as she glanced from him to the woman sitting across from him.

  Gabe didn't reply right away because he was too busy keeping an eye on what London was doing.

  "Why didn't any of you stop London from wasting time with that guy? We don't know anything about this guy other than what's on his resume. What if she leaves with him, and something happens to her?" Gabe said as he continued to stare at London and the man she was sitting with.

  "Well this is a fine time to be worrying about London now isn't it? I mean with your date sitting across the table from you and her on the other side of the room with hers." Gigi said.

  "Well since all of you are being so damn nosy. This isn't a date it's a business dinner. I was interviewing Brenda here for the secretarial position we need to fill at the new office." Gabe said as he glanced at each of them before turning his gaze back to London and the man sitting with her.
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  "Why in the hell didn't you just say that in the first place?" Gigi asked.

  "If you hadn't noticed I'm a little busy trying to keep an eye on London and that shady looking guy she's sitting with." Gabe replied as he continued to keep his gaze on London.

  "Here's a suggestion, since you don't seem to be in the right frame of mind to conduct an interview tonight maybe you should send Becky home for the night." Asia said.

  "For the last time people my name is Barbara, not Brenda, not Becky and definitely not Barbie." The woman said in irritation.

  "Oh honey, we could not care less what your name is. Besides it’s time for you to go." Asia said in a tone that matched her words. "Luc darling why don't you show Barbara out. I think Gabe is done with her for the night." She added politely.

  "That sounds like a good idea come on Barbara let me walk you out." Luc said as he proceeded to walk the woman out of the dining room and to the front door.

  London didn't notice when Gabe's dinner companion left the dining room because she was too busy trying to keep Justin at arm’s length. He’d started to get a little grabby with his hands shortly after she’d sat down to join him, touching and feeling way more than he had any right to. Whether he knew it or not he was about two seconds from getting the hell slapped out of him.

  "Look, Justin you're cute and you seemed like a really nice guy before I decided to join you. Now you just seem like a real jerk, and if you try to grab at me one more time, I will bust you in your lip." London said.

  "Oh so you're trying to play hard to get or is it that you just like it a little rough?" Justin whispered as he reached for her once again grabbing her upper arm and began pulling her towards him.

  "Do you think that I was joking with you a minute ago? Because you're about to find out right quick and in a hurry just how serious I was if you don't get your damn hands of me." London yelled as she struggled to free her arm from his grasp.

  Within seconds, Gabe had crossed the dining room and was at her side. He reached down and grabbed the man tightly around the wrist.

  “You seem to be putting your hands where they don’t belong. Now I suggest that if you want to keep them attached to the rest of you, then you might want to keep them off of London.” Gabe said in a serious tone.

  “Excuse me, but shouldn’t you be minding your own business Mr. Boss man?” Justin asked sarcastically.

  “London is my business. She's a member of my family, and you seem to be a problem for her right now so that makes it my business.” Gabe said as he pulled the man to his feet.

  “You may be my boss when I’m on the clock but on my own time you’re just a regular guy about to get his ass kicked.” Justin said as he narrowed his gaze at Gabe.

  Across the room, Luc had just returned as Gigi and Asia, were starting to get worried. The two of them had never really seen Gabe get truly angry. On occasion, he’d gotten a little irritated with London or his brothers but nothing serious. The expression he had on his face at the moment was anything but calm.

  “Shouldn’t one of you go over there and do something before the construction worker hurts Gabe?” Asia said sounding worried.

  “Nay, he’ll be fine Gabe has handled guys a hell of a lot tougher than him.” Luc said with a grin.

  “Yeah, don’t worry this is nothing he can’t handle.” Pierce said with a smile.

  “Are you two sure because Gabe just seems like such a softie to me?” Gigi said as she glanced across the room at him.

  “Hey don’t let his kindness fool you, Gabe’s been boxing since he was a kid, and in college, he even did some professional boxing for a while. He was and still is pretty good at it.” Pierce said with pride.

  “Yeah, so if you want to worry about somebody you might want to make it the guy, who's about to get his head knocked off.” Luc said lightly.

  London watched as the expression on Gabe’s face changed from irritation to amusement. She’d known him long enough to know that was not a good thing. London could see the dangerous glean in his light-brown eyes. She noticed that his grip on Justin’s arm tightened making the man wince from the slight pain.

  Justin tried unsuccessfully to pull his wrist free of Gabe’s grasp. He realized that he’d made a terrible mistake when he looked up and saw the look in Gabe’s eyes. The scary one-sided smirk Gabe wore did nothing to soothe the man’s rapidly racing heart. The fear he felt was about to strangle him to death as it impaired his breathing.

  Gabe pulled the man closer but still did not release the grip he had on the man’s wrist. “I’m sorry, who’s about to get his ass kicked?”

  “I…I...I may have had a few too many drinks. I wasn’t trying to cause any trouble tonight, boss.” Justin stammered.

  “Then I think this is a good time for you to apologize to London and leave while you still can.” Gabe replied as he loosed his hold on the man’s wrist just enough so that he could turn slightly to face London.

  “London, I apologize for my behavior tonight I was out of line, and I promise that it will never happen again.” Justin said hoping that would grant his release from the death grip that Gabe had on him.

  “You bet your ass it won’t because if you so much as breathe in my direction. I'll slap you so hard that you’ll end up in another time zone. You got that, cream-puff?” London said.

  “Yeah, I got it.” Justin murmured as Gabe released his hold on him allowing the man to leave. Gabe tried helplessly to contain his laughter as the man stalked from the room.

  “What are you laughing at and who asked you to butt in I could’ve handled that…that…” London let her words trail off as she searched for a name to call the annoying construction worker, she’d mistakenly that was a good guy.

  “That cream-puff, is that the word you’re looking for?” Gabe said with a grin.

  “Stop trying to change the subject and answer my question.” London demanded.

  “What was I supposed to do just sit there and watch him put his hands on you like that? Yeah, I don’t think so there was no way in hell I was going to stand for that.” Gabe said angrily.

  “And why in the hell not, it’s not like you have feelings for me or anything. Besides what’s the point in getting beat down for someone you aren’t even involved with?” London asked as she gazed up at him.

  Gabe laughed humorlessly. “Really is that what you think would’ve happened?”

  “Uh oh, this is going to be some argument.” Asia whispered as she and the others watched from across the room.

  “Yeah, but it’s been a long time coming maybe if they get it all out in the open, they can finally learn to play nice.” Gigi whispered in response.

  Indy came out of the kitchen carrying little Dante and with Gio following close behind as they walked past Gabe and London and headed over to the others.

  “What is with all the shouting out here, why are those two at it this time?” Indy asked as she sat down in one of the empty chairs closest to her.

  “Girl would you be quiet we’re trying to hear what they’re saying, and if you keep talking, we won’t be able to hear them.” Asia said.

  “Heifer please. Those two are so loud you can hear them in the next county.” Indy replied.

  “What, you really think you could’ve beaten Justin? You do know that he’s one of the construction workers who works for you right? And you, well you’re Gabe.” She said cautiously.

  “And just what in the hell is that supposed to mean? You seriously don’t think I could have beaten that guy do you?” Gabe asked loudly.

  “Look all I’m saying is that he’s use to being physical because of his work and your work keeps you sitting behind a desk all day crunching numbers. So it probably wouldn’t have been a fair fight.” She said attempting to explain what she was saying.

  “Okay so you think that because I sit behind a desk, I have no physical skills, and I’d allow a guy whom you call cream-puff to take me down?” Gabe asked as he stared down at her.

&nbs
p; “Just forget it. I’m tired and all I want to do is take a hot shower and go to sleep.” London said as she turned to leave, but before she could take a step Gabe stopped her by grabbing her hand.

  “I have half a mind to take you over my knee and spank your little smart ass.” Gabe said in frustration.

  “Wow, that’s surprising.” London said sarcastically.

  “What’s so surprising, that I’d like to give you the spanking of your life?” He asked.

  “No, the part about you having half a mind, that’s one half more than I thought you, had.

  However, I shouldn’t be surprised that you only have half a mind, which is probably why you act so damn stupid sometimes.” London replied loudly.

  “Uh oh, this could get real ugly, real quick.” Indy said as she and the others watched the fiery exchange between London and Gabe.

  “Shh!” Both Asia and Gigi said in unison.

  “What, oh hell naw, I know ya’ll aren’t shushing me?” Indy said in irritation.

  “In all fairness gattino, they did ask you to be quiet.” Gio said with a smile.

  “Thank you!” Asia said politely.

  “Little girls, after I have this baby. I'm going to dedicate a whole day to whipping ya’ll asses one by one. And tiger if you aren’t careful you’ll be joining my sisters for one of those ass whipping’s.” Indy said as she narrowed her eyes at him.

  “Gattino, unlike your sisters I know a few tricks that will calm you right down.” Gio said wearing a devilish smirk.

  Indy smiled. “Yes, you certainly do baby.”

  “Yeah, so I think I’ll pass on any ass whippings you had in store for me.” Gio said as he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead.

  “Any tricks that can calm Indy down must be pretty damn good.” Gigi said laughing.

  “Woman you infuriate me so much at times, if you were a man, I’d be tempted to belt you in the mouth.” Gabe said through tightly clenched teeth.