by Gay N. Lewis
When the chauffeur assumed his position, Giovanni turned to face Georgia. “Where would you prefer to dine? Mexican? American? French?”
“Are you tired of Italian?”
Giovanni returned her smile. “You kidding? With a name like mine?” He gave the chauffeur an address, and then turned to Georgia. “I hope this mode of transportation doesn’t cause you alarm in any way. I’ve spoiled myself with this luxury. Actually, I call it a necessity. My driver handles traffic while I sit back here and work on a laptop and complete phone calls. I get more done this way.”
“I appreciate that. My husband travels across the city and spends hours on the road.”
“What does he do?”
“Oil and gas related sales.”
“Ah, I understand. We are able to do many things by computer and cell phone, but a personal presence is always best.”
At the restaurant, the driver opened the car door, and Geovanni stepped out. He then offered a hand to Georgia. She took it and blinked as her pulse pounded as though she were at a rock concert. Uh-oh. Did my heart just start a jitterbug? It’s been forever since I sensed an attraction to a man—not since Alan. She’d be wise to watch it. Glancing up at Giovanni, she noticed him blink rapidly. Might he feel the electricity between them too? She should have waited for Nancy Easterly.
A doorman held the door, while another tall male greeted them. “Hello, Mr. Savini, your usual booth?”
“Yes, please.”
As they were escorted to a table, every head turned to survey them go by.
“I’m pleased you requested Italian.” With a flirtatious, cocked eyebrow, Giovanni grinned. “This is my number one place. I’m from northern Italy, and the chef in this restaurant comes close to matching the fare I grew up with.”
“Pasta is my favorite.” She placed the napkin in her lap.
“Do you like Fettuccine Alfredo? Cravelori’s makes the best cream sauce in Houston.”
Georgia nodded. “I usually choose it if it’s on the menu.”
“Good. We have a lot in common.” He glanced at the server. “Two orders of Fettuccine Alfredo and add extra chicken.”
The attendant nodded and left.
Georgia took a deep breath and reminded herself this was business. “Now, describe the benefits your sportswear and why my stores need to carry it.”
Geovanni almost winked when he chuckled. “A lady who likes to get to the point. I like it. I brought sample fabrics and can give you details, but a visual demonstration is superior. See the lady seated over there?” He gestured with his eyes. “She’s wearing our latest jersey, organic jogging suit in black. It comes in the color she wears, but we also manufacture it in brown or white, and it appears classy enough to wear to a fancy restaurant.”
Georgia glanced in the direction he’d indicated. A beautiful woman wearing a spectacular black ensemble with a snowy, silky top appeared as though she’d come from a photo shoot rather than a jogging path. “You planted a fashion model to be here at this exact moment?”
Her teasing tone caused Geovanni to chuckle and his eyes sparkled—as though he considered her question straight from a barrel of pleasures.
“No. I didn’t plant her, but such a thing is a good idea for future presentations. Remember, I’m filling in for Nancy and never expected to be with you today.”
He glanced at the woman again. “We designed the suit she wears to go from a light workout at the gym to the market place, and she’s the type of client we appeal to. Upscale, elegant, and modern. A woman who knows who she is and doesn’t fear to wear the latest trends.” He returned his gaze to Georgia and waited a beat. “Someone like you.”
“I’m afraid I don’t wear fancy workout clothes, but the design is first-rate.”
“You would be beautiful even in worn-out sweats with holes in the knees, but I’d love to see you in one of our latest styles. You’d do our line justice.”
“Thank you. That’s a lovely compliment.”
“Just an honest observation. Your husband is a fortunate man.”
Georgia squirmed in her chair. Were her cheeks pink? “I’ll tell him you said so. I see no ring. You aren’t married?”
Giovanni glanced at his left hand and then brought his gaze to convene with Georgia’s. “Seems as though all the stunning women I meet are taken.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Georgia scooted into the limo and sank into the leather again. “Thank you for a marvelous lunch. I’ll have to forego dinner. Alfredo is delicious, but it contains enough calories to last a week.”
“No problems where you are concerned. You’re the perfect size. Maybe I should coax you to model for my company. The salary is good.”
Waving her hand, Georgia cleared her throat. “I’m flattered, but it isn’t for me. I wouldn’t come across well in a glossy magazine.”
He hiked both brows and shrugged as though she’d just landed from Mars with her disparaging remark. “Keep it in mind. I disagree and I can tell you’d be photogenic.”
“I’ll keep the accolade close to my heart.” She gave him what she hoped resembled a gracious glow. “The food was excellent, thanks for taking me to a new place.”
“I enjoyed the lunch and the company.” Geovanni stared down at her with a heated gaze and made her insides turn to jelly.
“Me too, and riding in this car is a charming treat. I confess the last few hours pampered me.”
“What is it you Texans say? ‘My pleasure, ma’am.’” He tipped an invisible cowboy hat.
Georgia laughed. “The image doesn’t fit you.”
“You don’t believe I could saddle up and ride into the sunset?”
“Nope. I see you on a jet heading off into a sunrise toward Italy.”
“Speaking of Italy, would you like to go there and inspect our manufacturing plant?”
Georgia nodded, but then shook her head. “Yes, I’d like to, but not today.” She grinned.
“I didn’t mean right now, but it is possible for me to arrange a trip at this very moment if you wanted to go.” He chuckled as though he’d discovered a delightful secret. “Some other time then? I believe you are going to be one of our most important clients.”
“I’ll consider it.” Georgia glanced out the window. “I really love this car.”
“I’ll cancel my afternoon appointments and we can tour Houston.”
“No. No. I can’t do that, but you promised you’d show my fabric samples on the return trip, so we should get to it.”
Giovanni opened a briefcase and brought out mockups and sketches, along with prices. As he finished the presentation, Georgia nodded approval.
“I’ll place an order. We’re about to arrive at my office. Come upstairs, and I’ll sign a contract.”
Giovanni shook his head. “Not necessary. I’ve got all the paperwork right here.” He brought forth multiple documents and closed his briefcase. He then handed Georgia a pen along with his laptop to use as a desk.
Georgia smiled as though she were in school and the teacher graded her with an A plus. “You really do come prepared, don’t you?”
Giovanni shrugged. “As I said earlier, I conduct a lot of business and negotiations from this car. I get more done this way.”
The driver parked the automobile and waited with the air conditioner running while Georgia signed the documents.
“Okay. Finished. Your signature takes care of the order.” Giovanni hopped out of the car and offered his hand to Georgia.
Wow! Electricity again. Be still my heart. Georgia deliberately forced her gaze to the street.
“Thanks again for lunch. Please let Ms. Easterly know I hope all is well, and I’m looking forward to meeting her on the next visit.” When she ended her speech, she raised wide eyes to Giovanni.
He shook his head. “I’ll convey your message, but you are my client now. The commission is hers, but I’m the one who will be contacting you regarding our clothing line.” He continued to stand next to he
r on the sidewalk. “Would you like me to escort you inside?”
Georgia shook her head. “Not necessary. I’ll expect the shipment on time and will want updates.”
Staring down at her for a long moment, Giovanni finally spoke. “You can count on it.”
* * *
When Georgia drove into the garage, she noticed Alan’s car already parked inside. Why was he home this early? Well, the chicken should be ready in the crockpot, so all she needed to do was make the green salad. Carrying the grocery sacks, she stepped into the kitchen. Alan sat at the table with his laptop.
“Hi, honey. I didn’t expect you this soon. How did your day go?” Georgia deposited the food items on the cabinet top, kicked off her heels, strode to Alan, and presented her lips for a quick kiss.
“My last client canceled. Gave me a chance to get home earlier. Everything go well with you?”
“Yes. I signed a contract today with Savini Sportswear. The presentation was excellent, and I like their clothing. It’s a big victory for us. Savini doesn’t allow many stores to carry their merchandise.”
“Nice. I received a substantial order today, too. I’ve been working with this guy for two years, and he finally committed. The deal really pleased my boss. I believe he’ll give me a bonus—gave me a lot of praise. He called a staff meeting and commended me in front of the group.”
“Fantastic! Congratulations.”
“Yeah, the new client I sold was a hard nut to crack, but I stayed after him until I got the sale.”
Georgia washed her hands and began salad preparations. “Tenacity and persistence pays off.”
“Sure does. When will dinner be ready? I’m starving.”
“In a few minutes. If you don’t mind, would you gather your things so I can set the table?”
Alan nodded, closed the computer and collected his papers. “Chicken smells good.” As he strode by the counter, he glanced inside the crockpot. “What’s all that gross stuff? It’s white and creamy.”
“The soup.” Georgia hesitated. “It won’t be like that on your plate.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I’m just hungry. At any rate, I’m looking forward to a home cooked meal.”
“Throwing meat to a crockpot and adding soup doesn’t take much talent, but it’s quick.”
“Instead of yoga, why don’t you enroll in a cooking class? Since you own a personal treadmill, you have all you need. Perhaps you could learn to cook Mediterranean dishes in a crockpot. I hear those diets are healthier than milky stuff.” He wrinkled his nose as if the smell offended him and stood near the counter and watched her chop celery for a few minutes.
“Call me when dinner is ready.” He left the kitchen.
Georgia sighed. I wish he could be more like Giovanni. That guy made me feel like a princess. I know it’s not Alan’s style, but it sure felt good this afternoon to be treated like someone important.
As they filled their plates, Georgia bypassed the chicken and chose only the mixed greens with no dressing.
Alan nodded approval. “Eating vegetables instead of this concoction will help you lose those pounds.”
“I ate a large lunch and I’m not too hungry.”
“I thought you were going to have a salad. You didn’t?”
“Pasta.” Georgia hoped he failed to see her cringe. With muscles aching, she wasn’t in the mood to hear about weight.
“Oh. Well, then it’s only veggies for you tonight.”
Georgia nodded. “The head honcho at Savini offered me a modeling job today.”
“He did? You don’t have the figure of those typical models in magazines. Most of them are paper thin.”
“Savini Sportswear prefers their clothing worn by athletic men and women.”
“Really? Perhaps I should apply for the job.” He sat back and straightened his shoulders. “I fit the role. How much do they pay?”
“More than either one of us earns at the moment.”
“Interesting. Maybe I’ll check it out.” He took a bite of salad. “Nah. Forget it. I enjoy what I do.”
* * *
After they ate, Georgia put a load of laundry into the washer. While the machine worked its magic, she loaded the dishwasher and swept the kitchen. When the clothes finished the drying cycle, she folded and put them away. Alan watched a ballgame, and every so often called her to the television to view a replay.
After the game, he stepped into the kitchen. “You still doing laundry?”
“I’m almost caught up. Did your team win?”
“Took extra innings, but they did.” He yawned. “I’m heading to bed. You ready?”
“Soon.”
A few minutes later Georgia slipped into bed beside Alan and snuggled close.
“It’s too hot. Scoot over a bit, would you, hon?”
Georgia complied. “I’d like to be close to you, and in this king-size bed, we hardly touch. I lowered the thermostat, and the ceiling fan is on. Is it be okay if we hold hands?”
Alan reached for her hand. “Sure.” He fell asleep and began a soft snore almost as soon as he voiced the words.
Georgia stared at the fan rotating in the center of the room. The thing ought to have hypnotized her into slumber.
Could a few hours make so much difference? With a sense of growing melancholy to rival the loss of a friend, the excitement and pampering she’d received earlier in the day faded. Quite a contrast between her afternoon and the night’s reality. Should she allow Giovanni to invade her thoughts again?
Oops. Not a good idea—safer to pray.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“I can’t believe this week went by so fast.” Georgia chatted as she and Jana strode into the locker room after yoga class.
“They do fly these days. Before you know it, summer ends, and the fall weather begins.”
“It’ll still be hot here. When October comes, it might cool down. Hope so. I love colder temps.” Georgia slipped behind the curtain, shrugged out of her clothes and stepped into a shower stall.
“Winter is my favorite part of the year, too. Snuggling with Ken on the sofa in front of the fire with hot chocolate and a good movie is so much fun.” Jana chattered from the adjacent shower.
“Sounds heavenly. Alan doesn’t care for nestling—kind of prefers his space.”
“Yeah, I remember you saying that.”
They turned off the spray at the same instant, wrapped robes around themselves and exited the stalls.
“I can’t believe how thin you’ve grown.” Jana smiled at Georgia as she admired her friend’s tiny waste. “Even through a bulky robe, I can tell you’ve lost weight.”
“All of a sudden I’m down six pounds. Thanks for noticing.”
“Is Alan pleased?”
“Yes, he said he was. I called him into the bathroom to read the scale. He seemed elated and told me I definitely looked better—even hugged me. Then went on to say he was thrilled to witness the results he’d brought about.”
“So has he stopped bugging you about a diet?”
Georgia nodded. “He just says to be careful now.”
“And how do you respond to that?”
“I agree and then thank him for his concern and care. He’s merely trying to help me stay fit.”
“You are such a selfless person. Me and my mouth? If Ken pestered me regarding my figure when a mere three pounds was all I needed to lose…well, I would have snapped back with a few things I’d later regret, but you are more than nice.”
“I love Alan, and he loves me—even if he shows it a little differently.”
Jana nodded but made no response. She grabbed jeans and t-shirt. “Ready for the mall? We’ve got three hours before the stores close. I’m primed to shop.”
“I’m all set to go. Alan’s dad’s birthday next week and I promised I’d buy his gift.” She tilted her head and winked. “And now that I’ve dropped six pounds, I may treat myself to a new outfit.”
“Buy something slinky to show off your gre
at figure.”
Georgia laughed. “No, but I might find a proper business suit to wear in Italy.”
“You’re going to Italy?” Jana squealed.
“Considering it. Savini Sportswear is headquartered here, but they own a manufacturing site over there. The owner wants to impress me with his company’s operation. He’s even offered me a job.”
“Hey, girl. Great news. Spill the beans and let me hear all the details.”
“Would you believe Giovanni Savini took me to lunch in a limo recently? He’s the owner.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No. It was a last minute arrangement. The lady I was supposed to meet couldn’t make it and he filled in. He telephones often to update me on the order I placed and he likes the way I work. He keeps asking my opinion about several designs he wants to manufacture. He e-mails them to me, and then calls me so I can report my thoughts. In our last conversation, he wondered if I wanted to work for him. He wants me to buy fabrics and oversee the design department. He’s super complimentary and he’d be easy to work with.”
“Are you? Interested in a job with his company?”
“Yes and no.”
“What is the positive?”
“The money is good, and trips to Europe might be exciting. I love it over there.”
“And the negative?”
“I’d probably tire of travel and I’d miss Alan.”
“True. Long flights can get old, and fighting airport security is a hassle.”
Georgia grinned as though she were a mouse with a secret bite of cheese. “Savini owns a private jet.”
“Wow! How will you pass that up?”
“I’m tempted, but I have a husband, and we want a baby. A Savani job might prevent that.”
“How much time in Italy does the job require?”
“A week each month. I travel a couple of times a year now, but the job with Savini requires a great deal more.”
“Hmm. On the other hand, Alan might appreciate and miss you if you were away. He’d find out how much he loves you.” Jana performed her usual dramatic eye roll. “He might want to cuddle when you come home.”
