Blind Retribution

by K. T. Roberts

  “It sounds like you might be a mama’s boy.”

  “Absolutely. She’s the one who taught me the importance of expressing my feelings, but she doesn’t interfere in my life unless I need a good kick in the ass. And as for the festival, it’s still fun trying to get through the crowded streets, tasting the foods, and dodging the droves of pickpockets.” He shook his head. “Yeah, we definitely come every year.”

  “Your family sounds like so much fun,” Max said wishing she had a story like his to tell. She’d always loved walking down Mulberry Street in Little Italy. For outsiders, it was a place with so many Italian restaurants that it was hard to choose. For the New Yorkers, though, they already had their favorite places to eat and knew where to get the best espresso or cannoli afterward.

  “How about your family?” he asked, maneuvering her through the crowd. “Do they come?”

  “I’ve been here with my sister and nieces, but it’s rare because I’m always working.”

  “Well, maybe you can join my family next year.” Cory tilted his head back, inhaled the smell, and moaned. “God, I love that smell.”

  “Me too. These restaurants are a real tease,” Max said, placing her hand on her stomach. When they passed Ferrera’s, another well-known restaurant on Mulberry, the waiter, who was rolling up the yellow-striped awning smiled at Max. Continuing on to Angelo’s, Max was curious about reservations when she saw a long line of customers waiting for tables to free up outside on the patio. “We don’t have reservations, do we?”

  “Actually, I made them before I asked you,” Cory said.

  “Pretty confident, weren’t you?”

  “No. I wasn’t at all, because I figured if you’d said no, I’d grab one of my friends, or come alone. Either way, I was going to eat here, but I’m thrilled you came with me.” She smiled without saying anything, but he knew she was too.

  Max glanced at the large awning covering the entire front of the building, waving from a gentle breeze. Seeing the stark-white lettering against the dark blue background announcing the location as Angelo’s of Mulberry St. Ristorante Italiano always prompted the same reaction in Max—a screaming appetite. She lifted her nose in the air and inhaled the aromas of garlic and olive oil wafting out through the opened mahogany doors. “Mmm,” Max said, “that smell gets me every time.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Cory said with a smile. “I’m hungry.” Passing by those waiting for a table, the pair walked toward the host.

  Immediately recognizing Cory, the man in the dark suit greeted him. “Mr. Rossini. It’s always a delight to see you. I have your table ready,” he said and removed two menus. Walking ahead, he continued talking. “I had to practically sit on top of it so no one would take it.”

  Cory laughed. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  “My pleasure. Enjoy your dinner.”

  Max smiled at her favorite waiter on their way back to the table. “Buonasera, Enrico,” she said. He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

  “Buonasera, signorina.”

  “Enrico, will you take care of these lovely people?” the man in the suit asked.

  The waiter extended his arm for Max to latch on to and walked her to the table. Cory tagged along right behind.

  When they were seated, a waiter poured water into their glasses. “The usual wine, Mr. Rossini?” he asked, handing them menus.

  Cory held up his finger, asking the server to wait.

  “Yes?” he asked, looking at Max.

  “I usually have Pinot Noir, but I’ll try your usual, whatever that is.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know. What kind of wine is it?”

  He put his finger down and nodded his approval. “Thank you.” He answered her question. “A Sangiovese.”

  “That works too.” Max leaned in closer to ask a question, whispering that she wasn’t familiar with the man who’d greeted them. “Who is he?” she asked.

  “He’s the owner’s nephew and works when Carmine is away on vacation.”

  “Aha. I guess I’ve never been in here when the owner was away.”

  Max glanced around and admired a new mural on the wall that made her feel as though she were in Italy. Arches with Italian pottery graced the niches of the restaurant, and short awnings extended on each side of the dining room to simulate an outside bistro.

  “Did you notice that that mural was new?” She pointed.

  “Yeah, I haven’t seen it before.”

  The waiter returned with their wine and a basket of focaccia and poured olive oil into the dipping bowls. “Are you ready to order?” Enrico asked.

  “We haven’t even looked at the menu yet. Just give us a few more minutes.”

  Cory picked up his glass. “Shall we toast?”

  “Yes, but let me do the toast,” Max said.

  “Okay.”

  “May this evening be a new beginning,” she said, tapping her glass against his.

  Cory’s mood was buoyant. “And may there be many more,” he added before digging into the bread basket. After breaking the bread into pieces, he dipped it into the oil and bit into it. She did the same. Enrico stayed a safe distance away, checking often to see when they were ready.

  “I think Enrico wants us to order our food,” he said.

  “Yeah, I’m sure. Okay, I’ll look at the menu.”

  Max looked up from her menu and caught Cory studying her with such tenderness, she thought her heart might explode. She pretended she hadn’t seen him, but his sensual expression made her body tingle with desire. She cautioned herself to slow her thoughts down. A relationship with him was not going to be based on lust—it had to be much more.

  Cory knew she’d caught him staring at her, but he couldn’t help himself. She was a beautiful woman, and it was perfectly natural to have those longing thoughts. A man would have to be dead not to want her. Not only was she sexy, but she was stylish, intelligent, someone he could have a meaty conversation with, when she wasn’t blasting him for something she didn’t like. Max was a woman he’d be proud to have on his arm. He laughed aloud.

  “What are you laughing about over there?” she asked, brushing a blonde lock of her hair away from her eyes.

  “Actually, Max, you make me feel like a lovestruck teenager, and I’m flabbergasted by it because we’ve just met.” He paused. “Now that I’ve found you, I’m not going to give up until I give what I hope is a budding romance everything I’ve got. I know this is crazy, but you know how everyone always says, when the right one comes along, you’ll know it? Wow, they were right.”

  Max actually giggled. “You’re adorable, Cory, and I have to tell you I’m so flattered by your attentiveness. You’ve made me feel very special.” Max went back to reading the menu until she felt the heat of his stare blazing through her again. She looked up. Seeing his broad smile warmed her core. She had to give him credit for being original, and the fact that he wasn’t afraid to share his feelings had her seeing him in a different light. She’d never imagined he’d be like this and hoped he was being sincere and not playing her for a fool. Riley’s comment about her being cynical came to mind. She was, but her job had trained her to be. But oh, that smile on his face and the deep cleft in his chin . . . it was enough to melt anyone’s heart.

  Cory cleared his throat. “I’m having the veal saltimbocca,” he announced. “How about you?”

  “I think I’d like ravioli tonight.” The minute Max closed the menu, Enrico was there in a flash to take their orders.

  “So tell me about yourself,” Cory said.

  “What would you like to know?”

  “I have a ton of questions. Have you ever been married, have kids? Where are you from?” He took a sip of wine, waiting in anticipation for her response.

  “No, and no. I’m a native New Yorker and never plan to leave. My life is my work. I have a sister, two nieces, and a cousin.” Max was mesmerized by his green eyes. They sparkled with excitement every time he smiled at her.
It made her feel like he really liked her, and that was a good thing, because she was really beginning to like him.

  “All work and very little play makes for an extremely dull life?”

  Max laughed. “Sometimes, but I guess I’m just too wrapped up in my work.” She didn’t want to say anything more. “How about you?”

  “I was born and raised here.”

  “Did your parents meet here in the city?” she asked.

  “No, they went to school together in Naples. When my grandparents decided to migrate to the States, my father wouldn’t leave without my mother, so he proposed marriage, and they had their honeymoon onboard the ship en route to the States.”

  “Aw, what a beautiful love story. How sweet is that?”

  “Yeah, my parents are still very much in love.”

  “That’s rare.”

  “It is, and I hope to carry on the same legacy after I find the woman of my dreams. I’ve never been married, don’t have any kids—not that I don’t want a family—and I don’t currently have a girlfriend, but we won’t talk about that.”

  “Okay, that’s fair enough. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” she said, sensing it might be a sensitive subject.

  “It isn’t that I don’t want to tell you about my last relationship . . . I just thought women preferred not to hear about that stuff on a date.”

  “Is that what this is? A date?” she teased.

  “Yes, this is definitely a date. Are you okay with that even though we both thought there wasn’t a chance in hell it would ever happen?” He chuckled and reached for her hand, giving it a playful squeeze.

  “Yeah.” She nodded. “I’m okay with that. I’d like to get to know you better too.” She studied him for a while, unable to believe she was with him, or how wrongly she’d judged him. He caught her staring at him and winked, causing her heart to spiral out of control.

  The waiter set a plate down in front of Max, while another waiter served Cory. Taking her first bite, she released a satisfied moan. “Oh my God.” She continued chewing. “You have to taste this,” she said, scooping ravioli on her spoon and placing it on the corner of his plate. He did the same with his veal, and they both tasted and swooned over the flavor of the dishes.

  After finishing his meal, Cory relaxed back in his seat and stared at her. “I really like you, Max Turner, and I’m having a hard time taking my eyes off you,” he said. “And it’s probably because I want to make sure you’re still sitting across from me.”

  Max chuckled. “Cory, I must say I can’t help but love the way you express yourself. It warms my heart.” Elation bubbled through her for the first time in a very long while.

  “So there’s a chance we can do this again?” he asked, watching the busboy remove the empty plates while Enrico approached. He nodded to the waiter, who headed back to the kitchen.

  “I’d say there’s a really good chance.” Her sister, Julie, came to mind, and she laughed inside, knowing Jules would absolutely gloat over being right about forcing Max to go to the game.

  Five minutes later, Enrico returned with two coffees and a cannoli cut in half, one piece for each of them.

  “You little stinker,” Max said. “So that’s what that nod at Enrico was for?” She looked at her half of the cannoli and put her hand on her stomach. “I’m so full.”

  “Me too, but you must know there’s a separate compartment for dessert, so there’s plenty of room.”

  “I’m going to get fat.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure that little chunk is going to add another twenty pounds at least,” he teased.

  Finishing her coffee, Max sat back and groaned. “I need to run around the block.”

  “Is that what you want to do next?” he asked.

  “I hate to be a party pooper, but I have work to do tonight.” Cory’s face was the picture of disappointment.

  “Really?” He frowned. “It’s not something that can wait until tomorrow?”

  “Why? What did you have in mind?”

  “I thought we could stop for a nightcap and dance a little.”

  “Well, I’m not a dancer, as evidenced by our last whirl around the dance floor.”

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Cory said.

  “Yeah, I’ll bet.” She gave him a look to let him know she was aware he was lying. “If you want, you can come up to my place for a nightcap.”

  “Does that mean you won’t be working, then?”

  “No, it just means I’ll start right after you leave.” Max eyed him pulling the money from his money clip to pay the bill. She released a sigh. Was he too good to be true?

  Cory made a silly face that made her laugh. “I’d really love to see your place, but honestly, with the way I’m feeling toward you, it’s probably not a good idea.” She nodded and they stood up at the same time, walking through the dining room. Trailing her, he reached forward and took her hand. “I really meant it when I said I like you . . . a lot.”

  Max smiled inwardly as they exited the restaurant. When she turned to look at him, she noticed his expression and stopped. “I like you too, Cory, but that expression of yours tells me you have something on your mind. Just say it.”

  “I might scare you away.”

  “I don’t scare that easily,” she said as they walked outside still holding hands. He stopped and pulled her toward him and kissed her with such tenderness she didn’t want him to stop.

  “You blow my mind,” he said, his eyes grazing over her face.

  His kiss had her feeling a delicious rush of that first-date excitement and surprise. She hadn’t expected that kiss, but she was so glad he had made the move. It had been a long time since she’d been out on a date, and this one was ranking high on her list of do-agains.

  “You taste like a bowl full of cherries,” he said, then noticed her expression. “Are you okay? Have I offended you because I kissed you on the first date?”

  She released a low giggle, shaking her head, then reached for the collar on his leather jacket and pulled him toward her for another kiss. “There. Now we’re even.”

  “Do you really have to work tonight? I honestly don’t want this night to end.”

  “I’m afraid so.” She didn’t want the night to end either, but he was right about not coming to her apartment, not when they were both feeling so amorous. They would have thrown logic out the window and most likely jumped right into the sack. “So I guess my job doesn’t bother you?” she inquired.

  “Why should it? We’re basically doing the same thing. The only difference is, I can’t arrest anyone.”

  “But what happens after your suspension is over?” she asked when he opened the car door for her.

  “I don’t know if I want to go back to practicing law.”

  “Would you mind telling me why you were suspended?” she asked.

  “I hadn’t planned on telling you about it on our first date, but I believe in being honest, so yes, I will tell you.” He started the car and drove out of the garage. “Where do you live?”

  “In the West Village on Perry Street.”

  “Wow! That’s a pretty classy side of the city. I would imagine you love living there.”

  “Absolutely. The restaurants, the culture, the artistic people . . . it’s amazing, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I’ve lived there forever, in a rent-stabilized apartment building, so I’m not going anywhere. Where do you live?”

  “In the East Village on St. Marks Place.”

  “Oh, I love that neighborhood. All the quirky shops are great to wander into. But you didn’t answer my question. Are you trying to stall so you don’t have to tell me?”

  “No, ma’am. I’m driving you home, remember?” She tipped her head to the side, waiting for him to tell her. “I borrowed money from a client’s retainer fund,” he said remorsefully.

  Max’s eyes opened wide with surprise.

  Noticing her surprise, his hand rose in the air, and he offered an explanat
ion. “Please wait before you jump to conclusions. It wasn’t like I borrowed the money for my own gain. The niece I caught the ball for was diagnosed with cancer, my brother-in-law was unemployed as a result of downsizing, which meant there was no health insurance to pay for surgery, and without it, the surgeon wouldn’t do the operation. It’s always about the money.” His face quirked. “I couldn’t sit back and watch. And it wasn’t like I could ask my parents for help, because my father lost all his money when the market crashed in 2008.” He sucked in his lips. “I’d even considered selling my place, the brownstone my grandfather left to me after he died, but it’s been in the family ever since they came to the States. He was a hard-working man who saved the money so he could give his family a better life. Having no money of their own, my parents lived with them until they started a family. There’s so much history behind those walls, I couldn’t do it. It’s the only family legacy that remains. Please understand that I don’t think what I did was right. My family means the world to me, and I make no excuse for my stupidity, but I don’t want to lie to you either.” He blinked.

  “Did you pay it back?” she asked.

  “Of course. I wouldn’t have even borrowed it if I thought I couldn’t pay it back. I’d already depleted my 401K as a partial payment to the surgeon.” He glanced her way. “I thought the partial payment would have been good enough to get him started, but because there was no health insurance, he wanted all the money up front.”

  “I hate hearing stories about some of the horrible things doctors do, especially when it comes to money. I understand . . .” Max’s face tensed, and then her hand lifted up like a stop sign. “Don’t even get me started on doctors,” she said, then took a deep breath and blew it out. “What I don’t understand, though, is how they even found out you’d borrowed it?”

  Cory pursed his lips and stared into the distance before responding. “The woman I was dating at the time turned me in to the partners.” Max didn’t mask her surprise. Cory’s head nodded in agreement. “Yeah . . . she wanted more than I was willing to give to our relationship. For example, after only dating three months, she started pushing the marriage card. I wasn’t in love with her, and knew I couldn’t give her what she wanted, so I broke it off.” A sour expression covered his handsome face and he shrugged.