July (Calendar Girl #7)(17)

Anton leaned over my shoulder and whispered in my ear. “It’s pretty amazing and very flavorful. I’d probably recommend something a bit more simple. Do you like caramel?”

“Does a gambler love money?” I gave him my patented, are-you-shitting-me look. He chuckled. Oh, how I loved that chuckle. It reminded me of good times and another smokin’ hot dude who would be here tomorrow. “I’m pretty sure that ninety-nine percent of the population loves caramel. If they say they don’t, they are lying. Usually driven by their need to avoid something that often makes them gain weight by just glancing at it.”

Francesco watched patiently as we discussed the merits of every flavor. How strawberry was a far too boring flavor to get if I was going to try something I considered new and unusual. I wanted to go all out. Go big or go home, as they say. “Fresh Franny, I’m going to go with the caramel dulce de leche, please.”

“Excellent choice!” He filled the biggest serving bowl full of the creamy dessert.

I was pretty sure my eyes were the size of pizzas when he handed it to me. “I should have told you the little one.” I declared sizing up the giant dessert.

He shook his head, his hair jiggled with the effort but stayed perfect. “Everyone comes back for more. You go big.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

Anton, of course, ordered the pistachio, which pissed me off. He warned me off it, and then he ordered it! “Punk!” I swore at him.

“What?” He pushed his shades up into his hair and took a giant spoonful between his lips. Mmm, I could watch him eat ice cream all damned day. He looked that flippin’ good. Suddenly, I was too warm. I took off my jacket and placed it over the back of the chair. He did the same.

For a while, we sat in silence and enjoyed the best freaking gelato ever. Of course it was my first, but I couldn’t imagine anything better right then. The texture and silkiness was a cross between ice cream and frozen yogurt. Either way, I was a big fan.

“What are you going to do about Heather? She still mad?”

“Furious, and she’s barely talking to me.” He frowned and then took another bite. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t let her go.”

“What if she needs to go?”

He narrowed his brows and cringed. “I’m already famous. Working with me gives her more of a name than a new wannabe star.”

“And are you prepared to give her the clout she needs?”

“Clout?”

“You know, the respect. The role.”

His eyes and nose scrunched up. “Is that what this is about? Her not wanting to be my assistant?”

I wanted to say, “uh, duh,” but refrained as he was obviously clueless. “It seems to me that Heather is pretty smart.” He nodded. “Beautiful.” Again he agreed. “But she’s so much more than just your assistant. That night, you yourself said she managed everything right. Or at the very least had a hand in everything.”

“Yeah, so? What’re you getting at? Lay it out for me, Lucita.”

Taking a bite of gelato and letting it melt on my tongue, I swallowed and put down my spoon. “I think she wants to be your business manager slash agent. I don’t know enough about the industry to say exactly, but if she’s setting up your shows, running your team, taking care of you”—I picked up the spoon and pointed it at him—“then it sounds to me like she’s already doing the job without the pay, respect, or title under her belt, and floundering to try and get it all done alone. Maybe she needs a PA!” I snorted.

Both of his hands came up to his face, and he slid them over his forehead and down past his nose and lips betraying his frustration. “You’re right, Mia. Cristo en una cruz, tienes razón.” I could pretty much figure it out without asking for a translation.

“The girl has no life beyond you. You know, she told me that she didn’t have any friends except you. That you were her only family. Her best friend.”

“She said that?” His eyes darkened, and he cupped his chin in the palm of his hand. I nodded. “Hell, H has always been my best friend.”

“You ever tell her that?”

“I assumed she just knew.” His tone revealed how destroyed he was by the knowledge of Heather’s unhappiness.

I laughed. “You know what they say about people who assume right?”

His eyes hardened and one side of his lip curled as he shook his head.

“Assuming makes an ass out of you and me. Get it! Ass-ume!”

Anton shook his head and plowed into his green ice cream once more. “You’re a nut. Anyone ever tell you that?”

“All the time, but usually, my best friend Ginelle comes up with more colorful language.”

When I said the words ‘best friend’, Anton’s form slumped again. He picked up his unfinished treat and tossed it into the trash. A hard line formed between his brows and a slight scowl marred his handsome face.

“Let’s go. You have rehearsal, and I need to talk to my girl.”

Internally, I did a mighty fist pump followed by a touchdown dance.

Then I looked at the Super Duke I was riding and did it all over again.





Chapter 6


“Again!” Maria roared. “No. Stop the music.” She waved her hand up high in the air, and the music cut out.