Rooted (Pagano Family #3)(15)

Theo really liked the feelings she raised in him. He liked that they came without the guilt he’d expected they’d bring upon their return. And he really liked her. He reached out, meaning perhaps to touch her in some way, but she stepped out of his reach, and he dropped his hand. Then they all headed to the exit together.



oOo



The restaurant he had in mind, he’d found during his first week in Paris, and he’d returned several times already, feeling homesick. It was the only place so far in the city he’d found to get American-style food that actually seemed American. Sure, other restaurants offered burgers and fries, or ribs, or steak and baked potato, but what French chefs thought of as those foods and what Theo—and, he’d warrant, most red-blooded Americans—thought of those foods were barely in the same hemisphere.

This restaurant, which had styled itself as a ‘speakeasy’ and had gone all out with the thirties décor, was located a few blocks off the Champs-élysées and did a rousing business among homesick American tourists and expatriates, as well as French looking for an ‘authentic’ American experience. Later in the night, the place would be packed. But just past six was early for dinner—by French standards, almost barbarically so—and Theo brought his dinner party in feeling confident that they’d be seated quickly. And they were. The bar was crowded, but fewer than half the tables for dinner were occupied.

They were led to a large, round booth upholstered in dark, tufted leather. Theo and his sons ushered their female guests to sit in the center. Carmen paused, looking briefly uncomfortable, and then slid in. Theo followed her, and then watched Eli and Jordan jockey for position next to Rosa. Eli finally let Jordan slide in first.

Watching Jordan and Eli, gay and straight, fawn over Carmen’s little sister, Theo thought about his sons. Both were currently single. Jordan, obviously, was interested in Rosa for her clothes, not what was under them. Theo knew that Jordan saw a shopping partner—neither Theo nor Eli was particularly good in that capacity. Eli was trying to be subtle about the way he was looking at the young beauty, but he could not have cared less for her clothes, other than the way they held what was under them.

Eli tended to be serious with girls. When he fell, he did so hard and quickly, and he’d had his heart broken more than once. Theo would much rather see Rosa and Jordan have a little fling as BFFs for the couple of weeks he was here than to see Eli try to start something with the sister of the woman he himself was trying to start something with.

But he didn’t meddle in their affairs, romantic or otherwise. Advice, when it was sought. A shoulder, when it was wanted. A safe place, when it was needed. Love and respect always. That had been his and Maggie’s parenting philosophy, and it was Theo’s even more so, now that their sons were grown. They sailed their own boats.

The waiter came and took their drink orders. Jordan and Rosa ordered fancy cocktails. Eli and Carmen ordered beer. Theo was a bourbon drinker, almost exclusively, where alcoholic libations were concerned. This bar offered a really good top-shelf bourbon. He took it neat.

When their drinks came, they made their dinner orders, and then the table began to converse in the fluid way only a mixture of family and strangers could. The boys and Rosa picked up an easy chatter quickly and dominated the conversation. After several minutes of listening to the younger set talk about home, Theo leaned over and spoke in Carmen’s ear.

“I think they’re hitting it off.”



She laughed softly but didn’t turn to him. “Rosa is nothing if not social. This is her element.”

“Is it just the two of you for this summer?”

Now she turned. “Is this what we’re doing? Making stupid small talk?”

In that moment, he decided he preferred the wine-warmed version of Carmen Pagano. The sober version wore spiked armor. “Trying to make conversation, actually. What would you prefer to do? Meet in the john for a fast f*ck?”

Her face first wore the blank mask of total shock. She hadn’t expected him to drive back at her with the same speed. Then she smiled, and it lit her face up like a beacon. “Touché. Sorry. I tend to bite first, then talk if anybody sticks around.” She cleared her throat and then took a breath, like she was preparing an answer for an oral exam. “Yes. I brought Rosa to Europe as a graduation gift. She just finished at Brown.”

He looked over at the bubbly girl, who at some point had used a trip to the bathroom to resituate herself between his sons and was now happily swiveling back and forth between them, basking in the sun of their attention. She seemed like a typical sweet, vapid, privileged princess. If she graduated from Brown, she couldn’t be dumb, but she didn’t look like someone whose pursuits were naturally serious. He wondered what she’d majored in, but then decided that was a question for Eli to ask Rosa, not for him to ask her sister. He was more interested in Carmen.

“That’s a nice graduation gift.”

Carmen shrugged. “We’re staying at a friend’s flat who’s traveling. And I’m working while we’re here.”

Their food came, and Theo was distracted from continuing his inquiries while they sorted out the plates and starting eating, making the appropriate polite conversation about their selections. Everyone had ordered a full meal except Rosa, who was having only salad. Theo was glad to see that Carmen was eating a cheeseburger and fries. With her hands, as God intended. He liked himself a burger, and he could definitely appreciate a woman who did the same, and who tucked into her food as if she were hungry, rather than pick at it as if she were performing.