Italian Knights Read online

  “Sal, you can’t be serious.” Her eyes widened as he nodded.

  “Of course I’m serious. It’s an old family tradition.” His eyes twinkled wickedly. “Why, Annie, you’re a woman alone with no one to— Ow! Annie, why’d you whack me?” he asked, trying to banish a grin and rub his arm at the same time.

  “Sal,” she began darkly, flashing him a look that told him exactly what he could do with his “old family tradition”. “I’m twenty-six years old, not twelve, and I do not need a chaperone!”

  “Come on, Annie, it’ll be fun—”

  “Fun!” Annie exploded. “The whole idea of me dating again was so that I would be less dependent on you, not more! Sal, surely you don’t intend to tag after me every time I go out with a man?” The look on his face answered her question and Annie couldn’t suppress a moan. Lord, what was she going to do with him? “This is not funny,” she told him, pulling out of his arms and getting to her feet.

  “It wasn’t meant to be,” Sal insisted with a wicked grin, dropping an arm around her shoulder and guiding her toward the door.

  Sighing in exasperation, Annie flicked off the lights and scooped up her purse. She needed some time to think, to sort through what had happened this evening. And she’d thought she was just going on a simple little date!

  Sal took the keys from her and locked up. “First thing in the morning I’ll send someone out to fix that door.”

  “It’s not nec—”

  Sal held up his hand to override any protests she might have, and urged her down the dark street. “Now don’t start with all that obligation stuff,” he teased, bumping his hip against hers as they rounded the corner and came to her house. She could see the shadow of a smile playing along his full lips.

  “You’re not really serious about this chaperoning business, are you?”

  Sal’s smile widened. “Very serious,” he assured her, his jaw firmly set.

  “Cow cakes,” Annie muttered, stomping up the stairs and into the house.

  Chapter Five

  “That man—he’s back!” Florina dropped the wheel of cheese she’d been cutting and hurried into the back room, pushing past Annie who was engaged in a heated debate with her insurance agent.

  “What man?” Annie asked, eyeing the scurrying woman in alarm.

  “That man!” Florina jerked her head toward the front of the store. “The stranger,” she whispered, her tone of voice loud enough to be heard in her native country. “I’m gonna take care of him.” Her eyes gleamed as she waved her bat in the air.

  Annie pried the weapon loose from the older woman’s hands. “No bats, Florina,” she scolded, trying not to smile at the woman’s disappointment. “Remember what Sal said. We don’t want you hurt. Now go on back out front, I’ll be right out.” Annie turned her attention back to her insurance man, trying once again to explain that other than the broken glass window, front door and deli case, nothing but fifty dollars in cash and two candy bars were missing. She had a high deductible—almost five hundred dollars—and Annie was certain that the damage to property and goods would be more than that.

  After bidding the man a hasty good-bye, Annie grabbed a clean apron and headed to the front of the deli. This morning had been absolute chaos. Word of the robbery had spread throughout the neighborhood. Everyone had been dropping in to check on her, and even Mr. Finucci, all eighty-one years of him, had posted himself outside her broken front door, watching and inspecting anyone who dared enter.

  All of her neighbors had closed ranks around her, just as they had when Tony had died. They did their best to make her feel safe and secure. Annie was one of their own, and they intended to see that no further harm came to her.

  The outpouring of love and affection had eased her fears somewhat, making her feel less vulnerable. In the light of day, it was hard to imagine that last night she’d been truly frightened. This morning, with the deli open, things looked almost normal. It was as if last night had only been a bad dream.

  “Honest,” David said nervously, holding his hands in the air. “I assure you I simply want to see how she is.” Florina had him backed into a corner. His eyes found Annie’s over the top of Florina’s head. “Annie, thank God, please come and rescue me from this…woman.”

  “Florina!” Annie rounded the corner, shaking her head. So David was the stranger Florina had been so worried about. “It’s all right,” Annie assured the doubting woman. “This is David Donaldson. He’s a friend of mine.”

  Florina looked at him shrewdly. “Friend, humph!” she huffed, giving David one last, scathing look before turning on her heel and heading behind the counter.

  “He’s back, sister,” Florina whispered to Rosina, who was handling the register this morning. “You’d better call Sal. I’ll keep an eye on him.” Nodding, Rosina wiped her hands and slipped into the back room of the deli, which was off-limits to customers. The back room was a combination lunchroom, gossip room and kitchen. This was where Florina and Rosina made their homemade sausage and meatballs for the sandwiches that would be sold to the lunchtime crowd, as well as specialty items like pasta salad, eggplant and other homemade Italian delicacies. The room was small, with a table, a few odd chairs, a television and a telephone squeezed in.

  David seized Annie’s hands. “My dear, I just heard about the robbery. I’m so sorry, Ann. It must have been awful for you.”

  Annie smiled at his concern. “It was mostly vandalism, and I’m feeling much better this morning.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Florina circling around them, inconspicuously trying to duck behind an aisle so she wouldn’t be noticed.

  “Yes, but still, Ann. I should have stayed with you last night. I—”

  “No. Really, David. I’m fine. Sal was here with me, and he helped me clean up.” Knowing they had an audience, she gently extracted her hands from his. Annie could see Florina’s feet moving up and down the aisles, inching closer and closer.

  “Sal,” David said, trying not to shudder. “The barbarian. I should have figured.”

  Annie heard Florina’s “Harrumph” at David’s words and she bit back a smile. “David, I told you last night, he’s not a barbarian. He’s a cop.”

  “Same thing.” David draped one long arm around Annie and steered her in the opposite direction, away from the curious stares of the customers and Florina’s prying ears. “Didn’t I tell you last night that this neighborhood wasn’t safe?” David clucked his tongue sympathetically. “I’m telling you, Ann, dear, you’re easy prey—”

  “David, please.” She’d just started feeling better, she didn’t need David reminding her of her fears. She was trying so hard not to feel vulnerable, because it only led to her leaning on Sal—something she was determined not to do anymore.

  “So tell me,” she said with a smile. “What brings you here this morning?” Out of the corner of her eye, Annie saw Florina’s gray head pop up from between two aisles.

  “I just stopped by to see how you were, and to invite you to supper this evening.”

  His eyes traveled over her in a way that made her uncomfortable. Crossing her arms across her breasts, Annie was reminded of her conversation with Sal last night, about David’s concern about her lack of male “attention”. The way he was looking at her, she could almost believe him.

  “Things didn’t quite work out as I had planned last night,” David said smoothly, leaving her to wonder just what his plans had been.

  “Yes, I’m sorry about that.” How was she going to tell him that she really wasn’t interested in dating him? Annie sighed. She never realized this dating business was going to be so darn complicated And Sal’s intentions of chaperoning her weren’t going to make things easier in the near future. She certainly didn’t want a repeat of last night.

  She would have to be gentle with David; she had no wish to hurt his feelings. Even if Sal didn’t like him, he was a nice man, but she didn’t think she could bear to spend another evening with him, listening to him extol his own
virtues. David just didn’t appeal to her. She was certain he would be a fine catch for some woman, but not this woman. No, the only man she was interested in was tall, dark and devilishly handsome. He also happened to be off-limits.

  She’d been telling herself Sal was just a friend. But in the light of day, looking at David, she was forced to come to terms with her own feelings. Last night, when Sal had kissed her, she had finally realized he was much more than just a friend. So much more.

  Oh, Lord, Annie thought sadly. The man she wanted she couldn’t have. And the one she could have, she didn’t want. So much for the poor widow woman being able to take care of herself.

  “Ann, are you free for dinner?”

  “I’m sorry,” she aid regretfully, shaking her head. “I’d love to, but there’s still so much to do here. The glass people are charging me double to come over on a Sunday and I’ve got to stay here and wait for them. Then I have to try and handle all the insurance forms and the police forms. I just can’t spare the time. Maybe another day?” she said brightly, hoping she hadn’t hurt his feelings.

  David smiled, and patted her shoulder, leaving his hand to linger. “Of course, dear. I understand. Naturally this burglary business has you upset. It’s no wonder, with this neighborhood and all, it’s a wonder you weren’t murdered—or something worse.”

  Annie shivered at his words.

  “Outta my way,” Florina grumbled, pushing between the two of them to get to a bin of garlic sitting on the floor. She successfully managed to knock David’s hand off Annie’s shoulder. David glared at Florina’s back.

  “That employee is certainly rude. I should think that a woman that age would be grateful for a job.”

  Clutching the garlic cloves to her breast, Florina straightened and whirled around. “Should have let me use the bat when I had the chance,” she muttered in Italian, fixing David with a murderous glare.

  “What did she say?” David asked with a frown, watching Florina stomp off.

  “She lost her hat,” Annie said quickly.

  “You really ought to speak to her,” David suggested. “She’s quite insolent. I know this is just a small operation, but you certainly can’t have the help scaring the customers away.”

  “David,” Annie cautioned, grabbing him by the elbow and steering him toward the door. It was Rosina’s turn to check David out. Her silver head popped up from behind a row of shelves and David came to an abrupt halt, swiveling his head first toward Florina, who stood behind the counter glaring at him, then back to Rosina, who was giving him her own version of the once-over.

  “My God! Don’t tell me there’re two of them,” he said, horrified. Chuckling softly, Annie rolled her eyes and guided him carefully around the all-too-interested Rosina.

  “Those two ladies,” she whispered, “are twins. One’s Sal’s mother and the other is his aunt. They work for me. See, David, while you see this neighborhood as a danger, to me and the other people who have lived here most of our lives, it’s really like one big, extended family. Everyone looks after everyone else.” She guided him toward the door. She had to get David out of here. The sooner the better. For everyone’s sake.

  “I should have figured they’d be related to him.” David pulled open the door and Mr. Finucci appeared out of nowhere. He stood in the doorway, successfully blocking David’s path, looking like the angel of death in his dark suit and equally dark fedora, which was pulled low over one eye.

  David recognized danger when he saw it and took a cautious step back, keeping his eyes on Mr. Finucci’s cane, which swung perilously close to David’s unprotected shins.

  “What is this, Ann?” David asked, turning to look at her. “A geriatric center?”

  Laughing, Annie reached out and patted Mr. Finucci’s arm. “It’s all right, Mr. Finucci. This is David.”

  Mr. Finucci nodded, but didn’t move.

  “Mr. Finucci,” she said a bit more loudly, wanting to reassure him. “It’s all right. David is a friend of mine.”

  David extended his hand to the man. Mr. Finucci looked at David’s hand, sniffed, then turned, picked up his racing form and reclaimed his perch on the stool next to the door.

  “Honestly, Ann, I don’t know how you put up with—”

  “Oh, Annie!” Mrs. Altero suddenly called from across the street, waving a lace handkerchief and hurrying toward them. “Yoo-hoo!” Mrs. Altero carefully stopped a stream of traffic as she crossed the street. Puffing to a halt, she smiled. “So…” she purred, looking at David with interest. “This is a new friend?”

  Word sure traveled fast, Annie thought with amusement. Everyone, no doubt, wanted to get a glimpse of the stranger she’d dated. “Mrs. Altero, I’d like you to meet David Donaldson.”

  Mrs. Altero batted her lashes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Donald.” She extended her hand, and David just stared at her.

  “It’s David,” he corrected stiffly.

  “So…tell me, Donald,” Mrs. Altero said, looping her arm through his and steering him toward the street. “Do you like home cooking?”

  “Home cooking?” David repeated, glancing over his shoulder at Annie. “Well, yes, I…I love home cooking.”

  “Wonderful.” Mrs. Altero beamed. She knew a pigeon when she saw one. “I’ve just made a wonderful pot of rabbit stew. You must come and have some.”

  “But…but…Annie!”

  “Don’t worry about Annie,” Mrs. Altero assured him, dragging him across the street. “She’s very busy today. But I’d surely enjoy your company. The table is all set, and we can have a nice chat. It’s a shame my granddaughter isn’t home. She’s a lovely girl.”

  “Have a nice lunch,” Annie called, trying not to laugh at the expression on David’s face. She had to admit that she felt a little guilty at letting him be bamboozled by Mrs. Altero. Anyway, maybe if he got to know some of the people in the neighborhood, he would realize how very special Little Italy was, and why she would never move.

  Annie turned and started to head back into the deli. A dark blue sedan screeched around the corner, coming to a halt in front of her. Annie shaded her eyes from the harsh afternoon sun and watched as Sal jumped from the car.

  Her pulse danced a merry pace at the sight of him. God, he looked wonderful. He had on soft, faded jeans that were nearly worn through in spots and fit his muscular legs like a second skin. A white polo shirt with the collar open and turned up, stretched wide across his broad shoulders. Tennis shoes—carelessly untied—covered his feet. He looked like a man who was going somewhere in a hurry.

  He glanced around as if he was looking for someone before bringing his gaze to hers. He smiled, and her heart began to thud wickedly. “Hi,” he said simply, shoving his keys into the pocket of his jeans and coming around the car toward her. “How is everything today?”

  “Everything is just fine.” Annie rocked back on her heels and returned his smile. “What brings you here this time of the afternoon?” Whatever the reason, Annie was glad to see him. His presence made her feel vulnerable, yet cared for. He couldn’t hide the concern in his dark eyes. So much had changed in just the past few days, Annie thought. So much. Their relationship. Her feelings. Oh, Lord. She had to stop this, she was driving herself crazy. She was supposed to be learning to stand on her own feet, not depending on him more and more.

  “Just came to see how you were.” He smiled into her eyes, lifting a hand to brush a strand of hair off her cheek. Her skin burned from his touch, coming alive from the warmth of him. All of her sincere efforts to keep her feelings about Sal in perspective crumbled the moment he came near. “After all, what are chaperones for?” he asked with a grin.

  “Sal,” she began, wanting to put an end to this nonsense before it got out of hand. “I really wish—”

  “Come on, let’s go inside, I’m starving.” Sal dropped his hand to her back and guided her into the store, pausing to wink at Mr. Finucci, who gave him a thumbs-up signal in return. He’d told his mother to pass the
word: if David showed up, they were supposed to call him—and then keep David occupied until he could get there. Evidently they’d done a fine job. Annie was safe, and Dancing David was nowhere in sight.

  It was just too much of a coincidence for his cop’s intuition that last night, the first night Annie had been gone for the evening, the deli had been robbed. He didn’t have any concrete evidence, nothing to base his suspicions on, but he had a gut feeling Dancing David was somehow connected to the burglary. How, he didn’t know yet, but he’d already done some checking this morning. Until he found out just what the hell was going on he didn’t want David anywhere near Annie—at least not without him around.

  Annie looked at Sal carefully. “David was just here,” she announced unnecessarily. She had a feeling she was telling him something he already knew.

  “Don’t forget you owe me a game,” Mr. Finucci growled as they passed. He leaned forward to try to pinch Annie, but she stepped out of his reach just in the nick of time.

  “What was all that about?” Annie wanted to know.

  “All what, Annie?” Sal repeated vaguely, trying unsuccessfully to banish a grin.

  “The wink and the grin, and the ‘You owe me a game’ stuff. What are you up to, Sal?”

  “Me?” He drew back looking greatly offended. “What makes you think I’m up to something? I just promised Mr. Finucci a game of boccie, that’s all.” Sal paused, bending over the counter to plant a kiss on his mother’s and his aunt’s cheeks. They, too, flashed him a thumbs-up signal and Annie sighed.

  Something was definitely going on here. But she had a feeling neither Sal, his mother, his aunt, Mrs. Altero nor Mr. Finucci, for that matter, were going to let her in on it.

  “Auntie Florina, cut me a piece of that cheese, will you?” Sal plucked the cheese from his aunt’s hand and rounded the corner to the cooler with Annie on his heels. Retrieving a cold soda, he took a long sip, knowing Annie was watching him.