Thankfully with the large order requiring her attention, Alina could focus on her task at hand and not need to return to the front.  She busied herself, methodically attending to each order and very soon her passion for preparing excellent food took over and she could temporarily forget the dark, haunting irresistible male in her restaurant.  With her assistants helping out, all her orders were timeously despatched.

That was an adrenalin rush of note.  For three hours solid, Alina and Rocco had their heads bent to the grindstone churning out, one mouth watering and delectable dish after another.  When coffee was served, Alina could breathe a sigh of relief. 

Finally.  She walked to her office and removed her chef’s jacket.  Feeling the tension in her neck, she lifted her head upwards, hunched her shoulders to ease the knots, slowing shifting her head from left to right.

‘Need some help,’ a seductive voice whispered from behind her, strong hands like electrical connectors were on her shoulders, fingers accurately pressing the pressure points.  Alina jumped, quickly stepping forward.

My office is off limits to customers!

‘Sorry if I frightened you.’

‘Is there something you needed?’  There were more than enough waiters on hand out in front to see to any of the needs or requirements of the patrons.

‘No,’ his tone sobered.  ‘I wanted to say thank you.  That was a superb meal.’

‘I’ll let my staff know,’ Alina put her spencer on, feeling undressed with only her skimpy top on.

Tomas’ eyes stayed on her face for a long moment before he dragged his eyes away.  ‘You’ve done an excellent job with the decor,’ he congratulated her. 

‘Thank you.’ 
He’d already issued that compliment earlier when she was at the main guest table.  She wondered how he knew she’d changed what had been there.  They just stared at each other, neither making any attempt to initiate any further conversation, until Alina’s common sense kicked it.

‘It’s late,’ she looked away.  ‘I have things to do.’  She didn’t know what else.  The dishes were all washed.  The kitchen was spick and span.  She’d dismissed all the kitchen staff.  Only Rocco was still somewhere.  He always insisted on locking up with Alina.

‘Really?’ Tomas cast a cursory glance around as if inviting her to elaborate.

‘Signor Casiraghi, is there something else you’d like the kitchen to prepare for you?’  She spelled out.

‘No---I wondered if you’ll have coffee with me tomorrow morning.’

‘No thank you,’ she replied too quickly before her devious body tempted her to accept.  ‘You’re not going to tell me, you did not enjoy our previous night together cara mia,’ his fingers brushed her throat, his warm breath caressed her cheek.  Involuntarily her eyes shut.  Just in time, an image of a smiling blonde looking up at Tomas pierced her conscience.

‘You should leave,’ she pushed his hand away. 

Tomas’ eyes widened. She heard his sharp intake of breath.  Clearly, this six foot hunk of testosterone was not used to being brushed off.  She bet women threw themselves at him and would sell their souls to be seen on his arm, well once bitten, twice shy.

His jaw set in an angry scowl.  ‘Good night Alina.  You will change your mind soon,’ he stormed out.
Never!

     Alina shivered as she waited for the fishermen to bring out their spoils.  It was freezing.  Not yet six in the morning and she mentally cursed for not bringing a flask of coffee.  Normally she was able to select her items, haggle prices and be out of there within thirty minutes, but the boat had come in late this morning.  She pulled her warm trench coat closer around her body and lifted the collars up.  Eventually, feeling vindicated with said stock in her hand at much lower prices than she had anticipated paying, Alina headed back home.  She called Rocco to inform him of her purchases, complaining of her one hour delay. He volunteered to go to the vegetable market.  Alina was pleased about that, at least  she could spend some extra time with Emily.

‘Alina,’ Patty waved from her window. 
‘Hi Patty,’ silently Alina sighed.  She hoped Patty had no intentions of coffee and conversation.

‘You are such a busy bee these days Alina, you don’t come over anymore.’

‘I’m sorry Patty,’ Alina pointed to the tray of fish.  ‘I have to clean this up.’

‘So no coffee today then?’ Patty pouted.

Alina groaned aloud, Patty laughed.  ‘Look why don’t you come in whilst I clean up this fish and make Emily breakfast?’

‘Tell me about him?’ Patty opened the door as Alina hands were full.

‘Him?’ she blushed slightly, her thoughts immediately going to a dark, attractive Italian fiend.

‘Whoever he is that’s keeping you away from me,’ Patty accused.

‘Don’t be silly,’ Alina laughed, feeling relieved.  ‘The Emily has my undivided attention.’

‘I’m happy for you,’ Patty took the liberty of putting the kettle on.

‘Come have a meal on the house,’ Alina invited, except not on a Friday or Saturday, she rolled her eyes.  ‘We run about like headless chickens on those days.’

Alina make quick work of cleaning the fish and preparing breakfast for Emily and Caroline.

‘Good morning,’ Caroline greeted, wheeling herself into the kitchen.

‘Hey sis,’ Alina smiled.  She quickly made Caroline a cup of tea.  She loved starting her day with her tea.

‘We should look for a bigger place,’ Caroline announced.

‘A bigger place?’ Alina echoed.  ‘What’s wrong with this one?  It has two bed rooms, two bathrooms.’

‘What about your privacy?  You share your room with Emily.’  Caroline’s wheelchair took up a lot of place in her room, and she required easy access in and out of her room,

‘Why do I need privacy?’ Alina coloured.

‘You don’t really need us to draw you a picture now do you?’ Patty teased.

Alina laughed, ‘Why the sudden need for my privacy?’  Alina directed an accusing look at her big sister.

‘When are you going to start dating Alina?’ Caroline urged.  ‘Now that you have the restaurant and Rocco is a reliable manager, you should think about yourself.’

‘I agree,’ Patty seconded.  Alina glared at her friend.

‘Look,’ Alina drank from the coffee that Patty had made for her, ‘the restaurant still needs to pay for itself.  When I’m ready---I will date.’ 
I shall find somebody to make me forget him.

‘Morning Aunt Alina,’ Emily faltered in, rubbing her eyes.  ‘Morning everybody.’

‘What’s wrong?’ Alina asked her niece.

‘I’m still tired.’

‘What time did you go to bed last night?’

‘Normal time,’ she gave her aunt an endearing look.

‘I’m hoping you’re not angling to stay home, kiddo,’ Alina warned.  ‘You will only be excused, if you’re dead.’

Emily laughed.  ‘Don’t be silly Aunt Alina.  If I’m dead, I won’t be able to go to school.’

‘Do you have a test today?’ Alina’s eyes narrowed.

‘No, but we have P.E. and I don’t like running.’

‘Here I’ve made you an omlettee,’ Alina passed a plate to Emily.  ‘Eat up.  I’ll tell your teacher to let you play tennis.’

‘Thank you,’ Emily’s face brightened.

Patty joined Caroline and Alina for breakfast, then Alina headed to the restaurant, after dropping Emily off at school.

      Rocco was back from the vegetable market.  Together with the other kitchen staff, operation clean vegetables was on the go.  Alina picked up a juicy looking baby carrot and bit into it as she scrutinized all the vegetables Rocco had purchased.

‘Good going Rocco,’ Alina nodded approvingly.

‘Grazie,’ he bowed in acknowledgement.

Alina was exhausted after the end of another long day.  Business was good.  Infact Alina had no complaints whatsoever since the day The Emily’s doors opened three months ago.  Every week bookings increased fantastically, so much so, that she hired a second manager to relieve her and Rocco as they had been working fourteen to sixteen hour shifts.  Alina even had the luxury of a day of once a week, so did Rocco and the second manager.

     'That looks good,’ Alina eyed the juicy steak Rocco had prepared for himself as he enjoyed a late dinner in the kitchen.  Alina took the liberty of relaxing on the table with her back against the wall as she sipped on a glass of chilled white wine.

‘Try some,’ Rocco offered a forkful to Alina.

‘No, I’m too exhausted to eat right now.  All I need is my bed.’

‘Come on, just one bite,’ Rocco urged, standing up and bringing the fork closer.

‘No thank you,’ Alina laughed, as she and Rocco wrestled with the fork.  The succulent piece of steak fell of the fork, Alina jumped and Rocco dived for it before it could stain her trousers.  Alina’s hand gripped Rocco’s shoulder to steady herself.  She found her face was less than an inch away from Rocco.  His eyes darkened, the smile froze on his lips, his head moved closer towards her.  Alina knew she should move away, but she was paralyzed. His eyes closed, his lips touched hers.  Alina’s eyes widened in shock, her one hand still loosely on his shoulder, the other was still on the table.

‘Tesoro---I have wanted this for so long,’ Rocco’s arms closed around her body.  Taking her silence to mean approval, he deepened the kiss.  Alina waited for the fireworks, she felt nothing.  She waited for the fire to start raging inside her, for the volcanic eruption...nothing.

‘Rocco---,’ she jumped off the table.  ‘I’m ---sorry,’ she looked away feeling embarrassed.

Did she lead him on unintentionally?  Why did Rocco assume she wanted him to kiss her?  She did not think of him that way.  He was just a friend, a very close friend and a ---colleague.  As far as attraction goes, Rocco was not even a blip on the radar screen.

‘You feel nothing?’ Rocco demanded.

Alina shook her head.

Rocco turned his back to her. She saw his shoulders heave.  He picked up his plate, strode purposefully towards the rubbish bin and emptied his plate of food into it.  Alina closed her eyes and sighed.  Was this going to affect their working relationship?

‘Rocco,’ she murmured, walking to where he was.  He did not turn around.  He stood there with his back to her.

‘I’m sorry if I led you to think---there was something between us.’

‘You didn’t,’ he lowered his head, his back still to her.  ‘But I---feel something for you.  I thought if we kissed---,’ he left his sentence unfinished.

‘Oh Rocco, I’m sorry,’ she spoke softly.

Perhaps if I hadn't met the other obnoxious Italian.

     The following morning when Alina entered the restaurant, the tension between her and Rocco was palpable.  She offered a bright, cheery greeting to everybody in general.  All she got from Rocco was a mumbled response dragged out of his lips.  She looked at him hoping he would meet her eyes, let her know thinks were okay between them, but he was not interested.  Her telephone rang. 

Bloody Italians!

Alina turned around and walked to her office to answer the call.

‘The Emily, good morning,’ she answered politely.

‘What do you mean you are giving us two months notice to vacate the premises?’ Alina stood up. 

This can’t be happening.  No! No! No!

Alina dropped the phone, in a daze she stumbled to the door, ‘Rocco!’ She called out and the next instant everything was a blur as Alina blacked out and fell to the floor.

         -end chapter six-