Sweet On You

chapter Twenty-six



Under normal circumstances, if Daniela received a call in the middle of the night, she'd have been irritated beyond belief. It wasn't so irritating, though, when she couldn't fall asleep, which was the case since she'd left Nico and moved back into her own house.

Sighing, she fumbled around the nightstand for her phone. The number on the screen was long and foreign. Frowning, she deliberated a moment before she answered. "Hello?"

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart!" her father's voice boomed across the static-y connection.

"Daddy." She sat up and turned the light on. "Where are you?"

"We decided we needed some warmth, so we flew to Australia for the holidays. Sidney. But tomorrow we're headed to the Great Barrier Reef. What's this we hear about you firing Tony?"

The bastard tattled on her. She clenched the covers in her fist. "He started it. He's being a jerk."

"Hold on. Your mother wants to say hi." There was more static, and then her mother's voice came on. "We miss you, honey. How are you?"

She heard the real, underlying question and she sighed. "I miss Nonna."

"I know, honey. I'm sorry we aren't there, but Tony said he's in San Francisco with you."

"Unfortunately."

Her mother chuckled. "I remember when you and your brother were younger, and he'd do something that'd infuriate you, and you'd retaliate by taking something of his and holding it hostage. Some things don't change."

"I'm not holding anything hostage," she exclaimed, indignant.

"Aren't you?" Before she could answer, her mom said, "Tony means well, but he's a man, so he's going to be clueless sometimes."

Daniela smiled faintly when she heard her father's muffled protest.

"But even if he is clueless and deserves being punished for saying thoughtless things, which is what I imagined happened, Tony has your best interests at heart. Don't shut him out, honey. He's trying to help you."

She crossed her arms tight. "You don't know how thoughtless he's been."

"I doubt he does either," her mom said lightly. "You should tell him. We love you, Dani. Be happy."

Her dad called out his goodbye in the background, and then the line disconnected.

Daniela sat in bed, staring at the wall.

Her mother was right.

Pushing the covers aside, she left her room and headed to Tony's and pounded her fist on the door. "Tony, I need to talk to you," she yelled through the door.

He swung open the door, rubbing his eyes, wearing only pajama bottoms.

Crossing her arms, she leaned in the doorway. "How retro of you."

"Do you know what time it is?" he rasped in his sleep-husky voice.

"It's time to end this, according to Mom." She put her hands on her hips. "I noticed that you told on me, by the way."

"I didn't tell on you. Our parents asked how you were, and I said bitchy." He frowned at her. "Finish harassing me so I can go back to bed."

"You're a jerk."

He rolled his eyes. "So you've told me."

"I'm sick of you being my manager. I don't want a manager if that's how you're going to be." She hugged herself, willing herself to keep it together. "I want my brother back, the guy who was my best friend, who would have sent me a goofy card for my birthday, not have his secretary send me flowers."

He gazed at her, his brow furrowed.

She pointed at him. "Don't be a guy."

"The last time I looked in my pants, that's what I was."

"I mean listen to what I'm saying. I'm telling you I miss you. Since Nonna died, you've abandoned me." Tears filled her eyes and slipped silently down her face.

"Aw, hell, Dani, don't cry." He reached out and pulled her against him, holding her tight. "Yell at me. Throw things at my head. But I can't stand it when you cry."

"I'm sad." She sniffled. "You've been treating me like I'm a client, but I'm not. I'm special, damn it."

"Yes, you are."

She looked up, glaring at him. "Are you laughing at me?"

"A little." He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "I'm sorry, Dani. I didn't mean to make you sad."

"Jerk." But she already felt better—lighter.

"I only want what's best for you, though, and you're making it difficult for me. I've been thinking about your soup kitchen."

Retracting, she looked at him warily. "What?"

"I'll help support your project, but on one condition. That you have someone manage the charity and you continue baking at least part-time." He crossed his arms and gazed at her steadily. "Before you get all bent out of shape, hear me out. You love baking. It's the core of you. You can't give it up, I just don't believe that'd make you happy. Think of what Nonna would say if you told her you were going to stop."

Nonna's voice popped in her head. You must be hungry to speak such nonsense, Dani. Sit. We'll eat penne a la arrabiata and then make tiramisu, okay, bella?

Tony tugged on one of her curls. "She wouldn't let you quit either. But you can have both."

She shook her head, deflating. "It doesn't matter. The building I wanted got taken out from under me."

"We'll find another building."

"There's nothing in the city that's affordable."

"Are you questioning my ability to make this happen?"

A smile flirted with her lips. "God forbid."

"Smart ass." He pushed her toward the door. "Get out of here. I need my beauty sleep."

"Yes, you do." She grinned as a pillow hit her in the back on her way out. She returned to her room and snuggled in her bed, feeling a little better. Maybe she'd make bocconotti for Tony in the morning, since it was his favorite, and he was hers.