Chapter 2 - THE MONEY SHE WOULDN'T SPEND
Harper watched Vincent Rossi settle into the corner booth.
No bodyguards. No entourage. Just a man with rain on his shoulders and exhaustion written across his face.
She approached with her order pad.
“Back for another culinary disappointment?”
Vincent glanced up.
“Is the veal still terrible?”
“Worse. Marco's discovered rosemary.”
A faint smile appeared.
“Then I'll trust you.”
“Dangerous habit.”
She poured water.
Vincent studied her.
“Did the money help?”
Harper's hand stopped.
There it was.
The hook.
“What money?”
“The tip.”
“It's in a shoebox.”
His eyebrows rose.
“You keep twenty-five hundred dollars in a shoebox?”
“Under my bed. Very sophisticated banking system.”
“Why haven't you spent it?”
“Because I don't know what you expect in return.”
Vincent leaned back.
“Nothing.”
Harper stared.
“People like you don't give away that much money for nothing.”
“People like me?”
“Men who walk into restaurants and make everyone forget how to breathe.”
He considered that.
“Perhaps I appreciated the service.”
“Then you should have left twenty percent.”
“I've never been particularly good at moderation.”
Harper folded her arms.
“Mr. Rossi, I don't need a benefactor.”
“I didn't offer to become one.”
“Then why?”
He looked toward the rain-streaked window.
For a moment, the mask slipped.
“Because you were the first person in months who spoke to me like I was human.”
Harper had no answer.
Vincent turned back.
“You told me the truth about the veal. You didn't pretend to like me. You didn't pretend to fear me.”
“I was afraid.”
He looked surprised.
“You hid it well.”
“I've had practice being afraid of things I can't afford.”
Something changed in his expression.
Before he could answer, Simon appeared.
“Mr. Rossi!”
Harper groaned.
“Here comes the floor show.”
Simon hurried over, carrying a bottle of expensive wine.
“Compliments of the house.”
Vincent looked at the bottle.
“I didn't order wine.”
“Of course, sir. Just a gesture.”
Harper took the bottle from Simon.
“He ordered water.”
Simon looked horrified.
Vincent's mouth twitched.
“She's correct.”
Simon retreated.
Harper sighed.
“Would you like dinner?”
“Only if you choose.”
“Ribeye?”
“Surprise me.”
She nodded.
“Famous last words.”
As she turned, Vincent spoke again.
“Harper.”
She stopped.
He had remembered her name.
“Yes?”
“Spend the money.”
She looked back.
“Why?”
“Because your life shouldn't become harder simply because you don't trust mine.”
She stared at him.
May you like
Then walked away.
For the first time, she wondered whether Vincent Rossi was more complicated than the stories people told.
