a table, as I try to figure out ways to make their lives more miserable than mine.â
Francesco cocked his head and nodded toward the man with the order pad. âIs he your father?â
âWhat makes you say that?â
âYou have the same smile.â
She stared at Francesco. âI get it. Youâre the charming one in this crew.â
Dimos laughed.
âWhatâs so funny?â she said. âHeâs here trying to hustle me while youâre waiting for the owner to get you a table and Iâve got to endure it. Canât you two keep him busy or something? The guyâs a piece of work. Telling me I have the same smile as him ,â pointing at the owner. âLord, have you no mercy?â
Petro burst out laughing.
âAnd whatâs with you, giant man? Is the air so thin up there you canât understand what Iâm telling you? Read my lips. âKeep the great romancer busy and away from me.ââ She pointed at Francesco. âPuh-lease.â
Now all three cops were laughing.
She waved to the owner, âSmiley, would you get over here and seat these three? Theyâre killing me.â
âWhy do I feel weâre part of a show?â said Francesco.
The owner waved for the men to come to him. âLet me spare you any more of Sappho.â
âDonât laugh,â she said. âThatâs my real name. Now you know why Iâm like I am. With a name like Sappho youâve got to have a sense of humor.â
Petro stood staring at Sappho, a grin from ear to ear.
âWhatâs with you? Chowâs ready, move on.â
Petro didnât move.
She pointed him toward the owner. âGo.â
Petro didnât move.
With a dramatic sigh, Sappho stood and came around the desk. She was almost as tall as Petro.
âSurprised you didnât I?â She spun him around and led him by the arm over to the table where Francesco and Dimos sat.
âHey, guys, you forgot one.â As she pushed him toward an open chair, she stood on her toes and whispered in his ear, âI think youâre cute,â pinched his butt, and sashayed back to her desk.
Petro stood there, watching her walk.
Without turning around Sappho yelled back over her shoulder. âSo, tell me folks, is he watching my butt?â
A roar of â YES â came up from the crowd. She spun around, sat on her stool, and smiled at Petro.
Francesco grabbed Petro by his coat and pulled him down onto the chair. âItâs embarrassing watching you fall smitten in front of an entire restaurant full of strangers.â
Petro looked at Francesco. âIâm just interested.â
âInterested is in a menu. Smitten is in a woman.â
âSo, letâs look at a menu already,â said Dimos.
âDo you think sheâs married?â asked Petro.
Dimos and Francesco looked at each other.
âDonât look at me,â said Dimos. âYouâre the one with the bright idea of us all going out for dinner. Heâs your problem.â
âAre you ready to order?â said the owner.
âWhy donât you just start bringing out the food and weâll tell you when to stop,â said Dimos.
âAnd same thing with the wine,â said Francesco, âespecially the wine,â pointing to Petro.
The owner picked up the menus. âNo problem.â He patted Petro on the back as Petro stared at Sappho. âYouâre a good sport. I like you.â He paused. âMy wife likes you, too.â
The blood drained from Petroâs face and he turned to face the man.
âIâm sorry, sir, I didnât know she was your wife.â
He patted Petro on the shoulder again. âNot Sappho, the one over there watching you from the kitchen.â He pointed to a plump, dark-haired woman standing in the doorway behind Sappho.
The woman smiled and Sappho laughed.
But not as much as Francesco and Dimos.
***
The
James Kakalios
Tara Fox Hall
K. Sterling
Jonathan Maberry
Mary Balogh
Elizabeth Moynihan
Jane Hunt
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley
Jacquie Rogers
Shiloh Walker