Ringing in Love by Peggy Bird Read Free Book Online

touched a view screen and the sound of a man singing filled the vehicle. It was
Norma
, and maybe Pavarotti, Catherine thought.
    “If you don’t like opera,” Dominic said, “we can listen to something else.”
    “I grew up in an Italian home. Of course I like opera.”
    “Who’s your favorite composer?”
    A discussion of the virtues of the two great Italian composers, Verdi and Puccini, ensued, with Dominic defending Puccini and Catherine taking Verdi’s side.
    Caught up in the conversation and the music, she hadn’t paid attention to where they were going until she glanced out the window and was startled by what she saw. “We’re on the Walt Whitman Bridge. Where are you taking me?”
    “To a small seafood restaurant I like. A business acquaintance of mine owns it. I thought it would be nice to have lunch there. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
    “And this restaurant is located where, exactly?”
    “Brigantine.”
    “As in the Jersey Shore?”
    “I’m not aware there’s a Brigantine any place else.”
    She wasn’t sure whether she was outraged or amused by his presumption. “I can’t go down the shore for lunch. I have work to do. My staff will wonder where I am.”
    “Melody said you’ve been working twelve-hour days for a couple weeks, which meant they had to work twelve-hour days. You need a break and so does your staff. She knows you won’t be back until late this afternoon.”
    “How do you know what Melody says—or knows?”
    “I talked to her yesterday and again today before I left my office.”
    Now Catherine was sure what she was, and it was outraged. “I’ll kill her.”
    “No, you won’t. You’ll thank her for being an understanding friend and loyal employee.”
    “What did you promise her, Russo?”
    “I said we’d bring her back a box of saltwater taffy.”
    “I had no idea she could be bought off so easily. I’m going to have to rethink how much I tell her about my business operations.” She tapped the driver on the shoulder. “Jack, I need to get back to my office. Would you mind turning around and dropping me off? Then you can take Dominic wherever the hell he wants to go. Or you can rearrange the words in that sentence and take him there.”
    Jack’s shaking shoulders indicated he was stifling a laugh. Dominic didn’t bother to hide his amusement. “Do you really think you can convince my driver to do what you want when I’ve asked him to take us to Brigantine? You’re a beautiful woman, which probably means most men do what you ask, but I don’t think it’ll trump the salary I pay him.” He looked up and seemed to catch his driver’s eye in the rearview mirror. “Right, Jack?”
    “Whatever you say, Dominic. At least this time.”
    “I’ll have you charged as an accessory to kidnapping when I report your boss to the police, Jack,” Catherine said.
    Jack laughed. “If Dominic hasn’t gotten me in trouble, Ms. Bennett, I don’t think you can.”
    Dominic was clearly enjoying her reaction as well as his driver’s responses. “Catherine, relax. Your staff has known about this since yesterday. They know where I’m taking you and how long we’ll be gone. No one’s kidnapping you. If you have to have a motive behind it other than my wanting to have lunch with you, think of it as a way to help a restaurant trying to claw its way back to life after Hurricane Sandy.”
    “Guilt? Now you’re using guilt?”
    “I assume you were raised Catholic. Guilt usually works on those of us who were.” He was grinning at her still.
    She shook her head. “You’re like a freight train. You don’t stop when you have a goal in mind, do you?”
    “I told you. When I go after something I want, I get it.”
    “Then explain to me why you want to have lunch with me so badly.”
    “Excellent. Let’s talk about you. But first …”
    From a small ice chest by his feet, Dominic extracted a bottle of sparkling wine. Two glasses followed. He popped the cork with a deft