The Grand Finale by Janet Evanovich

Author:Janet Evanovich
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: American Light Romantic Fiction, Romance, Humorous Stories, Romance: Modern, Humorous, Contemporary, General, Fiction - General, Seattle (Wash.), Pizza industry, Man-woman relationships, Romance - General, Romance - Contemporary, Fiction, Love stories, Fiction - Romance
ISBN: 9780060598754
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-02-10T22:37:15.200000+00:00

"Used to be a cook in the navy. And then when my hitch was done I was a butcher. Ran my own shop for forty years, until I retired seven years ago." He shook his head. "Should never have retired. Life is damn boring. The wife and I were going to travel, but she died before we did much of anything."

"I'm sorry," Mildred whispered.

He made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "It's okay. We had a good life together."

Berry glared at Jake. "You've done it again."

"He was supposed to be for Mrs. Dugan."

"You were going to fix Mrs. Dugan up with a man who has a tattoo on his arm?"

Jake grinned. "It's an anchor."

Mildred slid the pizza into an oven and waved to Berry. "This is William Kozinski. I was showing him how to make pizza."

William Kozinski extended his hand. "Bill. I'm Jake's friend."

Berry looked at him through slitted eyes. "Of course you are."

"Everyone wants pizza delivered tonight," Mildred said. "No one wants to go out in the rain."

Jake balanced the boxes in his arms. "Come on, Berry. You drive. I'll deliver."

Berry looked around. "Where's Mrs. Fitz?"

"She just left." Mildred beamed. "She had a date!"

Bill held up his large butcher's hand. "Don't worry about a thing. Mildred and I can handle things here. You young folks go off and do your deliveries."

Berry turned to Jake. "I'm not leaving this geriatric Lothario alone with my cash register," she whispered angrily.

"He's my sister's father-in-law."

"Oh."

Berry slid behind the wheel and turned the key. Rain buffeted the car and dark clouds roiled overhead. "Where's the first delivery?"

"

Sudley Road

."

Berry faced him. "

Sudly Road

? That's pretty far away. Don't we have anything closer?"

"Nope."

Another one of those nights, she sighed. It was hard to make money when she was driving all over the county. In fact, the profit on these nighttime deliveries was marginal once she surpassed a three-mile radius. Heat from the pizzas drifted forward, warming Berry's neck, and the cozy aroma of fresh-baked dough filled the car.

Jake relaxed in the seat next to her, content with his role of riding shotgun. Berry watched him from the corner of her eye and thought that sometimes life was very comfortable with Jake. There wasn't the need to fill every moment with chatter. In fact, if she had to analyze her feelings for him, she would have to admit to feeling— married. It was especially disconcerting since she had been legally married to Allen for four years and never once felt this companionable affection. Life was strange, and there was no accounting for emotions. Emotions went their own way willy-nilly, without consulting The Plan.

Jake sat up straighter as they turned onto Sudley and checked the house numbers. "The white ranch on the left." He grabbed the pizza box and splashed his way to the front door. By the time he got back he was soaked.

Berry grimaced at the sight of his ruined loafers. She should never have let him do the deliveries. He wouldn't accept any pay. Not even tips.

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