She took a plate and went around loading it up, ignoring the cooks’ protests that those were guest orders. For herself, Nonna would have placed an order and waited. But her grandson shouldn’t.There was no point arguing. Mason was the only son of her only son, which made him a proper little prince, even long after he’d grown up.
Once he had his plate—kosher-compliant carbonara, crusty fresh bread, and salad—and she had a bowl of soup, she waved him to her office. As they were about to step in, the manager appeared, saying, “Mr. Moretti—”
“No,” Nonna lifted a wizened finger.
“I just want—”
“If you have a question, you will ask me after my grandson leaves. You will not bother him. He must eat and have quiet. There is a game tomorrow.”
Again, Mason didn’t interfere. He’d speak to the manager later and find out what she wanted.
Inside the tiny office, Nonna pointed at the little table and chair. “Sit.”
He did, and he dove into the food while she sat across from him and watched.
“There is a girl,” she said.
He arched his brows.
“Everyone is talking,” she said. “You have a girl.”
“I’m thirty-six, Nonna. If I have a girl, someone should be calling the cops. Yes, I spent the day with awoman.”
“This one they are talking about? A writer?”
He nodded as he tore off a piece of bread. “We went to high school together.”
“Wait. Is this…? What was her name? Jenna?”
“Gemma. Yeah, that’s her.”
His grandmother’s stern face lit up. “No wonder you are so happy. I remember little Gemma with the curls and the saucy tongue. The girl who used to help you with your reading. You once brought home a story she wrote and read it to me. The whole thing.”
His cheeks flamed. “I don’t remember that.”
“I do. You had such a crush. And now you have found her again.” She leaned forward. “Keep her. That is an order.”
He smiled and shook his head.
“I mean it,” she said. “Why did you not bring her for dinner?”
“Because I don’t think she’s ready to have my grandmother taking her measurements for a wedding dress.”
“Ha! I would only have tried to get her finger size so you can buy the ring. First things first.”
“She had to work. She’s on a deadline for her next book.”
Nonna’s grunt said this was a satisfactory answer. “Good priorities. I hope you ordered dinner for her so she does not need to cook.”
“I did.”
She patted his hand. “That’s my boy. So you went out with her today?”
He fished out his phone and thumbed through the pictures. As he did, Nonna’s hand tightened on his.
“You look so happy,” she said. “I told your mother you only needed time and then you would meet someone.”
Mason’s chest clenched at the thought of his mother. She’d never pushed him to find a girlfriend. Never hinted about a daughter-in-law or grandchildren. But that was how she’d been. She didn’t expect life to give her a damn thing she wanted, and so she never admitted to wanting anything.
