Chapter 3

Rachel and Smerelda left the house and arrived at Bianchi's about ten minutes before she had arranged to meet Sergio. After deciding on a booth, she slid in and Smerelda sat down across from her. When a petite woman with long dark hair came over to the booth, she offered them both a menu.

"Good morning. Welcome to Bianchi's. Would you like anything to drink?" the woman asked in a slightly accented voice.

"Good morning, Amina. I would absolutely love a mug of your delicious hot chocolate." Rachel said warmly.

Amina nodded with a smile and then turned to Smerelda.

"And for you Mdme.?"

"Oh, pish posh, no need to stand on formality, Miss Amina. I'll have a cup of tea if you have it." Smerelda told her.

"Of course." Amina said just before she was lifted off her feet by a pair of masculine arms from behind.

"Morning Squirt." Sergio said as he squeezed her.

"Sergio Rambaudi, put me down!" Amina said trying to look back at him.

"Now, why would I want to do that, Squirt?" he asked with obvious affection. Next to him, Rambo barked at Rachel in greeting.

"Good morning, partner. Did you enjoy your stay with Sergio?" she asked him affectionately as she rubbed his head in greeting.

"I would say so. But I have a bone to pick with you, Ms. Wordsworth."

"And what's that?" she asked as she looked up from the dog.

"You take Rambo for early morning walks everyday?" he asked her.

""Well, yes. We take a walk every morning on the beach before work. It clears my head." Rachel said defensively.

"It would have been nice if you had told me about that. I almost killed your "partner" yesterday morning when he shoved his cold nose against my leg and demanded that I take him outside at 4:00AM." he told her before leaning in close enough for only her to hear. "Next time Rambo stays at my place, you are taking him out."

"What?" she asked.

"You heard me. Your sexy little ass will be staying because I am not going to be the only fool outside at 4:00 in the morning with your crazy dog." he assured her.

"You assume a lot, Mr. Rambaudi." Rachel said coolly, her voice belying the tremor of desire that raced through her at the thoughts of sensual delights his eyes promised.

He lifted his eyebrow in response before sliding in next to Rachel. He looked over at Amina.

"I'll take an espresso and a muffin, Sis." he said as he slide his arm across the back of the booth and effectively trapped Rachel against his side.

"Really?" Amina asked in a drawled out voice.

"Of course."

"He's your brother?" Rachel squeaked as Amina turned back to her to take her order.

"Guilty. He's one of them -- knotheads, one and all!" Amina said as she waited to take Rachel's order.

Rachel turned and looked over at Sergio. The louse had the audacity to smile broadly at her.

"You are a rat!" she hissed.

"Brutta birbona!" Smerelda scolded.

Rachel glanced over at her as her face flushed.

"Now, why don't you tell me more about yourself- may I call you Sergio?" Smeralda asked.

"Of course. I assume that you are Rachel's childhood nanny?" Sergio asked as he accepted his espresso from Amina.

"Yes. I popped in on her yesterday. She was gracious enough to invite me along this morning."

"I see." Sergio said before glancing over at Rachel. "Then this doesn't count as a date does it, mi bella?" he asked her softly.

"Yes, it does!" she protested.

"Let me ask you something Ms. Smeralda?"

"What's that?"

"If you were planning on going on a date with a man and he brought another guy with him, would you still consider it a date? Or would you say that it was just a 'get together'?" he asked pleasantly, his gaze never leaving Rachel.

Rachel flushed with embarrassment.

"Why that would be a 'get together'. A date should be a man and woman. Double dates are acceptable although."

"Shall I call my father, Smeralda?" Rachel asked sweetly - looking behind her nanny and seeing her father storming into the cafe.

"He won't be able to arrive in time to turn this into a date, young lady!" Smeralda said smoothly.

"Woman, what do you think you were pulling, running off on me like that!" Marshall Wordsworth asked as he approached the table where his daughter, Sergio, and Smeralda were sitting.

"Your father, I take it?" he asked silkily as he toyed with a piece of her hair.

"Yeah. And all hell is about to break loose. I suggest you leave while you can." She advised as Smeralda stood slowly -- turned around and planted her hands on her narrow hips. She met Marshall's gaze head on, while Rachel was sure the look on her nanny's face was not a pleasant one.

"Don't you take that tone with me, Marshall Wordsworth. I am a grown woman. You have no claim on me!" Smeralda declared hotly.

"Really - the fact that you've warmed my bed for the last five years has nothing to do with it?" he asked as hauled Smeralda into his arms.

"No longer, Marshall!" Smeralda told him angrily, before jerking out of his arms and returning to the table.

"You think you can turn your back on five years of intimacy?" he angrily thundered.

"Five years of giving you for free what I should have been charging!" Smeralda shouted back.

Rachel held her head in her hands.

"Is this normal?" Sergio whispered in her ear...

"I warned you. You should have left while you had the chance." She lifted her head and slowly slid out of the booth. "Do me a favor and see Smeralda home? She'll give you directions." she whispered as she grabbed her purse. She whistled to Rambo who immediately popped out from under the table where he had been lying. As she turned to leave, her father stopped her.

She knew her father well. Just the sight of her partner was enough to distract him.

"I can't believe that you brought that flea bitten animal into a respectable restaurant"

"Dad, he is trained police dog and the last time I checked he was free of fleas. I wouldn't let him sleep with me if he wasn't"

"You let that thing sleep with you!" her dad exclaimed. She went to walk around him and he grabbed her arm. She jerked it out of his hand.

"Don't manhandle me, Dad. I don't want Rambo to attack you."

"You'd sic your dog on your old man; after everything that I've done for you. I wish your mother was here." he huffed.

"Well, she's not, Dad. So I guess you are just stuck with me the way I am." Rachel said as she watched Sergio usher Smeralda out of the cafe. She sighed with relief. When she got home, it was time for her and Smeralda to have a talk; even though it was obvious that Smeralda didn't want to explain what was going on. She was going to get to the bottom of it, "come hell or high water," as her nanny would have said.

Sergio and Smeralda pulled up in front of the beach house. He looked around after he turned the engine off.

"You know, I didn't realize Rachel lived so close to my brother." Sergio commented.

"Really. Where does he live?" Smeralda asked.

"About a mile and half down the beach but on the same street." Sergio explained.

"So tell me about yourself, Sergio. My Rachel can be a bit closed mouthed at times."

"My brother and I own a clothing design business. He is the real talent behind all of our clothing designs. I am the bean counter. I take care of all the pesky details that he doesn't want to deal with."

"There's nothing wrong with that. We need both types to make this world go around." she said with a laugh.

"Can I walk you to your door, Ms Smerelda?" he asked as he turned his truck off.

"Of course. Why don't you come in for a cup of espresso? I know you didn't get yours at the cafe and I'd be more than happy to make you a cup." Smeralda offered.

"You know I would love a cup." Sergio replied. It would give him a chance to find out more about the woman that had captured his attention from the moment she had pulled him over.