Just a Taste Read Online Free PDF Page A

Mikey. Before I toss you out.”
    “Later,” Michael called as he left the kitchen, leaving Anthony shaking his head in amusement. Jesus, his brother was one pushy SOB. He returned to the stove to take another taste of the gravy. Perfect. Leaning against one of the kitchen’s long, stainless steel tables, he pulled the pen from his apron to jot down his ideas for tomorrow’s specials. Looking for scrap paper, he reached into his pocket and took out the sheet with Vivi’s address and cell number. He was about to make notes on the blank side, but changed his mind, reaching instead for the small notepad lying on a nearby counter. He folded up the paper and put it back in his pocket. His father always said you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer. That’s exactly what Anthony intended to do.

Chapter 3
    A nthony preferred thinking he was on a reconnaissance mission rather than a social call. A week and a half had passed since Vivi and her sister had come barging into Dante’s. Since then, he’d planned to follow his brother’s advice and be “neighborly,” but every time he casually strolled by to see what was up, Natalie was there, dressed to the teeth like she was still in gay Paree. Anthony decided to wait until he could catch Vivi alone. Today was his lucky day; crossing the street from Dante’s to the old candy store, he could see Coco Chanel was nowhere in sight.
    Anthony gently rapped on the window, startling Vivi where she sat in a folding chair frowning over some papers. She seemed surprised to see him, even hesitating a moment before getting up to let him in.
    “Bonjour,” she said politely as she ushered him inside. “How nice of you to come and say hello.”
    Anthony smiled sadly. He couldn’t believe the candy store was gone. It had been a fixture of his childhood. How many Saturday afternoons had Nonna Maria given him, Mikey, and their cousin Gemma money to go buy sweets? Lazzaroni dark chocolate, torrone …thinking about it still made his mouth water. It didn’t help that there was still the faintest hint of chocolate in the air.
    “I used to come here to buy candy when I was small,” he told Vivi.
    Vivi nodded sympathetically. “It’s sad when a neighborhood business closes its doors.” She unfolded a chair for him opposite hers. “We were told the old man died and the son didn’t want the store?”
    “Something like that,” said Anthony, sitting down. He’d love to know how much Vivi and her sister paid for the space. His gaze traveled the room, though now it wasn’t with nostalgia, but with a competitor’s shrewd eye. Even with the shelves, counters, and bins removed, the space still wasn’t big enough to fit more than seven or eight small tables, if that. Did Vivi realize that?
    “Coffee?” Vivi offered, picking up the thermos at her feet. Her voice echoed slightly off the empty walls. Anthony nodded, looking up. The ceilings were high. She was definitely going to need fans if she wanted to keep the place at a decent temperature in both the summer and winter.
    “Coffee sounds great. Where’s your sister?” he asked casually.
    “Running some errands in Manhattan. She’ll be here this afternoon.”
    Anthony accepted the coffee-filled thermos lid from Vivi and took a sip. Madonn’. This was not coffee. This was brown water. Should he tell her? That would be rude. But she needed to know, didn’t she? He decided to wait and see how their chat went.
    “So, your ‘gravy,’” Vivi began with a mischievous look. “Was I right? Was it done?”
    “Not quite.”
    “But I was close,” she insisted.
    “I’ll give you that,” Anthony conceded reluctantly. He pointed to the papers in her hand. “Secret recipes?”
    “Estimates from contractors.” She frowned. “Dollar sign after dollar sign.” She hesitated. “Is there someone you would recommend?”
    Anthony could see it was hard for her to ask. She seemed proud, someone who would do everything herself