MURDER ON A DESIGNER DIET Read Online Free PDF Page B

this place. Nine times out of ten when they come into the city, they stop at Luna for dinner.”
    â€œHow are your parents doing?” Penelope asked.
    â€œGood. Still in the same house in Jersey,” Joey said. He took a quick sip of wine. “Actually, I was wondering…” He trailed off, his cheeks reddening under his dark stubble.
    â€œWhat?” Penelope said, placing a hand over his.
    â€œMaybe you don’t want to, but I was wondering if you’d like to come over one weekend so they could say hello.” He picked up the bottle of wine and busied himself with refilling their tumblers.
    â€œYes, of course. I’d love to see them again.”
    Joey relaxed a bit. “They remember you from back when we were kids, and I mentioned we were friends again. They said you should come by for dinner one night.”
    Penelope’s heart sank but she managed a smile. “That would be nice. Your parents were always so nice to all the kids on the block.”
    â€œMa loves kids. She’s still sad that we all grew up and moved away.”
    Penelope took a sip of wine and thought about what to say next. She mulled over Joey’s comment about them being “friends,” when she considered them much more than that. Before she could think of anything to say, their waiter reappeared and placed their dinners down in front of them.
    Joey rubbed his palms together. “You have to try some of this stew. It has to cool down a minute though.”
    Penelope took a bite of her fish, which tasted amazing and was perfectly cooked. “How do you want to get back to Jersey? Do you want to take a train or try and make the last ferry to Hoboken?”
    Joey picked up his spoon and stirred his stew a bit, releasing steam into the air. “I have another surprise for you, Penny Blue.”
    Penelope’s fork paused on its way to her mouth. “What’s that?”
    Joey’s cheeks reddened once again, either from embarrassment or from the Chianti. “I booked us a room at Tribeca Loft. I thought we could spend some time in the city, maybe take a walk in the park or hit a museum tomorrow. That’s why I didn’t ride in with you guys. I packed some of our things and dropped them off before I got to the club.”
    Penelope took the bite of her fish and swallowed. “The Tribeca Loft? That’s pretty fancy. Do you take all of your friends there?”
    Joey looked at her, his expression morphing from hopeful expectation to confusion and finally understanding. He chuckled and said in a low voice, “Penny, you know how I feel about you. I told my ma we’re friends because you can’t imagine the interrogation I’d have to go through if I told her we were dating. I’m not ready for that horror show.”
    Penelope took another bite and leveled her gaze, chewing slowly, not responding.
    Joey looked around them nervously, hoping none of their fellow diners were picking up on their conversation. “Penny, come on. Italian mothers and their sons? You don’t even wanna know.” He shifted in his chair and picked up the carafe of wine again, his shoulders sagging when he saw it was almost empty.
    As if on cue the waiter approached with a replacement carafe, swiftly setting it down and swapping out the empty one without saying a word.
    Penelope continued to stare at Joey, betraying no emotion on her face.
    â€œI know it must sound like I don’t want to tell them about you. Which is true, but not for the reason you’re probably thinking. My kid brother brought a girl home who wasn’t from the neighborhood and they acted as if the world was ending. I don’t want them to make you feel bad, because I really care about you, Penny Blue.” A pleading note had entered his voice.
    Penelope relented a bit and put down her fork, folding her hands in her lap. She chewed the inside of her cheek for a few seconds before saying, “I am