Since getting dumped seven months ago, head chef Vinnie DiFrancesco has been in a frustrating holding pattern. He returns relaxed from a retreat, but his life is sent into a tailspin when he offers Hope, the event coordinator at his family’s trattoria, temporary housing.
With the trattoria’s traditional Italian Christmas Eve charity dinner slated to be featured on a local TV segment and things heating up in his apartment, the two must set aside their different visions to make the event a success. When a computer glitch threatens their plans, Hope proposes a risky solution. Vinnie must believe in Hope and his heart in order to secure the future of the restaurant and make it a Christmas to remember.
After finding a watering can, she filled it and watered the plants, pulling off a few dried up and yellowed leaves.
The bathroom door opened, and she jumped, sloshing water out of the can and onto the hardwood floor.
“Thanks. I forgot to ask someone to come and check on them while I was away,” Vinnie said.
“I figured. Sorry for the spill. Let me clean it up.”
She stepped toward the kitchen, but he’d already returned with a handful of paper towels.
“No big deal. I’ve got it.”
When he bent down, she caught the scent of his shower soap, crisp and woodsy. God, he smelled good. He’d shaved, and let the record say, a clean-jawed Vinnie was a beautiful sight and only further highlighted his light brown eyes. And how could she forget the full lips and dimpled cheeks. The black T-shirt he wore hugged his muscled chest and lifted up at the back when he bent down. And in snug black jeans, the rear view was almost as spectacular as the front.
Her girl parts tingled, and she bit back a groan.
He’s your boss. Thinks of you as one of the guys. Get it together.
“Did you reach Frankie?” Vinnie asked.
She shook her head. “Voicemail. Probably spending the holiday with his family. Gave him my number.”
“There anyone else you can call?”
She’d racked her brain while stranded outside Faith’s place and even called a few people, but no luck. That’s when she resorted to B&E.
“Not since my parents moved to Florida. My sister and her family live in Colorado, and Faith’s on a cruise. My brother is deployed in Afghanistan.”
“Friends?”
“They all either have roommates or not enough room for me and Lucky. I’d ask Susie from work, but she just moved in with her boyfriend.”
And the last thing Hope needed was to hear them going at it.
“I could ask your sister, although she’s a newlywed, but her and Jamie’s place is a bit cramped. Then there’s your mom. She’s always been nice to me.”
Vinnie shook his head. “May as well stay here until you get access to Faith’s place.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, are you sure? You just moved in and got back into town. I could probably get a room in a boardinghouse or cheap hotel.”
First thing tomorrow, she’d call the bank and see if it was too late to cancel the check she’d used to pay Steve’s December rent. She’d worked her tail off the past couple years to save every penny she earned. Splitting the rent with Steve had helped her build a small nest egg. Well, it had until he started skipping out on his half, leaving her holding the bag.
It ticked her off that now she’d need to tap into her savings—savings she had plans for—to put a deposit and a couple months’ rent down on her own place. Most of her money went toward paying for culinary school—her fourth career after getting a bachelor’s degree in computer science and hating corporate life. Then there were several other career tries, including six months working in a pet store, where she’d found and fallen in love with Lucky, and the year she’d spent bartending, which is how she’d met good ol’ Steve.
Okay, so maybe her family thought she was a bit flighty and couldn’t stick to a career, but what was wrong with exploring her options? Too many people spent their life stuck in a job they hated…just like her father. He’d missed many of Hope’s school activities due to his demanding IT job. Hope considered herself smart to have gotten out of the same field before she made the same mistake.
“Doesn’t make sense to cart all your stuff to another place and back when you get the key to Faith’s,” Vinnie said.
“Are you sure?”
“It’s fine. I spend most of my time at the trattoria, anyhow.”
“Oh, Vin, thanks.” Before she realized it, she’d launched herself into his arms. “You are a lifesaver.”
He held her tight, and she allowed herself to enjoy the feel of his hard, firm body for a few seconds before pulling back. “I promise to be quiet. You won’t even know I’m here.”
Vinnie shifted his gaze over to her stuff covering his foyer and down at the cat who rubbed against his black jeans, leaving behind a patch of white hair. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”
The bathroom door opened, and she jumped, sloshing water out of the can and onto the hardwood floor.
“Thanks. I forgot to ask someone to come and check on them while I was away,” Vinnie said.
“I figured. Sorry for the spill. Let me clean it up.”
She stepped toward the kitchen, but he’d already returned with a handful of paper towels.
“No big deal. I’ve got it.”
When he bent down, she caught the scent of his shower soap, crisp and woodsy. God, he smelled good. He’d shaved, and let the record say, a clean-jawed Vinnie was a beautiful sight and only further highlighted his light brown eyes. And how could she forget the full lips and dimpled cheeks. The black T-shirt he wore hugged his muscled chest and lifted up at the back when he bent down. And in snug black jeans, the rear view was almost as spectacular as the front.
Her girl parts tingled, and she bit back a groan.
He’s your boss. Thinks of you as one of the guys. Get it together.
“Did you reach Frankie?” Vinnie asked.
She shook her head. “Voicemail. Probably spending the holiday with his family. Gave him my number.”
“There anyone else you can call?”
She’d racked her brain while stranded outside Faith’s place and even called a few people, but no luck. That’s when she resorted to B&E.
“Not since my parents moved to Florida. My sister and her family live in Colorado, and Faith’s on a cruise. My brother is deployed in Afghanistan.”
“Friends?”
“They all either have roommates or not enough room for me and Lucky. I’d ask Susie from work, but she just moved in with her boyfriend.”
And the last thing Hope needed was to hear them going at it.
“I could ask your sister, although she’s a newlywed, but her and Jamie’s place is a bit cramped. Then there’s your mom. She’s always been nice to me.”
Vinnie shook his head. “May as well stay here until you get access to Faith’s place.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, are you sure? You just moved in and got back into town. I could probably get a room in a boardinghouse or cheap hotel.”
First thing tomorrow, she’d call the bank and see if it was too late to cancel the check she’d used to pay Steve’s December rent. She’d worked her tail off the past couple years to save every penny she earned. Splitting the rent with Steve had helped her build a small nest egg. Well, it had until he started skipping out on his half, leaving her holding the bag.
It ticked her off that now she’d need to tap into her savings—savings she had plans for—to put a deposit and a couple months’ rent down on her own place. Most of her money went toward paying for culinary school—her fourth career after getting a bachelor’s degree in computer science and hating corporate life. Then there were several other career tries, including six months working in a pet store, where she’d found and fallen in love with Lucky, and the year she’d spent bartending, which is how she’d met good ol’ Steve.
Okay, so maybe her family thought she was a bit flighty and couldn’t stick to a career, but what was wrong with exploring her options? Too many people spent their life stuck in a job they hated…just like her father. He’d missed many of Hope’s school activities due to his demanding IT job. Hope considered herself smart to have gotten out of the same field before she made the same mistake.
“Doesn’t make sense to cart all your stuff to another place and back when you get the key to Faith’s,” Vinnie said.
“Are you sure?”
“It’s fine. I spend most of my time at the trattoria, anyhow.”
“Oh, Vin, thanks.” Before she realized it, she’d launched herself into his arms. “You are a lifesaver.”
He held her tight, and she allowed herself to enjoy the feel of his hard, firm body for a few seconds before pulling back. “I promise to be quiet. You won’t even know I’m here.”
Vinnie shifted his gaze over to her stuff covering his foyer and down at the cat who rubbed against his black jeans, leaving behind a patch of white hair. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”
Name three things on your desk right now.
Coffee cup, inspirational quote mini calendar, to do list(s)-one for writing and one for family
What do you like to do when you aren't writing?
Reading, baking, crafts, Jazzercise, relaxing at the shore (beach), watching a movie with my family
Favorite quote
“Bloom where you’re planted.” ~ Vernice Armour
What 5 things should readers know about you?
I’m goal-oriented, a perfectionist, think cake is an acceptable breakfast food, played the piano from 3rd to 12th grade, met my husband while waitressing at a country club.
Can you tell us a little about your book?
Believe in My Heart is a holiday novella about taking chances and believing in yourself and others. Vinnie DiFrancesco is a quiet guy who wants to be successful at his job and have his own family. He’s not a risk-taker and doesn’t like change; things he’ll need to get over to accomplish his goals. He’s finally moving past getting dumped by his long-time girlfriend. Fresh back from a retreat, he’s ready to move on with his life as head chef at his family’s trattoria. Finding the pantry chef from work trying to break into the apartment across from his and then offering her temporary housing is the last thing he needs. But through Hope Mastriano’s eyes, Vinnie begins to see he’s capable of more than he ever thought possible. And maybe taking a couple risks here and there isn’t a bad thing. Hope will test the boundaries of Vinnies comfort zone and push him to put both his business and heart on the line in order to make it a season of new beginnings to last a lifetime.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Throughout the series, Vinnie has always been a mystery to me. It took me a while to figure out his story and when I did, it was a joy to help him work through the pain of a break-up. Pairing him up with Hope, a petite spitfire who is willing to tell him like it is and challenge him at every turn is just what he needs. Evolving the character growth and how they need each other to accomplish both personal and professional goals was a pleasure to write.
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Growing up, my family owned a catering business. I used to work there with my dad, uncle, cousins and other family from the time I was a teenager through college. Some of my happiest memories are from that period of my life. A traditional Italian Christmas Eve fish dinner is something my family celebrates every year. Combining the two into a story was lots of fun and allowed me to embrace two parts of my life into one wonderful gift to my readers.
Coffee cup, inspirational quote mini calendar, to do list(s)-one for writing and one for family
What do you like to do when you aren't writing?
Reading, baking, crafts, Jazzercise, relaxing at the shore (beach), watching a movie with my family
Favorite quote
“Bloom where you’re planted.” ~ Vernice Armour
What 5 things should readers know about you?
I’m goal-oriented, a perfectionist, think cake is an acceptable breakfast food, played the piano from 3rd to 12th grade, met my husband while waitressing at a country club.
Can you tell us a little about your book?
Believe in My Heart is a holiday novella about taking chances and believing in yourself and others. Vinnie DiFrancesco is a quiet guy who wants to be successful at his job and have his own family. He’s not a risk-taker and doesn’t like change; things he’ll need to get over to accomplish his goals. He’s finally moving past getting dumped by his long-time girlfriend. Fresh back from a retreat, he’s ready to move on with his life as head chef at his family’s trattoria. Finding the pantry chef from work trying to break into the apartment across from his and then offering her temporary housing is the last thing he needs. But through Hope Mastriano’s eyes, Vinnie begins to see he’s capable of more than he ever thought possible. And maybe taking a couple risks here and there isn’t a bad thing. Hope will test the boundaries of Vinnies comfort zone and push him to put both his business and heart on the line in order to make it a season of new beginnings to last a lifetime.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Throughout the series, Vinnie has always been a mystery to me. It took me a while to figure out his story and when I did, it was a joy to help him work through the pain of a break-up. Pairing him up with Hope, a petite spitfire who is willing to tell him like it is and challenge him at every turn is just what he needs. Evolving the character growth and how they need each other to accomplish both personal and professional goals was a pleasure to write.
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Growing up, my family owned a catering business. I used to work there with my dad, uncle, cousins and other family from the time I was a teenager through college. Some of my happiest memories are from that period of my life. A traditional Italian Christmas Eve fish dinner is something my family celebrates every year. Combining the two into a story was lots of fun and allowed me to embrace two parts of my life into one wonderful gift to my readers.
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Maria is an award-winning author of contemporary romance. When not writing, Maria loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and her kids’ busy schedules.
You can keep in touch with Maria at http://mariakalexander.com.
Win an eCopy of Untangle My Heart (book 1 of the series)!
Looks interesting.
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