Page 27 of Above ’N’ Beyond

Like the open front door, the open drawer was a message. Whoever had broken in wanted Jamie to know. But what was the message, and who was it from?

Taking a steadying breath, he tucked the gun in his waistband.

Tony and Marco were the only absentees at the bar. Could Tony have done this? Possibly, but he would have had someone else do it. As a test. To see if anything in the apartment dimed Jamie out as a snitch or an undercover. They wouldn’t have left the drawer or the front door open, though. That was sloppy.

Jamie’s gut told him Tony hadn’t ordered the break-in. Everyone in Tony’s crew knew he worked at the Bistro. Assuming this was the work of someone else in his crew, they could easily have waited until he’d gone to work for his shift. Why bother dragging him to Patch’s to get him out of the apartment?

The answers to his questions hit him like a kick to the balls. Someone was fucking with him and wanted him to know it.

This had Marco Ianetti’s name written all over it.

Chapter Nine

The dinner rush was on. Not only was every table full, but there wasn’t an empty seat at the bar, either. The place was so noisy, Bella could barely hear “Funiculì, Funiculà” over the clinking silverware and crowd of people talking and laughing.

Jimmy had returned for his shift, wearing a black polo shirt and black slacks. Black was definitely the man’s color. From the moment he’d walked in, not a single set of female eyes hadn’t ogled him. Including her. What she noticed most was the tension on his face, and the way his gaze lifted every time the front door opened.

Since Jimmy had the bar covered, Bella pitched in, helping to serve and wait on tables. She joined Rebecca and Lori at the end of the bar to fill water glasses.

Using a napkin, Rebecca wiped perspiration from her brow. “It’s a madhouse in here.”

Lori dropped lemon wedges into the glasses. “I heard the River Pub’s power went out for some reason, so they had to shut down. I think everyone left and came here.”

“Oh my God.” Bella looked at the line outside the front door and Sierra doing her best to start a waitlist while still juggling orders. They weren’t staffed for this kind of crowd, so she hustled to the door to manage the people trying to get in.

“I don’t know how we’re going to handle this,” Sierra said. “On top of which, I’ve already got several orders for cappuccinos, and Jimmy doesn’t know how to work Big Mama.”

“I’ll have to go back there and—” Hissing and whistling sounds drifted through the crowd, followed by gurgling and sputtering. Bella jerked her head to the bar.

“Big Mama!” she and Sierra said at the same time.

“Oh no. If he hurts her, I’ll make him sorry he ever walked in here.” But she didn’t have time to deal with Jimmy now, not with the thickening crowd waiting to get in.

Bella headed back into the fray to help the waitresses. As she stepped aside for Lori, who carried a tray laden with cups of cappuccino, her jaw dropped. Not only did the cappuccinos look good, they looked amazing.

No hearts. No flowers. No leaves. Bella easily recognized a lion, a dragon, and was that…a unicorn?

More gurgling came from behind the bar. Bella arrived just in time to see Jimmy put the finishing touches on a latte foam angel. The rich aroma of freshly ground espresso beans filled her nose. She still couldn’t believe what her eyes were telling her. The man had a skill she never would have suspected. “You didn’t tell me you could do that.”

“You didn’t ask.” Carefully, he set the cup on Rebecca’s tray.

“Thanks, Jimmy. It’s beautiful.” Rebecca turned slowly, then whisked the work-of-art coffee away.

Bella stared after Rebecca. The cappuccino was beautiful. No, it was more than beautiful. It was stunning. “It never occurred to me to ask if you were a professional barista. Don’t you think that would have been useful information for me to have when I told you not to touch Big Mama?”

He twisted off the portafilters, then began scooping in and tamping down espresso powder, the quick, efficient movements calling attention to all those rippling muscles. “Would you have believed me if I’d said that?”

“Well…” She watched him reverently stroke a big callused hand over Big Mama. “Probably not,” she admitted.

“Why?” If dark brown eyes could glitter with challenge, his did.

“Because your hands are so big, they look like they were made more for crushing rocks, not creating beautiful artwork.” Woops. Sometimes her blunt honesty could use a little curbing.

“Don’t you think that’s prejudicial? Can’t a man with big hands have hidden skills?” Full, sensual lips curved slightly. Dark eyes now glittered with something other than mirth—a warmth she felt straight to her toes.

“I—” Are we still talking about latte art? She shook her head to clear it. “I need to get back to work.”

She spun and nearly tripped on a broken corner of the rubber matting floor tile she’d been meaning to replace. Just when she was about to fly headfirst into the bar, long arms came around her waist, lifting her into the air.