Rough and Ready, page 2
According to Gio, Rafe had expected his mom to inherit his grandfather’s wealth and vast property holdings. Apparently, his mother and the latest in a long line of stepfathers—Keeley thought this might be husband number four or five—had thought the same. And they’d caused one hell of a scene in the lawyer’s office. His mother had broken into loud sobs, while his stepfather insisted they would contest the will and that Rafe hadn’t heard the last from them, before storming out.
“Rafe—” she started, shaking her head, certain his job offer was one of pity.
“Hear me out,” he interrupted, still holding her hand, a fact that was making it difficult for her to process what he was saying. He had a large, warm hand, and it made hers seem tiny in comparison. “I’m in over my head right now. I hate to admit that, but it’s true.”
Keeley didn’t doubt for a second he detested saying those words out loud. Rafe was the “never say die” type, the kind of guy who rarely asked for help, certain he could do everything on his own. To hear him say he was in over his head was…well, shocking. Because she’d never heard him admit defeat on anything.
Rafe continued, “Grandpa was old school—like, severely old school. He didn’t trust computers, so all of his business information is stored in countless handwritten ledgers.”
Keeley’s eyes widened. “Holy shit. You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
Rafe shook his head. “And to add insult to injury, he was a bit of a hoarder. Not a gross, piles-of-trash, dead-pet-remains hoarder, but I swear to God I think the old guy kept every single piece of paper he’d ever touched. He has so many boxes of paperwork, I can’t possibly count them all. They’re stacked floor to ceiling in three rooms in the haunted mansion, and his office at Eclectic—that’s the nightclub he owned—isn’t much better.”
Keeley had gone to the reception held at his grandfather’s home, after the funeral, and Rafe’s nickname for the place was pretty accurate. It was dark and dusty and creepy as fuck. Several rooms were decorated exclusively in large drop cloths, covering God-only-knows-what kind of furniture.
“Is the paperwork stuff you need? Can’t you just pitch it?” Gio, who’d been listening, asked the question.
Rafe rubbed his eyes wearily, and Keeley noticed the dark circles and lines caused by tension that never used to be there. Rafe was nowhere near as easygoing as Gio, which made their friendship one of those opposites-attract sort of relationships.
Rafe was the type of friend who seemed content with always standing on the sidelines, while Gio, with his larger-than-life personality, took center stage. Gio was quick to tease with a loud, blow-your-eardrums-out laugh, while Rafe had a tendency to take life too seriously. Gio was one big ball of emotions, all of which showed on his face and in his voice and hands, which—as was true of most Italian men—were an extension of his words and always moving, while Rafe was the very definition of stoic, never revealing any of his feelings.
However, Rafe’s stone-cold, rock-solid nature was absent tonight. She’d never seen him looking quite so…on edge.
“I wish I could toss them out,” Rafe said, “but I went through a couple boxes…just to see what was in them. Buried amidst a lot of crap that was trash, I found the title to a boat I didn’t know he owned and…Jesus, get this…over three thousand dollars in cash. Apparently, he didn’t trust banks much more than computers.”
“Hot damn!” Gio exclaimed. “A boat. We need to go fishing.”
Rafe rubbed his brow. “I’d love that, but the truth is, I don’t have a clue where the boat is docked.”
Everyone at the table, with the exception of Rafe—who really was stressed to the max—laughed.
“Basically, there’s no way I can just take the boxes to the shredder. I have to go through all of them. And I can’t stress this enough…there are a shit ton. Plus, there’s a goddamn safe in his office, but I can’t find the combination. I’m hoping that’s in one of the boxes as well.” Rafe looked at Keeley. “That’s where you come in. I want you to help me go through the hoard.”
“If this is as bad as you make it sound,” Keeley said, “it could take me months to help you.”
“I know that. But, well…” Rafe shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. “It could be a part-time project—that I’ll pay you for—if you want to keep looking for another job. Or I’m in a position to make it a permanent one, if you prefer. I’m okay with running Grandpa’s businesses from a financial point of view, but I’m no marketing expert.”
Keeley perked up. She’d earned her bachelor’s in writing and digital media, and a master’s in marketing at Penn State before coming back to Philly. She’d worked hard to finish all her coursework in five years. She’d thought her majors made her fairly marketable, but finding her first job had been a challenge. She’d known the office supply company wasn’t going to be her forever career, but they’d been the first to offer a position, so she’d taken it for the practical working experience it would add to her resume.
“Rafe. Listen…” Keeley wasn’t sure what to say. If his offer was sincere, this could be her dream job. Because he would certainly be her dream boss…and she didn’t mean that in a sexual way. Rafe was a really nice guy. He wouldn’t be condescending like her last boss, who also managed to creep her out by calling her “sweetie” and leering at her all the time.
“Let’s make some time on Monday morning to sit down and talk about it,” Rafe said, when she didn’t finish her thought. “I don’t want you to think this is a spur-of-the-moment decision. I realized immediately I’d need to hire someone to help with the boxes and the businesses. I was going to chisel out a job description and upload it to Indeed and LinkedIn. Then Kayden said you were looking for a job and…it felt like fate had led us both to this same place at the same time.”
Rafe gave her a brazen grin that proved he had her number. She was a big believer in karma, and not a day went by that she didn’t read her horoscope.
“Nicely played, Rafe,” Gio murmured, while Liza giggled.
Rafe continued, clearly not finished trying to plead his case. “We’ve known each other for years, and I have a feeling we’d work really well together. You won’t cry when I bark.”
She grinned. “You don’t bark. But if you do, just know that I’ll bark back.”
He raised his hand as if she’d just made his point. “Which is exactly what I want. That, and your upbeat personality. That dark, dreary house is starting to get to me. I need your sunshine.”
Keeley smiled, touched by his compliment. “I would love to talk to you about the job. What time Monday?”
“Why don’t you come by that creep show of a house of mine around nine? I feel like I owe you full disclosure. You really should see how many boxes I’m talking about first, before we take the discussion any further.”
“That sounds good. Are you sure Kayden didn’t put you up to this? Call in a favor or something?” she asked, kicking herself for looking this gift horse in the mouth. Because she wasn’t sure she gave a shit if this was a kindness for her brother or not.
Rafe shook his head. “No. He doesn’t even know I’m over here making the offer. You’ve got a good work ethic, Keeley. I know that. I’ve watched you bust your ass the past few years, showing up every day and putting in the hours, even though you didn’t love the job.”
“That’s an understatement,” she muttered.
“And if you decide this isn’t for you, that’s cool too,” Rafe said.
“I’m going to help you with the boxes regardless,” she said.
“Hell, I’m probably going to help with the boxes. There’s a boat to find,” Gio joked.
Rafe looked at him with tired but amused eyes. “Yeah. Damn boat.”
“Rafe,” Keeley said, feeling a thousand pounds lighter than she had a few minutes ago. She had a job prospect. One that she was super excited about. Maybe she wouldn’t have to move back in with her brother after all. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t seen the hoard. I’m afraid you’re going to take one look at it and run screaming into the hills.”
Keeley’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right? A treasure hunt for a lost boat? The combination to a safe? Hidden cash? Sounds like an amazing adventure.”
Liza, who’d been eavesdropping the whole time, laughed. “It sounds awesome to me too.”
“Now,” Rafe said, pointing to the dance floor. “What’s going on out there? Isn’t that Gage Russo?”
“Yeah,” Keeley said wistfully. “Looks like Penny found her prince.”
“Lucky bitch,” Liza muttered.
“Apparently, Liza and Keeley are operating under the impression that there are no decent men in Philly to date,” Gio explained to Rafe.
“Really?” Rafe said, somewhat surprised. “I know lots of single guys who are great.” Then he looked at Liza. “Of course…”
“I’m related to all of them,” Liza finished for him.
Rafe chuckled. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
Gio leaned forward. “You know, maybe the problem is that you’re both setting unreasonable expectations. What are you looking for in a man?”
Keeley shrugged. “I guess I’m looking for someone like my dad and Kayden. Stand-up guys with a sense of humor, devoted to their family. He also has to be someone who’ll put me on a pedestal, worship the ground I walk on, and live only for my happiness,” she joked. “That doesn’t feel like too much to ask for.”
Rafe shook his head. “I think I’m beginning to understand your difficulties.”
They all laughed.
“And you’re searching the online dating sites to find this perfect match?” Gio asked.
She and Liza nodded.
Rafe rubbed his chin. “Do you really think you’re going to find an amazing guy on Tinder or Bumble or Hinge?”
Keeley shrugged. “We haven’t had much luck so far, but when you get to be our age, that’s how this is done. We didn’t meet our true loves in high school like Gianna.”
“And we didn’t meet guys at college, and neither of us have met prospects at work,” Liza added.
Keeley nodded. “I’ve even tried the blind date routine a few times, set up through girlfriends who were sure they knew ‘this great guy’ I’d love. They were wrong.”
Rafe and Gio seemed to consider their dilemma, as if they genuinely wanted to help them figure this out. Which would be sweet, if it didn’t drive home just how off-limits she really was when it came to both men. Unfortunately, and despite her best efforts, they snuck into her fantasies way too often. Apparently she was an emotional masochist, her own worst enemy.
“Maybe your problem isn’t the men, but where you’re going on the dates. Seems to me you’re always going to places like Enigma. Isn’t it hard to get to know someone in a nightclub?” Gio asked.
Keeley took a sip of her wine. “That’s not the issue. I’ve gone to movies with guys, out to dinner, coffee dates. It’s just…either the conversation is awkward, or the guy has strong political beliefs—that are completely opposite of mine—or they’re a mansplainer or a chauvinist or a racist or a commitment-phobe or a homophobe or mama’s boy or a guy just looking to get laid or…”
“A married man,” Keeley and Liza said in unison.
“Married?” Rafe asked, frowning.
Keeley wrinkled her nose. “I managed to land dates with two of those cheating assholes. The dating game is a tough one. Requires a lot of patience and persistence.”
“Preach, sister,” Liza said, raising her hands to Heaven.
“Shit,” Gio said. “You’re starting to convince me you’re right. Didn’t realize there were so many pricks in Philly.”
“Or it could just be that we have exceptionally bad luck,” Liza said.
“I can see you’ve both given it serious effort though,” Rafe said.
“We’ve been out there awhile,” Liza said. “Gives a girl too much time to try to figure out where the hell she’s going wrong.”
“Amen,” Keeley said, sighing once more.
“Neither one of you is doing anything wrong,” Gio said with a confidence that touched Keeley deeply. He placed his hand on the back of her chair, closing the distance between them.
“You’re gorgeous, intelligent, and independent. Both of you,” Rafe added.
Gio ran his finger down the line of Keeley’s nose, bopping it on the tip. “Any man who doesn’t see that doesn’t deserve you.”
Keeley blinked a couple times, waiting for a punch line, because it was Gio, and teasing each other was their schtick.
It didn’t come.
So she decided that was the nicest thing Gio or Rafe—or hell, anybody—had ever said to her.
“Wow,” Keeley breathed. “Thanks. I needed that pep talk.”
She smiled widely, well aware her fantasies tonight were definitely going to include one of the guys currently sitting at this table.
The thing was…she couldn’t decide which.
Chapter Two
Gio left the back alley, reentering the restaurant through the kitchen door. He hip-checked Keeley, who was drying dishes. She laughed, then went back to work.
“I took the rest of the trash out to the dumpster,” he said to Rafe, who was putting the last of the tables back in place in the main dining area.
His family had stuck around after the party, everyone pitching in to clean up, but eventually they began heading out one by one, all of them wanting to get home before the coming storm hit. He, Keeley, and Rafe were the last ones there.
“I’m finished too.” Keeley followed him out of the kitchen and walked over to retrieve her purse.
“What’s the deal with you and that hippie bag?” Rafe asked curiously. “I never see you without it.”
Keeley hugged the bohemian-style hobo bag to her chest. “It belonged to my mom. She loved it and carried it all the time. I thought…well, I was surprised to find it in her closet when we were cleaning out her things after she died. I would have expected her to take it with her, so I assumed it was lost in the plane crash.”
Gio smiled. “I can see your mom carrying that. She was super cool. Made the best Italian hoagies on the planet.” He studied Keeley for a minute, then added, “You know…you look and act a lot like her.”
Keeley lit up like he’d just crowned her Queen of the Universe. “Thanks.”
“You should be proud of yourself. It was a great party, Kiwi,” Rafe said.
She smiled widely. “Yeah. It was. And damn if Penny didn’t get one hell of a great present.”
Gio narrowed his eyes, though he didn’t feel any real annoyance. The Morettis and Russos were famous in Philadelphia for their Hatfield-and-McCoy-style feud, battlelines drawn four generations earlier. Gio’s dad and nonno still held grudges against the older Russo men—who were all dead now—for long-ago slights, something they’d worked hard to instill in Gio and his brothers. Some of the disdain had held. Some hadn’t. Because while he was no fan of Matt Russo, Gio had no real beef with his younger brother, Gage—who’d stormed in here tonight and swept Penny off her feet—or the other brother, Conor.
“Bet she’s getting lucky tonight,” Keeley mused, and Gio couldn’t help but laugh at the obvious jealousy in her tone. “You find my lack of sex life funny?”
“Apologies. I didn’t mean to rub salt into that particular wound,” he said, bowing at the waist dramatically.
“You know,” she drawled. “If you want to make it up to me, one of you could kiss me good night. I would kill for a decent good-night kiss.”
“Keeley,” Rafe said, in that patient way of his, gently letting her down without actually saying the words.
“This isn’t me flirting,” she argued. “It’s an honest request. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had a good good-night kiss?”
“How hard is it to kiss someone goodbye?” Gio mused.
Keeley scoffed. “Apparently, very hard. In the past year, I’ve had dry kisses, sloppy, disgusting kisses, tastes-like-cigarettes kisses, short kisses, and ones that lasted way too fucking long. And there was the guy who bit my lip and made it bleed, then proceeded to tell me he was part vampire on his mother’s side. A special kind of crazy he didn’t reveal to me until that point in the date.”
“Wow.” Rafe shook his head.
“Not to mention the guy who sucked on my bottom lip. Nothing else. Just sucking. Or the guy who ran his tongue along every single one of my teeth like he was doing a fucking dental exam.”
Gio held his hands up in surrender. “Keeley. Jesus. You gotta stop. You’re killing me.”
She crossed her arms and gave them a smug grin. “And those guys didn’t even break into my top five worst kisses ever.”
“Given the things you’ve told us tonight, I don’t know why you’d ever go on another date,” Rafe said.
“Or haven’t consider playing for the other team,” Gio teased.
“Oh, believe me, I figured out a long time ago I’d probably be a lot happier if I was into women, but—”
A bright flash of lightning cut through the night sky.
“Shit!” Keeley jumped, cursing in surprise.
“Doesn’t look like we beat the storm,” Rafe mused, glancing out the front windows. The wind had picked up, the rain suddenly coming down hard. Thunder rumbled, filling the quiet night with something equivalent to the roar of a pissed-off giant.
Lightning flashed again, and once more, Keeley cried out, “Son of a bitch! That was close.”
Gio grinned…until he realized she’d suddenly gone pale. “You okay, Kiwi?”
Rafe crossed the room when a loud peal of thunder shook the front windows. “It’s only a little thunder,” he reassured her when she covered her ears.
“I know. I just…God, I hate storms!”
Gio stepped next to her, taking her purse from her shoulder and placing it on a table before pulling her in for a hug. “I didn’t know that.”
