“Thank you. Nikolai is a great client to work for. He lets me have free rein to cook whatever I want.Some clients can be really demanding.”
“Not me,” I say. “So long as I’m fed, I’m happy.”
Francesca pulls a Tupperware container out of her bag and starts to fill it with pasta.
“Is that for you?” I ask.
“Yeah. I’ll take it with me and eat at home.”
“Or you could eat now,” I offer. “It’s not like I have some hot date I’m waiting on.”
There’s a bit too much bitterness in my tone for my liking, so I slap on a smile.
Francesca hesitates for a minute, but the woman is clearly not shy, so she quickly grins and plopsdown on a stool next to me. “Thanks. Food is always better fresh. I tell Nikolai that all the time. ‘I’llcook in your kitchen for every meal if you want. I can
