Winning You Forever

Also available in special 3 book collection The Winning Trilogy

The final installment to the Winning Trilogy. Tensions stir as the steam rises between Gina and Alex.

Excerpt :

gazing in awe over his shoulder.
“There,” she pointed to the red and green illuminated sign. LA SPEZIA DI ROMA marked a top the building across the street from them.
“What about it?” He glanced back at her, clueless.
“It’s…it’s…it’s my father’s –well, I mean the restaurant my father use to work. At least, I think so. I didn’t remember it being here.” She muttered in sheer disbelief.
“Come on, we have to take a look.”
“We do?”
“Yes, I to have see if it’s same one,” she informed him, jogging to the entrance with Alex doing his best to keep up.
He accompanied her inside, where the smell of freshly cooked tomato sauce and olive oil instantly invaded his nostrils. Woo wee!
“Oh my god,” Gina let out, a little too loudly causing some diners to turn their way. But she couldn’t help herself. It’s it, it’s really it! Papa’s La Spezia di Roma! The Sicilian deco, sixties-style bar, main courses listed on the small board on the wall. They still have the chalk board. Vincent sat at the corner playing the cello. The old photo of Ricardo expertly preparing his special flambé placed highest above the bar. Below, were a cluster of old framed pictures bound to have their ex chief, Emilio Castello in them.
“Benvenuto signores, tavolo per due?” The grey-bearded, Chef Boyardee-dressed-and-looking man appeared humbly asking.
She smiled the brightest smile her eyes filled with a mixture of overwhelming joy and shed of melancholy. Alex held the smalls of her back, consumed with worry. “Are you okay?” He asked her, but she remained mute. The elder gentleman repeated his words. Alex was too busy puzzling Gina’s reaction to care. “Zio…Zio, Ricardo,” she almost wept it out, her green eyes welding up, tears nearly escaping her sockets.

Ricardo
“Dio mio,” He gasped, the watery state made her bright-green eyes seem a shade lighter. The way they always did when she would cry as a little girl. It was definitely her. Her features grew and changed but Ricardo never forgot those distinctive eyes. It was none other than Emilio’s principessa.
“Gina, is that you? Dio, you’re a grown woman. Io non credo.”
He embraced her wholehearted in a grandfatherly fashion.
Alex stood there bewildered and watched as the elder gentleman mildly kissed her cheeks. I guess this answers her suspicion.
“Ah, Gina look at you, you’ve blossomed into such an enchanting flower. Cosi bella.”
He remarked in a thick, refined Italian accent, pecking her cheeks a second time.
“The last time I saw you. You were six-years-old, Cara mia. What are doing in Italia?”
“I’m here on business, working. This is my-y-y, employer, Alexander Forester. Alex this is Ricardo Mari.”
She gestured to him. Ricardo greeted with a peck on each cheek.
“Ah…Molto piacere conoscerla,” the elder man uttered giving him a strong manly handshake.
“Likewise,” Alex improvised using his deductibility to convey what he said.
“When did the restaurant move from Trivoli?”
Gina inquired.
“Since last year, the Colosseo is a much better spot for us. Business is booming here, Cara mia.”
He gushed with content.