An Offer She Can't Refuse Book 1 E-Book

J. Garcia

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Angelica Kimper llives a simple with her family in Italy, but everything changes when an old rich schoolmate, Johnny Luciano, returns to her small hometown wanting to purchase and takeover her family's business.

Leseprobe

J. Garcia

An Offer She Can't Refuse Book 1

BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

An Offer She Can’t Refuse

An Offer She Can't Refuse Book 1

J. Garcia

Copyright ©2022 by J. Garcia

Copyright ©2022 by J. Garcia

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Main Body

 I plucked the withering flower from the flawless bunch.

The weather this season was just right for the garden.

The sunflowers swayed beautifully in the breeze, while I watered the white roses the petals seemed a bit dry I didn’t want them to get them to shrivel up by next week. The red ones shined bright in the sun, their glowing Scarlett’s petals were the garden’s perfection. They were also my favorite but were complimented the best with the whites. Both made the loveliest bouquet. Last time I hung them in the shop they sold faster the chocolates.

There's even more flowers blooming than last year that was a sign of fortune according my grandma and her wondrous gypsy folklores. Of course, I wouldn’t mind her being right for once. The house needed a new heater and the roof could desperately use some retiling. We can barely afford half the things we need with the suppliers now double pricing most of our orders. The goods he started ordering from Tuscany were so expensive, but were at least in high demand almost every week at the shop to make up for it.

“Angelica,” My name was being beckoned from the front porch.

“Coming Grandma,” I dropped the watering can and left the garden to find my horse grinning cousin hurrying to hoist me up in his long slim arms.

Grandma was in her rocking chair peeling a bag of apples shaking her head as she watched us like a hawk.

“I thought you weren’t gonna be back till Saturday. How are things at the Casino?”

I asked anxious to know.

“He can’t tell you, bambina, because he doesn’t have a job there anymore.”

Grandma unhappily bellowed.

“Granny, Sofie, please. I haven’t even fully explained yet.”

He replied frowning at her.

She gave him a stare suggesting he could save whatever explanation he had.

“You don’t have to, it’s always the same with you, Kenny. How many times do I have to remind you that you can’t just skate by life depending on dumb little tricks?”

He sighed refusing to argue with her.

I crossed my arms looking at him judgmentally, and here I was having such a nice peaceful day.

My cousin Kenny was how one would describe as a average young man with ambitions too big for him to grasp.

“Is this true, you lost the assistant job?”

I inquired.

“No, I quit. I found something else with much more prospect than minimum wage.”

He told me confidently.

“Rubbish, another one of your little schemes. I swear, someday you’re going to learn the hard way.”

“Yes, grandma Sofie.” Kenny said with the fakest smile.

He would simply agree with her whenever he got tired of her scolds.

“Let’s go back to the garden, Angie. It’ll be quieter there.”

He said ushering me along with him.

“That’s your problem, you don’t listen you get it from your father.”

“Okay, grandma.”

He retorted nonchalant.

“Look, don’t bother with the lectures I know what I’m doing this time. I’m telling you, Angie, I hit the jackpot.”

I puffed rolling my eyes at him. I got frustrated always having to hear go on about the jackpots that he never has any success with.

“I’m not talking easy money plots.”

“I sure hope not,” I cut him off with my lecturing tone.

“Betting on horse races got you nowhere except in trouble.”

I reminded. He almost ended up in jail he was lucky the officer let him off with a warning. At this point I was totally fed up with his whole trickster behavior.

“I already said I was sorry for that and everything else that didn’t work out. But, you see that’s why I’m so bent on this it’s not a scheme or gambling, just smart investing.”

“And what exactly do you know doing smart investments?”

I asked skeptical.

“All you need is a good inside tip and that cousin is what I have. I told Uncle Dominic about it and he thinks it’s a great idea.”

I bristled surprised.

“Papa said that, you’re kidding.”

“Nope, you can ask him yourself.”

I was lost for words at this point.

“Well, if he approves.” I said while still having uncertainty.

“Ah, finally, for once you side with me instead of Sofie.”

He smiled overly happy giving me a thank you hug.

“Good luck with it, Kenny. I so glad to see your not gambling anymore.”

He simply nodded. I could swear I spotted some guilt lingering in his eyes. He probably felt ashamed for all his past bad decisions. Though he should I wanted him to know he's forgiven.

“You always have my support when I see you trying.”

I promised rustling my fingers in his hair like the way I did when we were kids.

***

I polished the glass vase with a bit of vinegar until it was clear and shining like crystal. I arranged the roses the way liked in circles mostly red with whites in the middle. I sampled the sweet scent before lining on the shelves. I put together a few more, smiling as tied a pink ribbon on the final bouquet.

“Molto Bello, cara.” Papa commented admiring my work. “Those won’t stay on display for long.” He said encouragingly.

“Graci, I'll help you tidy up.”

We were about to open in half hour I made sure to start boiling the coffee beans after clearing the floor of the empty boxes. Papa swept the store while I wiped the counters spreading the colorful place mats Mama picked out on them. Grandma Sofie's apple pies would soon brighten them just how my bouquets did the plain wooden shelves.

She and my mother, Lyla, arrived in time as we ready to open. I could smell her delicious pies on the rack from the back room. There was no better baker than our own Sofie Kimper, we were proud to always boasts that her apple pies the same one could only buy at the Kimper Pasticceria were the tastiest batch in Fiorito. There was already at line of customers at the cashing counter the smell would surely hit folks fast.

We starting the morning with me managing the cash register and tomorrow’s orders, while Sofie sliced and Mama did the packaging.

“Thank you, please come again.”

I graciously repeated like a pro to each customer coming by.

“Boy, am I excited, Angelica, did you hear already?” My girlfriend Francesca, who was idling by the corner of the counter scrolling news sites on her Smartphone, asked.

“No, I was at home all day yesterday. Did something happen?”

“It’s what’s about to happen, girl. Johnny Luciano is coming to Fiorito today. They say the Lucianos are planning to buy out some of the small businesses to begin building a Winery in the town.”

“My, I guess that is something…”