Lessons Learned

to think about it, she skirted around a barrel-chested man hefting a bulging garment bag and a briefcase. Yes, he liked the way she walked, Carlo thought again. She was a woman who could take care of herself without a great deal of fuss.
    “At seven? You have a talk show in the morning that starts at seven-thirty so we’d best make it an early evening.”
    Seven-thirty A.M. Carlo thought, only briefly, about jet lag and time changes. “So, you put me to work quickly.”
    “That’s what I’m here for, Mr. Franconi.” Juliet said it cheerfully as she stepped up to the slowly moving baggage belt. “You have your stubs?”
    An organized woman, he thought as he reached into the inside pocket of his loose-fitting buff-colored jacket. In silence, he handed them to her, then hefted a pullman and a garment bag from the belt himself.
    Gucci, she observed. So he had taste as well as money. Juliethanded the stubs to a skycap and waited while Carlo’s luggage was loaded onto the pushcart. “I think you’ll be pleased with what we have for you, Mr. Franconi.” She walked through the automatic doors and signaled for her limo. “I know you’ve always worked with Jim Collins in the past on your tours in the States; he sends his best.”
    “Does Jim like his executive position?”
    “Apparently.”
    Though Carlo expected her to climb into the limo first, she stepped back. With a bow to women professionals, Carlo ducked inside and took his seat. “Do you like yours, Ms. Trent?”
    She took the seat across from him then sent him a straight-shooting, level look. Juliet could have no idea how much he admired it. “Yes, I do.”
    Carlo stretched out his legs—legs his mother had once said that had refused to stop growing long after it was necessary. He’d have preferred driving himself, particularly after the long, long flight from Rome where someone else had been at the controls. But if he couldn’t, the plush laziness of the limo was the next best thing. Reaching over, he switched on the stereo so that Mozart poured out, quiet but vibrant. If he’d been driving, it would’ve been rock, loud and rambunctious.
    “You’ve read my book, Ms. Trent?”
    “Yes, of course. I couldn’t set up publicity and promotion for an unknown product.” She sat back. It was easy to do her job when she could speak the simple truth. “I was impressed with the attention to detail and the clear directions. It seemed a very friendly book, rather than simply a kitchen tool.”
    “Hmm.” He noticed her stockings were very pale pink andhad a tiny line of dots up one side. It would interest his mother that the practical American businesswoman could enjoy the frivolous. It interested him that Juliet Trent could. “Have you tried any of the recipes?”
    “No, I don’t cook.”
    “You don’t…” His lazy interest came to attention. “At all?”
    She had to smile. He looked so sincerely shocked.
    As he watched the perfect mouth curve, he had to put the next tug of desire in check.
    “When you’re a failure at something, Mr. Franconi, you leave it to someone else.”
    “I could teach you.” The idea intrigued him. He never offered his expertise lightly.
    “To cook?” She laughed, relaxing enough to let her heel slip out of her shoe as she swung her foot. “I don’t think so.”
    “I’m an excellent teacher,” he said with a slow smile.
    Again, she gave him the calm, gunslinger look. “I don’t doubt it. I, on the other hand, am a poor student.”
    “Your age?” When her look narrowed, he smiled charmingly. “A rude question when a woman’s reached a certain stage. You haven’t.”
    “Twenty-eight,” she said so coolly his smile became a grin.
    “You look younger, but your eyes are older. I’d find it a pleasure to give you a few lessons, Ms. Trent.”
    She believed him. She, too, understood nuances. “A pity our schedule won’t permit it.”
    He shrugged easily and glanced out the window. But the L.A. freeway didn’t interest him. “You put Philadelphia in the schedule as I requested?”
    “We’ll have a full day there before we fly up to Boston. Then we’ll finish up in New York.”
    “Good. I have a friend there. I haven’t seen her in nearly a year.”
    Juliet was certain he had—friends—everywhere.
    “You’ve been to Los Angeles before?” he asked her.
    “Yes. Several times on business.”
    “I’ve yet to come here for pleasure myself. What do you think of it?”
    As he had, she glanced out