Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts Page A

it had been, as it was now. The booths were a defiant red, with the traditional red-and-white-checked cloths covering the tables.
    New lighting kept the place cheerful even on gloomy days, or could be dimmed to add atmosphere for the private parties they’d begun booking over the last two years.
    Her father was at the big work counter, ladling sauce on dough. There were touches of gray in his hair now that had started weaving in during those weeks after the fire. He also needed reading glasses, which annoyed the hell out of him. Especially if anyone told him they made him look distinguished.
    Her mother was back at the stove, minding the sauces and pastas. Fran had already donned her bright red apron and was serving plates of lasagna that were today’s lunch special.
    On the way to the kitchen, Reena stopped by tables, greeted neighbors and regulars, laughed each time she was told she needed to eat, get some meat on her bones.
    Gib was sliding one pizza into the oven, taking another out by the time she got to him.
    â€œThere’s my girl.” He set the pie aside and gathered her in for a rib-crusher. He smelled of flour and sweat. “Fran said you were home, but we were swamped. Couldn’t get away to come up.”
    â€œCame by to pitch in. Bella in the back?”
    â€œYou just missed Bella. Wedding emergency.” He picked up the pizza cutter, divided the pie with quick, practiced strokes. “Something about rose petals. Or maybe it was bud vases.”
    â€œThen you’re short-handed. Who gets the sausage and green pepper?”
    â€œTable six. Thanks, baby.”
    She delivered the pizza, took two more orders. It was like she’d never been away, she thought.
    Except she was different. There was not only a year of college under her belt, but everything she’d learned crowded in her head. Familiar faces, familiar smells, routines and movements that were automatic. Yet she was just a little more than she had been the last time she’d worked here.
    She had a boyfriend. It was official now. She and Josh were a couple. A couple who slept together.
    She liked sex, which was a relief to know. The first time had been sweet and adventurous, but she’d been so new at it, her mind and body scrambling to understand. She hadn’t reached orgasm.
    That was something new and wonderful she’d discovered about the act, and herself, the second time they’d been together.
    Now she could barely wait to be with him again, to learn the next new thing.
    Not that sex was all they did together, she reminded herself as she grabbed the phone to take an order for delivery. They talked, often for hours. She loved listening to him talk about his writing, how he wanted to tell stories about small towns, like the one where he grew up in Ohio. Stories about people, and what they did to and for each other.
    And he listened. He seemed equally interested when she told him that she wanted to study and train, to understand fire and why.
    Now she didn’t just have a date for Bella’s wedding. She was bringing her boyfriend.
    She was still grinning over the idea when she swung into the prep area for the first time. Her mother was taking vegetables out of one of the big, stainless steel refrigerators. Pete, now the father of three, stood at the prep counter cutting dough from holding bowls to weigh for pizza crust.
    â€œHey, college girl! Give us a smooch.”
    Reena threw her arms around his neck, gave him a noisy kiss dead on the lips.
    â€œWhen’d you get back?”
    â€œFifteen minutes ago. Walked in the door, they put me to work.”
    â€œSlave drivers.”
    â€œYou don’t get that dough weighed, I’m getting the whip. Now let go of my girl before I tell your wife.” Bianca threw open her arms. Reena went into them.
    â€œHow do you stay so beautiful?” Reena asked her.
    â€œIt’s the steam in the kitchen. Keeps the pores clean. Oh, baby girl,