Hand Tossed

First and Last

"I'm telling you C the man is some kind of Greek God sent from the heavens to rock my world!"

"Girl you're seriously one smitten kitten, but what are you going to do about Damian? Wasn't he going to fly out to see you guys???"

Well damn, Cara was right. Being my best friend I told her everything, but I couldn't agree more with what she was saying. 

"I never said that I was going to date Luca. He is just so handsome and sexy. Anyway I think he has a girlfriend or something, not to mention he is kind of my boss. Well the boss's son."

"What makes you think he has a girl?"

................ 

       12 hours prior

"Welcome aboard, Mrs Lukas. Here are your uniforms and name tag. We will order embroidered shirts after your probation period of 30 days. "

 Nick was an older man and the second grandson of Jo and Silvia, who were the founders of Jo's Pizzeria. The couple immigrated from Italy after they were married in the 1930's  Their story was sweet and printed on a faded piece of news print that was framed in the seating area of the restaurant. 

"Thank you so much Nick, I won't let you down. " I forced a smile for the old man who looked like he was relieved to have an extra set of hands. 

"I know you won't because Luca will tell me if you screw up...haha" his laugh was jolly like the rent-a-Santa from the mall.

"Will I be working directly under Luca?" I could feel my body react to the images my own words fabricated in my mind.

"Mostly, unless we need you on caters, then we will put you with Sam, at least until she goes on leave. Other than that, there's the night crew. You will see them come in around the end of your shift."

Oh sweet cheese and crackers, I'm going to be right next to that walking, breathing, flesh and blood sculpture everyday. I will need to get my self control under control. I've been abstinent for nearly three years. 

"Well Mrs Lukas whenever you are finished changing your clothes you can join Luca on the make line."

"Alright and Thank you again for letting me start right away. Oh and it's Miss not Mrs. I am not married."

"Oh... I see, my apologies, you said you had a child so I assumed. A young lady with a child, who keeps her while you're working?"

"No need to apologize, she goes to the care center and then my parents will keep her."

 "Ah the care center my oldest grandson goes there, they are good people. It's good you have a support system. Well then Miss Lukas I have another store to check on, so I will be off. Have a great first day."

"I will thank you again."

Nick was gone before I had finished changing out of my street clothes and into my uniform. The girls wore the black slacks and a white polo shirt instead of green. I headed out and found Luca tossing dough. I was frozen in place by the scene before me. Luca and the dough seemed to be as one, each movement the dough seemed to float around like it was an extension of his hands, so fluid and flawless. The man was good with his hands, then he let the dough fly into the air, just as I thought it would fall to the table and splat, he caught it and guided it down perfectly on the screen.

"Whoa..." I laughed nervously at his skill.

"Oh New Girl. I didn't see you there. Come here." Lucas' voice was like velvet. He showed no sign of fatigue after his display of dough mastery magic. 

I walked over to his side as he reached for the next ball of dough to be worked with his magic hands. "I've never seen anything like that, quite impressive, Boss." 

He chucked at my words "I have been doing this for several years but, you can be this good with practice."

"...pfft yeah I don't think so, I can't even make round pancakes. It will take me decades to do this as well as you Boss."

"Hmm... Come now New Girl, I can see your hands, they're perfect for this, you'll be a natural." Luca placed the dough in front of me. Just as I was going to grab it, he sharply smacked my hand.

"Ow! What did I do?" I shot him a glare as I rubbed the back of my hand, which was now red. Honestly he scared me more than it hurt. 

"You don't just grab at it with your fingers." He moved behind me wrapping his large arms around my small frame, caging me in between him and the table. As if that wasn't enough he took my hands one in each of his, making an almost bowl shape. "You have to hold it in the curve of your hands like this. Now gently press from the center and stretch it outwards like this." 

I could feel his muscular body move against my back as he demonstrated the technique, his hands over mine. This was too close, my heart was racing and I could feel the heat in my cheeks. At the same time I was feeling claustrophobic. Just as Luca let my hands go and started to take control of the dough, I pushed back from the table with my full strength. I was almost in a panic when we both fell back due to the shift in our balance plus the layer of flour on the floor causing us both to slip. 

I heard Luca gasp before he came forward catching my shoulders before my butt hit the floor. 

"Ahh!...Damn New Girl, you are stronger than you look. Knocked me right into the oven. Are you okay?" He helped me get upright again without slipping on the flour again.

"I think so, nothing hurts. I'm just a bit modified that's all." Of all the times to be hit with PTSD! When a hot guy has his arms around me. 

Smooth Andrea! My inner voice was cursing at me. 

"That's good, can't have you hurt on your first day. How about we move on to toppings now. I will show you more on dough later." Luca gave me a nod, his eyes showed a look of irritation. 

Turns out, toppings came rather easy to me; I caught on quickly. At 11, the first customers started to come in. Luca showed me how to work the register and order screen. The irritated look never really left his face. I screwed up and he would definitely be telling Nick. Today may be my first and last day. 

Around noon, a young preppy looking girl waltzed in, her box color brown pony tail bounced side to side as she walked. "Helloooo.....Luuucaa...." Her voice was overly sweet and squeaky, it made my skin crawl.

"Hello Lucy." He looked at the girl with an even more irritated look.

"Who's that!? I don't have to train a newbie again do I? Jeez..." Lucy was looking right at me as her pink lip glossed lips spewed the words.

"Lucy this is New Girl, and no you won't be training her. I will be. Isn't that right New Girl?" Luca looked back at me and cracked a half smile. 

Good, he wasn't as mad any more. "Yeah that's right Boss!"

Lucy rolled her eyes at me and took over the register, Luca and I took over on making the pizzas. He worked his magic with the dough and I topped them to perfection. We worked in a rhythm that almost made us seem as one unit. The day passed quickly, soon it was time for the night crew to arrive. Hopefully there was only one Lucy. 

..................

By the end of my shift I had met the entire crew. All of which knew me as "New Girl" because Luca seemed to have a difficult  time remembering my name. 

Sam was in her mid 30's and very much pregnant with what she swore was her last. She was Luca's older sister and partial owner of this Jo's location. In total, there are four surrounding the Houston area. Cj was 19 and training to take over one of those locations after he and Sam's eldest daughter Sara, got married in a few months. 

"Hey Sam, I am about to leave, is there anything Luca needs me to do before?"

"I don't know sweetie, go ask just in case. He should be out back." Sam gave me a smile as she worked the dough at the table with the same skill as her brother, just less flashy as her belly got in the way.

When I walked out the back door I could hear someone yelling, I looked around and saw Luca pacing back and forth by the sitting area for employees. He was on his phone having a rather heated argument with someone named Kaitlyn. Was she his wife? Girlfriend? I didn't recall seeing a ring when his hands were on mine. 

" I DON'T KNOW KAITLYN! HOW WOULD I? I AM NEVER ALLOWED IN MY OWN HOUSE FOR MORE THAN 6 HOURS OF SLEEP?!!!! Now that was a look of irritation. Luca's eyes met mine and his voice lowered and his eyes softened. "I have to go. See you tonight, if you're even awake." Luca ended the call and walked towards me shaking his head.

"Baby mama drama?" I asked him half joking.

"You could say that. You are good to leave New Girl, see you tomorrow at 9" he gave me a weak smile as I turned to leave. There was a sort of pain mixed with agitation in his eyes