Page 7 of Doll Face

She beamed another smile his way. “So, don’t worry about the coffee. My treat today.”

“Macy,” he said. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know,” she said, a bit bashfully. “I want to.”

“So… I’d like to be honest with you,” he said. She cocked her head waiting. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you yesterday.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really.”

A touch of pink dusted her cheekbones. “I, ah, told my coworker about you.”

“You did?” He smiled. “What did you say?”

“I said you had gorgeous eyes.”

Matteo leaned closer. “So do you, baby.”

The hue in her cheeks darkened and the bell over the door rang. He took his coffee and stepped to the side while she worked. After serving the customer, they were alone once more.

“Do you think you’d like to go out sometime?”

“On a date?”

“Yes. I’d like to take you somewhere nice.”

Happiness made her eyes shine.

His phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket, glancing at who was calling him this early in the morning. Fuck. His father.

“Unfortunately, I have to run, baby,” he said. “I’ve got a meeting to get to. Are you busy tonight?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said, regret heavy in her voice. “I have a night job.”

He frowned. “You work two jobs?”

“Yeah, here during the day and at an arcade at night.”

“What about the weekend?”

“Right now, I’m only free on Sundays.”

The bell dinged again, and Matteo knew he had to leave, although he didn’t want to. Ignoring the customer that just walked in, he held out his hand to Macy. Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his, and he brought her knuckles up to his mouth to brush a kiss over them.

“I’ll be back,” he said. “I found you and I’m not about to lose you.”

Giving the new customer a curt nod, he turned and left, holding on to his cup of coffee.

****

“You’re late.”

Matteo gave his father a one shoulder shrug and held up his coffee cup. “Had to get some caffeine.”

Pietro Romanelli raised his hand and gave a dismissive gesture with his hand. Immediately, the two other people in the room rose and left. Matteo watched his father’s accountant and lawyer close the door behind them.

“Report.”

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