Page 48 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“And yet, you’re here.” Julian’s lips twitched.

“And he’s dead.” Claudio shrugged. “Clearly, I am the better male—and the better cook. There is something Julian isn’t telling you.” He waggled his brows at me. “He brought you here because he knows no woman can resist my food. He plans to seduce you.”

I couldn’t resist laughing at that. “Too late,” I told him. “I’m thoroughly seduced.”

“By him?” Claudio shot a disappointed look at his old friend. “I think you can do better.”

“Stop flirting with my mate.” Julian wrapped an arm around my waist.

“Mate?” Claudio exclaimed. He clapped a hand on Julian’s shoulder. “It can’t be?”

“It can.” I held up my ring finger. “And fiancée.”

“Your mother must be thrilled.” Claudio yanked Julian into an embrace, taking me along for the ride.

“You must not know her,” I said dryly.

Claudio only laughed, urging us toward a table. “Sit and eat, my friends.” He pointed at me. “And you can tell me the sad story of how you got stuck with this grumpy ass.”

I was still laughing when he flew back to the kitchen to bring us food.

“Don’t tell me you’re falling for his charm,” Julian said dryly.

I smirked back at him. “Nope.”

“Then what’s so funny?” he asked suspiciously.

“I’m not the only one who thinks you’re grumpy.”

“Grumpy? I think you mean charming.”

“Can’t you be both?”

He shook his head, a grin playing on his sculpted lips. “You’re still laughing at me.”

I just laughed harder.

We both looked up expectantly as Claudio returned with a wooden tray filled with plates of steaming food.

“I took the liberty of ordering your favorite dishes,” he said. “A little something to celebrate your engagement.”

There was a hand-made cheese ravioli in a mushroom sauce that made me feel as if I’d died and woken up in heaven. Next to it was warm bread and butter, finely shaved parmesan cheese, and a decanter of red wine. But the fritto misto, fresh seafood fried so delicately I could have cried as soon as I tasted it, was my favorite. It had been so long since I’d had anything remotely this delicious that I couldn’t help but lose myself in the moment.

With a sigh, I closed my eyes and let the smell and taste take over.

But when I opened my eyes, I found everyone in the place watching me.

“I think our reputation proceeds us.” He flashed Claudio an apologetic smile.

“So, it seems, il flagello.” Claudio took the seat across from us, blocking our table with his large body—and giving us a little privacy.

“Great,” I grumbled, feeling my appetite wane. “There goes our date.”

“Do I want to know why everyone is watching you?” Claudio asked. “Have you returned to your old job, my friend?”

He said it without judgment, but his dark eyes strained as he looked at Julian for an answer.

How many people knew Julian had been an assassin? How many remembered?

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