Page 97 of Sinful Temptations

“I bet you can bake bread.”

“Sì. Of course.” He looked at me like I was being silly.

Ohhh, sì, of course.Yes, of course he could. Roman could do everything. Cook. Do sign language. Dance. Lift heavy things. Make my girly bits do stupid stuff.

Mario’s wine journey traveled onto the sticky wines and oh boy, what a slice of heaven they were. Sweet and divine. I eased into Roman’s shoulder, and when he glanced down at me, offering me some of that sisterly love, I grinned up at him and said, “Yummy.”

His grin grew even bigger. “Yes, it is.”

He smiled at Lydia but then returned his gaze to me and lingered for just a bit too long. “What?”

“Nothing.”

I’d give him nothing. I swigged back the rest of the Vinsanto Del Chianti Classico and poked my tongue into the glass to get out the last drop. All gone, I plonked my glass onto the counter, leaned toward Roman, and nudging my elbow into his ribs, I whispered, “Lydia, huh?”

His eyes whipped from Lydia and back to me. The quizzical expression on his face told me everything. He was sooo into her.

“Yes, what about Lydia?”

Sharing his personal space, I whispered, “You like her. I can tell.”

His head wobbled and I was pretty sure he was nodding, but my eyes were having trouble keeping up with my brain.

Mario placed another glass in front of me. This one contained yellow liquid. I reached for the glass, took a sip, then held it up to Roman. “Hmmm, yummy. Limoncello.”

He gave me a sideways grin.

“What?” I sipped the liqueur. It was tart and sweet and marvelous.

He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Okay? Of course. You should try this. It’s sooo good. Hey, you and your dad make Limoncello, right? You should see if it’s as good as yours. I bet it’s not ’cause you do everything perfect.”

He blinked at me.

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” I drained my drink and wondered if Mario would let me have more. After all, I’d been bringing him paying customers for a looong time. When he glanced my way, I winked at him. “Hey, Mario.” I wriggled my fingers and gave him my most becoming smile.

He pranced over like a horse. “Cosa ti piacerebbe, Daisy?”

I leaned onto the counter, pushing my glass forward. “Can I pleeeease have an incy little bit more?” I bulged my eyes. “It’s soooo good.”

Mario chuckled and touched his nose. “Si, ma non dirlo a nessuno.”

I shook my head and touched my nose like the two of us had a predetermined secret signal. “It’s our little secret.”

Roman chuckled and Lydia giggled, sounding like the perfect couple.

I spun to them but the room kept spinning. My legs missed the turn and I fell into Roman. “Whoa, that was close.” I slapped my palm onto his rock-hard abs. “Lucky you caught me.” I winked at Lydia. “He’s a keeper.”

Lydia’s pearly whites just about blinded me. But her attention quickly zoomed in on Roman again. “Yes, he is.”

When Lydia leaned in, whispering something in his ear and wrapped her delicate hand over Roman’s forearm, I knew she was the one.

Lydia was his sex-fixes-everything pill.

I had to tell him before he fucked it up.

A surge of excitement whizzed through me so fast the room spun. Light-headed, I clutched the bar. Spying my drink, I clasped the Limoncello and taking tiny sips, I pretended to be focusing on the potent liquid, which I totally was, but I was also secretly watching Roman with the first woman I’d met who could be in his league.

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