Page 47 of Cherry on Top

“I’m flattered,” Will said, but Enzo just rolled his eyes.

“You have mirrors. You know what you look like,” Enzo teased. “You’re one hundred and ten percent hunk.”

“Is that Honey Bunny saying that or Enzo?” Will wondered in a low voice. Hoping Enzo would understand the difference.

“Both,” Enzo said.

Rocco arrived with the wine then, opening the bottle with a flourish and presenting Enzo with the taste to verify its quality.

“Okay, this is delicious,” Enzo agreed as he swirled the cherry red liquid in his glass. “Really fruity but deep, too.”

“I’ll tell Luca you approve,” Rocco said dryly. His gaze shifted to Will. “Would you like me to pour you a glass?”

“Sure,” Will said.

Rocco did so with an adept flick of his wrist, settling the bottle on their table and promising that the cheese straws would be out shortly. “Would you like to order?”

“Oh, Honey Bunny,” Will said, forcing himself to keep an even tone of voice even as Rocco’s eyebrows edged up towards his hairline, “what were you thinking? The flank steak with the baked potato and the brussels sprouts?” They hadn’t discussed the menu, but he knew what was good here, and he had a feeling Enzo did too.

Enzo nodded. “Medium rare on the steak. What about you, Stud Muffin?”

“Yep, you got it, Honey Bunny.”

Rocco burst out laughing. “Are you two okay? Are you drunk already? I just poured the wine.”

Leaning forward, Enzo nodded, shooting Will a rapt look. “We’re drunk on love,” he said.

“Alrighty then,” Rocco said. “Well . . .you enjoy that, and I’ll put your food order in.”

“I’m not sure he was convinced,” Will said once he’d disappeared.

“How could he not be? We were so full of love we were practically vibrating with it.”

“Well . . .uh . . .” He knew they were probably overselling their story, but he didn’t want to say so, because what if Enzo stopped? Enzo was so pleased with himself, and this was the most fun Will had had in months. Maybe years.

If he was honest, maybe the fun would stop.

And he really, really didn’t want it to stop.

He wanted Enzo to keep himself plastered up against him, one hand on his arm, another creeping up his thigh. Wanted to keep gazing into those amused dark chocolate eyes.

“It’s okay, we’re still getting good at this,” Enzo said, squeezing his bicep reassuringly. “We’ll get better.”

“You’re so patient you’re practically a saint,” Will told him wryly.

“Oh, Stud Muffin, not a saint when it matters.”

Will didn’t think he’d ever get tired of Enzo laying it on thick. Especially with these outrageous comments were accompanied by an intense fluttering of his eyelashes.

“I’m looking forward to discovering just what a devil you can be,” Will murmured, his tone unexpectedly serious. Unexpectedly real. He couldn’t help wishing, not for the first time, that his desire might actually come true.

Enzo leaned in. He was only a breath away from Will’s face; it would be so easy to kiss him. For real.

Will wanted to. Wanted to kiss all that sweet bullshit right off his lips.

But he didn’t. Because he’d already told himself this was the line he was drawing. He couldn’t kiss Enzo in public and then keep his distance in private. His heart wouldn’t take that kind of misdirection.

“Now this is actually convincing.”

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