Page 58 of Sinful Secrets

She frowns at me. “You can’t do that. Keep your money.”

“But I would in a heartbeat. I still may. Christmas is coming up.” I flash her a mega smile, which she returns.

She shoos me out of the kitchen. “Go sit outside with Savannah. I’ll bring your food out in a minute.”

Something deep inside my gut makes me blurt out, “Do you like her? Savannah.”

Lucia is caught off guard by my question. “Of course I like her. I like anyone you like, but the question is, do you like her?”

“I do. A lot.” I glance outside where Savannah is laughing at something Mario just said. “I told her I loved her. I’ve never felt this way before.”

Lucia’s smile widens as she pulls me into a hug. “That’s wonderful news! You two are perfect together. I can just tell that you two will be together for the rest of your lives. Now go. Don’t keep her waiting. Send Mario in here to help with the plates.”

“I can help, you know.”

She scoffs. “You are the customer.”

I shrug. “So? I’m already here and the plates have to go where I’m headed, anyway.”

“You are a stubborn man. Stubborn like a mule. Just like Mario.” She glances out the front window at Mario lovingly.

“All the best ones are.” I tease, as I grab the plates off the counter and carry them outside.

As soon as Mario sees me, he jumps out of my chair and takes the plates from me. “Sit, sit. I’ll take these from you.”

I roll my eyes as I sit down. “Mario, I can carry two plates.”

He places our plates on the table in front of us. “But you are the customer.”

“That doesn’t make me any less capable.”

I smile at Savannah, hoping she knows this is all in jest. She returns my smile and gently kicks my foot with hers.

Mario pats me on my shoulder. “Just try to relax and enjoy your meal. Let me know if you need anything else, okay?”

The restaurant door opens and out comes Lucia with a basket full of garlic knots and freshly made marinara. “Try these and let me know what you think. It’s a new recipe.”

Savannah leans forward to smell them. “These smell heavenly.”

“Thank you, dear. Come on, Mario, let them eat in peace.”

The two of them disappear back into the restaurant, leaving Savannah and me alone.

She points to the garlic knots. “These really do smell amazing. I wish I could cook like this.”

“I’m sure she could teach you. Or we can cook together.”

She gazes at me with wide eyes. “You know how to cook like this?”

I glance down at the food in front of me. “As long as I can use store-bought ingredients, it will be similar. No one can cook as well as Lucia and Mario.”

“I’d love to learn. I want to be able to cook well-balanced meals for my kids one day.”

Her statement makes me freeze.

How often does she think about having kids? Does she picture having them with me?

She immediately holds up her hand. “I wasn’t meaning that in any sort of way. It’s not like I picture having babies while I’m still in college. Not when I have tuition to pay for. I’m not trying to scare you off or anything.”

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