Page 21 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

Angelo nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, it wasn’t easy. But, you know, it taught me a lot about resilience and making the best of what you’ve got. My mom went back to Greece, and my dad threw himself into his work. Katerina and I grew up fast, but we have a stronger bond because of it.”

“So, did you like living close to your mom?” Allison asked, appearing genuinely interested.

“Oh, it was great,” Angelo replied emphatically. “Greece is beautiful, and it’s always great to reconnect with that part of my heritage. Plus, Mom makes the bestspanakópitain the world.”

Allison laughed. “Well, I’ll have to try it someday.”

His heart seemed to skip a beat or two at the thought, and Angelo made a mental note to contact a cardiologist.

“And you lived in Athens?” she asked, leaning in a bit closer. Curiosity was painted all over her face.

Angelo nodded, enjoying this impromptu interrogation. “I was in charge of our office there for the past decade. Then my father requested I come back, so that’s what I did.”

“Did your mother and sister come, too?” She didn’t even have to think about it. She just fired question after question.

“No. They’re back in Athens. They love it there and I would never ask them to upheave their lives just because I wanted to be closer to them.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“What are you talking—”

“Your mother’s last name. I know Greeks have complicated last names and I want to know yours. For academic purposes of course.” She crossed her arms and shrugged, the picture of carelessness.

“Of course.”

He almost felt dizzy at the sudden subject change, but Angelo admitted to himself just how much he enjoyed this side of Allison. She appeared relaxed, truly at ease, even though she hadn’t touched her blueberry muffin.

She waited with baited breath, as if that single piece of information was the most exciting thing she would ever learn.

“My mother’s last name is Papadopoulou. Interesting enough for you?”

She didn’t reply. She stared, and then, out of nowhere, she turned red.

Oh? What’s that about?

She avoided his gaze, fidgeting with her napkin and taking another sip of her latte.

“What’s on your mind, Allison?” He whispered her name like a prayer, wanting to tease her as much as she would let him.

“Well… Your last name.”

“What of it?” He needed to know. He wanted access to her most private thoughts.

“It’s…Um, you could have a nickname from that.” She looked at him like that would be the end of it, but there was no way he would drop this now. Not when she was flushed so beautifully.

“Elaborate,” he ordered. She jumped and blushed harder, which instantly piqued his interest.

“It’s just a silly thought, really. There’s no reason to even think about this—” She began to ramble, before he cut her off just the way she seemed to like.

“Allison. Elaborate.” Her name as an order was the only thing she needed. He planned to use that tidbit of information a lot in the next few months.

“Papi.”

One word. A silly word if he was being honest. A word he would typically have no interest in.

That single word was all it took for him to stop breathing. Because that was even better than her calling him daddy. And he needed to hear it again.

“What did you just say?” He practically growled. That one word had turned him hungry. Ravenous. And there was only one thing that would satisfy him.

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