Page 49 of Hard Luck (Blackstone House)

Interesting. She was a regular? And she usually came with a bigger party? For some reason, Cole hadn’t really considered that she might be part of a large social group. She always seemed like such a loner.

Bella leaned to the side and pretended to check under the table. “Sure looks that way.”

“Chef is making almond-and-orange pandoro—I’ll give you a box to take for Marcel.”

Marcel? Who was Marcel?

“He’ll be happy about that.”

“You’ll have the tagliatelle alla nostromo?”

“Could you give us a minute?”

“Of course, of course.”

The woman backed away, and Cole couldn’t help himself.

“Marcel?”

“Chill, he’s gay.”

“I wasn’t worried, more curious. You seem so…”

“Antisocial?”

“I’m not sure I would have used that word.”

“I just like to keep my sex life separate from the other parts of my life.”

“You don’t find it easy to trust people.”

“So? I have good reason.”

There it was. Someone—he suspected a man—had hurt her, and hurt her badly. And Cole didn’t want to repeat that mistake.

“I understand. I really do. Let’s forget about the past and focus on tonight. You come here with your friends?”

She gave the slightest nod.

“So let’s pretend this is just another one of those times,except tonight you’re with a different friend. Chocolate or cheese?”

“What?”

“Which do you prefer? Chocolate or cheese?”

“Why does that matter?”

“It doesn’t. We can eat good food and discuss things that are totally inconsequential in the big scheme of things.”

For a long moment, he thought she was going to trash the idea, but she scrunched her mouth to the side and then answered.

“Cheese.”

“Because it’s healthier?”

“Because it has a higher melting point. Can’t carry an emergency chocolate bar in your purse in Vegas.”

“So you carry an emergency cheese stick?”

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