Page 99 of Empire of Temptation

“The idea upsets you?”

“It’s pretty overwhelming. I mean, I’ve never had a boyfriend before, so I didn’t know what to expect. But I wouldn’t ever have imagined one like you.”

“Older?”

She nodded. “And Italian. And a man with a very dangerous job.”

I leaned closer and put my free hand on her thigh. “Normal jobsare boring. And Italian men are handsome and well dressed. We like good food and good wine. And I’m very rich, well-endowed. What’s not to love, piccolina?”

Chuckling, she reached over and caressed my jaw with soft, gentle fingers. “Let’s not forget arrogant.”

A throat cleared, catching our attention. I eased back in my chair but didn’t remove my hand from her leg. Our server was there, two plates in her hands. “I apologize, but I have your next course.”

“That’s fine, Lizzie,” Valentina told the girl. “We’re ready.”

Two plates were set before us, and conversations about our relationship were quickly forgotten.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Valentina

Icould feel the stares of nearly everyone in the room. They were watching me with Luca, wondering, speculating. The gossip would spread like wildfire across all of Paesano by tomorrow.

I tried not to let it bother me.

Tonight wasn’t about me; it was about celebrating the reopening and Giovanni’s brilliance. I didn’t know if an upscale Italian bistro would work in this small town, but I was willing to try. The social media posts were getting good results, and everyone seemed encouraged. There were a large number of tourists in the Hudson Valley, especially in the summer and fall, so maybe they would come here.

But I couldn’t worry about all that, not right now.

I finished my small plate of saffron risotto, which was absurdly delicious. Luca had a linguini and shrimp dish, and he said it was the best he’d ever tasted. No doubt this was a lie for my benefit, but I’d take it. I needed all the positivity I could get.

Luca topped off my wine, then refilled his glass. His hands were sexy and strong, the veins shifting along with bones and tendons. Hehad clean, manicured nails. There was something appealing about a man who took care of himself, who liked for the world to notice him.

“Are you done inspecting me?”

I looked up and found him smirking at me. “I like your hands.”

“This is good because they will be all over you in a short while.”

I rolled my eyes. Relentless, this man. But I wasn’t leaving early tonight. How would it look if I left before everyone else? This was my restaurant. I had to stay and congratulate everyone, not to mention close out the receipts. I reached for my water, not the wine. I needed to keep my wits around Luca.

Lizzie returned with our next course and when she set the plate in front of me, I smiled. Chicken parmigiana. “Tell him thank you,” I told Lizzie. “I know he wanted to send out something else.”

As she gave Luca an order of the stuffed chicken, Lizzie said, “I think it’s growing on him. And it’s one of the most popular orders tonight.”

“I’m not surprised. It’s a classic for a reason.” I loved the way Giovanni prepared my grandfather’s chicken parm. It was the same Montella sauce, but Giovanni used tomatoes canned in Italy and fresh herbs instead of dried. He also sprinkled a blend of cheeses atop the breaded chicken instead of just mozzarella. In my humble opinion, more cheese makes most things taste better.

I waved my hand toward the magnificence that was my plate and asked Luca, “Would you like another taste?”

“No, thank you. Once was enough.”

I studied him as he cut his stuffed chicken. “Did you finish it or throw it away that night? Be honest.”

“I ate it. Every bite.”

“Admit it. You loved it.”

“I most definitely did not.”

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