Page 21 of Empire of Temptation

“I haven’t tasted it yet.”

“I can tell from your face. You don’t think it looks good.”

I was usually better at hiding my reactions.

Wiping my face clean, I picked up the knife and fork. “I wasn’t thinking anything of the sort,” I lied and cut a small bite of chicken. Thick cheese shifted around atop the meat like a sloppy mess. I forced myself to balance the meat and cheese onto the fork and bring it to my mouth.

Exactly as I thought. Heavy. All wrong. Too much happening in one bite.

I swallowed and wiped my mouth with the paper napkin. “It’s good.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “You are the worst liar.”

Wrong. I was an excellent liar. My life, my position, depended on it. Instead of commenting, I cut another bite and held the fork up to her mouth. “Now, you.”

There was no need to feed her myself, but a dark craving settled in my veins. I wanted her mouth to touch where mine had been. Dutifully, she leaned forward and accepted the bite, her lips pulling across the tines. Her eyes nearly rolled back in her head as she chewed, a little moan of happiness rumbling in her throat. The sight was so erotic that my cock twitched, blood making its way south to my groin.

“So good,” she said. “Even better than my grandfather’s. Giovanni is a genius.”

I worked on the spaghetti next, anything to keep from staring at her. “I’m surprised you were able to convince him to cook this.”

“He wasn’t happy about it. He told me the cheese ruined it, when everyone knows the cheese is the best part.”

I didn’t comment. The spaghetti wasn’t terrible. Perfectly cooked, even if the sauce was a bit clumsy. I twirled up another bite.

She shifted again, her knee brushing my thigh. I was aware of her every movement, every breath, and it made me anxious, but in a good way. Could she feel this pull between us, too?

Suddenly, she cleared her throat. “Well, I should go. I just wanted to say thank you for, you know. Dinner the other night and for sending Roberto and Giovanni to me.”

I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted her to stay and keep me company. “Do you like them? Will they work out?”

“They’re amazing. Roberto is making suggestions on how we can improve and grow. And Giovanni is a dynamo in the kitchen. I’m both impressed and terrified of him.”

“He won’t hurt you.”

“No, I know that. I mean I’m terrified of getting in his way.”

“It is your restaurant, signorina. Do not let anyone intimidate you.”

“Not even you?”

I fought a smile and looked into her eyes. I held up a bite of pasta for her. “Do I intimidate you?”

Lowering her head, she accepted the bite. “Yes,” she said through a mouthful of pasta.

“Why?” I was genuinely curious. I hadn’t done anything but make her dinner and eat with her. She hadn’t seen me at my worst, not even close.

“Your watch.”

My head snapped up. “Mywatch?”

She covered her face with her hands. “That sounds so stupid. I can’t believe I said that.”

I glanced at the titanium watch on my wrist. A costly purchase,but I hardly ever thought about it. I used the accessory to tell time because I didn’t always carry a phone. “Explain.”

“It’s expensive and sexy.”

Sexy?

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