Page 31 of Empire of Temptation

“Still.” He frowned in the direction of the crowded bar. “I would feel better if we asked the gentlemen to leave.”

“No, you can’t! We need the bar revenue. And if the guys leave, my friends will want to leave, too.”

“Valentina,” he said along with a heavy sigh. “This is asking for trouble.”

“It’ll be fine. We’ll order cars for everyone at the end of the night so no one drives home. Please, Roberto. This is the first book club where I’ve been able to sit and hang out. Normally, I’m running around during dinner service. Let me enjoy just one.”

He threw up his hands and returned to the bar, where he was helping our one bartender serve drinks. Yes, we probably should’ve hired more staff, but I wanted to keep the overhead low tonight. Our finances needed all the help they could get.

When I returned to the table, Sam leaned over. “What is Mr. Fancy Pants upset about?”

“He doesn’t like all the guys hanging out in the bar, drinking and waiting for book club to end.”

“Did you explain how it’s the only time some of us get laid in this town?”

“In a roundabout way, yes. Don’t worry, I didn’t take away your dick parade.”

She snickered and sipped more wine. “If only. Can you imagine? Wrapped with little streamers and balloons?”

“Yes, I can only imagine,” I grumbled. Most women my age had loads of sexual experience, but I felt like I was miles behind everyone else.

“Oh, Val. I’m sorry. I forgot.” She bumped my shoulder. “Look at them over there. It’s easy. Just pick one and start talking to him. The rest will take care of itself.”

Maggie, who sat on my other side, turned at Sam’s advice. “Are we trying to get Val some action tonight?”

“Yes,” Sam said at the same time I said, “No.”

“It’s a waste of time, Sam,” Maggie said. “These guys aren’toldenough orItalianenough.”

“Oh, fuck off,” I said and tried to hide my smile behind another sip of wine.

“Why are yougrinning?” Sam asked. “What happened?”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I’d been dying to tell them. “I took dinner up to the Portofino mansion,” I whispered.

“No, you did not!” Sam exclaimed, while Maggie said, “Holy shit!”

This got the attention of the entire table. I didn’t want to share this story wide, so I led the conversation in a different direction. When everyone ignored us again, I said, “I took Luca chicken parm. And it was your idea,” I said accusingly to Sam.

Maggie held out her fist to Sam and the two fist-bumped. “So then what happened?”

“Did he profess his love after he tasted it?” Sam asked. “Because I swear I would marry that dish if it were socially acceptable.”

“No, he did not. I don’t think he even liked it.”

Maggie’s mouth fell open. “Bullshit. I don’t believe it. Everyone loves that chicken parm.”

I went to drink more wine, then realized my glass was empty. Was this my second or third glass? I couldn’t be sure, so I refilled it with some Fiorentino rosé. “Well, he didn’t. He shared a few bites of it with me.”

Sam clasped her hands together and put them under her chin. “LikeLady and the Trampstyle?”

“What?”

“You know, with the spaghetti. Come on, everyone has seen that movie.”

“Yeah, when they werefive,” Maggie said. “Let’s get back to this intimate dinner.” She ignored the roll of my eyes and kept going. “What happened next?”

“Nothing. I made up an excuse and left.”

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