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“Huh. Fate, it seems.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “That your favorite ice cream is my second favorite? I’d hardly call that fate.”

“Yes, because cookies and cream ismysecond favorite flavor. Our freezer will always be stocked with one we love and we’ll both love the taste of each other’s mouths when we kiss after we eat it.” I gasp at his bluntness, then giggle. “Plus,” he adds, lowering his voice, “I now need to know which flavor tastes better when licked off your body.”

Oh, my God.

I feel my cheeks flush and Santino smirks. “Would you let me do that one day,farfalla?”

I don’t have any words, so I give him a small nod that has his dark eyes flaring with new heat.

He clears his throat when our server returns. “The tiramisu for my wife, and the ricotta cheesecake for me.”

“Can I try yours?” I ask Santino when they arrive.

“Of course.” He pushes his plate towards me and I do the same with mine.

I take a forkful of his cheesecake and a little moan escapes. “Mmm, this is so good. So creamy.”

Santino’s fork freezes on the plate while his eyes burn into mine. He doesn’t look away for a long moment, and then he gives his head a little shake and finally tries my dessert.

Teasing him is fun. Especially when I don’t even do it on purpose.

We finish our desserts and he pays, and when he places his hand on my lower back to guide me through the restaurant again, it feels more intimate than when we arrived.

I find myself wanting to be closer to him. I want him to put his arm around me. I want his hand to slide down to my ass and give it a little squeeze. I want him to brush my hair over my shoulder and kiss me below my ear before whispering how he’s never been on a better date.

Outside, Santino hands the valet his ticket, and as we wait for his car, I shiver, prompting him to take his jacket off and drape it over my shoulders like they do in the movies.

“Such a gentleman, Mr. Antonucci,” I tease.

“For you I am, Mrs. Antonucci.”

“I’m a lucky girl, then.” I smile, and his eyes widen, taking the compliment as it was intended. “This was the best first date I could’ve asked for. Thank you.”

“Oh,” he says, his face falling.

“What?”

“This was our first date, but this was alsoyourfirst date. I should’ve made it more special. I should’ve flown you to Paris on a private jet and rented out the Eiffel Tower for a private dinner.”

I can’t help but laugh at his wild idea of a first date. “Santino, while that soundsveryspecial indeed, not to mention incredibly expensive for a first date, it wasn’t necessary. What made dinner so great wasn’t the location or food. It was you. It was us talking and getting to know one another.”

His cocky grin has me smiling right back at him. “Huh, well, isn’t that fortunate?” Santino leans down and brushes his lips against my cheek and then whispers in my ear, “This was the best date of my life, Mia, but one day, I will take you on that incredibly expensive and so-called unnecessary date to Paris becauseit isnecessary to me.”

“If you insist.”

“I do. But our date isn’t over yet,farfalla. I still have that surprise I promised you.”

I lean my face against his. “Show me, then.”

Chapter 20

Mia

I don’t follow where we’re driving to because my attention is once again focused on Santino’s hand on my thigh. My dress rode up when I slide into the car this time, and he pushes the fabric up an inch more so he can rub his fingers against my bare skin.

I’m lulled into a trance, and am disappointed when the drive ends and he leaves me feeling bereft again.

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