Page 159 of All We Need

“Excuse me a minute,Ineed to visit the little boys’ room.”Mydad excuses himself.

I push my food around the plate, feeling both full and empty.

To my mother’s credit, she doesn’t chastise me.Herhand settles on my arm, squeezing once before she stands.

“Where are you going?”Iask as she walks toward the kitchen door.

“I am going to fetch more wine.”Shenods at my plate. “Keepeating, you’ll feel better.”

Alone with my thoughts, and a meal that holds too many memories,Ipush back my chair and reach to clear my plate when my mom returns.

“Are you a vegetable?Becauseyou make my heart skip a beet.”

Silverware and porcelain crash to the table.

The hairs on my arms stand to attention and my breath hitches.

How amIso clueless?

I’m convinced this is a dream untilIturn toward the doorway where that soothing, baritone voice came from.

My eyes lock with dazzling blue, and the world tilts.Pressed, white chef shirt, snug black pants, red bandanna secured around his mop of brown hair, and the crooked smileInever stood a chance against.

“What are you doing here?”Iwhisper, fingers trembling over my lips.

Booth’s features soften as his gaze sweeps over me. “I’myour chef.”Hegestures down his torso. “Isn’tit obvious?”

My chef.

“You’re here?”

He steps closer and my heart gallops in my chest. “Ofcourse, my girl lives here.She’sa big-shot investor.Themost stunning womanI’veever seen in my life.Fierceas fire, and strong as the ocean.But…I’ma little mad at her.”

My smile drops. “Whatdid she do?”

Smirking, he nears closer until there are only several inches between us, and leans casually against the dining table. “She’salways calling me out on my shit.Lovespushing my buttons and giving me a hard time.Ifucking love it.Buta few days ago, she didn’t do that.Instead, she showed me patience and didn’t pressure me whenIneeded it most.”

“She sounds smart.”Myhands twitch at my sides.

He lets out a low whistle. “Thesmartest.Usually.Thething is, if she’d have used that big, beautiful brain of hers, and bullied me into doing whatIwas too scared to do, she would know thatIcalled the executive chef of theSilverGoddessand agreed to meet with him tomorrow.Shewould also know quitting my job isn’t the scariest thing anymore.”

My eyes blow wide. “Youquit?Whatabout your family?”

A subtle smile pulls at his mouth. “Doyou want to know what scares me now?”

He reaches out and brushes a frizzy curl away from my face, completely dismissing my nonsensical questions.Thatsingle touch unravels me, and a tear trickles down my cheek.

I lean into his warmth, reveling in the rough skin on his hand. “What?

When he bends down and inhales against my hair, my knees threaten to buckle.

A strong hand cups my jaw, dragging my misty gaze up. “Thatshe might never know how insanely in love with herIam.Howevery day with her opened my eyes to a whole new world and made me a better man.”Hislips press to my forehead as he murmurs, “I’msorry for holding myself back—Iwas an idiot, so blinded by a promiseImade long ago, thatIlost sight of what’s important: happiness.Andyou,AlessandraArgiros, have made me the happiest man alive, with your cute frowns and secret smiles.Icould live without oxygen, food, and wealth, because it’s fucking pointless if you’re not there with me.That’sall we need,Silv.Youand me.”Hepauses, and my heart thunders at his pleading eyes. “I’llmove heaven and earth to make this work,Alessandra.Justsay the word.”

“But what about work?I’llbe inGerma?—”

He cuts me off. “Distancemeans nothing to me, baby.Solong asIhave you, that’s all that matters.”Hislips brush over mine.Notquite a kiss. “Ilove you,Silver.AndIknow you love me.”

Laughter bursts from me, along with more tears that he quickly wipes away. “Whatmakes you so sure?”

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