Page 68 of Stuck with my Guarded MVP
He didn’t move right away. Just held it out, his gaze fixed on mine.
“Coffee’s ready,” he said.
I took it without looking away. My fingers closed around the mug, the heat seeping into my hands.
“Thanks.”
He stayed where he was, weight shifted onto one leg, still watching. I lifted the mug, took a sip, and met his eyes over the rim.
Silence. “Do you like osso buco?” he asked.
The question landed so far from where my brain was, it took me a second. “The… braised veal thing?”
His mouth tipped in a half-smile. “That’s the one.”
“Sure,” I said slowly, still trying to catch up. “Why?”
“There’s a great butcher not too far away.” He shifted his weight, the fabric of his T-shirt pulling across his chest as he moved. “Thought you might want to come with me.”
I blinked. “To… buy veal?”
His grip on the doorframe shifted, knuckles tightening for a beat before easing. He glanced down, then back up.
“Well, you know, to continue your culinary education.” The corner of his mouth lifted like this was a perfectly reasonable thing to discuss at my bedroom door.
I took another sip, letting the heat settle against my palms.
We areRoommates. Just roommates.
Still, my mind kept circling back, last night’s candles, his voice saying Nora’s name, and now… shopping for veal?
“Okay,” I heard myself say.
His hand dropped from the frame, fingers flexing once before settling at his side.
His mouth tugged in a small, almost reluctant smile. “Half an hour?”
“Sure.” I said, tucking my hair back.
He gave a single, quick nod and stepped back, and I shut the door before I could think better of it.
I glanced at my planner, but got dressed for our trip to the butcher instead.
The elevator doors slid open. Liam stepped out first, holding the lobby door with his shoulder so I could follow.
Arturo looked up from his post, eyes flicking between us, and I was suddenly aware of how we must look.
“I’ve graduated,” I told him. “From risotto to osso buco. Learning how to pick veal.”
Why am I explaining this to him?
I had no idea.
Liam didn’t say a word, just pressed a hand to the door to hold it open for me.
The air was crisp enough to wake me up faster than the coffee had.
Liam’s hand rested on the small of my back.
