Page 14 of Keeping Lucy

“What? I said I’d look after you and I meant it.”

“And I never would have agreed to that if I knew it included five-hundred-dollar hiking boots.”

“Lucia—”

Normally I melted when he called me that, but on this I had to draw the line. “No, I’ll get them myself. Thank you anyway, though.” To mollify him, I stood on tiptoe in my brand new hiking boots and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Just shopping with me and not complaining is looking after me.”

I could tell he wanted to disagree and insist, but something in my look must have let him know I was really serious. “Fine.”

I smiled at the grumbly tone. “Thank you.”

The clerk smiled at both of us. “My husband does that all the time, too. It’s so cute.”

I didn’t know how to reply to that. But I didn’t say anything, because explaining to her that we weren’t married would be awkward and unnecessary. I noticed Dante didn’t correct her, either.

We walked out of the store hand in hand, Dante carrying the bag with my ultra-amazing hiking boots. “What now?” I asked. He gave me a knowing look in reply, and I felt heat pool in my belly. “Well. I suppose you’ve earned it.”

His answering chuckle had my breath hitching. As we rushed out of the mall and into a waiting taxi, I felt my blood warming in anticipation. Nothing had prepared me for how Dante Moretti could make me feel, or what he could make me do.

CHAPTER6

Lucy

“What the fuck even is citrus ponzu?”

Dante laughed. “I have no idea, but it’s part of the tasting menu, so just go with it.”

“Hmph.”

We were sitting in one of the top restaurants in Seattle, where Dante had insisted we go when I said I rarely ate anywhere other than the major chain restaurants. Why? You guessed it, Richard, who had liked to eat at places he knew well where he wouldn’t be surprised by an odd ingredient that triggered one of his many food allergies, or by the size of the bill. This place Dante and I were in was pretty impressive, with polished concrete flooring, fancy wood paneling on the walls and booths, and floor-to-ceiling wine racks at intervals between the panels.

“I know exactly what you’re doing, you know,” I said with a pout.

“Is that a fact?”

“Yeah. You’ve gone with the whole tasting menu idea, so that I don’t just order the cheapest thing on the menu, since you’ve already made it clear you’re paying.”

He laughed again, completely unrepentant. “Just enjoy it and don’t be such a grumpypants about it.”

I bit my lip and looked at him uncertainly. “Iambeing a grumpypants, aren’t I? I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.”

“You are, but don’t worry about it. It’s adorable.” He reached over and ran the tip of his finger down the back of my hand. “Let me spoil you, Lucia. Please.” He said the last part softly, in a low voice that made my heart stutter uncomfortably.

I put the menu down and took a deep breath, letting go of my resistance. “Well, when you put it that way…”

“Good girl.”

The waiter, impeccably dressed in a dark maroon suit, with his blond hair meticulously combed and held in place with just the right amount of product, delivered the wine menu with an understated flourish. “Good evening. I’m Sebastian. I’ll be looking after you tonight.” He clasped his hands together. “So, what do we have here? Birthday? Anniversary? Engagement?” He even went so far as to flick a look at my left hand.

“Birthday.”

My eyes widened at Dante’s answer as he gestured to me.

“Ah, happy birthday.”

“Yes, it’s her twenty-first.”

Poor Sebastian tried so desperately to hide his surprise. “Congratulations.”

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