Page 43 of Flirting with the CEO

"I'm happy that they stuck with their art because now it's paying off. I think. My brother's trying to figure out if they're really doing well, financially speaking, or if they need our help. When we were kids, it was easy to tell if things were good based on how much food was in the house."

I stilled. "What?"

She nodded. "We had some really tough years when they went through a bit of a dry spell. They took other jobs to be able to support us, but it wasn't really enough. They both studied art—that’s actually how they met—so they didn't have any other marketable skills. But we made it through. I'm so happy they finally found some success. They're both very devoted to their art." She tilted her head. "Why are you looking at me like that?”

"I didn't realize you had such a tough time growing up.”

"Well, maybe we didn’t have a lot of toys and things, but our house was full of love. We had one another's backs. My parents gave their very best, and that's all we can ask of someone, isn't it?"

"I'm not used to people having your positive outlook."

She grinned. “You'd better get used to it. Anyway, my brother is better at gauging the situation than I am. I'm meeting them both tomorrow, and we'll see what Dean has to say."

"You see them every week?" I asked.

She shook her head, and I leaned in, kissing her shoulder. "Depends on how much time we have. How about you?"

"I'm actually meeting my family for breakfast tomorrow at my grandparents' place. It used to be a regular thing, but now with a few of my brothers having families, it's not as easy to coordinate."

"And they all got help from Jeannie, huh?” She smirked.

I raised a brow. "Why do you find that so amusing?”

"I don't know. I would have enjoyed having a meddling grandma. All my grandparents passed away when I was young. Jeannie seems like fun. My mom was so happy about the picture."

She straightened up, tilting her head from one side to the other.

“More wine?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes, please. I like that you can anticipate my needs."

I wanted to do more than that—I wanted to anticipateandfulfill them all. I'd never had this impulse to take care of anyone who wasn't related to me before, but Zoey had this inexplicable effect on me. I didn't want her to go without anything. She wanted to look after her parents. I wanted to take care of her.

The food arrived quickly. I tipped the delivery guy generously and brought the food to the kitchen counter. Zoey immediately took it out of the cartons, opening it and inhaling deeply.

"Ahhhh, I love good Chinese," she said. “Although Greek food is my favorite.”

“How come?”

“I went to Crete once to visit a friend from high school, and I fell in love with the food. Revani cake is my favorite dessert ever. But now let’s eat. I’m starving.”

I'd ordered mushroom pork. She'd ordered something with chicken. I put it in two bowls, and we ate right there at the kitchen counter.

She grinned. "I wouldn't have taken you for someone who enjoys Chinese."

"Why not?" I asked.

"I don't know. It's not very fancy."

I pinched her ass. "Are you calling me a snob?"

She pressed her lips together. "No, not at all. I don't know, I guess your fancy shirts with cuff links suggest you're not a Chinese takeout type of guy."

I lifted a brow.

She grinned. "Am I wrong?"

I kissed her cheek, wrapping my fingers in her hair. It was so damn silky and smelled so good. I wanted to bury my nose in it and lose myself in her scent—in her.

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