Page 55 of Silver Fake

The oven dings, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I don't want to have this conversation tonight. I don't have the words to tell her how I feel or the strength to deal if she rejects me. So I will take tonight as one more night where we just enjoy each other.

For now, I get to pretend everything is right in our world.

Maybe it is. Maybe we don't have to define things. We can be here together and enjoy each other for as long as possible.

I smile as I open the oven to pull out the garlic bread. Lisa turns my way as I set the pan on the counter.

"That smells amazing," she says.

I laugh. "It's just bread. Your sauce makes this place smell like a five-star Italian restaurant."

She grins. "It is pretty delicious. Here," she holds the wooden spoon up with a sample of sauce on it, "try it."

I take a taste. "Mmm. It's pretty good, but it could be better."

Her mouth drops open, and I fight the urge to laugh at how offended she looks.

"What do you mean by that?" she asks with a pout.

"Give me the spoon, I tell her."

She glares as she hands it over to me. Then I dip my finger in the sauce and place it on her bottom lip.

A small smile starts to tilt the corners of her mouth as I lean in. I thread my fingers through the hair at the nape of her neck and press my lips to hers.

I run my tongue over her lips, tasting the sauce. Then I coax her mouth open with my tongue so she can taste the sauce, too.

Lisa moans as I deepen the kiss, and after only a few seconds, she's breathless and panting.

When I lift my head, I wink. "See. It tastes much better like that. Don't you think?"

She laughs and swats me on the arm. "You're incorrigible."

"But am I wrong?"

With a grin, she shakes her head. "No. You're not wrong."

"Good." I move in closer, putting my hands on her hips, and lean down to kiss her again. Lisa puts a finger between our lips, stopping me, and I groan.

"Dinner first," she says.

I drop my forehead to hers. "I'd rather start with dessert."

She chuckles. "The last time we did that, dinner was ruined by the time we were through. Maybe tonight we save that dessert for after our food."

I sigh and kiss her on the nose. "Fine, you win."

I take two plates down from the cabinet and Lisa scoops pasta onto each one. After that, I add the bread and we head into the dining room.

My condo is large and open, but the dining room is a smaller, more intimate space. A large circular table made from dark mahogany sits at the center, with plush, comfortable chairs around it. Modern art pieces adorn the walls, but it's the low-hanging chandelier that steals the show, casting a warm and inviting glow over the room.

Lisa has a candle lit in the center of the table. She looks so beautiful that I get caught up looking at her and miss my mouth with my first bite.

Lisa laughs. "Do you need me to get you a bib?"

Grabbing my napkin, I wipe my mouth and say, "Sorry, I got distracted."

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