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Annabelle and Danteate dinner in the back of the house, overlooking the pool. Viviana had preparedcarne mechada, Venezuelan shredded beef, one of Dante’s favorite dishes. Packed with flavor from the onions, peppers, and cumin, he called it comfort food.
During the meal, he expressed his optimism after the conversation with Nolson. Nolson hadn’t given him a final price yet, but he was closer to his goal of owning the iconic building.
When the meal ended, a member of the staff came out and cleared away the dishes.
“Will you be having dessert tonight?” she asked.
“Nothing for me,” Dante said.
“Nothing for me, either. That’s it for tonight,” Annabelle said, dismissing her with a smile.
The young woman nodded and left them alone.
“What’s on your mind?” Across the table, Dante watched her with a question in his eyes.
“What makes you think there’s something on my mind?”
“I’ve come to know you very well in the past few months. There’s definitely something on your mind, whether or not you tell me.”
They’d become so close he could read her moods. She was able to do the same with him. She knew when he experienced problems at work because he entered the house with his brow puckered and a solemn expression on his face. If the day passed with few problems or he closed a lucrative deal, his step was lighter and his face more open.
“I was thinking about something. It’s just an idea.” Annabelle’s stomach knotted tighter than a sailor’s hitch. “What if we go out every now and again, as a couple?”
His eyes narrowed a fraction. “We already do. We have invitations to attend events all the way through the fall.”
“No, I mean…” She hated asking for this. Making the request was almost humiliating, but she swallowed her pride and lifted her head higher. “I want you to take me out. Not like going to the fashion show or Nolson’s party or the gala we went to last week. A date. Just the two of us, spending time together.” She stopped and held her breath, refusing to lower her gaze though she desperately wanted to.
Dante extended his hand to her. “Come here.”
She walked over to him but stood out of arm’s reach.
“Come here,querida.”
She edged close enough for him to take her hand and pull her between his legs. “If I take you on a date, will that stop you from becoming cranky?”
“I’m never cranky,” Annabelle said haughtily.
He chuckled, his eyes lighting up and the dimples in his cheeks deepening. God, he was handsome when he laughed. His dark eyes lit up, the dimples appeared, and his entire face transformed into a softer expression. Longing coupled with fear burned in her chest. How would she survive when they ended their marriage?
Don’t think about it.
“Will going on a date keep you agreeable?” Dante amended.
“Maybe.”
His expression turned serious. “If you want to go on a date, I will take you on a date.”
“Is that something you want to do too?” Annabelle asked. There was no point in going forward with these plans if Dante didn’t want to do it.
“Very much.” He pulled her onto his lap, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Face to face, they gazed into each other’s eyes.
Cradling the back of her head, Dante kissed her, and she melted against him.
“Whateverla reinawants, she can have,” he whispered.
Annabelle cupped his hard jaw and kissed him harder, feeling as if her soul was about to crack open. A torrent of emotions unleashed inside of her because what he said wasn’t exactly true. She couldn’t have whatever she wanted.
