Good. Great.Fuck.
I can’t blow this.
My glass makes a sharp clink as I set it on the coffee table. I get to my feet and walk over to her until the distance between us shrinks to mere inches. “Why the change of heart?”
She lifts her gaze to my face and doesn’t back away. Another small hint I’m tempted to read a lot into. She’s done everything she can to keep her distance from me since we got to New York.
“I’d like a change of scenery.”
I pick up on that familiar vanilla scent. The day I had all those things delivered to her, I made sure they bought the shampoo she used in Darkwater. It’s become my favorite smell.
“All right,” I say softly, already thinking of all the ways I’m going to make tonight count. “C’mon.”
There’s no better place for an intimate date than Velluto.
Excitement buzzes deep inside my belly as we walk into the familiar art-deco building where Chef Lorenzo makes the best pasta in the city. It’s always busy. I wrap my arm around Blake’swaist to keep her close to me. She doesn’t try to pull away. She seems too distracted studying our surroundings to notice my touch. The walls are covered with eye-catching mosaics from the Amalfi Coast.
Tanner, the manager of the place, spots me over the crowd near the front and comes over to greet us. He shakes my hand. “It’s been a while, Nero.”
I’m not sure if he knows everyone assumed I was dead for the six months I was been gone, but I’m guessing no. He’s a civilian, and he’s smart enough not to stick his nose into mob business, even if he regularly hosts our guys. This place is neutral territory.
“Glad to be back. How are the wife and kids?”
“Kids are good when they’re not destroying our house. They’re at that age now. Clara took them to see our family in Bari this week.” His eyes move to Blake.
“This is my wife, Blake. Blake, this is Tanner.”
Tanner smiles and nods in greeting, knowing better than to touch her. “Good to meet you. Give me a moment to get your table ready for you.”
A group of four walk into the already tight waiting area, and I act out of instinct and pull Blake into my chest. I don’t like the thought of her being jostled by anyone.
She feels so right in my arms. Her vanilla scent fills my nostrils once again, and this time, I can’t resist leaning down and pressing my nose against her hair.
I hear her suck in a clipped breath.
A second passes. Then two. She’s not pulling away.
The hope inside of me grows.
“Nero?”
“What, Sunshine?” A host comes over and leads the group to the table they reserved.
“Are you okay?”
I smile against her hair. “Mm-hmm. There are some people walking behind you. You were in their way.”
“Oh.” Her breath fans against my chest. “A big group coming in?”
“Yeah. Like ten people. Just give it a bit longer. They’ll pass.” They’re long gone, but my arm tightens around her waist. I’m enjoying every fucking second of having her this close to me.
Too bad Tanner returns all too quickly.
Damn it. For once, I wish he’d made me wait.
We follow him into the dining room, to my usual table in the charming corner nook where Blake and I will have some privacy. I don’t need to tell Tanner which wine to serve us. He always has a bottle of my favorite Chianti from a small winery near San Gimignano stashed away just in case.
Blake asks for my opinion on what to order, which strikes me as something she wouldn’t do if she was still angry with me.
