Page 16 of The Specialist

She took another sip of her coffee, her eyes dancing. “Meh. I was sleep-deprived. I can’t rely on my memory.”

“Is that a fact? Are you telling me, Sofia, that you require another session with me to improve your memory?”

“A session?” She laughed. “It might help.”

“Well then, far be it for me not to come to your aid.” I lifted her off the stool and strode back down the hall. “A man has to do what a man has to do.”

She bit down on my neck, soothing the slight burn with a swipe of her tongue. “Good idea, Egan. Show me how manly you are. Really hard.”

I followed her down to the mattress.

Really hard.

I could do that.

* * *

The next morning, I cooked her breakfast, watching as she ate heartily. “I love watching you eat the food I make for you.”

“I could get used to it,” she confessed. “Your cooking spoils me.”

“Good. We can move in together upstairs. Bigger place. I will cook for you every day.”

She gaped at me. “I don’t think so, mio uomo.”

“What does that mean?” I asked. She had never called me anything but Egan.

“Friend.” She smirked. “With a big ego. I am not moving in with you.”

I eyed her suspiciously, but I didn’t push it.

“Why not?”

She shook her head, looking frustrated. “You’re like a runaway train. We have barely begun and you want to move in.”

I shrugged. “It makes sense.”

“It makes no sense!” She threw up her hands. “Egan, it’s too fast.”

“Well, soon, then. Your place is small. My place is small. Upstairs is bigger. We can have it, and I can rent out these places. Make more money for Damien.”

She snorted. Actually snorted. The sound made me grin.

“Damien doesn’t need the money. Otherwise, he would have rented upstairs already.”

“He has,” I told her. “To me.”

Again, she gaped. “Come again?”

“I pay rent for upstairs, so when you are ready, we can move.”

“If you’re paying rent upstairs, why are you still in the apartment down here?” she asked, obviously confused.

I leaned over the table and brushed my fingers down her cheek. “To be closer to you.”

Her eyes softened, a smile tugging on her mouth.

“Damn you, Egan. You say the sweetest things.”