Page 11 of Aldo

She laughed. “It’s a great place. People are happy for the most part, the food is good, the other staff are nice.” She yawned. “I have to get used to the hours. But I’ll be fine.” She bit and chewed, swallowing her sandwich and eating some fries that she doused in ketchup. “Speaking of which, thank you for the help with the apartment.”

“You settle in all right?”

She laughed dryly. “I opened my cases. Luckily, there was a sofa there, so I’m fine.”

I wondered why I disliked the word fine so much. I pretended not to know anything and finished my sandwich. “You need a couple pieces of furniture?”

She frowned. “Pardon?”

“We replace stuff all the time. We just renovated an entire floor. We have a bunch of dressers, tables, chairs. You can take your pick.”

She eyed me suspiciously. “I don’t take charity.”

I loved her independence. Her refusal to show any pity for her situation.

“We always let staff get things first. Then we donate the rest.”

It was a bit of a lie. We did donate.

“Oh. I could use a dresser, I guess.”

“Okay. You want to pick?”

“No, I just need some drawer space.”

“Fine. I’ll have one dropped off.”

“Um, maybe a lamp if you have one? I like to read, and the only light in the place is an overhead.”

“Yep. Plenty of those.”

She finished her sandwich and stood. “Thank you, Mr. Ricci.”

“You’re welcome, Ms. Nelson.”

“My friends call me Vi.”

I smiled ruefully. “You have to call me Mr. Ricci.”

“I know.”

Then she leaned down and kissed my cheek. It was fast, unexpected. Soft and sweet. “Thank you, Aldo,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome…Vi.”

We stared at each other. There was no disguising the heat between us. It was a living, breathing thing. My fingers twitched with the need to touch her. My body yearned to feel her close. As close as I could get her.

Before I could give in to my impulses, she grabbed her plate and left.

I stared after her, amused by her forwardness, and holding my cheek.

Why, I wasn’t sure.

Except I was smiling.

Then I picked up her milkshake and finished it.

I was sure it was sweeter because her lips had touched the same straw.