Page 21 of Aldo

Far too much to be happy about it.

I ate, my phone mercifully silent. I surreptitiously stalked her around the deli, eating the damn salad and trying not to laugh when she brought me a small order of fries, informing me I had done well. She assured me I would thank her later. Her cheek and feistiness amused me. I was used to being treated with kid gloves. She didn’t give a shit. It was refreshing.

I wanted to take her somewhere and thank her by showing her how healthy I was. The idea of using that jaunty little scarf to muffle her gasps of pleasure filtered through my head more than once. But I knew that wasn’t a good idea.

I wiped my mouth, stiffening as I saw her lingering at another table where a man sat, alone. He had been there for a while, and more than once, I had noticed how his eyes followed her. How often she stopped by his table to check on him. The way his gaze lingered on her as she walked away.

I felt something angry and red drip into my chest at his obvious attraction. It bloomed and deepened when she brought him his tab, and he chatted at her, offering her his phone for her number. She shook her head, and he wrote something on a napkin and handed it to her, holding her hand longer than he should have as he pressed it to her palm. Fury began as she slipped it into the pocket of her apron. He left with a self-satisfied smile on his face. It took everything in me not to go after him and tell him she was off-limits.

I had no right to do that.

Instead, I followed her down the hall as she walked to the supply room, grabbing a stack of napkins. She turned, gasping when she saw me behind her.

“Aldo,” she exclaimed, laying a hand over her heart. “I didn’t hear you.”

“Mr. Ricci,” I retorted, my voice raspy and low with warning.

“Mr. Ricci,” she repeated, not at all worried.

“Too busy thinking about your admirer?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“What?”

“I saw him give you his number.”

“Which I don’t plan on using.”

“Good,” I snapped. “You can’t date customers.”

She lifted her chin. “Is this a new rule?”

“It’s policy,” I insisted.

“I’ll have to ask HR about that.” She began to move past me, but I shot my arm out, blocking her way. She stopped, lifting an eyebrow. “Excuse me.”

I dipped my hand into her apron pocket, pulling out the napkin with the offensive number scrawled across it. “Ron,” it read over the digits.

“No dating customers.”

She turned, stepping nearer to me. I could feel her warmth. Smell the soft fragrance she wore. “Who should I date then, Aldo? Want to introduce me to someone? A friend, perhaps?”

“No,” I snarled, my arm going around her waist and pulling her close. “No one.”

“But I have needs,” she whispered. “Who will help me with those?”

We were so close, our lips were almost touching. I felt her breath on my skin. Tasted her in the air. A low growl built in my chest. I yanked her closer, daring to cup her ass with my free hand. I almost groaned at the feeling of her. “Stop tempting me.”

“I was only doing my job.” She reached out, running her finger along my scruff. “I like this,” she whispered. “I wonder how it would feel on my skin.”

I covered her mouth with mine, kissing her in frustration. Her lips were soft and pliant. Full and welcoming. I kissed her harder, sliding my tongue in as her mouth parted. Her taste exploded in my head, filling my senses. I explored every part of her, running my tongue along her teeth, over the roof of her mouth, twining with hers. Groaning deep in my chest at the taste and feel of her. Wanting more. Needing more. Determined to have it. I cupped her ass fully, yanking her tight to me. She whimpered, lifting one leg and wrapping it around me. I settled between her thighs, my cock hard and aching for her. I ground against her, and she moaned, a low, throaty sound that ramped me up more.

And then I heard it. Footsteps and a voice calling her name.

Reality crashed down around me. We were in the supply closet of the restaurant. Wanda was looking for her.

I stepped back. Violet’s eyes were wide, her lips wet. My cock screamed at being denied what he wanted.

I shook my head.