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Bianca looks at me.
I can sense what she’s thinking. Where will we be in a month?
If I have my way, we’ll be in bed as soon as that soft launch is over. I want the same tonight, but I have no idea what Bianca wants.
“I’ll be here,” she says while keeping her gaze trained on my face. “If I can help at all, I hope you’ll let me know.”
Annalise chuckles. “I just may take you up on that. I’ll get your number from Rome.”
A soft smile glides over Bianca’s lips. She doesn’t drop a hint that I’m still walking around town without her number in my contact list.
So far, I’ve seen it as more of a challenge than a burden, but that’s not the case anymore.
“Are you both ready for dessert?”
Bianca sighs. “I shouldn’t, but who am I kidding? Dessert is a good day’s reward, right?”
Annalise pats me on the shoulder. “Rome lives by those words.”
I laugh because damn right I do. They were first said to me years ago, and since then, I’ve said them a time or two myself.
I pat Annalise’s hand. “Bring it on.”
She leans down to plant a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for everything, and by the way, I like her.”
“I like her too,” I say while I stare across the table into Bianca’s eyes.
Chapter 24
Bianca
We stroll down the sidewalk next to each other. This evening has been perfect. The food was divine, the ambiance was warm, and Roman was a gentleman.
While we were sharing a few small dessert plates, he held my gaze for a beat too long when Annalise came over to ask how everything was.
After that, she excused herself and hid in the kitchen until Roman pushed back from the table to stand.
I thanked Annalise with a hug and a promise that I’d be back for the official soft launch. She called tonight a super soft launch. I call it a night to remember, and it’s not over yet.
“You had a good time,” Roman says as we round a corner.
I’m letting him lead the way. If he takes me back to his place, I know I’ll need a minute to decide if that’s what I want.
I can’t deny that I’ve been thinking non-stop about what it would be like to have sex with him, but I can’t say for sure if I’m ready for that to happen tonight or not.
“That didn’t sound like a question,” I joke.
He turns to look at me. “It wasn’t asking if you have a good time. I was pointing it out.”
His arrogance is becoming less annoying and more charming.
“How could I not?” I sigh. “Your cousin is a gifted chef.”
“She is,” he agrees with a nod of his head. “I’m glad she decided to do this. I’m not an expert, but Lise has promise.”
“I think so too,” I chime in as the wind picks up. “I know I’ll be going there regularly.”
He moves a step closer to me as a group of people strolls past us. “With me, I hope.”
I’m hoping for that too.
Feeling more and more like I want him to take me home, I test the waters. “Are we headed for a nightcap?”
He stops and reaches for my hand. I stop too when I feel the warmth of his touch.
We stare at each other for a moment. Nothing passes between us but a keen understanding that this feels comfortable, important, and special in a way that, at least, for me, I’ve never felt before.
He drags my hand up until it’s resting against his lips. “I can’t tonight.”
I’m disappointed and surprised, but I don’t show it. Instead, I smile. “Maybe another night.”
He kisses my palm before he wraps his hand around mine to hold them both against the center of his chest. “Definitely another night.”
I look past him to the nearest subway stop. “I think I’ll hop on the subway and head home.”
His gaze stays trained on my face. “I live nearby, so I’ll walk.”
That stings. The fact that he lives near here but hasn’t tried to take me home hits me in a way it shouldn’t. Instinctively, I know it’s because I’m still feeling some lingering pain over what happened with Kieran.
His infidelity was fueled by something within him, but I can’t ignore the fact that there was a bite of rejection that came with it.
“Bianca,” he whispers my name as he cradles my hand close to his chest. “I want you. Jesus, do I want you.”
I smile.
“That text message I got right before we left Lise changed my plans,” he admits. “I wish to hell I could blow it off, but I can’t.”
I hear the regret in his tone. I saw it on his face too when he checked his phone as we were leaving the bistro. “As long as it’s not your wife or your girlfriend, I understand.”
