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“First of all,” he practically purred at me, “you’re beautiful, and my viewers would be lucky if they got a chance to set eyes on you while you cooked. Second, you won’t cook it on camera, you just have to eat it on camera. And moan like you love it.”
I gave him a skeptical look. “Since when did your show become R-rated?”
“Since I first heard you eat.” His wide grin was so earnest, my breath hitched at the heat in his voice. “Now, get cookin’, woman.”
I glared at him but slid off the stool and we switched places. I used the distraction of cooking to ignore Antonio until he made it impossible. Two blocks of cheese had to be shredded which meant I didn’t have to look at him.
“How’s Oliver? I wonder if he is why you can’t forgive me for something I haven’t done.”
His question was…astute. Surprisingly, so and I gave him honesty in return. “Probably. But in fairness to Dad, it wasn’t just him. He was just the first man to choose something or someone else, over me. He wasn’t the last, though.”
“Shit.” The word came out on a gruff breath and he shook his head. “That’s rough.”
“Yep. And there is nothing to forgive you for, Antonio. We’ve been over this.”
“Yeah, we have. I don’t need to be forgiven but you want nothing to do with me?”
It was a fair question. “If we spend time together, we’ll end up in bed together.”
He leaned forward, chin rested on his fist. “Tell me more,” he said and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
I laughed because the man was too funny and charming for my peace of mind. “And that’s a problem, because while I had fun with you, I realized that I’m not a fun for the sake of fun kind of girl.” It was beyond fun being with a man like Antonio. He was sexy and sweet, and he had an unexpected depth, a passion for his career. He was exactly the kind of man a woman like me would fall for even though I knew I shouldn’t. “And here we go, basic mac and cheese.”
Antonio smiled when I set the first plate in front of him. “Looks and smells good.” He turned and started filming again with a smile. “This is my good friend’s mac. It’s creamy and cheesy, well-seasoned. The touch of smoked paprika really kicks this up a notch, and I like the Irish cheddar mixed with the mozzarella.” He took a bite and moaned so erotically I had to clench my thighs to stop the aching throb between them. When he opened his eyes, they gleamed with mischief. “Delicious.” He took another bite and then another, until the plate was almost empty.
Antonio licked his lips and smiled at the camera.
Bastard.
“Now we’ll see what we can do to turn this everyday dish into a gourmet dish.”
“How was it really?”
Antonio frowned at me. “It was really good. You can make your mac and cheese for me any day of the week, Augusta. It’s the perfect way to refuel between orgasms.”
“Is that all you think about?”
“No,” he answered seriously. “I also think about how you look in your scrubs. How the kids all love Nurse Gus because she’s so friendly and treats them like grownups. I think about the way your eyes sparkle when you’re challenged, and the way the pulse in your throat flutters like hummingbird wings when you’re turned on. Like now.”
He was right, dammit. I was turned on, and it wasn’t just because of his words, or how gorgeous he looked with his face focused on the dish he created. He moved easily, but I knew every move was well thought out.
“I left you speechless,” he observed with a smile. “Good.”
“Not speechless, I’m just trying to figure out your goal in all of this.” There had to be one, and I didn’t think my limited sexual skills required this much effort.
Instead of answering, he set a beautiful plate of gourmet mac right in front of me, a cocky grin on his face.
“It’s a good-looking plate.” It was the plate you would expect at a restaurant that had a dress code, the kind of place I hadn’t been to in far too long.
“Thanks. It’s lobster and thick-cut pancetta with a garlic and herb breadcrumb topping.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, the mix of scents made my stomach growl loudly. “Damn, Antonio. I’ll never look at my plain mac the same.”
His gaze darkened and before I realized his intent, Antonio stood beside my stool and turned me to face him before he cupped my cheeks and took my mouth with his. The kiss was hungry and intense, right from the start, like he was a man crazed for me. He deepened the kiss and speared his fingers through my hair, growling like a man out of control. His tongue teasing me, playing with me, pleasing me until I moaned.
