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“Or I could just make it for you whenever you want.”
“That sounds, ah, nice.” I swallowed down the hope and the butterflies ready to take flight as his words, at the heat when he looked at me. I wouldn’t get my hopes up until I had a reason.
“Nice, huh?”
“Yep, nice.” I looked at the table again and sighed. “What’s the theme for today’s video?”
“Romance.” He set his cocktail down and took my hand in his, brushing a soft kiss to the palm. “It’s the theme for the night, actually.” He smiled at my short intake of breath. “Have a seat.”
I smiled when Antonio held the chair out for me, like the perfect gentleman. It was sweet and his nervous smile made me want to kiss him.
But, not yet.
“Don’t be nervous. I’ll shoot the food and the table, then the intro and then I get you all to myself.”
I shivered at his words and nodded. “Sounds good.” It felt like more was going on than I was aware of, but I decided to just go with the flow. He hasn’t said anything about a future so I kept my smile in place and tried to stare at the man, and not his ass encased in denim.
“Hey guys and dolls, thanks for spending another day with me, your Bad Boy Chef, Antonio.” He was easy in front of the camera, calm and full of charisma. “Today we’re talking about romance and I’ve set up the perfect night of romance for you. Want to impress your lady for your anniversary? Wow your man for his birthday? This table contains everything you need to impress that special someone.”
He paused to film the table, giving me direction for what to do with my hands, when to take a sip of my cocktail and whatever else he needed. His deep, commanding voice hit me in all the right places and I knew no matter what happened after tonight, I would spend this night in Antonio’s bed.
One last time.
Or the start of something great.
“Details for everything from the candle holder to the vase and the tablecloth are in the description box below, with links.” He smiled and I smiled in return because, damn, he was a natural. “This is the perfect meal, period, but especially when you want to tell the woman you want more than your next breath, that you’re ready to take things to the next level with her.” His eyes found mine, deadly serious with a hint of a smile curling his lips.
Expectation was heavy in his gaze and I didn’t know what to say. “Antonio,” I whispered. I didn’t know what he was saying, exactly, but I had a feeling he was saying exactly what I wanted him to say and I was, kind of, freaking out.
“Yeah, Augusta, I’m talking to you.”
“Me?” I blinked and shook my head. “You want to take things to the next level?”
He nodded.
“With me?”
“There’s no other sexy redheaded nurse who has my full attention.” He wore a playful smile on his lips. “It’s you, Augusta. You are the woman I want.”
Hell yes. I nodded slowly as his words sank in. “What do you want me for, Antonio?” I needed him to be honest and clear. Explicitly clear.
“Where do I start?” He grinned and took my hand in his, pressed it against his chest so I could feel that this moment was special for him too. “I want you for, hell for everything. I love that you love your job, that it fires up the passion you have for people, for life and for helping others. I want you for your friendship and your smart mouth, because you don’t bow down to the celebrity chef I used to be. I love that you appreciate me as a chef and a father, more than my pretty face.”
“It is very pretty,” I added with a laugh I barely heard over how loud my heart banged around in my chest.
“Thanks. I want you for my woman, Augusta. I want you as a partner in my life, my sounding board, I want to protect you, I want to hold you when you cry at sappy movies or scary movies. I want you to help me teach Rosie to become the woman she was meant to become. I want you in our bed each night, under me, on top of me, in the shower. I want you any and every way you want to give yourself to me, Augusta. Mostly though, I just want you.”
His words were heartfelt and sweet. They weren’t eloquent but they were his words, straight from his heart and that meant more to me than anything. “Antonio, I want you too.”
He nodded. “It’s not just about want, Augusta. I need you. I love you.”
Love. He…wait, he loves me? “You do?”
His smile was sweet and patient. “Yeah, I love you, Augusta. Is that so hard to believe?”
