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That response required a follow-up, but Toro tabled it. Instead, he toyed with the idea whirling in his head before he told Stavros, “I need a favor.”
“Name it.”
19
“What is this?”Seraphina took in the scene before her as she stood in the entranceway to her dining room. She’d stayed away from the house and Toro for most of the day. She didn’t want to see any kind of disgust in his eyes after what he’d witnessed the way she dealt with Reggie’s parents. Most of her day was spent with Reggie’s parents, but she’d had other business to handle as well.
She’d known something was off the moment her driver pulled into the driveway. For one, her men were nowhere to be seen. And for another, the house was in complete darkness. Her driver had pulled his gun while escorting her to the door, but she’d waved him off with a certainty that Toro in her house meant nothing bad would happen. Not on his watch.
Of that, she was fucking sure.
So she’d walked into the house, mouth falling open when her gaze fell upon the string lights that pointed her in the direction of the dining room.
Toro stood at the dining table, candlelight flickering, shadows dancing over his features as she stared at him.
He gestured to the set table. “I made you dinner.”
Whatever it was smelled amazing, and while she was curious to see what he’d made,heheld her attention. The softness in his eyes, the slight curve of his lips as he watched her steadily. Waiting.
Candles. Wine. Dinner.
She couldn’t recall the last time anyone had made this kind of effort for her. Something warm settled in her belly, and at her sides, her fingers curled into her palms as she fought the urge to press a hand to her belly. Was that— Was that flutters she felt as she stared at the man watching her with patient adoration on his face?
She wanted to yell at him to cut that shit out, but his act intrigued her, and though that also made her kinda mad, she pushed it aside. Thoughts of where she’d been today, the things she’d done, she put that aside too. He knew who she was, didn’t he? Nothing to hide now. He knew who she was and he still did this.
She licked her lips. “My men?”
Toro lifted his wide shoulders. “Told them to get the fuck out.”
Seraphina barked a laugh. “And they listened to you?” She didn’t know if she was supposed to be pissed or impressed.
“I’m very persuasive.” Toro winked. “You know how that goes.”
Fuck, she knew. And yes, those were flutters in her belly. “Julián.”
Heat flared in his eyes. “I cooked you dinner,” he told her softly. “Even though you snuck out of our bed like a thief and left me here alone all day. I cooked you dinner because it doesn’t matter what you do.” His chest rose and fell. “It changes nothing for me, Sera.”
She believed him and it awed her, the openness, the vulnerability in his gaze. She didn’t deserve anything this good, this pure, this selfless. She wasn’t a good person, and it wasbecauseshe wasn’t a good person that she accepted the gift Toro offered. She went to him, placing one hand on his chest, cupping his jaw with the other.
His arms went around her waist, holding her to him, making no move to do anything else as she stared at him, losing herself in his eyes. It was impossible to remain unaffected when surrounded by this, by him—the evidence of what she could have if she was inclined to takeallof it.
“You want to feed me, Julián?” she murmured, thumb stroking his stubbled jaw.
“It’s only right.” His lips twitched and he dipped his head, brushing his nose along hers as he slid a hand down over her ass and dipped between her legs, cupping her pussy from the back. “You got me eating on the daily.”
She chuckled softly. “You’re something else.”
He released her and stepped back, taking her hand and bringing it up to kiss her knuckles. “Nah, I’m just yours. Whether you want to claim me or not, I’m yours. You could cast me aside, Sera, but that wouldn’t change a thing, I would still haveProperty of Seraphina Cookstamped across my heart.”
“Jesus. Julián.” She didn’t know what to say and he didn’t appear to expect a response because he led her to the table, dropping her hand to pull out her chair.
“Let’s eat.” He pushed her chair in when she sat then took his seat opposite her.
He’d made blackened salmon, roasted garlic-butter fingerling potatoes, and sautéed veggies, then told her they would be having chocolate cheesecake for dessert.
Seraphina gaped at him as she took her first bite of the salmon. “You made this?” She chewed. “Damn, it’s good.”
He laughed. “I’m a man of many talents and I like that you’re surprised. An ex of mine is a chef in LA, and he taught me some things.”
