AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That… is hot.
Hah. Don’t count your chickens yet, Gia. You haven’t tasted the food.
I meander back toward the table, when a naughty twinge yanks me out of the restaurant area, toward the lavish mahogany bar I breezed past before. Since the place is barren, and Castor probably freakin’ owns it, I lean over the bar to see what he’s got hiding under there. Some beer taps. To the right, there’s a flapping door that seems unlocked, so I waltz my way in and start humming while inspecting the top-shelf liquor.
He likes Johnnie Blue from what I remember. Scotch boy, my Castor is. So I reach on my tiptoes to get my cook what he deserves. I check the mini-freezer under the bar and claim a single fat cube even though he likes it neat. He should know that it’s better this way. Not everything has to be painful for it to be good.
I pour three fingers worth of scotch and flip the bottle back upright – a neat little trick Trish the bartender taught me at Bangos. Let’s see, what do I want? Something to numb the bad thoughts, that’s for sure.
I’m careful not to be a bitch by opening a new bottle, so I skip past the Grey Goose and go for Titos. I fill up the glass by using the club soda fountain to my heart’s content, then I giddily walk back to our table before Castor can catch me.
I sit down and cheers the phantom across from me, taking a sip to calm my nerves.
Pmf. The swinging door rocks open, revealing the hottest cook imaginable. Dark blonde hair, eyes that shine a whole new shade of blue under amber light, and arms that shouldn’t be legal.
He struts triumphantly at first, but his expression slowly drops when he notices two fresh drinks on the table.
“Bitch!” he growls. “Can’t you just sit still and accept my gift?”
I lift one arm to hide my face behind, giggling. “It’s the server in me.”
“I’m considering chaining you there.” He places the plate of calamari down in the center – marinara dipping sauce and all. Once the food is down, he resumes his sever persona. “You must be starving from your long day.”
“I pick here and there,” I admit.
“My woman should never be inconvenienced like that.” He presents the appetizer. “Please, enjoy.”
“What about you?” I grab for his hand. “Sit, drink with me. Eat with me.”
He picks up his glass and inspects it. I can tell he wants to say something about the cube, but he doesn’t. “You remembered,” he says, extending the glass to clink with mine.
“You’re hard to forget.” I wrinkle my nose and take a non-ladylike swig.
Heat squirms through my body, relaxing my overtaxed nerves and letting the yearning within me win by just a hair.
“The dessert is pre-made, so I promise when I’m done with the main course, I’ll sit with you.” He turns swiftly away.
“Castor,” I say, my voice weak.
“Hm?” He turns.
“I missed you.”
He nods, taking the win in private with his back turned to me.
Chapter 20
Gia
Castor bustles out of the swinging door of Trattoria Mangia in his apron and rolled up dress shirt, carrying two plates of chicken francese. I’m in awe of how good the calamari appetizer he made me was. Not chewy at all. It’s like he’s been hiding these secret talents his whole life, because I don’t remember him ever making lunch when Marco invited him over.
When the hell does he ever have the time? He runs a whole damn crew.
I’d be lying if I wasn’t falling all over this man right about now.
His bicep veins peek out of his shirt from the way he’s holding the plates, and the bulge in his pants keeps dragging my eyes down.
I take a sip of my drink to block my vision from focusing only on that. Don’t be rude, Gia. This is how guys must feel when they see a hot server. I smirk as he places the plate down in front of me. The lemon and butter sauce looks better than anything Bangos ever put together, and the parsley sprinkled on top is a nice touch.
