“I agree.” The maître d’ chuckles. “I’ll have the platters sent to your tablepronto.”
“Thank you,” Phoenix says.
With that, the short, bald man vanishes in a puff of efficiency.
“The service is impeccable at the Luogo Sapori,” I say. “You’re sure this restaurant doesn’t fall under the König umbrella?”
“I wish,” he says. “Everything is irreproachable here. I’ve been coming here for years and I’ve never had one complaint. Wait until you taste the food. You’re going to be blown away. And I say that from the viewpoint of a man who hires some of the best chefs in the country. I’ve thrown big money at the grandmother who’s still the main chef, but she refuses to come work for me. Something about maintaining the legacy and heritage. Whatever.”
Phoenix lifts his champagne glass.
I mimic him.
“Here’s to us,” he says.
“Here’s to us.” I can’t help my smile.
We clink our flutes and take a long sip of our champagne, eyeing each other from over the rim of the glasses.
The effervescent liquid hits my taste buds.
What a decadent treat.“This is exquisite.” The words slip from my tongue.
“Worth every penny?”
“Definitely.”
My gaze sweeps across the room, taking in our surroundings until my eyes fix on the blonde who was practically draped all over Phoenix when I arrived.
Her lips contort in an expression of contempt.
She gives me that look. It’s like she’s saying,“Who the fuck do you think you are, bitch?”
I flash her a triumphant smile as I lift my champagne glass.
That’s right, he’s mine.
As soon as the thought pops into my mind I want to slap my forehead.
He’s not yours, silly.
This is fake.
A business transaction.
An arrangement.
This fierce sense of possessiveness is foreign to me. It makes no sense whatsoever considering I’ve only known Phoenix less than forty-eight hours.
My eyes meet his.
I study his handsome face as he holds my gaze. His strong, chiseled jaw is dusted with dark stubble, setting off the unique shade of his magnificent blue eyes, and his lightly tanned skin tells me he spends more time behind a desk than on a beach. My eyes travel as I continue my inspection. His arms bulge under his fitted black tailored suit jacket and since he’ssanstie, I get a nice peek of his chest.
Devastatingly handsome.
Beautifully muscular.
And impeccably dressed.
