Until last night.
My eyes had fallen on a beautiful woman, looking lost, tired, and so damn gorgeous, I couldn’t get to her fast enough. Then, I planted myself at her table and wouldn’t let her leave. I could’ve talked to Caterina all night, althoughnottalking to Caterina for the rest of the night was well worth stumbling around my place of business all morning like a zombie.
My mind kept coming back to last night, well early this morning. Her dark hair sprawled out on her pillow as she writhed beneath me. The strangest thing about our night together was that it didn’t seem like a one-time thing to me, and Caterina was definitely not a one-time woman. At least, I didn’t want her to be.
The two busybodies who worked for me hadn’t seemed to notice me glancing at the door since I’d come in, checking to see if she’d taken me up on my offer to make her breakfast.
Sure, I noticed women all the time, but they were a fun, very occasional pastime. I’d never laid eyes on a woman and dropped whatever I was doing just for the chance to talk to her. Something about us just clicked. The easy way I’d confessed things I’d never told a soul before made zero sense. I craved more of her and couldn’t concentrate on anything else.
Could you really connect to someone you’d only just met? Or was that just a side effect of the unprecedented, mind-blowing sex we’d had? I glanced at the time on my watch—almost noon. I’d been obsessing about this woman for half the day and waiting for her not to show up.
“Hey, is Joe here?”
My head whipped around toward the sound of a familiar, sultry voice. Caterina was speaking to Dominic when she noticed me. A slow smile stretched her lips when her eyes locked with mine. It felt like we were the only two people in the room—just like last night. In cutoff denim shorts, a Yankees hoodie, and glasses, she was a fucking vision. Her chestnut hair cascaded down her back in long waves, and my hands twitched, my fingers wanting to sift through the strands and grab a fistful before I covered her mouth with mine again. I’d devoured her in every sense of the word last night and still starved for more.
“Good morning, Caterina.”
A pretty blush crept on her cheeks, and my chest swelled. Maybe she felt the same pull between us—the one that wouldn’t let her out of my head since I’d left her motel room.
“I’ll find her a table, Dom. Thank you.” I glanced over her shoulder to his sly grin, knowing he’d break my balls until I explained who she was.
“I didn’t realize the time.” Her face crumpled into a frown after she glanced at her watch. “I understand if it’s too late for breakfast.”
My gaze fell to her lips, still swollen from last night—from me. She was here for me, and the notion made me purely happy. I had no clue what it was about this woman that grabbed me so intensely, but it wasn’t letting go anytime soon.
Her chocolate eyes blazed a trail down my torso, darting up before they got to my waist. She lifted her gaze to mine and rubbed at her temples, probably realizing she was caught. She was so fucking adorable, I couldn’t stand it.
“Even if it was too late, you have an in with the owner.” I threw her a wink. “What can I get you? Eggs? Pancakes? The kitchen is at full capacity, so you can have whatever you want.”
“How about both scrambled eggs and pancakes? I’m starving. Long night, you know?” She met my eyes with a cheeky but bashful grin.
“Yes, I do know.” My gaze held hers for a long minute before I headed toward the kitchen.
“Okay, spill.”
I grumbled at Dominic’s demand as I made my way to the grill. Our cook wasn’t that busy, but I’d told Caterina I’d make her breakfast, and, for more reasons I couldn’t explain, I wanted to.
“She was here last night, and I told I’d make her breakfast this morning if she came back.” I didn’t look up as I cracked two eggs into a bowl.
“You usually don’t help with the grill unless it’s packed. Why do I feel like you’re leaving out a big part of the story?”
Ignoring the irritating weight of his stare, I poured the eggs on the griddle and reached for the bowl of pancake batter.
“You did get laid! That explains the vacant stare and nodding off at the counter. Good for you, man.” Dominic jabbed my shoulder. “Finally.”
“Finally? Dude, I’m not a virgin or a monk. Stop acting like it’s a milestone.”
“Itisa milestone. All you do is work. I miss the days when we first moved here, and you were a little more relaxed. You’re going to give yourself an ulcer before you turn thirty-five.”
He had a point, even if I wouldn’t admit it. When we’d first arrived, everything was new and full of hope, so I’d allowed myself a little fun here and there. Now, even though we were doing well, that light feeling I used to enjoy had become a brick on my chest. I bought this place to make my own rules and have my own idea of success, but the threat of failure loomed heavier over my head than I’d ever expected it to.
“Running a business isn’t all fun and games. I have a loan to pay back, and, yeah, we’re still making a good profit, but I need to make sure it stays that way.”
“Owen doesn’twantto be paid back. He hands you back every cent when you try. Take his advice and invest it back here. Advertise more, fix the outside tables, whatever. Loosen up, man.”
I plated Caterina’s breakfast before I looked up. Dominic was spot on again. I couldn’t even remember the last night I’d spent the night away from this place.
“You’re right. If I was going to make myself miserable, I could have worked for my father.”
