“You’re admitting I’m right? You really must be tired.” He stepped back, clutching his chest. “So, this girl is something else, huh?”
“She is, or, at least, she could be. I only just met her, but—”
“But nothing. Go with it. Who knows, maybe it’s one of those love-at-first-sight things?”
I dropped the plate on the counter and leveled my gaze on Dominic. “Love at first sight? Are you kidding me right now? Did you hit your head on the way in?”
He shrugged. “It happens. From what I hear. As long as I’ve known you, you’ve never been this twisted over a woman you’d only just met. I mean, back when you used to occasionallyseewomen.”
“I like her, but I’m not twisted, Dom.” I didn’t even buy my own wimpy denial.
“Really?” He cocked his head to the side. “You wouldn’t even let me seat her and sprinted back here to cook her breakfast yourself. Jordan and I were cracking up at the googly eyes when you took her order.”
“Googly eyes?” I squinted at Dom before I picked up the plate.
“I think anyone in this place who looked your way for more than five minutes noticed. See where it goes, live a little.”
I said nothing as I followed Dominic back outside, not acknowledging the smug grin lifting his cheeks at my silence.
7
Joe
When I arrivedat her table, Caterina was pounding on the keys to her laptop and didn’t seem to notice me approach. Maybe we both had that in common—we were too easily sucked in by work to notice life happening around us.
“Here you go.”
Her head jerked up when I set the food down in front of her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, it’s fine. Just trying to catch up on work while I can. Lou was right, I could barely get a signal in my room, but I know I can’t stay here all day long.” She pushed her glasses farther up the bridge of her nose, and my cock once again stirred to attention. She was sexy as hell in those frames and the thought of her wearing them because I asked her to excited me more than it should have.
“Stay here as long as you need to. No one will push you out, I promise.”
Her shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank you.” She closed her laptop and pulled her plate closer. “This looks really awesome.”
“Can I get you anything else?” I cleared my throat, trying in vain to sound professional. The last thing I wanted was to make her uncomfortable. We had a good night—a great fucking night—but, as she’d mentioned, she wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone. But she was here, and that made a spark of hope bloom in my chest anyway. Like I’d told Dom over and over again, I didn’t have time for this.
But I’d make time for her.
I blinked away the odd thought. My sleep-deprived mind was playing tricks on me.
“No, the waitress got me coffee. Would you like to sit with me for a bit?” Her fingers traced the ridge of her coffee cup. “It’s okay if you can’t. It’s not like the place is empty again—”
“Sure.” My lips curved, my chest puffing out a bit when she beamed back at me. The spell that drew me to her didn’t break in the daylight.
I sat down and called Jordan over.
“Can I get a cup of coffee, please?”
Jordan looked between Caterina and me with a sly grin and nodded. Ignoring her, I turned back to Caterina. She fiddled with the spoon on the table, gliding her finger up and down the silver stem as she studied me.
“I need you to indulge me for a moment. My name is Caterina Rose Longo. I’m sure you don’t care about my full name, but you’re the first man I’ve slept with that didn’t know it beforehand, and, for reasons I can’t explain, that bothered me. So, now you know.”
I cracked up and nodded. “Well, it’s nice to know you, Caterina Rose. I’m Joseph Kellan Hunter.”
“Of course, that’s your name.” She shook her head and sliced into one of the pancakes.
