“That’s because Tavola makes the biggest brunch platters in the city. Didn’t I warn you?”
“You could have warned me you’re friends with the owner. I’ve never had so many home fries thrown at me.”
“What can I say? Carlo likes me.”
Michael rolled his eyes and glanced over at Carlo. The owner of the restaurant was currently occupied serving espressos at the bar. That, and making eyes at Emily. “He likes you a little too much, if you ask me.”
“Jealous?” She ripped off a hunk of toast with her teeth and chewed. She sat at an angle, her legs crossed to the side. It was a good angle. It allowed him to see her body. Even though her stature was on the petite side, her legs looked a mile long in her shorts. She dangled her sandal from her toes, exposing most of her sexy foot.
“What if I am jealous?” Michael sat back and enjoyed the view. “After all, it’s not fair you have an Eggs Benedict connection.”
“That’swhat makes you jealous. My breakfast guy? Thank you very much.”
“It might not be the only thing I’m jealous about.” For the first time in a while, Michael allowed his gaze to pan slowly up and down Emily’s body, not caring if anyone saw. “Of course, you are here with me, so poor Carlo can kiss my ass.”
“And I thought I’d be the one to have that honor.”
“You can each take a cheek.”
“If only Carlo knew what we had planned.”
Michael laughed, leaned in, and ran his hand over her calf. To his great relief, she didn’t shrink away. Her leg felt so good, and it was just as smooth as it looked. His heart began to race, but in the best of ways. “You do realize I’m flirting with you, right?”
“Yes. You do realize I’m flirting back, right?”
“I was starting to wonder if I’d lost the right to flirt with you.” Anxiety crept into his gut, warring with the sensation of gluttonous fulfillment after breakfast. Despite his nerves, he found himself opening up about one of their taboo topics. “After seeing what I did to Trent, I thought I’d lost you altogether. It might be presumptuous for me to think I ever had you,reallyhad you, but to know I might have lost you…”
“You haven’t lost me. It’s going to take something more than a little old fist fight to scare me away.”
“It wasn’t just a fist fight. Em, I didn’t know what I was doing. If you hadn’t been there, if my brothers hadn’t been there, I might have really hurt him.”
She uncrossed her legs, rested her arms on the table, and brought her face close to his. “I know you’re not a violent man. You don’t scare me, and you sure as hell haven’t scared me away.”
“Are you sure? Because I can deal with my own anxiety, but I can’t handle hurting you. I don’t ever want to give you a reason to run from me.”
“Michael Zorn, you have only ever given me reasons to run toward you. You must know that. I can’t stay away from you, not even for a minute.”
He did smile this time, a really good smile that he felt up in the lines of his eyes. “I know we have to start over in a sense. I want to do things with you, Em. I want to take you out and show you the things that make me happy, and I want to learn about everything that makes you happy too.”
“I’m glad to hear it. We’ll set a date.”
“So does that mean I can continue flirting with you?”
“Listen, Handyman. You are welcome to make eyes at me any time you want. In fact, I encourage any sort of teasing, seduction, and general lechery. How’s that for unambiguous?”
“It’s crystal clear.” He touched his nose to hers. “And what about kissing? Is kissing still allowed?”
“Kissing ranks high on the list of recommended activities.”
“Is that so?” Michael forgot all his troubles as his mouth met hers. She tasted sweet and salty at once with hints of coffee, cream, and bacon. If it weren’t considered bad form in a restaurant, he would have laid her out on the table and licked her from top to bottom.
“Your bill, sir.” Carlo appeared at their table and thrust the paper at Michael. “Cash or credit?”
Emily stifled a giggle as they pulled apart.
Michael gave the man a look and reached for his wallet. “Cash.”
“Nope. Today’s my treat.” Emily whipped the bill out of Carlo’s hand. She grabbed her wallet out of her purse, retrieved her credit card, and handed it to Carlo. “Thanks, Carlo. Delicious as usual.”
