Presley understood. I saw the guilt in his face when he couldn’t give me the reassurance that Frisco, even with us being together over a year, hadn’t ever talked about making our relationship permanent.
I finished my wine and set the glass down with a decisive smack to the bar top. Not tonight. I refused to allow old insecurities to wiggle their way into my head and sabotage my plans.
Frisco and I were happy, and we loved each other. Nothing was going to change that.
My phone buzzed.Be there in five minutes. Are you finished with the party?
I’m waiting for you. I smiled to myself. Little did Frisco know, the party was about to start.
Chapter Five
God, I could puke from the nerves.
I never thought I’d be in this position, but here I stood, outside Mangia, ready to do something I’d never imagined.
Something I’d always scorned and laughed at others about.
But that was before Torre.
Everything in my life since I stepped over the threshold of this unassuming restaurant had become caught up in a pair of velvety brown eyes and a stubborn mouth that refused to let me make excuses or run away.
My phone buzzed, and I saw that Val had texted me.
You got this. We’re ready on this end.
I love you.
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Who would’ve thought Val Rossi, Brooklyn mother and housewife, would’ve become my greatest champion? I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
Torre waited for me at the front, his cheeks flushed. Something was different about him tonight, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Are you ready?” I peered over his shoulder, a little surprised at the completely empty restaurant. “The place is spotless—like no one ate here. I hope you didn’t wear yourself out cleaning and have nothing left for me tonight.”
“Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?”
“A reser—what the hell are you talking about?” Was he drunk?
“Ah, I see. You’re here by yourself, and the only single party we have is a Mister F. Evans. That would be you? You’re dining alone?”
As he was the first time I saw him, Torre wore the dark shirt and jeans all the waiters at Mangia wore. A memo pad was tucked under his arm. Those big brown eyes sparkled.
Ahhh.Someone was into a little role-playing this evening. Now I saw what he’d been planning. Okay. I could get into this, although I drew the line at sex on the kitchen counter. It went against all my rules of hygiene. Plus, I didn’t need a hard-on every time I came by to help Mike cook. I grinned, ready to play my part.
“Yes. I am.” I followed him to the same table I’d sat at that first night. I noticed it was the only one set with fresh flowers and a lit candle. “Unless I can talk you into joining me.”
Torre pulled out my chair. “I’m not sure management would approve.”
But he waited, and I took his hand and laced our fingers together. “Oh, I think they could probably be persuaded.” Heart thumping, I raised his fingers to my lips and kissed each one. Golden-bright light sparked from the depths of his soft eyes. “Join me. Please.”
“Very well.”
Still holding his hand, I searched my memory for our conversation that night. “I don’t know your name.”
Torre’s lips curved upward when he realized I was more than willing to join in the fun and games. Especially if it ended up as it had that night, with me stripping him almost naked inside his front door. To this day, I don’t think I’d ever been as out of control and desperate to have someone. Except my second time with him.
“It’s Torre. Torre Rossi.”
“Well, Torre Rossi, I would love a drink. A Negroni.”
