“Luisa sends her love. She said to tell you she’s getting a promotion to night shift manager.” The serving dishes empty, he picked up the tray. “It’s a huge salary increase. We owe you so much, man. You changed our lives.”
I never imagined my calling in a favor from a hotel investor would have such an impact. I stared at him wide-eyed and after he left, I sat for a second, the lump in my throat making it impossible for me to eat.
Torre touched my hand. “Do you know how special you are? I can tell you every morning and night how much I love you, but I hope you believe it.”
“It’s hard to imagine the person I was, now that I’ve been with you this past year. You changed me—”
“Oh, no.” Torre cut me off. “I didn’t do anything. It was always there inside you. I didn’t want to change you. I love you for who you are. It’s why I know what I want.”
The burning intensity in his gaze made me wish we could leave right now and re-create that first night up against his front door. I ached for him.
“You know,” I said, moments later, tangling Torre’s fingers with mine. “I’m getting the feeling there’s something going on here besides a dinner replaying our first night together.”
What I loved about Torre was his inability to hide his emotions. Though he tried, I could tell from the slight hitch in his breath and the tinge of pink staining his skin that I was right. Knowing how romantic—sappy—Torre was, I braced myself for a serenade by a strolling violinist or perhaps an opera singer.
“I think we should eat before the food gets cold.” Torre picked up his fork.
Hmm.I cut into my fish while darting glances at him, unconvinced. Maybe it was my conscience, knowing what I had waiting at his apartment, but I sensed a setup.
“These dishes never get old. I love them tonight as much as when Mike first put them on the menu.” Torre licked his lips.
I said nothing and finished. Mike came to clean away the plates, and at that point I cleared my throat. My heart pounded, knowing what awaited, but I had no doubts. Time to party.
“Thank you for recreating our first time together. It was really sweet.” I pushed aside the candle and leaned in for a kiss. Torre’s lips melted into mine, and I cupped his cheek. “And I love you for it.”
“I wanted something special. You know it’s Christmas, and I had no idea what to get you. I figured we could repeat the entire night…especially afterward.”
“Well, this was lovely.” I kissed him. “And romantic.” I kissed him again, lingering on his mouth. “And I like that idea of how we ended the night. Because I need to be alone with you,bello.So let’s leave and have dessert at your old apartment.”
Before I chicken out.
Torre pulled away from me, brows knitted together. “Why?”
I opened my mouth to plead my case, but the kitchen door opened and Tina walked out, carrying two plates. Val and Mike trailed behind her. Sweat broke out under my arms and down my back.
What the hell?
This wasn’t the way I’d planned for the night to end. I opened my mouth, but Val put a finger to her lips.
Tina stood tableside. “Uncle Torre, this is for you. Uncle Frisco made it special. I helped.”
She carried the large Christmas cookie I’d baked and had sent over to Val earlier in the day. It rested on the beautiful, antique porcelain plate I’d left for her to use in setting up Torre’s old apartment.
Plans that now seemed to have gone to hell, as here we sat in Mangia and Torre had the cookie in front of him. Instead of a cookie, Tina set in front of me a small white box, tied with a gold satin ribbon.
She waited. “Uncle Frisco, Daddy said you get this. No cookie for you.”
“Thank you,polpetto.”
Mike met my gaze, his eyes dancing. I studied his smirking face.
He’s enjoying this too much, but Val swore she wouldn’t tell anyone. Not even him.
“Hey.” Torre touched my hand, his eyes soft and brimming with love. I forgot about Mike and Val. I forgot we were in a restaurant. I only saw him.
It didn’t matter where it all happened. All that mattered was Torre. Here with me.
Forever.
