“What are you thinking?” he asks, uncertainty coating his words.
Before I can figure out what to say, the waitress appears with our plates. I let my hand fall away from his cheek and swipe at the few pesky tears that dared falling from my eyes.
“Thank you,” I say, shooting her what I hope is a smile and not an awkward grimace.
“Enjoy,” she replies as she leaves just as quickly as she arrived.
Though I’m tempted to dive into the pancakes, I know I need to answer him first. Just like I know he’s really asking if I’m disgusted by it, which I’m not.
Matteo might be beautiful, but that’s only part of his allure. He’s like… I don’t even know. Everything about him isperfection. His tone, his walk, even his personality and small mannerisms. A missing eye isn’t an issue for me.
Is it evil that a part of me likes seeing him squirming a little? If so, call me evil. Because I do take my sweet time before I answer him.
Licking my lips, I clear my throat. “I’m thinking that must have really hurt,” I reply honestly.
“And?”
“And what?” I grin.
He grabs my hand, lifting it to his cheek again. “Stop toying with me, Little Thief.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh, so it’s only okay when you do it?”
At that, he smiles, a real smile this time. “Touché.” Turning his head, he playfully bites the fleshy part of my hand. “I guess what I’m really asking is if it’s an issue for you.”
I quickly shake my head. “Not at all,” I reply. And to show him how much I mean it, I use my free hand to reach for the eyepatch, intending to remove it so I can see the damage beneath.
“No,” he growls.
Instead of pushing it, I lean closer and tilt my head upward. Then I press a kiss to his slightly parted lips. It’s not a sexy one, but not quite a peck either. It’s just… a kiss.
When I pull back, I swear his gaze has softened by approximately ten degrees. Small steps. With nothing more to say, we both turn to our food and I finally get to taste the pancakes.
I can’t help moaning at the first bite I take. Damn, these pancakesaredelicious.
We finish our food in easy silence, his thigh and arm brushing mine every so often as if he’s not even aware he’s doing it.
“I wanted to say I heard you yesterday,” Matteo suddenly says when we’re almost done eating.
“Oh?”
He nods. “Vito will take you to the Leone Room tonight, and I’ll be working in my office.”
I don’t argue. If anything, I just… blink at him. I didn’t actually expect him to listen to what I said yesterday. Something warm and stupid unfurls in my chest, and I immediately pin it. Hard.
Once we’re done, he pays the bill and tosses a tip big enough to impress the waitress into momentary speechlessness. The walk to the office from here is only about ten minutes, but Matteo still insists on not leaving me until I’m inside.
The days that follow don’t feel like days at all—more like pieces of a week melting together. Matteo keeps his word without argument, which is somehow more disarming than if he’d fought me on it.
By the time the weekend rolls back around, people at the Leone Room are more used to seeing me by myself. Twice, I’ve even arrived after Matteo, and once left without him. Well, that’s the public story, at least.
Truthfully, he still took me home but made his men act like he was still at the club. Even though spending more time apart here was my idea, I’m not completely sold on it. I mean, yes, it’s good for spying or whatever. But it’s weird to be there without him around.
I… oh hell, I miss him.
Yep, I’m not proud of it. But a girl doesn’t need long to get used to someone like him. At least not this girl. There’s a reason I went home with him the night we met.
Reaching the bar, I eye Kayla and Gia. Both wave enthusiastically. Gia gets up on stage after giving me a quick hug, but seeing as Kayla’s busy serving drinks, I don’t think she’s going anywhere.
