“Oh yeah! They havethe bestpizza.” I stumbled upon the small pizza joint a few weeks after I moved back to Manhattan. It’s on the same street as the soup kitchen I volunteer at, and Dino’s has been my go-to place whenever I get a pizza craving.
The corners of his mouth lift into a smile. “I know the owner.”
“No shit!” I exclaim, which earns me a glare from a woman sitting at a neighboring table.
Damon chuckles and whispers conspiratorially, “Yeah, no shit.” Standing, Damon rebuttons his suit jacket and tells me, “Let’s go.”
I stare up at him like he’s lost his mind. “What? Right now?”
“Yes, right now.”
At first I think he’s joking, but he remains standing, starting down at me expectantly. “You’re serious.”
“Very,” he sayswith a sexy, lopsided grin tilting the corner of his mouth.
Smiling from ear to ear, I stand and slip on my coat. “All right. Can we get our meals boxed up before we go, though?”
“Sure,” he says with a shrug.
I know he has no intention of eating his meal and neither do I, but I know just what to do with the uneaten dinners.
CHAPTER 10
DAMON
I PARK MY vehicle in a parking garage, and Victoria and I walk the few blocks to Dino’s. Downtown Manhattan is always busy, but especially on the weekends when the tourists all roll in. I have this crazy notion to hold her hand, but I suppress it; instead, walking with my hand at the small of her back to make sure we don’t get separated on the busy sidewalk.
I notice she’s carrying the boxed-up dinners from the French restaurant we just left. I can’t help but wonder if she was lying about the whole Dino’s thing before and is actually planning on eating the fancy French food while I pig out on pizza.
Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
Oh well, it’s her loss. Dino’s is the best, and I for sure won’t be missing out on a great meal tonight.
I didn’t mean to be so honest back at the restaurant. It wasn’t my intention to let her know I was uncomfortable in the classy place. But for some reason, Victoria draws my true self out. She brings Arlo, the kid inside me that died so long ago, to the surface.
I know I have to be careful, however. I don’t want her prying or knowing too much. It’s too dangerous. For me and for her.
“One quick stop,” Victoria says before veering off to a huge, white building.
We get separated, and I have to practically jog after her to catch up. When I glance at the sign above, I recognize it instantly. It’s the soup kitchen she’s been volunteering at for months. I can remember a few photos of her in the tabloids serving food to the homeless.
I force myself not to roll my eyes and instead glance around for cameras, thinking she saw the perfect photo op. I don’t see any paparazzi, however, and so I enter the building, confused more than ever.
The front room is wide and open with hundreds of fold-up tables and chairs to serve meals to the homeless. Victoria walks straight to the kitchen like she belongs here or owns the place, and I reluctantly follow behind.
“Victoria!” a woman calls before going over to embrace Victoria in a hug like they’re long, lost friends.
“Hi, Sue.” She turns to me and says, “Sue, this is Damon. Damon, this is Sue.”
The older woman smiles widely as she lays eyes upon me. She’s definitely not shy as she boldly checks me out from head to toe before her grin stretches even wider. She brushes her brown hair with silver streaks behind her ear and holds out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I take her hand and gently shake it. “Likewise.”
“You guys out on a date?” Sue asks, looking between us. When Victoria confirms with a nod, Sue says, “I hope you’re treating our girl here right.”
“Oh, he is,” Victoria assures her. “We’re about to go to Dino’s for dinner,” she says with a growing smile.
“Dino’s?” Sue exclaims. “Well, just how did he manage to unlock the key to your heart already?”
