Now I understood why he was there that day. He must have just gotten into town and swung by to see friends and family at the restaurant. “Then that means you know how to make that arancini.”
He smiled. “Along with everything else.”
A beautiful man who could cook ... damn. “That’s pretty sexy.”
The smile remained on his lips, like the compliment meant something to him. For a man who was so visibly hard and intense on the outside, he was actually charming and easy to talk to. Not arrogant like I thought he might be.
“Do you cook?”
“Not really, honestly.”
“Then how do you feed yourself?”
“I go out a lot. Don’t judge me.”
“I didn’t judge you for the OnlyFans, so I certainly won’t judge you for that.” He was also quick, witty, and funny. “How long are you in Taormina?”
“Another week. Do you visit a lot?”
“Whenever I can. Except in August.”
“Why not August?”
“If you’ve ever been here in August, you would know why,” he said with a chuckle. “Overrun with tourists. Can’t even walk through the square with the clock tower without bumping into someone.”
“This is my first time visiting.”
“And how do you like it?”
“I love it.” I hadn’t been able to enjoy it much because Enzo was being an ass or I was too depressed after he’d left. But in this moment, I started to appreciate it.
“Are you here with anyone?”
The question made my chest tighten. It felt like an intrusion into a vault I didn’t want to open. I didn’t want to spill my soul to this man I barely knew. Didn’t want to humiliate myself in front of a man I would never see again after tonight. Knowing another man had thrown me away wasn’t exactly a turn-on. And knowing I’d stayed and fought for a man who didn’t give a damn about me was the greatest embarrassment of my life.
So, I lied. “I came here with my friend Alex, but she had to leave ... for work.” I wasn’t a liar, was pretty shitty at it, to be honest, but I wasn’t about to drop a suitcase of baggage on the table and ruin the night. “I couldn’t get a refund, so I decided to stay.” I grabbed my glass and took another drink, letting the booze wash down the lie that continued to lurk in my throat.
His sharp eyes were still on me, but they gave no reaction to what I’d shared. The stare continued long after I finished talking, but he asked no additional questions.
The group of girls left their table and walked by.
I hadn’t gotten a good look at them before, but this time, I watched them pass, and I didn’t miss the sharp knives in their eyes. Potent hostility directed at me or Constantine, I wasn’t sure which. Their heels continued to tap on the tile floor before they moved up the stairs and left.
I swirled my glass to dissipate the tension, but it lingered. “I’m not sure who they hate, you or me.”
“Me.”
My eyes flicked to his. “What did you say to her?”
“The truth—wasn’t interested.”
“Because ...?” Now that I’d gotten a better look, every single one of those girls was beautiful. All in short dresses and heels, long hair with earrings flashing in their lobes, ready to attract the attention of any man they wanted.
“Because I want you.” His stare hardened on my face as he continued to meet my gaze. Maybe this was all an act he put on to get women in his bed. A tactic to close the deal.
And maybe I was the biggest fool on the planet for falling for it.
But when I looked at this man, I didn’t see a performance or a charade. I saw the sincerity behind his dark eyes, saw a man who didn’t play games. A man this beautiful didn’t need lines or skits. He could have anyone he wanted, whenever he wanted.
