“Thanks.”I took a quick sip.It tasted fruity—like strawberries.And maybe peaches.
“I apologize about the bag.I didn't realize you'd want to keep it.”
I shrugged and took another sip, then said, “I'm sorry for freaking out.You just surprised me, that's all.”
He shook his head and looked me up and down.“No need to apologize.You were fucking adorable.”
I rolled my eyes and took another quick sip.“I am not.”
Stefan gave me his devilish smirk.“You made me hard.That's why I came out here so quickly.”
Immediately after he said that—I snorted wine through my nose and started coughing.
Stefan took the glass out of my hand and gave me a napkin for my face.
And then he laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
I whipped the napkin at him.“That's not funny.”
But he kept laughing.“I disagree.That was very funny.”Then he pulled me into him.“The way you get so flustered so quickly.”His eyes scanned my face before he leaned in and said, “It makes me hard.”And then he laughed right the heck out loud.
Again.
“You have issues.”
He kissed my lips.“I think we've already established that.”He kissed me again.
“Stefan, let your wife eat.She's been working in the kitchen all afternoon,” Anna chided her son.
I tried to push away from Stefan.“Oh, I'm sorry, Anna.I'll come and help.”
She shook her head and pointed to a chair.“Sit.If this man ever lets you go, that is.”She smiled and turned around.
“I told your mom I'd help.And you're not letting me.”
Instead of letting me go, he kissed me again.“Sit down and eat.She's already halfway to the kitchen.”
He was right.
So, I sat.
After Anna came back with the salad, we started eating.It was such a lovely evening.No one was in a hurry to finish.We talked about many things, like how sick I'd been.She gave Stefan heck for not calling her so she could help us out.
Stefan argued that he didn't want her to get sick, too.
“Nonsense.I haven't been sick in decades,” she'd shot back.
Stefan nodded and agreed, “That's true.”Then he looked up at her.“I promise, the next time Francesca can't stop vomiting, I'll call you immediately.”
His mother swatted him, and we all laughed.
It wasn't long before Stefan opened a second bottle of wine.That one disappeared even faster than the first.
By the time Anna stood and announced it was time for her to go, I was a little taken aback.“Aren't you staying over?It's pretty late.And you've had as much to drink as I have.”
