The man who has been haunting my thoughts since the date began is standing at the entrance of the restaurant.
Cristiano wears a charcoal suit so dark it’s almost black, with a black shirt open at the collar. His golden hair is swept back from his face, and his amber eyes are fixed on me with an expression that makes my blood run cold.
He’s not moving. Not approaching. Just standing there, perfectly still, while waiters navigate around him and a nervous hostess hovers at his elbow. Behind him, two of his men wait like shadows, the same hard-faced capos from the park.
He dismisses the hostess with a barely perceptible gesture, and she retreats immediately.
Of course it’s his casino. Of course he knew I was here. He probably felt my presence the moment I walked through the door.
This is what you wanted, a dark voice whispers.You wanted to provoke him. You wanted to see his true face.
Be careful what you wish for.
How long has he been watching me? Long enough to see Danny pull out my chair? Long enough to see me smile at another man in a red dress that shows more skin than I’ve shown anyone in five years?
His jaw is tight. His hands are clenched at his sides, like he’s restraining himself from violence.
Panic floods through me, but beneath the panic, there’s something hot and reckless and entirely unwelcome.
I turn back to Danny with a bright smile that feels like it might crack my face. “That’s hilarious,” I say, even though I have no idea what he just said. I reach across the table and touch his arm. “You’re so funny.”
Danny blinks, surprised by the sudden warmth, but he recovers quickly. “Yeah? I’ve got tons more where that came from.”
I laugh. Too loud and too bright. I lean in like he’s the most fascinating man I’ve ever met, my hand still on his arm, the neckline of Rosa’s dress gaping forward in a way that would give Danny an eyeful if he looked.
I can feel Cristiano’s gaze burning into me.
Good, I think viciously.Let him see. Let him know he doesn’t own me. I can go on dates with whoever I want. I’m not his.
But my heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear Danny’s next story. My hand is trembling where it rests on his sleeve, and the heat between my thighs has nothing to do with the nice man sitting across from me.
“Are you okay?” Danny frowns slightly. “You seem a little…”
“I’m fine.” I withdraw my hand and pick up the menu again, pretending to study it. “Just hungry. What do you recommend?”
There’s movement in my peripheral vision. Cristiano is walking toward us.
Slow. Deliberate. Each stride eating up the distance between the entrance and our table. Diners glance up as he passes. Everyone can sense the danger radiating from him like heat from a furnace.
Danny notices too. His brow furrows as he watches the tall, golden stranger approaching.
“What is this guy’s problem?” he asks. “Do you know him?”
Before I can answer, Cristiano stops at our table. His eyes drop to my neckline for one searing moment before returning to my face.
“Mina.” His voice is soft and controlled, but I can hear the edge beneath it, sharp as a blade. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Cristiano.” I’m amazed my voice comes out steady. “Oh, is this your casino? This is Danny. Danny, this is…”
What? My stalker? My former lover? The father of my child?
“An old friend,” I finish weakly.
Cristiano’s eyes flick to Danny. Just once. The look is cold and dismissive.
“Danny.” Cristiano doesn’t offer his hand. “How nice for you.”
Danny clears his throat awkwardly. “Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you too, man.”
