He liked that they didn’t re-route them into the dining room simply because he was there. After slicing into the steak, which was cooked to perfection, he complimented them. They beamed like they’d painted the Sistine Chapel.
“Simone, don’t you like the filet?” Gary asked.
“I don’t eat red meat.”
Bruce opened the fridge and pulled out a glass container. “I made breaded chicken breasts last night.” Two minutes later, he traded the red meat for the warmed chicken.
“This is delicious,” she said. “Thank you.”
The conversation moved from the puppies to Gary’s software company, then Bruce asked how long he and Simone had been going out.”
“We… um… so, it’s—” Simone stuttered. “Complicated.”
“This is our second date,” Luciano said. “Our first date was on my yacht, the Omega.” He said it like it was fact, like speaking his intention would turn it into a reality.
All eyes on him.
Is that what I want? A relationship with Simone?
As he and Simone connected across the table, they shared a smile.
I do want that, and I’ll deal with the guilt later.
“Mom and Dad invited us to South Carolina for Thanksgiving,” Gary said.
“Are you going?” she asked.
“We can’t,” Bruce explained. “We’re spending Thanksgiving with my sister and her family in New York.”
“Frenchie too,” Gary added. “All her pups, but number four, are spoken for.”
“We’re gonna keep him,” Bruce added. “Unless you want her.”
“No to the puppy,” Simone replied, “and I’m not spending Thanksgiving in South Carolina.”
That’s great. I’m spending Thanksgiving alone.
“Simone, spend the holiday with me,” Luciano said. “It’s at Carrera’s this year.”
Silence.
Her eyebrows jutted into her head. “What was that?” she murmured.
“How wonderful!” Bruce exclaimed.
More silence, until Gary said, “Simone, honey, what do you say?”
“To whom?”
“To Luciano for the invitation.”
“Okayyyyy,” Simone replied. “Sure.”
“Thank you for inviting her,” Gary said.
But Luciano couldn’t miss the subtle curve in her lips and the smile in her eyes. No denying she liked his invitation. Now, if only he could get her to admit her feelings. That would help him in more ways than she could ever know.
When they finished dinner, they thanked their hosts, and left.
