Halston didn’t even look at the menu. “Caroline and Sydney told me what to order, so I’m getting the house special—lasagna—but I’d like a small plate of Branzino al Forno.”
“Sea bass,” Teddy said. “Excellent choices.”
Gabriel ordered the dinner special and a bottle of Santini Chianti. “How’s Angelo doing?”
“He’s hanging at the owner’s table,” Teddy said. “I’ll bring your wine and appetizers right out.”
He left, shutting the door behind him.
She placed her arm on the table, wiggled her fingers. He reached across, clasped her hand in his. Even though she hadn’t told him how she felt, he could feel it in her touch, see it in her eyes. For a man who had no patience, he would wait to hear the words. She glanced down at their clasped hands.
“You’re off the market,” she said.
He smiled. “Yes.”
“How does that feel?”
“It feels right. I got lucky.”
“Very,” she replied. “And I’m okay that I settled.”
He chuckled. “Nice.” Then his smile fell away. “My underboss, Angelo, will surveil Donskoy to confirm he lives alone.”
“I agreed to meet him tomorrow, Krov bar, nine o’clock,” Halston said.
Teddy returned with their wine and appetizers.
“Is Angelo still out there?” Gabriel asked.
“A woman joined him in the owner’s booth,” Teddy replied before leaving and closing the door behind him.
Gabriel lifted the wine glass. “I am luckier. To you, with love.”
Her gaze softened. “Do you know how I feel?”
“I do,” he replied.
“I’m glad you know,” she said.
They grew silent while they began eating. After a moment, Halston broke in. “Let’s talk about our plan for Donskoy.”
They discussed it in detail, working through possible scenarios.
“When we’re at Krov, I’ll tell him I want to go back to his place,” Halston said.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Simple, yet calculated,” she replied. “I love it.”
Teddy returned with their entrees, topped off their wine, and checked in with them. They were good, so he left.
She sampled the sea bass first. “This is melting in my mouth.”
He paused to appreciate her. The way she savored the food, the small sip of wine to wash it down. She looked calm, even peaceful. No worry lines around her eyes, no pinched brows either.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
She slid a small bite of lasagna into her mouth. After she swallowed it down, she said, “Caroline was right. This would be my last meal if I could choose one.”
