Page 135 of Lovely Venom

26

CHANTEL

The notification on my phone alerts me to Cristian’s arrival just before the front door opens, and he catches me red-handed.

He closes the door behind him, locks it, and takes in the scene before him.

“What are you doing?” He stares at the slab of watermelon, string cheese, and popcorn on the coffee table.

“Eating dinner?”

“That’s not dinner,” he grumbles.

“It’s girl dinner.” I toss a piece of popcorn into my mouth. “This is usually about as exciting as it gets around here.”

“And what’s happening with this?” He gestures at Goliath, who’s currently sprawled across my lap, giving Cristian the stink eye.

“I think he’s jealous. He doesn’t like to share my attention.”

“You do realize that’s supposed to be a guard dog,” he says dryly.

“Yes, and what does it look like he’s doing? Guarding me, obviously.”

Cristian sets down his keys and pulls out his phone, making a quick call to let Pepe know he can come pick up Goliath.

“Well, that was rude,” I tell him when he hangs up.

“You and Pepe will have to work out a custody agreement. He’s been texting me asking when he can have him back.”

“Well, who can blame him?” I scratch Goliath’s ear. “He’s just a love bug.”

Cristian mutters something about him being a love bug who can rip out a man’s throat as he walks into the kitchen. A minute later, I hear things clanging around, and I get curious, so I venture in there to see what he’s doing.

“Where did those come from?” I frown at the pot and pan on the stove.

“I bought them,” he says. “Your cupboards are shockingly bare.”

“I’m not a very good cook.” I shrug, hating the vulnerability in my voice. “I can toss a mean salad, though.”

Cristian glances at me, and I’m pretty sure he’s wondering about my past again, but I’m grateful he doesn’t ask.

“Come here.” He gestures for me.

“What are we doing?” I eye him skeptically.

“Making dinner.”

“You know how to do that?”

“Have you met Nonna Vitale?” He arches a brow at me. “Learning was mandatory.”

“Well, I think it’s nice she taught all of you.”

Nobody in my family was around to teach me except the housekeeper, and she wouldn’t even let me help.

“Here.” Cristian hands me a bowl of cherry tomatoes. “You can start by washing those.”

“These must be from the island?” I ask, recognizing the bowl.