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“My ass is fine,” she answers with a questioning tone, brows furrowed.
“Mighty fine,” I quip. “But I was talking about the hit you took from Tony.”
“Oh. It’s alright now… a little bruised.”
“I can always kiss it and make it better,” I say, wagging my eyebrows. She shakes her head and laughs.
Walking into the restaurant, the savory aroma of garlic and basil greets us. Addison inhales deeply, closing her eyes, moaning. I will feed her Italian everyday just to watch this reaction. I lean over and steal a quick kiss. Her eyes open wide. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist,” I say.
“It’s okay, it just surprised me,” she says, blushing.
As I’m telling the hostess my name I hear, “Addison, is that you?” I look at a tall guy walking up to her, proceeding to pick her up in a huge hug. Who is that? Then I hear him say, “My beautiful mystery woman.”
Who the fuck is this guy? My beautiful mystery woman?
Chapter Thirty-three
“MARCO,” I SAY as he lifts me up in a hug. When he puts me down it’s slow, and he doesn’t release me. This is a little awkward. I can already feel the atmosphere changing with Aiden right by my side. I think I hear him growl. Stepping out of Marco’s arms, I glance at Aiden.
“Beautiful, what are you doing here? Do you live in New York now?” he asks, clearly ignoring Aiden.
“Yes. I’ve been here for almost a year. Is this your place?” I look around, confused.
“It is. I’ve always wanted to come open a restaurant here in the city. And what luck I have… it’s where you live,” he boasts. Shit, that was definitely a growl coming from behind me.
“Marco, this is my friend, Aiden.” I introduce the two. Friend doesn’t seem to sit well with Aiden. He glances at me with a forced smile before returning to Marco.
Aiden puts his hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Marco. So how do you know Addison?” They’re having a testosterone-fueled handshake battle right now. Both have their chests puffed up, staring each other down. I roll my eyes. Men!
The hostess telling us our table is ready couldn’t have come at a better time. Aiden leads me to our table with his hand on my back. He pulls my chair out for me to sit before taking his own to the side of me. I look around, fidgeting with my napkin. Between the awkward silence and the intense gaze burning a hole in me, I reluctantly look at Aiden. “We’re friends.” I sigh, feeling I have to justify Marco to him.
“Who us? Or you and Marco?” he responds. It’s not what I meant, but if he wants to be a jealous asshole about it, I can play that game.
“Well, actually, both.” I look him square in the eyes. His jaw clenches. “Marco and I are friends. It’s never been anything more than that. I met him last summer during my… travels.”
“You know that he wants you, right?” he asks. I know Marco flirted with me both times I saw him, but to say he wants me based on the five-minute interaction is a stretch. We’ve only seen each other twice, and I haven’t seen him in over a year. “He called you his beautiful mystery woman. Why?”
“He probably saw that I was with you and being a typical man, Tarzan beating his chest, laid claim. You fell for it, beat your chest back, and now you’re in a pissing match,” I say sarcastically. I don’t need to tell him about the mystery part. He can probably figure that out himself.
“This is the last thing I’m going to say about Marco because I don’t like the guy. It seems a little too coincidental that he ends up in the same place that you’re living and names his restaurant after you.” His smile is gone as he glances over to Marco, who is watching us as well.
“What are you talking about? His restaurant isn’t named Addison?” What the hell is he talking about.
“Do you know what Bella Mistero means in Italian?” I shake my head.
“It means ‘beautiful mystery,’” he replies, raising an eyebrow.
That is a coincidence. There is no way he knew I was living in New York City, but I’ll think about that later. We’ve spent too much time talking about this already.
I get ready to change the subject when two women around my age come over to our table. “You’re the guy who sang ‘You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling,’ aren’t you?” And then they look at me. Oh, boy. “Yes! And you’re the girl he was singing to. Oh, my God, that was so romantic. And obviously you said yes,” one girl squeals out. And unfortunately it’s not a quiet squeal. Everyone is watching us. Aiden can see how uncomfortable I am and throws his head back, laughing.
“Yes, girls, I’m that guy. And she did say yes.” He winks at me with a huge, sexy grin, showing off his dimples. Jealous Aiden is gone. Thank God.
“Well, if she doesn’t work out, call me,” she says as she slips him a piece of paper with her number on it.
My mouth falls open. I’m so shocked, I’m speechless. I grab his hand on the table and smile up at her.
“That won’t be necessary. You can leave now,” I say rudely, not smiling anymore when I meet her eyes. They huff and walk off saying how much of a bitch I am. Really? I’m the bitch? I take a deep breath and look back at Aiden. He has the cockiest grin on his face. Then he beats his chest and says “Ahahahaaahaaa.”
