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“Well?”
He holds the fork to me, and I take it. But not before our fingers brush. How many times over the past week have I closed my eyes, almost feeling my hand cupped in his as we danced?
“It’s good,” I admit.
“What’s with the disguise?” He nods to my hat.
“It’s not a disguise,” I counter, moving another step off the sidewalk, where traffic is picking up. I really should be getting back.
“You weren’t trying to hide?”
“Pfft.” I totally was trying to hide. But I don’t make it a habit of lying. Skirting the truth, on the other hand . . .
“How did you even see me? Looked like you were having a problem with one of your burners?”
“You noticed?”
I am not slick. But this Italian god looms over me, all sexy and smelling like bottled manliness, and I’m supposed to, what? Answer coherently?
“Possibly.”
Definitely. Yes. And maybe that’s why I came for the raviolis myself. Wishing he was there, hoping he wasn’t.
“You should have told me who you were.”
Sure enough, doesn’t the accordion stop playing and a new song blasts through the speakers on every corner.
Sinatra.
“I know,” I admit. And what else am I supposed to say? That I was too enamored to get out the words? That I wanted to, but there was no chance in hell I was going to risk the dance ending too soon. And then, I just . . . wanted to keep talking.
So I guess that will have to suffice. But clearly, it doesn’t.
“Tristano—”
“Tris,” he interrupts me.
That’s a good sign, maybe?
“Tris,” I correct myself. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
His square jaw ticks, as if he’s clenching his teeth together.
“And I swear, I wasn’t fishing for info or anything.”
His intense gaze never wavers. “I would hope not.”
Since we’re airing grievances . . .
“You disappeared.”
If he’s not pleased, then I’m becoming less and less so by the second. Stoicism makes me nervous.
“I was angry,” he admits. “And surprised.”
Fair enough.
“Well.” I suppose there isn’t much more to say. “I’m sorry. And about the ravioli . . .” I lift up the container. “A friend of mine made me try them, and I wanted more. They’re delicious.”
