Page 158 of Empire of Seduction

“Thanks.” I smoothed my freshly waxed eyebrows. Other places were freshly waxed, too. “How’s Massimo doing?”

“Not sure our new chef is thrilled about having Maz in there, taking over for a night, but Maz is overseeing the meal, just as you requested.” Mikey leaned against the bar. “Though I’m not sure why you had to fly Vito’s brother in from Rome to cook one meal.”

I couldn’t tell Mikey why. “I thought it might make a nice surprise for Vito.”

“Whatever.” My brother checked his phone. “You have about thirty minutes before he’s due to arrive. Want to come back upstairs?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll hang out down here and have a drink. Just send him down when gets here.”

“When do you want sparkling wine? After dessert, right?”

“Yep. Thanks for all your help.”

Mikey disappeared into the corridor and left the cellar. I went behind the bar and made myself a Greyhound. For old time’s sake. Then I sat at the bar and read on my phone, sipping my drink and waiting calmly for the love of my life to arrive.

Twenty-two minutes later, the metal door at the top of the stairs slammed shut. Not long after, leather shoes slapped against the old stone, louder as he approached. I didn’t turn around, even when it was clear he’d entered the room. My skin tingled with anticipation, every nerve attuned to this man. It was like our souls were intertwined.

His breath warmed my neck a fraction of a second before I felt his lips there. “Amore, mi sei mancata tantissimo.”

He said these words so often to me that I knew them by heart.Baby, I’ve missed you so much.

I shivered as he kissed the sensitive skin. “Hey, baby. How was your flight?”

“Long.” Strong fingers wrapped around my neck and angled my face toward his, where he caught my mouth in a brutal kiss. “Fuck, I needed that,” he whispered when we parted.

So did I. Grabbing his hand, I pulled him closer to the stool next to me on the bar. “Sit down and have a drink with me.”

He didn’t argue. Shrugging out of his overcoat, he lowered himself onto the stool. I immediately stood up and started for the other side of the bar. “What are we drinking?” he asked.

I hid the label from him as I poured his drink. “Here.” I slid the amber liquid across to him. “Let me buy you a drink.”

The edge of his mouth curled. “That sounds familiar.” He lifted his glass and waited until I’d done the same, then he touched them together. “Cin cin.”

“Cin cin,” I repeated, then we both sipped. His eyes widened.

“Is this the same one? The drink from the night we met?”

“It is indeed.”

He lifted his chin in the direction of my glass. “You are drinking a Greyhound, no?”

“I suppose I am.” I could barely contain my smirk.

“Are you hoping to get fucked against a glass window tonight, angioletto mio? Is that it?”

A bolt of heat flashed through me and settled between my legs. “Maybe.”

“Come. Sit next to me and flirt. I will consider it.”

I edged around the bar and perched onto the stool next to his. “Hi, stranger.”

“Ciao, bella.” He smoothed his palm over my thigh, though his eyes were locked on my nipples. “This dress is new. I like it. You look very sexy in it.”

“Grazie, baby.” I smoothed his perfect tie. Watching Vito put on a tie was a not-to-be-missed experience in the mornings. “I like this suit.”

After he sipped his drink, he propped an arm on the bar. “Gianna’s design. I was overdue to order some new ones.”

The door slammed and Vito raised a questioning eyebrow at me. “Dinner,” I told him. “Let’s sit down.”

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