Page 20 of Dangerous Kiss
But room service came quickly and efficiently, and Cosimo and Biba broke apart regretfully. As they sat down with their burgers, Biba smiled at him. “Actually, once you see the wolverine way I eat fast food, you’ll be put off me anyway.”
Cosimo laughed. “Is that so?”
Biba took a huge bite of her burger, making a growling noise and chomping loudly. Cosimo laughed and followed suit until they were both laughing helplessly. Biba almost choked on her burger. “Told you so.”
Cosimo reached over and wiped a smear of mustard from her bottom lip, making it tingle. “You weren’t exaggerating.”
“So, as an Italian American, are you big into pizza and stuff?”
“Actually, I’m just Italian. I was born in Venice.”
Biba’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Well, dang that search engine.”
“Ha. You Googled me?”
Biba rolled her eyes. “Of courseI Googled you, dude. I’m a millennial.”
Cosimo groaned again. “God, I feel old.” Biba grinned.
“So, Mr. Italian, what’s the food like over there?”
“Sublime. Haven’t you been? I thought I heard your father was stationed in Europe for a while.”
“Germany. And he wasn’t big on vacations. Or being a father.” She didn’t know why she blurted that out, but Cosimo nodded.
“From what you told me last night, I wouldn’t think so. God…youbelieveyour child.” He spat the words out, and Biba was touched he was so angry on her behalf.
“You’d think. It took me a while to figure out that it wasn’t normal family behavior to be like that, and that it wasn’t my fault. He failed me. My mom failed me. And I have every right to be angry about it.”
“If I could go back and kill the guy who did this to you, I wouldn’t hesitate.” His green eyes were almost dangerous-looking now, and a shiver went down Biba’s spine. She could believe it.
“Thank you.” She wanted to change the subject now. “You must be looking forward to seeing Nicco next weekend?”
Cosimo nodded, then sighed. “Yes and no. I have a feeling that it’ll be twenty-four hours of monosyllabic conversation and heavy teenage sighs.”
“He is sixteen.”
“Yeah. Look, this may be asking a huge favor but…”
“I’d love to,” she said preempting his question. “I can think up some cool stuff he might enjoy…I could bring Reggie, too. He always seems to know the places to be in the city.”
Cosimo looked relieved. “I’d be very grateful. I just can’t reach him at the moment.”
Biba nodded, and for a few minutes they ate in companionable silence. “Can I be personal for a moment?”
Cosimo nodded. “Of course.”
“Stop thinking you’re old. You carry this world-weary look around with you—but look at you. You’re only forty, and you look fifteen years younger than that when you smile. I know losing your wife must have been the worst, the absolute worst. But she would want you to be happy, Cos.”
Biba blushed scarlet after her little speech. Who was she to lecture this grown-up? But he smiled at her. “You’re good at this friend thing.”
“I try.”
Cosimo reached over and linked his fingers with hers. Biba could barely stand the tension between them and slowly withdrew her hand. “I can’t.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
They finished their meal and Biba stood. “I had better go tell Stella that we just talked.”
