Page 86 of Tricky Magic
Wait,” she said, wiping her mouth and looking at him scornfully. “Besides that impossible fact, are you saying you want to date me?”
“Please don’t make fun of me.” He groaned. “Yes, I want to date you. You’ve danced around the ‘future’ conversation for a few days now.”
This was so much harder than it should be, and she wasn’t helping.
“Look,” he started, then stopped, searching for the right words.
“You want to date me?” she interrupted.
“How many times do I need to fucking say it, Ellea?” Gods, she was such a brat. A smile crossed her lips, but before she could answer, Lucifer came out of the kitchen once again.
“Oh, you liked the soup?” he asked.
Ros growled a yes and Ellea smiled with hers.
“Your dinner is almost ready.” Lucifer grabbed the plates and headed to the back with another cheerful tune on his lips. Ros whipped his head back to Ellea.
“Before we get interrupted again…” she said, toying with her fork.
“If you ask me if I want to date you one more time…” He paused, trying to find patience.
“Ros,” she interrupted. “I want to date you too. I don’t know what that means, or what we do, but I want to try.”
Lucifer whipped out of his kitchen, coming over to the table, and Ros was ready to curse the man where he stood, regardless of the amazing dinners in his hands.
“Dinner is served.” He placed their plates in front of them. “Ros, your usual ribeye, honey potatoes, and asparagus. Ellea, darling, for you, I have sacchettoni. These little pasta purses are stuffed with sweet ricotta cheese, roasted mixed mushrooms, and poached pear. On top is my truffle cream sauce.”
Ros eyed her plate, and she glared at him as if she would stab him with her fork if he dared to try and take some. She cut into one of the small fluffy pieces of pasta and brought it to her mouth.
“Fuck...” She moaned and brought another bite to her lips. Once she was finished trying her dish, she grinned up at Lucifer. “How’d you know this is what I wanted?”
He had never heard her sound so sweet.
“Aren’t you going to see if I like my food, Lucifer?”
“You always like my cooking.” Lucifer shooed him away. “It’s one of my talents. The stove is off and everything is cleaned up. Leave your dishes in the sink and my morning staff will take care of them.”
“Thank you so much, Lucifer,” Ellea said sweetly, and Ros rolled his eyes.
“Yes, thank you,” Ros said. “I’ll make sure to lock up and check in with you tomorrow.”
The restaurant owner waved goodbye as he headed out the door, locking it behind him.
“How do I get you to treat me like that?” he asked, cutting into his steak.
“Make me these little pasta things and I will be the sweetest thing you’ve ever met.” She popped another one into her mouth and groaned around her fork.
“Is this what dating is like?” he asked, taking a bite of steak. His mouth watered at the perfection of it.
“Like what?” she asked, taking a sip of wine.
“Bribes with food?” he asked.
She laughed as she cut into her final pieces.
“Honestly”—she paused to take a bite—“I’m not really sure.”
How could she not know? He knew why he didn’t date, but how could a perfect woman like her not have experience?
