Page 25 of Sweet Addiction
“Looks like you’ve been demoted, Rome.” Lexie’s grin is a little evil, and I love it because this woman gives my little brother so much hell. “What’s up?”
“How have I been demoted?” I stick my finger out and wait for her to squeeze some chocolate onto it. My mom has owned this place longer than I’ve been alive, and I know for a fact that frosting is delicious. I suck it off my finger, and a noise that sounds like a strangled cry leaves the cashier before she excuses herself and hurries into the back. “What’s her problem?”
Lexie sighs like she’s talking to a child who needs slow words. “You’re hot.” She circles her finger in front of me like she’s sizing me up or something. “And tattooed.” Another sigh. “And let’s not forget you have the total bad-boy thing down to a science.”
“And?” I ask, not following whatever trail she’s leaving.
“And you just sucked chocolate off your finger.” Oh yeah. There’s definite frustration in that tone.
It’s too fucking early for this, and I just stare, still not following.
“Good grief, you’re also a moron and totally oblivious when you want to be. What do you want, Rome?”
I mean, she’s not wrong.
“You think I’m hot?” I tease, reaching for the frosting again before she smacks my hand away. I fucking love fighting and training and treating my body like a goddamned temple, but I miss sugar.
“Not as hot as Lucky.” She grins, and her eyes get all glassy as she steps back.
The hell...? I feel a little dirty. Like my sweet little sister-in-law is having a sex dream about my brother right in front of me. It’s my turn to clear my damn throat, strangled sound be damned.
“Fine,” Lexie huffs, not thrilled with the interruption. “You want your normal coffee order or something else?” She doesn’twait for my answer before she turns to the machine behind her and grabs a coffee cup.
“Dude. Keep your sex dreams about my brother away from me. It’s gross.”
Her laugh is evil, and I do my best to ignore it as I spot the cake sample plate next to the register. It’s like dime-bag-sized cakes. A little hit of sugar.
What Hudson doesn’t know won’t hurt me. I reach over and grab a triple-chocolate-fudge piece from the display. A display sitting next to a thick book with a pink cover and gold letters. A cover with golden stars shining behind the golden-foiled title. And there, under the title, sits the author’s name.
I’d seen it the other night.
Seen this cover and hadn’t thought anything about it.
Not exactly my typical reading, but whatever.
But now . . . That name.
Theia DeLaurentiis.
A flash of memory assaults me, strong, as if it were yesterday instead of a night two years ago. Un-fucking-forgettable of a night as it was.
“That’s a pretty name . . .”Her voice. Her eyes. Her . . .
Dillan looking at me with soft eyes, asking me about my favorite constellations. My favorite Titans. “Do you have a favorite?”
“I have a few. Theia is one of my favorites. She’s the goddess of the sky and is said to have given sight to the world. She’s also the mother of the moon goddess, Selene.”
“She sounds pretty important,” she whispered.
“Impressive is more like it,” I told her and wasn’t sure if I was talking about Theia or Dillan. “So tell me, principessa... what’s your book about?”
“Hello... Rome.” Lexie looks at me with a bottle of half and half in her hand. “You want cream in this?”
I shake my head, still lost in the memory for a moment. Until I’m not. Until... “Hey, Lex?” I take the book from the counter to get a closer look. It’s heavier in my hands than I expected. Thick. I flip it open and scan the front and back for any information about the author, but there isn’t a single mention. “This is the book we’re reading for book club, right?”
Lexie walks back over, holding my coffee and staring at me in horror. “Roman Beneventi, if you crack the spine of that book, I’ll dump this entire cup of scalding-hot coffee over your head.”
“What?” I ask, taking a step back, confused but not stupid enough to piss her off when she looks completely serious. “What the fuck, Lex? What’s with the threat of violence?”
