Page 61 of My Infatuation with Isabella

She walks away and Tommy slaps Damon on the back. “So...do you think we’re on track to be as great as Coral and Marty.”

“No one can ever be as great as Coral and Marty. They’relegends. Those two have been doing the breakfast show at AmpUP Radio for twelve years now and this is the twelfth year they’ve won the award for the most popular show.” He gives Tom a reassuring pat. “But it’s good to have dreams and aspirations.”

“Challenge accepted,” Tom says with a smirk.

Damon laughs then nods his head toward the buffet table. “Speeches are over now. Do you guys want to grab some food? I’m starving.”

“I’m good,” Tommy says. “I’m saving myself for a mouthful of Joycelyn.”

“We have a policy on inter-office dating,” Damon says. “Have you read it?”

“I’m a simple creature. I don’t know how to read,” is Tommy’s flippant response. “Besides, I’m notdatingher and there’s nothing in the policy about giving colleagues Christmas gifts. I’m about to give Joycelyn the best night of her life.”

He starts sliding backward before Damon says anything further. Shaking his head, Damon looks at me. “I’m going to get Marilyn. I’ll meet you at the buffet table.”

“Okay.”

The aroma of fresh thyme and arrabbiata sauce wafts to my nostrils as I near the buffet tables. An array of food is laid out in silver serving trays, but my eyes go straight for the Italian meatballs. I grab a plate from the side and drop three meatballs onto it. I didn’t realize how hungry I was. My mouth is already watering.

A dark-haired woman on the other side of the table greets me with a friendly smile. “Would you like to try our chicken lasagna, ma’am?”

“Yes, please.” I hold out my plate so she can scoop out a serving for me.

“Anything else?”

“You know what would be great? Do you perhaps have some?”

“Chili?”

The smoothness of the male voice behind me sends shivers up my spine. I slowly turn around and my breath hitches, heat instantly spreading up my neck and across my cheeks. The sight of him is so spectacular, it gets me within an inch of orgasming. Dylan stands before me in a custom-fitted black suit, the jacket molded perfectly over his sculpted frame. I have never seen this man in a suit before but seeing him in it makes me want to see him out of it. I don’t even know if that makes sense. My brain is barely functioning at the moment.

A smile stretches across my face, so wide my cheeks start to hurt. “Dylan De Lorenzo.”

“Isabella...” His smile is as wide as mine, and his eyes take a leisurely stroll down my body. “Isabella Martina Delphina Diaz.” He takes a step back to do a full appraisal of me from head to toe. “Wow! You look amazing.”

I’ll be the first to admit that I was expecting a bit of awkwardness. I haven’t seen him in almost two years, and the last time I saw him, there was some...tension. But it seems like two years were enough for him to work through his anger because he’s back to his usual mellow, playful self.

“So, what brings your gorgeous face here?” I ask.

“Maybe I’m stalking you again.”

That red tint on his cheeks darkens a little and his small chuckle borders on shy. Fuck, this guy is cute. It’s weird, but over the years I’ve found myself being attracted to both JekyllandHyde. All of me is undeniably drawn toallof him. When he’s angry, he’s all broody and aggressive and...so hot. But when that boyishly charming side of him comes out, I just melt. The pressing question is, why am I melting? Why do I feel like a hormonal teenager on the inside? I’m flushed. My heart is beating erratically.

“So, how’re you doin’?” he asks.

Ugh! Did he just saydoin’? *Swoon* Internally, I slap myself for getting weak in the knees over a word. In my defense, it’s not just the word, it’s the way he’s looking at me. His heated brown eyes are all over me, not knowing where to focus. It hops from my thighs to my eyes to my breasts then back up to my lips again.

“I’m good. I’m doing very well. How about you?”

“Uh...I’m good...too.” He tries to look away, but it only lasts a second before his eyes are glued to me again. “I’m...Fuck me, that is adress...uh, wow...I swear any second now, I’m gonna stop ogling you and maybe...try answer that question.”

The last time I saw him, the circumstances weren’t conducive to a pleasant conversation, so I didn’t pick up on some of the small changes in him. As a teenager, he was always shy around girls, and even though he’s fumbling with his words a bit now, there’s a confidence about him that wasn’t there before. I see it by the casual way he slides his hands into his pockets while keeping his eyes locked on mine. Actually, there’s so much confidence in his movements, in the way he’s staring me down, that I’m the one who gets shy.

“So, I’m doin’ great,” he eventually says with a laugh. “Looking forward to burning the midnight oil tonight. Eric informed me that the staff of Copal Media know how to party hard, so we’ll be serving desserts until eleven. Which reminds me. I’m still working.” He looks past me to the dark-haired woman who served me. “Melanie, can you ask Akeem to bring in some chili for the lady, please?”

If it’s possible, him talking to her causes her smile to beam brighter than mine. “Sure, Dylan.”

She whips out her phone to call Akeem, and I turn to face him again. “De Lorenzo, are you still so oblivious that you can’t see when a woman wants to get you naked?”

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