“Gosh, no!” I gesture wildly with my hands before reaching for my fork. “That is not what I meant. I grew up in Breckenridge. On my first day back in town, I ran into Jaxson at a coffee shop. He recognized me.”
Ariella exhales a soft sigh, and her shoulders slump, looking a bit more relaxed. “Oh, that’s nice.” She takes a sip of her water as the color comes back into her cheeks even more.
“I felt bad,” I further explain. “I didn’t recognize him. Certainly not with the tattoos.”
“And I bet he didn’t have a six-pack in high school either,” Ariella says with a grin.
I shake my head. “Definitely not.” Most of the guys in school I hadn’t been attracted to, I’d been chasing college boys outside of town. Big mistake. They were all heartbreakers.
“You should come over for dinner.”
I glance at my watch as I finish the last few bites of salad. “I appreciate the offer, but I can’t. I usually watch the little one around the clock. I’m lucky to have today and tomorrow off.”
“Bring her with you. Just maybe leave her dad at home,” Ariella says and scrunches her nose.
I try not to take offense at her suggestion. It’s not like she knows anything is happening between Moreno and I. Hell, I’m not even sure I know what’s going on between us.
It’s complicated.
Two words that are like the heaviest of rain clouds ready to pour down atop us. “You know, he’s not that bad of a guy,” I say, finding myself defending Moreno.
I shouldn’t defend him.
He wouldn’t even let me leave on my own.
Reaching for my water glass, I down the last remnants. Just thinking about him. My mouth is dry, my throat parched.
“He’s your boss.” Ariella reminds me with not even a tiny bit of subtlety.
Crap.
Moreno isn’t even in the room with us and she’s reminding me that I’m his employee. It must be unmistakable my feelings for him.
Well, I’m not the only one with feelings. He professed his to me, too.
“My grumpy boss,” I reiterate.
Ariella smiles and finishes the last of her lunch. “Right. Grumpy.” She doesn’t sound convinced.
“What?” I ask.
She can’t deny that a man who works for the mafia isn’t grumpy. It goes with the job. It’s practically a requirement.
“That’s not the adjective that I thought you’d have used.” The smirk on her face makes me feel several degrees hotter. “You’re blushing!”
I reach for my water glass, but it’s empty. “He’s an attractive man.” There’s nothing wrong with admitting that he’s handsome.
His deep-set eyes and sharp jawline, his thick hair that I want to run my fingers through.
Ariella snaps her fingers in front of me. “Where’d you go?”
Oh no.
Daydreaming about Moreno.
That must be bad.
Thankfully, the waitress comes over to check on us and refills our water glasses while bringing the bill to the table. She’s a welcoming distraction to shift the mood.