He nodded, staring at the bubbling sauce intently. “I started working here when I was 13. I’ve always loved cooking, and my cousin had no interest in taking over for my uncle, so I was the obvious choice.” A timer dinged, and he removed a pan from the oven.His movements were graceful and practiced. A true professional. “My older brother trained to take over for my dad, but there was an accident, and he passed away.” He looked up at me with sad eyes. “Family obligations pulled me from the kitchen, and now I’m running Moretti Properties and all its holdings. A job I never wanted and am barely qualified for.”
With a humorless laugh, he wiped his hands down the front of the apron. “Okay, enough of that. I’m supposed to be wooing you into submission, notdraggingyou down with my regrets.” He grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes, which was just wrong. Regret, or sadness, or whatever he was feeling, should never cast a shadow over one of Luca’s smiles. A lump settled in my throat, and I fidgeted in my seat. I wasn’t sure why I cared so much. An uncomfortable silence settled over us as he finishedpreppingour dinner.
Bouncing my leg, I joked,“The last time I cooked was six months ago. It was supposed to be mac n cheese but ended up burnt n black. Ryan wouldn’t even eat it.”
Lucalooked away from his work with a small smile.Tilting his head, he started plating the food.“Who’s Ryan?”
Fluttering my eyelashes, I dramatically sighed. “Just the love of my life. Too badhe loves another.”Luca’s smile faltered, so I quickly added, “Catnip. He won’t give it up, and I refuse to share. You know?”
“Your cat.”Heput down his utensils and laughed.
I scrunched my eyebrows in false confusion. “Yes?”
“You’re a weird one, Sasha.”Shaking his head, Luca pulled a pan from the oven and took off his apron.
Hopping down from the stool, I circled the prep table and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my body into his. “That I am, but isn’t it more fun that way?”
Luca hugged me close. “It is.” He pressed a sweet kiss to my forehead before pulling away. “Now, you go have a seat, and I’ll be in with our plates.”
Swaying my hips as I walked out of the kitchen,I could feel his eyes on me. I tapped my chin and looked everywhere but at the decked-out table. “But which table?”
He scoffed loudly from the stove as I settled into the chair facing the kitchen door. When Luca pushed through with the plates, the kitchen’s bright light created a halo around his tall, broad body. He smiled at me as he put down a beautifully plated dish. “I might’ve overdone it, huh?”
“No, not at all. But be warned, I now expect flower petals to surround me at all future meals.”
Uncorking a bottle of expensive wine, Luca laughed. “So,there will be future meals?”
“Let’s see how this one goes.”I accepted the glass of red from him.
“Deal.”
Wefellinto a comfortable silence. Well, maybe not comfortable, but I was inhaling my pasta with a gusto I’d never experienced, so I was doing just fine. When my plate was empty, I finally looked up at Luca.
He was leaning on his elbows over his half-full plate, the glass of wine in his hand nearly empty. One eyebrow lifted, and the corners of his mouth pulled up. “I take it you liked it?”
I carefully dabbed the corners of my mouth. “Obviously. That was the best meal I’ve had in awhile. You’re a cooking god.”
Inclining his head, he thanked me.
“Can I ask you something?”
He nodded, taking a sip of wine.
“Did you know I was in the show the other night? Is that why you were there?”
Choking on his wine, he shook his head wildly as he coughed. After taking a small sip of water, he cleared his throat. “No, of course not. I wasn’t lying when I said I would leave you alone. My friend really did invite me. He has a thing for Evie. You can imagine my surprise when you walked out and started to take your clothes off.”
I chuckled. “I guess that’d be a pretty big surprise, huh?” Swirling my wine, I studied Luca. “I was shocked when I saw you in the front row.”
“I would’ve never known it, the way you just kept on dancing.”
I shrugged. “I’d already written you off.”
“That’s fair. I was a prick.”
Leaning back in my seat, I sipped the delicious wine.“No, you were honest. I just didn’t like the implication that any woman could take my place. I get we don’t know each other, but to go from pursuing me so aggressively to a ‘who needs ya’ attitude just because I rejected you pissed me off. I may be open to casual sex and one-night stands, but I won’t be disrespected.”
Luca leaned more forward. Everything about his posture was humble.“And that’s why I’m apologizing for being a dick. I was hurt and tried tohideit by pretending to be a player. That’s not me. Honestly, I hadn’t had a one-night stand in probably ten years. I’m a little out ofmydepth here.”