“I trust you have real food coming too?” I side-eyed him as I buckled my seatbelt.
“I know my baby.”
The drive to the bakery was quiet until Luca’s business phone rang, and he shot me an apologetic smile before answering, “Yeah?”
Someone went on for a minute, but the hourly news update on NPR blocked any possibility of hearing what was going on.
“I can be there after seven.”
We got to the bakery, and Luca hung up with a grunt. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, his jaw ticking. “I have to go out tonight.” He swung his heavy gaze my way. “I know you wanted the whole day, but—”
I put my finger on his lips. “Hush. Don’t ruin the next—” I checked the dashboard, “four hours by being all broody.” I stuck out my bottom lip.
“Don’t try to make me laugh.”
“But I like your laugh. It’s way better than this pout.”
The corners of his mouth twitched, and he dropped his head back on the headrest. “I’d rather spend tonight with you.”
“Same, but you’re the boss man, and with that comes responsibilities.” I grabbed his hand and raised it to my lips. “I get it. We'll be good as long as you’re willing to have days like today.”
Inside the bakery, Paul had a table set with soup, sandwiches, and cake samples.
“You are a god.” I patted Paul on the shoulder as I passed him to the feast he'd prepared for me.
Luca pulled out my chair and sat next to me. His shoulders relaxed as he filled my plate and then his own.
I always came first.
Paul hovered in the background but never approached. Instead, he let Luca lead the tasting. I tried the same cakes as before, but I noticed an extra as we worked our way through the plates. My lips twitched with a smile. “Is that . . .?” I pointed at it with my fork.
Luca grinned at Paul and then pushed the cake in front of me. “Tiramisu.”
“In public?” I playfully gasped, throwing my hand over my heart.
“Just taste it.” Luca’s gaze burned into me, making me shift in my seat.
My fork glided through the cake, and I made a big show of lifting it to eye level and smelling it. Paul chuckled, but Luca raised an eyebrow, clearly over my antics.
As soon as the airy sponge hit my tongue, my eyes shut. Paul had somehow enhanced all the delicious tiramisu flavor I’d grown accustomed to in my time with Luca.
I chewed slowly, not wanting the delicious cake to ever leave my mouth. When I finally swallowed, I opened my eyes. The look Luca gave me sent my body into a tailspin. He wet his bottom lip and swallowed, his throat bobbing, capturing my attention. Our knees touched as I shifted toward him. Despite the innocent surroundings, the decadent dessert on my tongue and the brutally handsome man in front of me ratcheted up my arousal. It wasn’t lost on me that Luca’s mouth would be on me if we were home.
“We have a winner?” Paul’s voice startled me.
“I believe so,” Luca answered for me.
I drank the rest of my water and cleared my throat. “How did you do that?”
Paul laughed and came around the table next to Luca. “I can’t take any of the credit.” He slapped Luca’s back like they were old buddies. “This guy sent me the recipe.”
I narrowed my eyes at Luca. “Either my memory is terrible, or that cake is even better than the last time I had it.”
“I had a lot of free time last year to perfect it.” His gentle tone softened the blow, but not enough to keep my stomach from dropping. “Paul, can you wrap up a couple of pieces for us to take home?”
“You got it, Boss.”
When Paul left, I kissed below Luca’s ear. “I love you.”