“Daniello, I’m really trying here, but how the hell would you know what I like and dislike?”
“I know you love my tongue in your mouth, my cock in your pussy, and I know you do not enjoy wine.”
“Fine, vodka it is,” I hissed, taking a sip of our newly delivered drinks and hating it. Daniello saw it and motioned to the waiter.
“No,” he said, ushering the waiter back. “Scusami…what is your name?”
“Chris…” the waiter answered, smiling between the two of us as if he were in on the game.
“I will pay for every drink you deliver to this table until we find something she enjoys,” Daniello said. “Gin, something with gin.”
“Way off,” I snubbed.
Daniello raised his brows as if I’d already lost. He tapped his fingers on his lips pensively then took another guess. “Scotch?”
I shook my head and blew out an exasperated breath, looking at our eager waiter. “Whiskey on ice.”
Daniello chuckled as Chris looked at him. “Per favore.” Daniello steepled his hands in mock prayer. “Please give her some whiskey, Chris.”
Chris nodded in reply and walked away with the fresh order.
“Why would you suffer with wine all this time?” He wasn’t asking, gloating was more like it. I shrugged and eyed my menu, not giving either recognition.
Whiskey is not the drink of a lady, Taylor.
It had been a while since I’d thought of that voice, a different ghost, a different life. I straightened in my chair, refusing to explain myself. The voice taunted me.
“You will order white wine at every event. You will sip it slowly, and you will never have more than two.”
Minutes of silence followed as Daniello scrutinized me, and I ignored him entirely, instead watching the sunset.
“I would like you to be comfortable,” he offered in small apology.
I smirked as I looked up. “And that was handled perfectly.”
“I find myself answering to you, and it does not please me.” I almost laughed, even more exasperated as fresh drinks were delivered. I took a long sip as Chris waited and watched me.
“Yummy.” Managing a wink at Daniello, I turned to our waiter and beat Daniello at his game by ordering for the both of us. “We’ll both have the filet, medium rare, rosemary potatoes, and the lobster tail. House dressing with our salads.”
Chris nodded, his gaze turning to Daniello, who was laughing loudly as he waved Chris away.
“Woman, you have no idea how much you amuse me,” he said, sipping his stiff drink.
Three drinks later, my body buzzed from the amber liquid as Daniello remained light in our conversation. Whiskey had always been my drink of choice, but had the effect of a syringe full of truth serum, so I tried to avoid it at all costs. I reminded myself to remain tight-lipped as I sucked on a piece of ice.
“Why were you at the club?” I asked boldly. “You never entertained any of those women.”
He wiped his mouth, finished a bite of salad, and watched me suck my ice before answering.
“I was there with a business partner who frequents the club. I had no desire to…entertain.”
“Kind of judgmental, isn’t it? You could have tried it at least once.”
Serious eyes looked at me, watching my chest rise and fall, drifting up to my neck, and then landing on my lips where they remained with his next words.
“I got all I wanted out of that club.”
“So did I,” I replied quickly.