XOXO

With a brush of her tongue over her bottom lip, she exhales. “I should respond to emails or make calls.”

I bite back a smile as I close in on her. “Which emails? What calls?”

Her eyes glide up my body until they lock on mine. “Work ones.”

I shove both hands in the front pockets of my pants to stop myself from touching her. I’m going to do this right. She deserves that. She deserves everything from a man, from me.

“Those work emails and calls can wait, Arietta.”

She shakes her head. “They can’t. You like them responded to promptly, sir.”

I edge closer. “Dominick.”

Her hand reaches up to adjust the frame of her glasses. “Yes, Dominick. You like if I answer emails quickly.”

Nodding, I agree. “I do, but I’d like something else more.”

Her breath hitches. In a strangled whisper, she manages one word. “What?”

Staring straight into her gray eyes, the corners of my lips edge up into a smile. “Celebrate with me tonight.”

Her gaze searches my face. “You want to celebrate with me?”

“I would be honored if you allowed me to cook dinner for you tonight,” I say softly. “At my apartment. I can send a car to pick you up at seven.”

I watch as she pieces together everything I just said. Her brow furrows before her face brightens in a smile. “Who else will be there?”

With my lips almost touching hers, I take a deep breath. “Just us, Arietta. I want to spend the evening with you, alone, at my apartment having dinner.”

I want more. Fuck, do I want more, but I have no grasp of what she wants or needs from me.

She looks directly into my eyes. I swear she can see my soul on display for her.

I’m infatuated. I don’t know how to hide it anymore. I don’t want to because this feels too damn good.

I watch as she swallows hard. Her lips move, but nothing comes out.

Wanting to save her the vulnerability of asking the question I know is perched on her lips, I answer it for her. “I’m asking you on a date, Arietta. I want to cook for you.”

Her index finger skims a path over her bottom lip. I want to take it as an invitation to kiss her, but I’ll wait.

“I’d like that,” she finally answers. “I’d really like that.”

A knock at my office door puts a halt to our conversation, but I’m satisfied. I got what I wanted, and that’s time with Arietta away from here.

She turns and opens the door without a word to me.

Just as I suspected, Judd is waiting on the other side with two mugs of coffee in his hands. “Good of you to finally drag your ass to the office, bud. Today’s a big day for us.”

I reach for one of the mugs and motion for him to come in as Arietta takes her leave. Today is indeed a big day for Modica, but I’m most looking forward to tonight.

Chapter 36

Arietta

I didn’t tell anyone that I’m on my way to Dominick’s apartment.

When Sinclair called me earlier today to invite me out for lunch, I told her I was too busy with work. It wasn’t a lie. There was prep that needed to be done before we met with Clarice.

Sinclair said she understood before she told me she was going to spend the evening with her niece since Berk has a dinner meeting.

Maren reached out today via text to ask if I wanted to meet up soon for movie night with Sinclair. I told her I would, but I left it at that.

I didn’t mention my date with my boss to either of my friends. I didn’t want to answer questions or have them critique the dress I chose from my closet. I couldn’t stand the idea of them making a big deal out of something that I’m not sure is a big deal yet.

I suck in a deep breath as the driver rounds the corner to Central Park West.

Dominick didn’t offer his address to me, but the driver knows exactly where we’re heading.

He glances in the rearview mirror at me as we slow. “We’re almost there.”

I skim a hand over the skirt of the black dress I’m wearing. It’s one of the few pieces in my wardrobe that fits me perfectly.

I’ve paired it with black heels and my favorite gold necklace.

My hair is down and in soft waves.

My nervous fingers fumbled with my contact lenses before I put them back in the case and slid my glasses on.

I look out the window of the car as the driver stops close to the curb. I wait, knowing he’ll come around to open the door and help me out of the car.

My gaze catches on the people coming out of the pre-war brick building. The architecture is breathtaking. I can’t imagine what the views must be like from the windows that face the park.