He Loves Me Not (The Hawthornes of New York 1)

Once I reach the kitchen, I place it down on the counter and edge the wrapper off the bar. I tug on the corner of what looks like a white piece of paper.

When it’s completely free, I flip it over.

An uncontrollable smile blooms on my lips as I read what’s written in the same masculine handwriting that was on the note Roman left me at the diner.

Meet me on Saturday at noon. Crispy Biscuit.

I’ll be the guy holding the daisy.

I glance down at the package again.

The seal matches the seal of every other Wolf Candy chocolate bar I’ve ever eaten.

How the hell did he sneak that note inside of it?

Roman Hawthorne is full of surprises.

“Is everything okay?” Vivi asks from where she’s sitting.

I scoop the note into my hand, folding it in half, and then again before I slide it into a kitchen drawer. “Everything is great.”

She pushes to her feet. “I’ll come help with the lemonade. Have you eaten yet? I can order something in for us.”

With my heart hammering inside of my chest in anticipation of seeing Roman again, I smile. “You choose.”

“Me?” She laughs. “What’s gotten into you? You always control our take-out choices.”

“It’s your turn to choose.”

She eyes me skeptically. “You seem extra happy tonight. Either your new job is agreeing with you, or you met someone. Which is it?”

I drop my gaze. “It’s the chocolate.”

She lets out a laugh. “It is good, but I know something better. Nova has this salmon dish with olives and artichokes. Are you game to try it?”

“Let’s do it,” I say as I round her to head to my bedroom. “I’m going to jump in the shower before dinner.”

“Sounds good,” she calls after me. “Hey, Bianca?”

I turn when I hear the softness in her voice. “Yes?”

“I like seeing you this happy.” She smiles. “It makes my heart sing.”

Leave it to Vivi to bring tears to my eyes. “I love you, V.”

“I love you, B,” she says softly. “A little bit more than yesterday.”

Chapter 16

Roman

I spot Bianca before she can get her eyes on me.

She’s chatting up Jo, the owner of Crispy Biscuit. From where I’m sitting, their discussion is light-hearted and fun. Bianca’s hips are swaying back and forth as she shuffles from one heeled black boot to the other.

I’m getting my fill of her curvy ass in a pair of faded jeans. She’s topped that with a blue short-sleeve sweater. Her long hair is gathered into a ponytail that’s sitting atop her head.

I glance down at the jeans and T-shirt I’m wearing.

“Roman!”

I look up when I hear my name called. I recognize the voice immediately as Jo’s.

“Your lunch date has arrived,” she says as she approaches me with Bianca on her heel.

Bianca’s head shakes slightly. “It’s not a real date.”

Jo’s gaze darts over her shoulder. “Call it what you will, but you two are endgame.”

Bianca stops suddenly in place. “Endgame?”

“I’m right about this.” Jo laughs as I push to stand. “I know a perfect match when I see one, and I’m looking at perfection now.”

Bianca’s eyes are pinned on me, but I’m not diving into that conversation. My life is too full to even think about anything beyond dating. I’ve had a handful of casual relationships the past few years. They’ve satisfied the needs I’ve had at the time.

“I’m looking at perfection,” I add to try and steer this onto a different course. “You look great, Bianca.”

Her reaction to how I’m dressed is exactly what I expected.

She laughs. “Did you wear that shirt on purpose?”

I smooth my hands over the New York Mets logo on the front of my T-shirt. “What do you think?”

“I think you should take it off.”

My hands drop to the bottom hem. I tug it up far enough to give her and Jo a clear view of the abs I work hard for. “Will do.”

“Wait.” Bianca’s hand reaches to stop mine. “I didn’t mean right now.”

I know she didn’t, but the tease was worth it to see her reaction. “Later, then?”

“Let’s have lunch.” She settles on a wooden chair across the table from where I was seated.

Jo drops one menu in the middle of the table. “Give me a shout when you’re ready to order.”

I take my seat again. “How long did it take you to find my note?”

The corners of her full, pink lips edge up. “Not long. How did you get it inside the wrapper?”

“Magic?”

She shakes her head. “Try again.”

“I know the owner of Wolf Candy,” I admit. “Nikita Wolf. I asked if she could do me a favor. She obliged.”

“She’s a friend?”

I can sense that she’s fishing for more, so I give it to her. “Nikita has been my sister’s best friend since pre-school. I consider Nikita my sister too.”

“Does that come with perks?” Her eyebrows draw up. “Do you get free candy?”