He holds the back of a wooden chair while I settle onto it. Taking a spot across the table from me, he smiles. “She likes you.”
“I like her.”
It’s a laughable statement. Everyone loves Marti Calvetti. Today is the first time I’ve been formally introduced to her, but I’ve had lunch and dinner here more times than I can count.
“Good,” Luke answers as he pats his hand on the table. “I appreciate you doing this, Afton.”
I don’t consider this just another job. Calvetti’s is an institution in New York. It’s important to me that I showcase the food in a way that speaks of its authenticity and the love that goes into every bite.
Whoever handled the photography for the website now didn’t put their heart and soul into it. I have no idea if that’s because cost was a factor or not, but I plan on offering Marti a very reduced rate. If she balks at that, I’ll ask her to make up the difference in free lasagna for a month.
“What are your plans after this?” Luke asks before he glances over his shoulder toward the kitchen.
“I’m going to smell the roses.”
His gaze narrows. “The roses I gave you?”
I nod.
“Care for some company?” He taps his fingertip against the side of his nose. “I wouldn’t mind smelling the roses too.”
I know we’ll do more than that. I want to do more than that.
“I’d like that,” I say. “I’d like that very much.”
Chapter 31
Afton
“I should apologize for my grandma.” Luke chuckles. “What she said to you when we were leaving the restaurant was…”
“Sweet,” I add for him because I sense he was going to take that statement in a different direction.
Marti’s parting words to me as we left Calvetti’s were brief and to the point. “My grandson needs someone like you. I think you need someone like him, so don’t let him mess this up.”
“Not sweet.” He shakes his head with a chuckle. “Uncalled for.”
I perk both brows as I place my laptop bag on the couch.
“She’s been trying to set me up for years,” he explains. “Whenever I was single, she had a long list of women she wanted to set me up with.”
I glance in his direction as he takes a seat next to my bag. “Whenever you and Brooklyn weren’t together, you mean. How on and off were you?”
I can tell from his expression that he’s uncomfortable, but he swallows and clears his throat. “More off than on.”
The question that has been nagging at me since the first time we kissed flies out. “Do you think there’s a chance you’ll be on again?”
He locks eyes with me. “No. She’s married, Afton.”
And a month from now, she could be divorced.
I hold that thought in and go with something slightly less combative. “If you had gotten to the church on time, she’d be married to you right now.”
“That would have been a mistake.”
His words surprise me enough that I sit down next to him. “What?”
Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he sighs. “Since I met you, something clicked inside of me. Call it an awakening or realization or whatever the hell word fits, but I see things differently now.”
“Differently? In what sense?”
He turns so he’s facing me. “I’ve never felt more myself with anyone before. I know I can be me, and you’re not going to judge that. We laugh together. We have fun. Kissing you is fucking amazing.”
My fingers glide over my bottom lip. “Kissing you is pretty phenomenal too.”
His gaze shifts from my lips back to my eyes. “I’m enjoying this. There are no expectations. It’s just two people having a blast.”
I smile.
He goes on, “I feel excited when I know I’m going to see you. When it does happen, I wish I knew how to stop time.”
His words flow through me, sending my pulse racing.
“I need you to know that Brooklyn is my past.” His hand inches across the couch toward mine. “I want to make it clear that I know you just got out of a long-term relationship, too, so this isn’t me asking for more than what we already have, but I like you. I want you, Afton.”
I want more than we have, but he’s right. We both were involved with different people until a few weeks ago. Jumping into something serious again isn’t smart, but sex doesn’t have to lead to anything other than more great sex.
He scoops my hand into his. “If I’m on a different page than you are, tell me.”
I take comfort in his touch, but it’s not enough. I look into his eyes, so my message is crystal clear. “We’re on the same page, Luke.”
That’s all it takes to bring him closer to me before he takes me in his arms and kisses the breath right out of me.