Close Harmony (Food Of Love 3)

“That’s your problem in a nutshell, Milan. You forget to think. And my problem is the opposite. I overthink.”

“Then we should fit together, no? Yin and Yang. Opposites attract.”

“Is it that simple?”

“Attraction. Love. We have them, don’t we?”

Lydia swallowed. The mood had gone from light and sweet to serious very suddenly. She nodded.

“I love you, Lydia, and I want to be with you. That is simple. And it’s true.”

She felt his spell seeping into her pores, impossible to block or repel. His eyes compelled her and something about his movement, his scent, his very being just filled her with longing for him.

I love him so much. The words flowed through her, drowning out any ifs or buts until every note of caution lay buried. I want him more than anything.

“You seem so much better,” she whispered.

“Yes, yes. Everything is good now. All that old bitterness and sadness…well, some things still make me sad, it’s natural, but I look at how I’ve acted sometimes and I am shocked at myself. That poor woman, that Mary-Ann. I was a monster.”

Lydia nodded, grimacing.

“That was the old Milan. He is gone. The new Milan is different. He is honest, he has respect for others, he is loving and kind. Probably still a little bit selfish and egocentric, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Lydia laughed, then caught herself, biting her lip. Oh God, if only this could be true. If only this wasn’t just lip service intended to get her into bed. Had he really changed in all the ways she had hoped and dreamed he would?

They had mineral water with their meal, over which she and Milan talked long and in depth about all the things that had gone wrong in the past. They laughed, then tears came to their eyes as they remembered Evgeny and the tragedy of his death.

“I should go to visit his grave,” said Milan soberly. “I didn’t go to his funeral and I will always feel guilt for that.”

“You were grieving for your mother,” said Lydia gently, laying a hand on his.

“I know, but…”

“And you had that reunion, even though it was so horribly brief. You have to remember that. You made your peace with her.”

“I know,” said Milan after a long pause.

“You’ve had a mad rollercoaster of a year. It’s time the ups outnumbered the downs.”

“It’s… I don’t follow…” He frowned with incomprehension.

“It’s time you had some good luck. You’ve had too much of the bad.”

“Well, I’ve had mixed luck. Because I met you, didn’t I? And that’s the best luck of all.”

“You charmer.”

“Is it working yet?” Milan looked at his watch. “I was hoping to have you in bed by eleven.”

She gave his ankle a sharp kick.

“Don’t. Don’t be flippant. I’ve really enjoyed your company tonight. I really thought you were a good person after all.”

“I am a good person,” he said, holding up his hands. “Good at all kinds of things.” And now his voice was low and pulling her towards him.

Damn him!

“Good at being bad,” she said, pushing her plate away and feeling her cheeks burst into flame.