Nico’s eyes narrowed. “Why? Are you staking a claim?”
Rafe’s chest froze and he couldn’t speak. But Marianna shook her head. “Men. Does it always have to be about sex with you?”
Nico laughed.
Rafe spun away, rushing into the kitchen, angry with Nico but angrier with himself. He should celebrate Nico potentially being a reason for Daniella to stay. Instead, he was filled with blistering-hot rage. Toward his friend. It was insane.
To make up for his unwanted anger, he put together the best meals he’d ever created. Unfortunately, it didn’t take ten minutes. It took forty.
Allegra took out antipasto and soups while he worked. When he returned to the dining room, there were no more people at the door. All customers had been seated. Tables that emptied weren’t being refilled. Anticipating going home, the busboys cheerfully cleared away dishes.
And Dani sat with Nico and Marianna.
Forcing himself to be friendly—happy—Rafe set the plates of food in front of Nico and his sister.
Marianna said, “Oh, that smells heavenly.”
Nico nodded. “Impressive, Rafe.”
Dani inhaled deeply. “Mmm...”
Nico grinned, scooped up some pasta and offered it to Dani. “Would you like a bite?”
“Oh, I’d love a bite!”
Nico smiled.
Unwanted jealousy and an odd proprietary instinct rushed through Rafe. Before Daniella could take the bite Nico offered, Rafe grabbed the back of her chair and yanked her away from the table.
“I want her to eat that meal later tonight.”
Nico laughed. “Really? What is this? A special occasion?”
Rafe knew Nico meant that as a joke, but he suddenly felt like an idiot as if Nico had caught his jealousy. He straightened to his full six-foot height. “Not a special occasion, part of the process. She’s eaten bits of food to get our flavor, but tonight I had planned on treating her to an entire dinner.”
Dani turned around on her chair to catch his gaze. “Really?”
Oh, Lord.
Something soft and earthy trembled through him, replacing his jealousy and feelings of being caught, as if they had never existed. Trapped in the gaze of her blue eyes, he quietly said, “Yes.”
She rose, putting them face-to-face. “A private dinner?”
He shrugged, but everything male inside him shimmered. After days of only working together, being on his best behavior, he couldn’t deny how badly he wanted time alone with her. He didn’t want Nico to woo her. He wanted to woo her.
“Yes. A private dinner.”
She smiled.
His breath froze. She was happy to be alone with him? He’d warned her...yet she still wanted to be alone with him? And what of her fiancé?
He pivoted and returned to the kitchen, not sure what he was doing. But as he worked, he slowed his pace. He rejected ravioli, spaghetti Bolognese. Both were too simple. Too common—
If he was going to feed her an entire meal, it would be his best. Pride the likes of which he’d never felt before rose in him. Only the best for his Dani.
He stopped, his finger poised above a pot, ready to sprinkle a pinch of salt.
His Dani?
He squeezed his eyes shut. Dear God. This wasn’t just an attraction. He was head over heels crazy for her.
* * *
Dani alternated between standing nervously by the podium and sitting with Nico and Marianna.
The dining room had all but emptied, yet she couldn’t seem to settle. Her fluttery stomach had her wondering if she’d even be able to eat what Rafe prepared for her.
A private dinner.
She had no idea what it meant, but when he emerged from the kitchen and walked to Nico’s table, her breath stalled. He’d removed his smock and stood before the Amatuccis in dark trousers and a white T-shirt that outlined his taut stomach. Tight cotton sleeves rimmed impressive biceps and Dani saw a tattoo she’d never noticed before.
“I trust you enjoyed your dinners.”
Nico blotted his mouth with a napkin, then said, “Rafe, you truly are gifted.”
Rafe bowed graciously.
“And, Marianna.” When Rafe turned to see her half-eaten meal, he frowned. “Why you not eat?”
She smiled slightly. “You give everyone enough to feed an army. Half was plenty.”
“You’ll take the rest home?”
She nodded and Rafe motioned for Allegra to get her plate and put her food in a take-out container.
Rafe chatted with Nico, calmly, much more calmly than Dani felt, but the second Allegra returned with the take-out container, Marianna jumped from her seat.
“I need to get home. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight, but I’m exhausted.”
Nico rose, too. “It is late. Dinner was something of an afterthought. I promised Marianna I’d get her back at a decent hour. But I knew you’d want to see her after her year away, Rafe.”
Rafe kissed her hand. “Absolutely. I’m just sorry she’s too tired for us to catch up.”
Dani frowned. Nico’s little sister didn’t look tired. She looked pale. Biting her lower lip, Dani realized she’d only known one other person who’d looked that way—
Rafe waved her over. “Say good-night to Nico and his sister.”
Keeping her observations to herself, Dani smiled. “Good night, Marianna.”
Marianna returned her smile. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of you since Nico loves Rafe’s food.”
Nico laughed, took both her hands and kissed them. “Good night, Daniella. Tell your roomie I said hello.”
Daniella’s face reddened. Louisa had been the topic of most of Nico’s questions when she’d sat with him and his sister, but there was no way in hell she’d tell Louisa Nico had mentioned her. Still, she smiled. Every time she talked to Nico, she liked him more. Which only made Louisa’s dislike all the more curious.
“Good night, Nico.”
After helping Marianna with her coat, Rafe walked his friends to their car. Dani busied herself helping the waitresses finish dining room cleanup. She didn’t see Rafe return, but when a half hour went by, she assumed he’d come in through the back door to the kitchen.
Of course, he could be talking to beautiful Marianna. She might be with her brother, but that brother was a friend of Rafe’s. And Nico had said he wanted to bring Marianna to Mancini’s because he knew Rafe would want to see her. They probably had all kinds of stories to reminisce about. Marianna might be too young to have been his first kiss, his first love, but she was an adult now. A beautiful woman.
Realizing how possible it was that Rafe might be interested in Marianna, Dani swayed, but she quickly calmed herself. If she decided to stay, watching him with other women would be part of her life. She had to get used to this. She had to get accustomed to seeing him flirt, seeing beautiful women like Marianna look at him with interest.
She tossed a chair to the table with a little more force than was necessary.
Gio frowned. “Are you okay?”
She smiled. “Yes. Perfect.”