Page 4
She pouted at the distraction.“How did you get to be so hot?”she demanded, leaning forward.Her elbow nearly betrayed her again, but she managed to hold steady, looking quite pleased with herself.
“I don’t know,” he murmured, still amused.“And aren’t you a charming drunk?”
Her mouth fell open in mock outrage.“Drunk?” she gasped, then grinned.“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes,” he said smoothly, his voice dropping lower.“That’s a very good thing.”
He leaned forward, plucked her glass from her hand, and drained it in one swallow.
“Hey!”she hissed.“That wasmydrink!”
He lifted one hand, a simple, but powerful gesture.The waitress appeared instantly at his side, her smile coy and practiced.“Yes, Mr.Romano?”she asked, tilting prettily toward him.
“Another bottle,” he ordered without looking at her.Then, with a smirk at Catarina: “And this one is ours.”
Cat sighed, pursing her lips.The waitress was blocking her view of the man, and that was irritating enough.But what really offended her was the way the woman leaned across the table as if Catarina weren’t even sitting there.
“Don’t do that, lady,” Cat snarled, reaching out to tug on the hem of the woman’s…well, skirt, because there wasn’t a sleeve to grab.
The waitress shot her a scowl.Cat wagged her finger right back.“No, no, don’t get angry at me.We’re women.We’re supposed to stick together.Sisterhood.” Had the waitress just rolled her eyes?Cat gasped, insulted.“Did you just roll your eyes at me?Rude!”
The man chuckled and Catarina turned her scowl on him.He didn’t seem very affected though.
“Actually, instead of another bottle, bring Ms.Bianchi a glass of water and a plate of pasta,” the man ordered, his tone smooth but edged with authority.“With extra bread.”
The waitress hesitated, darting a look at Catarina.Cat raised her brows hopefully, like she was about to win a prize.
“We don’t serve food here in the bar, Mr.Romano,” the waitress protested, leaning in closer, her voice sugary sweet.
“Pasta.Water.Bread.”His voice dropped lower, hard as steel.“And add some protein.”
Cat grinned, delighted at the way the woman’s posture snapped straighter.
“Yes, Mr.Romano.Right away, Mr.Romano.”She practically scurried away.
Cat giggled, shaking her head.“See?If you’d just respected the rules of sisterhood, he wouldn’t have had to get all scary with you.”
The waitress didn’t even glance back.Cat dismissed her entirely and leaned toward Sal again.“I need to learn to do that.”
“To do what?”His mouth curved slightly, though his eyes stayed sharp on her.
“Scowl like that.”Cat twisted her features into what she imagined was a fierce expression and dropped her voice to a husky growl.“Pasta.Water.Bread.” She leaned forward, mimicking his glower.
He raised one eyebrow in amusement.
She gasped, pointing at him.“That!That eyebrow thing!That’s terrifying.”She brightened.“Teach me.”
His lips curved into something dangerously close to a smirk.“You don’t need to learn,Bella.You’ve already got a few weapons of your own.”
Cat blinked, tilting her head.“I do?”
Chapter 4
Salwatchedasthebeautiful woman twisted her head and neck, lifting her brow in concentration.Madonna mia, was she actually trying to see her own eyebrow arch?The woman was adorable.Adorable, and sexy as hell.
The way she moved—those long, slender legs shifting beneath the table, her skirt pulling just slightly higher—it was maddening.And dangerous.And yes, he was going to hell for noticing the daughter of his enemy that way.
Did he care?Not even a little.
