Chapter 4 Sophie
Sophie
Before I can figure out an escape, Matti and Vin join us at the counter.
“This looks fucking amazing, Sophie,” Matti says, his smile kind as he reaches for a stuffed mushroom. “What’s in these?”
“Asiago and basil in these and sausage and basil in those. I had just enough of the Opalescent basil left to make them.”
“Opalescent basil?” Vin snatches one of each kind of stuffed mushroom and takes a careful bite of the one with asiago.
Instantly, it happens.
His eyes close. His jaw slows. That soft groan rumbles up from somewhere deep in his chest as he chews reverently, savoring each bite like it’s a religious experience.
My uterus contracts, and Siena pinches my hand until I stop staring at Vin and meet her glare.
I clear my throat and glare back at her as I answer Vin. “Opalescent basil is amazing, but it’s so hard to find. I save it for the most important dishes.”
For you. I don’t say: I save it for you.
“I told her she didn’t have to do this, but she insisted,” Siena says, giving me a shake of the head that clearly means ‘stop looking at him like that.’
“You know we love it. This baby is going to come out begging for your osso bucco.” Matti laughs.
Vin punches Matti’s arm. “From the guy who would live off pancakes if he could.”
“Not just pancakes. Bacon, omelettes. I have a varied palette,” Matti jokes. “But this—I mean, what is this? It’s a pastry but it’s crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and then this filling, holy shit.” He shoves half a sfogliatelle into his mouth and groans.
I can’t help but blush. It makes me so happy when people enjoy my food.
It’s one of the reasons I started cooking in the first place.
Good food makes everyone happy, and in the world we live in, there’s a shortage of happiness.
But I can create it with my hands. All I need is butter and flour and time.
When Vin grabs one of the flaky pastries and takes a bite, I accidentally hold my breath then sigh with relief when his eyes pop open wide. “Holy shit! You made this? I’ve never had sfogliatelle this good, not even at Ferrara’s in Little Italy.”
My heart practically soars out of my body. “It’s not that hard,” I lie softly.
I never know how to take a compliment, and the truth is that sfogliatelle are notoriously difficult to get right. I spent the entire day making these, rolling out dough and testing the filling, because I knew Vin would be here. And I knew he’d appreciate them in a way most people wouldn’t.
“Flaky dough on the outside, chewy on the inside.” He’s analyzing it like a food critic, turning it in his fingers. “I mean, you have to have a pasta roller to get the layers this thin and perfect.”
“That is correct,” I confirm, laughing as Vin closes his eyes and presses his hands into the counter to steady himself then holds up a finger to quiet me as he focuses on the pastry.
When he swallows, he sighs, his eyes still closed. “Best ricotta filling I’ve ever had. Perfect amount of cardamom, not too much cinnamon, and is that…a hint of lemon zest?”
“Just a touch,” I breathe, amazed that he caught it.
“Fuck.” He opens his eyes and looks at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Vin nods, approval and respect on his face, and watches me. I feel it like a physical touch as I pinch my lips together and duck my head, suddenly shy, busying myself with the remaining pastries that definitely don’t need this much attention.
“Getting compliments makes you shy, princess?”
Princess. Electricity shoots down my spine. When I glance up at him, his expression has shifted. No longer analytical, his eyes are sparkling with something that makes my stomach flip.
“Not shy. But I do like it when my food makes people happy.” Especially when it makes you happy.
“Is anyone making you happy?” He leans his elbows on the counter and looks up at me through his eyelashes. I practically melt into a puddle right there on the floor.
Siena screams and pummels his arm. “Stop that! She’s off limits.”
Vin’s voice drops into a teasing throaty growl that does absolutely obscene things to my insides, his eyes locked on mine like we’re the only two people in the room. “Is that true, princess? Are you off limits?”
When he drags a finger along my forearm, my nervous system explodes like fireworks. I try hard to keep it under control. I really do. “I think you’re the one who’s off limits.”
I nod toward Valentina, still draped over the couch like a Renaissance painting, and they all follow my gaze. Siena breathes a sigh of relief, and Matti chuckles while Vin’s grin spreads across his face.
“Jealous, princess?”
I smile and shake my head ‘no,’ taking the beer Siena hands me. “I don’t get jealous.”
“Really? Because that looked like jealousy to me.” He’s enjoying this, I can tell. He’s enjoying making me squirm.
“Pull up, Vin. You’re in a crash and burn situation.” Matti claps him on the back, then blocks Siena as she reaches out to smack Vin again.
“God damn it, Vin!” Siena snaps. “Take your bullshit somewhere else. She’s way too fucking good for you.”
Matti scoops Siena up in his arms. “Alright, we’re going to go over here before you put my wife into early labor.”
I watch them go with a spike of longing so sharp it hurts. I guess I lied. I definitely feel jealous watching Matti carry Siena away, looking at her like she’s his whole universe. And crestfallen as well, because I’m sure Vin will follow them.
But he doesn’t.
“So if you don’t get jealous, what does that look mean?”
His attention is on the antipasto, and I realize the food is probably why he’s not leaving, but I’ll take it.
“I look some kind of way?” I try to keep my voice light, sneaking glances at him and blushing with pride as he eats my food.
He nods and glances at me. “Uncomfortable.”
I laugh. “Uncomfortable sounds about right.”
“Why are you uncomfortable thinking about me with Valentina? Sounds like jealousy to me.” He gestures for me to hand him another sfogliatelle and I do, my fingertips brushing his.
“More like…” I search for the right word. “Disappointment.”
Vin’s lighthearted expression fades and his brow furrows. He almost looks offended, and I immediately feel guilty. “‘Disappointment?’ Like you’re disappointed in my choices?”
Before I realize what I’m doing, I reach out and place a reassuring hand on his forearm, needing to smooth over whatever damage I just caused. His skin is warm under my palm, and I can feel his muscles coiled tight beneath.
“No. Not disappointed in you. Disappointed because you’re busy and I wouldn’t mind spending time with you. I’d feel the same if you were busy working or…I don’t know, putting together a puzzle.”
The surprise on his face is almost comical. His eyebrows shoot up, his mouth opens slightly. It makes me laugh despite the tension crackling between us.
He glances down at my hand before deliberately shrugging it off. “A puzzle, huh? I don’t do a lot of puzzles. Unless you mean the kind of puzzle where I’m fitting my dick inside that ass.”
He grins and I can’t help but laugh even as heat floods through me at the mental image.
“Okay, sure. You’re busy putting together her puzzle tonight. I’ll catch you another time.”
I look around for Siena, ready to make my escape before I embarrass myself further, but Vin catches my sleeve and tugs me back.
“I have some time right now. I could… put together your puzzle if you want.”
Adrenaline spikes through me so hard and fast I feel dizzy. My mind floods with images: him pushing me up against the wall, his mouth on my neck, him bending me over the counter, his hands gripping my hips hard enough to leave bruises. But I’m not interested in being another three-minute conquest
“Mmm, see, there are a lot of pieces to my puzzle, so it takes some time.”
He shakes his head, leaning his elbows on the counter again and grins at me. “You haven’t been with me yet. You’ll find out that I’m a master…puzzler who can put your puzzle together in record time.”
I’m dripping wet thinking about him throwing me up against the wall and pounding into me. With his strength, I bet he can hit the level of roughness I secretly crave, forcing my thighs apart, shoving my face into the bed, calling me his dirty little—
“No, thank you. I’m sure you’ll have fun playing with…that puzzle, though.”
I nod toward Valentina, letting her be my shield. But Vin’s gaze is locked on mine, and while his eyes are still sparkling, there’s something predatory in his expression as he comes around to my side of the counter and blocks me into the corner.
He licks his bottom lip, the grin fading into something more intense. “What if I want to play with you instead?”
My breath catches in my throat. My heart is hammering so hard I’m sure he can see it through my shirt. I open my mouth to respond, but before I can say anything, a loud boom shakes the entire house so hard the windows rattle in their frames.