Chapter 7 #2
“Vivi, that’s amazing.” At once, he was on his feet and shuffling around the table to give her a hug.
She couldn’t deny him the embrace, but inwardly Viv was shocked by Duke’s reaction. Scents of his spicy cologne hit her just as his solid arms wrapped around her back. “I can’t believe you have twins,” he said under his breath.
Viv returned his warm embrace, tingles washing over her at his touch. “I know. It’s crazy.”
Duke pulled back and looked at her, seeming to assess her with new eyes. “I bet you’re a great mom.”
A second dose of heat rushed to her face. Viv managed a shrug. “I try. They’re really great kids.”
“Wow,” he said while making his way back to his seat. Viv sat in hers as well.
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to turn the tables on the interview here. I have a million questions for you.”
And just like that—the unbreakable layer of ice had been broken. It felt as if he was actually seeing her. The woman she was now. Or at least, a very revealing side—her role as a mother was more important to her than anything.
“How about we go tit for tat?” she suggested, forcing her mind on a question that had come up a moment ago. That’s right, Viv. Stop swooning and get back on track.
Sure, her body would cycle the residual thrill at their interaction for the next four hours, no doubt. Simultaneously, her mind would work to remind her that she and Duke had taken a very positive turn which would, in essence, keep sparking that thrill into action again.
But Viv had a job to do, and she planned to do it.
She hit record on her voice memo once more. “This is a million dollar jet,” she said, revealing that she’d done her research since boarding. “You’ve got a menu that offers the same selection we’d see in, say, a downtown deli. Is that the regular menu when you fly?”
Duke had just taken a bite of his sandwich.
He dabbed his mouth and shook his head while he chewed.
After a quick sip of his drink, he rested an elbow on the table.
“No. Tiff has several different menus she offers during the flights, depending on our preference. If it’s a last minute flight, I let her surprise me. ”
“Did Tiff pick out this one?”
He shook his head. “No. I did.”
Viv nodded, recalling the way she’d introduced him to Bizoli’s, a deli-style pub with a similar menu. His friends used to razz him about going to the hole in the wall, but he’d taken a real liking to it.
“What are your boys’ names?” Duke asked.
“Diego and Dante,” she said.
“Both Italian names…Is their father Italian?”
“No.” And she really didn’t want to talk about their father.
In fact, she was wondering if he was doing the math in his head.
She and Duke dated nearly their entire freshmen year, until prom hit in late spring.
She’d dated the kids’ dad—more of a summer romance—for a couple of months, and had the twins nearly one year after she and Duke broke up.
“Your mom,” Duke said. “She’d always recite these Italian expressions when she got worked up. Does she still do that?”
Viv chuckled. “Totally.”
“Is she doing well, and your dad?”
Viv nodded and grinned as a memory of her own came to mind. “Yes, thank you. I remember you eating caviar back in the day. Did you really like the stuff, or was that just for show?”
Duke pushed up his bottom lip as he considered. “Probably both. It’s an acquired taste, for sure. I kept trying it as a kid because I was supposed to like it. Eventually I loved it.”
Viv nodded. “I once saw a tin of caviar that sold for thirteen hundred dollars. Some sort of Kaluga hybrid brand. Yet some are closer to fifty, or even as low as twenty-five dollars. Is there really a difference?”
He sucked in a breath before giving her a sheepish grin. “Yes. Absolutely. I hate admitting it, but that cheap stuff isn’t right. And the high price caviar—it’s freaking amazing.”
Viv couldn’t help but shake her head.
“Don’t judge,” he said. “It’s not like I live off it. I just…really enjoy it from time to time.”
She couldn’t help but grin from his candor. “The way I enjoy an occasional crème brulée?”
He chuckled under his breath. “More like your macadamia nuts.”
Tingles of warmth stirred in her tummy. “You remember those?”
“Of course,” he said. “They were your favorite. That’s why they kept magically appearing in your backpack.”
Viv had appreciated that more than she’d ever tell. They were rather pricy for her limited funds back then, and he’d spoiled her with a regular supply. She’d loved snacking on them while studying. Loved them even more because they’d come from him.
“I can’t believe I’m actually doing your interview,” she admitted.
“I know,” he said, eyes crinkling with his smile. “I nearly lost it when I saw it was you.”
“Me too,” she admitted with a laugh.
Duke motioned to her sandwich while lifting his for another bite. “You going to eat?”
She glanced at the plate as her appetite finally made itself known with a small twist in her tummy. “Of course. Buon appetito.” Viv picked up her sandwich with both hands and took her first bite.
She stifled a moan while savoring the delicious blend of pepperoni, salami, and those tangy banana peppers.
“This is a good sandwich,” she said after dabbing her lips.
Duke smiled and took another sip of his drink. “I’m glad you like it.”
“How’s yours?” she asked him.
“Incredible.”
“Good.”
“I was going to ask you about the interview. How did you not know it was me?”
Now it was her turn to pull a sheepish grin. “I usually do know. This time I just…” She switched out the words really needed the job for different ones, “…said yes automatically.”
She chuckled. “But I’ve worked with Slipper before. They’ve always offered fascinating subjects.”
A spark of mischief glowed behind his gaze. “You think I’m fascinating?”
Viv hovered over her plate, prepared to take another bite. “I guess we’ll find out.”
The fact was, Duke Benton was undeniably a fascinating subject.
Something made all the more obvious as they eased into comfortable conversation over dinner. Inside jokes surfaced along the way, proving that Duke’s laugh hadn’t changed a bit. And neither had that gleam in his eye as he teased her.
He asked more questions about Diego and Dante, but steered clear of further questions about their dad.
By the time she was heading back to her suite to call and say goodnight to the boys, Viv was in a state of swoony bliss. She’d be first to admit it.
But perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing. Hearing about the twins—that hadn’t scared him away. If nothing else, Viv would definitely be able to give Duke a favorable report. Already she could see he was worthy of redemption.
It’d be up to her to help readers see that for themselves with nothing more than his words and her observations—feelings aside. Already she was looking forward to the challenge.