The Collection: A Reverse Harem Romance by Mika Lane

Author:Mika Lane [Lane, Mika]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Headlands Publishing
Published: 2018-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

KEALY

“Can I get you anything else?” the waiter asked as he dropped off our tiramisu.

Cross and I shook our heads as we grabbed our spoons and lunged for the dessert in front of us.

I was already stuffed to the gills from antipasti and chicken picatta, but there was no way I was going to pass on the city’s best tiramisu. Year after year, the little Italian joint on my corner was voted the best in New York magazine, and I could vouch for its accuracy.

I closed my eyes. “Oh, my god, this is unreal. I’ll never get tired of it.” I heard the dessert plate sliding across the table away from me, so I quickly opened my eyes.

“Hey! What are you doing?” I asked, reaching for the bowl that Cross was trying to hijack.

“C’mon. You live here. You can get this stuff anytime. I might never be back here,” he said, trying not to laugh. “Can’t you have some pity on me?”

“Okay. I’ll tell ya right now, you do not want to get between this girl and her dessert.”

Although the thought of wrestling him didn’t sound half bad. He was so goddamn good-looking with his messy man-bun and facial scruff. I could just imagine him pinning my arms above my head to the ground so I couldn’t move…

Relax, would ya?

“So, Cross. I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to ask what happened to Joey’s mom.” I set down my spoon and leaned forward with attention.

In spite of his beautiful smile, a sadness washed across his face that made my heart break a little. I’d had my share of ups and downs, but I’d never lost someone I was in love with. What would that even be like? And how would you live through it?

He put his spoon down, too, and leaned onto the table.

“Mary. She had a bad flu, and a couple weeks later, was gone. The whole thing was unbelievable. Joey was just a baby. He was still nursing, for Christ’s sake,” he said, looking down at his white-knuckled hands.

I reached across the table and placed my fingers over his.

“Oh, my god. I’m so sorry.” My eyes filled with tears.

He nodded slowly. “Thank you. Yeah, it’s been quite a time. That’s why I work so much. I want to make sure Joey is always looked after, in case something were to happen to me.”

“I don’t blame you. I’d do the same.”

He waved the waiter down for the check, but I shoved my credit card in the man’s hand before Cross could.

He looked at me exasperated, but I just shrugged and smiled. I had a damn job and could pay once in a while.

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