“We’re very proud of our menu,” the wide-eyed brunette waitress said as she placed glasses of ice water on the table in front of them. “Our chef is also an award-winning cook. And we have a wood-burning oven imported from Italy, too!” the woman exclaimed, her face beaming with pride.
Katrina smiled politely as the waitress turned an about-face and headed toward the kitchen with their orders. She could feel Matthew’s eyes studying her intently, and she turned to meet his stare. Heat flushed his face, as if he’d been caught doing something he should not have been.
“Forgive me,” he said, smiling shyly. “I didn’t mean to stare.”
Katrina blushed with him, cutting her eye at Collin, who was busying texting on his cell phone. She was a hair trigger away from reprimanding him but changed her mind, thinking the diversion would keep him focused on something other than her and this man.
“So,” Katrina began, changing the subject. “Your family is very sweet. How many of you are there?”
“It’s just the four of us—me, Mark, Luke and John. But we’re steadily growing!” he said with a soft chuckle. “Wives and babies popping out all over the place! How about you? Any brothers or sisters?”
Katrina nodded. “I come from a very big family. I have three sisters and five brothers.”
“There are nine of you?”
She nodded, amused by his expression. “Yep!”
“Wow! Were you all raised here in Dallas?”
She shook her head. “No. My mother was from Dallas, which is one reason I was drawn to the area, and my dad was born and raised in New Orleans. He’s retired military, and we were raised on army bases all around the world. The family’s in Arizona now, where my oldest brother settled down.”
“My uncle Guy is an actor in California. And my uncle Mason owns a hotel,” Collin interjected, never lifting his eyes from his cell phone.
Matthew smiled, nodding in the boy’s direction. “And you only had one child?” he asked, turning his attention back to Katrina.
She smiled back. “Unfortunately I wasn’t afforded an opportunity to have any more children.”
Matthew sensed there was a story there and he wanted to ask more, but they were interrupted by their server and the platters of food being delivered to the table. He made a mental note to continue the conversation when they next had an opportunity.
An hour later Katrina could understand why the restaurant and its staff were so proud. The food was incredible. Matthew had taken the liberty of ordering for them and his choices had been right on point. Platters of hand-sliced prosciutto, Italian cheeses, fire-roasted vegetables, marinated olives, and fruit had started them off. Collin’s eyes had widened with excitement at the presentation.
Tender veal chops topped with crispy pancetta and fontina cheese and served on a bed of polenta with a white truffle infusion had been the main course for the two adults. Collin had opted for the homemade lasagna. By the time they’d finished their desserts of tiramisu, the ladyfingers soaked in just enough espresso and coffee liqueur, and traditional Sicilian cannoli, Katrina couldn’t imagine being able to take another bite.
“Wow!” she exclaimed, leaning back against her seat. “That was incredible!”
Matthew smiled, a broad grin filling his face. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Great food is one of my passions.”
“Passions?” she replied.
Matthew’s eyes widened suggestively as he leaned toward her. Unable to contain himself, he pressed his cheek to hers as he whispered in her ear. “Food can be very seductive. I’m very passionate about those things that whet all of my appetites.” His tone was so low and seductive that Katrina found herself drawn to him.
Cutting her eyes at her son, who was eyeing them both curiously, Katrina felt a blush flood her face with color. Pulling her linen napkin to her lips, she met Matthew’s gaze as he leaned back, clasping his hands atop the table. His expression was a penny shy of being smug. He winked an eye at her before turning his attention back to Collin, shifting the conversation.
Katrina felt as if a fire had been lit beneath her. The warmth of his breath against her ear, his cheek lightly teasing hers, had heated her from the center of her core outward. His husky tone had been enticing and suggestive. Had they been alone, she imagined that he would have ended the conversation quite differently, and definitely not so abruptly. She couldn’t help but wonder where Matthew’s insinuations might have led them if she’d been willing to follow.
Katrina suddenly imagined him slipping a hand beneath the table to caress her thigh. As if her body had a mind of its own, she felt her legs open at the prospect, imagining his large fingers teasing her flesh. His strong fingers tap-danced against her skin, heating her spirit until she was ready to implode from his touch. She gasped, pressing her legs tightly together as a tremor of heat spiraled between them.
“Mom!” Collin’s anxious tone intruded on the decadent thoughts Katrina had been having about herself and that man. “I swear, you never listen to me!”
She shook her head from side to side. “Collin, please, don’t raise your voice. I’m sitting right here.”
The boy rolled his eyes skyward. “Boy, you were off in outer space! Mr. Stallion says that when I finish my chores at the ranch, then I can ride the horses. He says you can ride with me if you want. Isn’t that cool?”
Katrina smiled, her gaze skating from her son’s face to Matthew, who was staring at her intently. She nodded her head ever so slightly. “Yes, that’s very cool.”
“Do you ride?” Matthew questioned, his expression curious.
“It’s been a while,” she said with a slight nod of her head. “I’ve heard that you’re quite the horseman, though. Is that true?”
His smile made deep dimples in his cheeks. “It’s one of my many hobbies.”
“Not a passion?” she said teasingly, surprised by her own boldness.
Matthew chuckled, his eyes twinkling with glee, as he leaned close one last time. “I hope you’ll afford me the opportunity to share my passions with you, Katrina. I most certainly want to!”
His eyes shimmering with heat, Matthew rose from his seat, moving behind her to pull out her chair. As his fingers lightly brushed against her back, causing a shiver of heat to rush through her body, Katrina pretended not to notice the innuendo that eased like warm butter from his evocative tone.
* * *
The house was almost too quiet. Moving down the length of the hallway, Katrina stopped to peer into her son’s room. Collin had fallen asleep with his clothes on, his lanky frame sprawled across the bedspread. His earbuds were plugged into his stereo, the sound system vibrating atop his nightstand.
She thought twice about waking him so that he could change into a pair of sleeping pants, but she didn’t bother. It would only mean another fifteen minutes of her and him fussing at each other, and she’d had too good a day to end it on a sour note. Backing her way out of the room, she eased his bedroom door closed and headed back down the hallway
