Sumter Falls didn’t have any designated parking areas other than on the side streets. I found a space and walked over a block to get to the pizza place. Not a huge deal, except my flip flops weren’t exactly comfortable.
Why did I own a pair of shoes that wasn’t comfortable?
I should be used to that as well. Some of those stilettos I paraded around in on the runway were lethal weapons, and none of them were comfortable. Discomfort seemed to be a requirement for high fashion.
I thought again of Fredricka and my contract with Dominique in Paris.
Not what I wanted to be thinking about at the moment. Besides, I was leaving in the morning. I’d call Fredricka when I was back in Manhattan and tell her to postpone the shoot in Paris. My father had just died, after all, and I needed to pay my respects.
Yeah, I was good at lying. I could even shed a few tears if I had to.
I opened the wooden door to Rosati’s. The robust aroma of tomato sauce and melted cheese drifted toward me. I inhaled.
Food. Food was good. Dominique might not even want me once they saw how much weight I’d gained on this little excursion.
I didn’t rightfully care at the moment.
How much time had passed since my last pizza?
A year, at least, and probably more.
I walked toward the hostess.
“Good evening,” she said. “Just one for dinner?”
“Yes, just me tonight.”
I didn’t mind eating alone. In fact, I enjoyed it. Problem was that back home, someone always recognized me so I couldn’t enjoy my own company.
Not so in this little town. I’d only met a few people, and what were the chances of any of them being here tonight?
“Right this way,” the hostess said, and then she looked over her shoulder as the door opened again. “Be right with you, Matt.”
Matt?
Couldn’t be. Matt was a fairly common name. Right?
Don’t turn around, Riley. Just don’t.
But I did.
Sure enough, there was Matteo Rossi, his long hair up in a messy blond man bun.
And he wasn’t alone.
A blond woman stood beside him. She was attractive in an unconventional way, and she had a killer body.
Great. Just great. Should I leave? The thought had merit, but I’d be more conspicuous that way.
“Here you go.” The hostess led me to a small table near the back of the restaurant.
“Thank you,” I murmured, taking the menu she handed to me.
“Adriano will be with you in a minute. He’ll be your server.”
“Thanks.” I sat down—in the chair facing the back so I wouldn’t see Matt and his date—and perused the menu.
Out of habit, my gaze went directly to the “healthy options” portion. Rosati’s idea of a healthy option was a thin-crust pizza with no cheese. Just their signature sundried tomato marinara, shredded roast chicken breast, and an array of veggies.
It actually sounded pretty good, but I hadn’t come here for a healthy option. I’d come here for gooey, cheesy pizza.
“Hi there.”
I jerked upward and met the gaze of—
Wow.
My waiter was freaking gorgeous. Short dark hair and dark eyes, he looked like a Mediterranean god.
He smiled, and he was even more dazzling. “I’m Adriano. Do you have any questions about the menu?”
“Nope. It’s pretty clear cut.”
He laughed. “Yeah, it is. Can I get you something to drink?”
“A glass of wine, I think. Do you have a list?”
He laughed again. “We do. It’s a piece of paper with the words red and white on it.”
I joined in his laughter. It was joyful and contagious. “I’ll try the red.” Then I shut my menu. “And please bring me the most ridiculously fattening pizza you have.”
His eyes crinkled. “That’d be our mucho macho. Three meats, extra cheese, and five veggies.”
“Is one of the meats anchovies?” I asked.
“No, of course not.”
“Add anchovies, then.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Seriously?”
I smiled. “I’m always serious, Adriano.”
“Got it.” He smiled back. “What size? Extra large?”
“I think small will suffice.”
“Our small is twelve inches. It’s a lot with all those toppings. Want to try an eight-inch personal size?”
Not one more pound, Riley, Fredricka’s voice echoed in my head.
“The small. If I can’t finish it, I’ll take it with me.”
“Good enough. I’ll be right back with your wine and a glass of water.”
“Perfect.”
I turned around and watched Adriano’s perfect ass as he walked away. Maybe not quite as perfect as Matt’s, but nearly as hot. Matt’s friend Lucas was great-looking too. Was Sumter Falls home to only good-looking men?
Shit.
I shouldn’t have turned around to watch Adriano walk away.
My gaze met Matt’s. He was sitting a few tables away with his date.
I turned around quickly and pretended to be engrossed in my phone.
Don’t come over here. Don’t come over here. Except…please come over here.
I’d been horrible to him earlier. Why had I thrown his rose on the ground and stomped on it? So childish, and that rose meant everything to me. I wanted to keep it forever. That was why I’d pressed it in the Stephen King novel.
So he’d pushed me a little. What really upset me was that I was so transparent. My father had taught me so well to hide my emotions, to lie when necessary.
How had Matt seen through it all?
Disappointment swept through me when he didn’t come. If he hadn’t said anything when I looked back and saw him enter, why would he now?
He wouldn’t. I was the one who’d been a bitch. The first move would have to be mine.
No. I was here to eat a disgusting and glorious pizza. After all, I was leaving in the morning. No reason to start something I couldn’t finish.
Besides, he was with another woman…which was slicing into my heart like a serrated steak knife.
That one’s a keeper, Mrs. Carson had said.
Which only meant one thing.
Matt had brought other women to her place. Matt probably screwed every single woman who rented his cabin.
I was definitely better off without him.
Besides…
The thought of sex terrified me…and excited me.
How I longed to experience sex with someone I actually wanted touching me. Someone I felt something other than complete hatred for.
My father.
So many things he’d done to me. Sometimes he even let others watch. But they never touched me. Never touched his princess. Sometimes they begged him to let them, and many times I’d feared he’d allow it.
But he never did.
I suppose I owe him a small bit of gratitude for that.
Fuck. What the hell was I thinking? I owed him nothing. A big fat nothing.
He’d ruined me.
Because of him, I’d never be able to have a real relationship with Matt or anyone else.
Which didn’t matter anyway, because Matt had already moved on.
Oh, but his kiss…
When I’d stripped away all my baggage and allowed myself to enjoy it…
It had been nirvana.