Chapter One
Matt
After the long workout this morning, my stomach is growling. But first I gotta cleanup. I’m dripping with sweat.
“You killed it today,” my buddy Josh says. “But next week I’m coming for you.”
There’s a group of us, ten of us guys, that all work out together a few times a week. This week I’m on the top of the leaderboard for my time. I finished a few minutes ahead of Josh and I know how much he hates to lose.
“We’ll see about that,” I say with a grin as I grab a towel to head to the locker room. “A lot can happen in a week.”
Josh shrugs. “True. I have a date this weekend with a girl who works at that new bakery on 4th Ave. You never know. She may be the one.”
I chuckle. “Since when are you looking for the one?” All of us guys are single — living the bachelor life. It surprises me to hear Josh say he might be ready for something more because the truth is, I’ve been feeling the same way. I’m ready to put down roots, make a life with someone… but like Josh says, it would have to be the one. No pressure.
“You’d have to see her to understand. She’s like nothing else.” Josh’s eyes practically glaze over and I laugh, shaking my head.
“Make sure you invite me to the wedding,” I say with a chuckle.
After my shower at the CrossFit gym I decide to walk the long way home. With my Air Pods in, I pull up some feel-good, old-school music, getting nostalgic as I breathe in the fresh air. KC and JoJo belt out All My Life and I laugh to myself, thinking maybe I’m a lot more ready than I thought. I suppose love must be in the air.
While I want to get home and relax for a few hours before I head to work, my stomach is begging for attention. So, when I turn the corner and see a pizza shop, I slow my pace. Sugar and Slice Pizzeria has a sandwich board outside advertising a mid-day special and I can’t resist the pull of melting cheese. I head inside this unfamiliar establishment ready to order a whole damn pie — but the woman behind the counter has me wanting to order something else.
Something to go.
Her. In my arms.
I step closer, glad I showered, and I want to know everything about her. Because what I see… it seems too good to be true. She’s behind the counter on a step stool, stacking cardboard pizza boxes on a shelf. Wearing a red apron, accentuating her tiny waist and lush hips. In a pair of tight blue jeans, she’s got an ass that makes my cock twitch. Full and round and pretty perfect. Squeezable.
Her curly black hair hangs down her back, and when she turns, flashing me a smile, I see dimples in each cheek, deep brown eyes, and a nose that is utterly kissable.
Damn. I’ve never once in my life looked at a nose and thought that.
Then again, I’ve never once in my life seen her.
Mirabella
This guy isn’t just checking me out… he’s full-on staring. Heat rises through my body at the attention, and I bite back a laugh. Obvious much, mister?
But then, as I step down the ladder to help him, I realize I’m being pretty obvious too. He’s gorgeous. And the closer he comes to the counter, the more I see that. He is tall, hot and more than handsome… and he’s got muscles covering him. My belly flip-flops. Whoever he is… he knows exactly who he is. He’s got confidence. Swagger. And he’s not cocky… just powerful. He gives me a smile that sends a prickle of excitement over my skin, making me flush that much more.
“Um,” I say, licking my lips and running my hands over the front of my apron. “Can I help you?”
He lifts his eyebrows, a half-smile on his face, and he nods ever so slowly. “You can certainly help me all right.”
I swallow. Hard. “And what is it that you’d like? We have pizza by the slice or…” I exhale, feeling his eyes level with mine.
“Not sure what I want you to serve me is a slice of pizza.”
“No?” My voice is three octaves higher, but his gaze unnerves me in the most delicious way.
He shakes his head. “I think I’d like something else from you.”
“Like what? We have calzones… but they take fifteen minutes to warm up.”
He laughs, his hands on the counter. “I don’t want a calzone. I want a date.”
“A date?” I snort. Then, mortified at the noise I’ve just made, I cover my face. “God. Um. Look, I don’t —”
“What? Don’t date?”
“I don’t even know you.” I look over my shoulder, sure my brother Tony is going to be back any minute.
“I’m Matt. What’s your name?”
“I’m Mirabella,” I say softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “And I just think… maybe you should…”
He crosses his arms, giving me a teasing grin. “Give you my number?”
I laugh nervously. Wishing my life were different. But knowing Tony’s take on any man who tries to flirt with me. And Matt isn’t just flirting. He asked me out. At least, he sort of did.
I hear the back door open and Tony whistling. “I’m sorry,” I say, “but I have to get back to work… maybe I’ll see you around?”
“Just like that? Not even gonna pretend you’re not interested?”
“I am… but…”
“But what?”
Tony calls out to me. “Hey, Mirabella, come unload these groceries.”
“Bye,” I say softly, spinning around and walking away. Matt calls after me, but I’m long gone, and Tony gives me a scowl before heading to the front of the pizzeria.
I wanted to stay and talk to Matt.
But girls like me don’t always get what they want.
I grab a slice of pepperoni, folding it in half and taking a bite, leaning against the fridge, doing my best to listen in on whatever Tony is doing to ruin my chances with a man who looks like a serious piece of pie.
Chapter Two
Matt
When this burly-ass dude walks out with tats and slicked back hair, I know exactly what kind of guy he is. Not the kind I take too kindly to, especially since he has Mirabella clearly freaked out.
I clench my jaw, wondering what their connection is, my stomach popping as I fear the worst. One look and I decided she was mine… but what if she’s already someone else’s?
“Did she get ya yer food?”
I’ve totally lost my appetite, but I’m not ready to leave this pizza shop. “Just a slice of pepperoni,” I manage to say.
He rings me up and I give him some cash, adding a twenty to the tip jar in case it’s Mirabella who gets the money at the end of the shift. He hands me a plate with my order and tells me to come again. “And sorry, my sister gets weird with customers sometimes. She’s too shy for her own good. It’s why I usually have her in the back making dough. She gets nervous.”
I nod slowly, taking in his words. “Sister?”
“Yeah,” he says with a shrug.
“She didn’t seem shy.”
He laughs. “Yeah? Well you musta won her over. She’s shy and she’s fragile.”