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“I wouldn’t have asked so much of you if I weren’t sure you could handle it, Mari”

And she couldn’t help the warh her at his words of confidence

“And I thank you for that As well as thanking you for realizing I needed a breather”

When Mari pushed away her plate, Luca reached into the basket one more time

“I know I probably shouldn’t have, but I got them to sneak in dessert” He removed a ceramic pot and a spoon, held them up

“You thought of everything”

“Not everything They only sent one spoon”

She stared at the single utensil What sort of gaht he’d simply hand her the dish and that would be it But instead he dipped the spoon in and out, a s on his lips

“I told you that there was simple beauty to be found That the Cascadea service What if eren’t running the hotel? What if ere guests? We wouldn’t be thinking of whether or not this was profitable, we’d be thinking of hoonderful the afternoon has been We’d be opening our senses, ourof ourselves and enjoy”

Her heart tripped over itself as he held up the spoon, rounded with crème brûlée

“Close your eyes, Mari”

Oh God This wasn’t putting up boundaries at all, or establishing a status quo It was blowing it all to smithereens and she wasn’t sure she could do it

He held the spoon, waiting She was caught by his waraze, as lazy and seductive as the creamy concoction on the spoon

And she closed her eyes

The cold spoon touched her lips and she instinctively opened theue Smooth, soft, sweet