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“I bought two servings of rigatoni with meat sauce so you wouldn’t have to worry about dinner,” she said, talking to hiht in front of her “And Sofia insisted on packaging up some of her tiramisu for you, as well, which she said was your favorite”

At the rily He’d had a busy day with s and calls and hadn’t had time to eat lunch, and quite frankly, he was starved

“I’atoni in the oven to heat it with mine, in hopes that I can convince you to join ht I’d really love the company” She exhaled a deep breath, a hint of vulnerability softening her features “I justreally don’t want to spend another evening alone”

The fact that she wore her emotions so completely on her sleeve thawed a little more of Maddux’s resolve to keep the walls between theh and insurmountable She turned back to the stove and slid the heatable containers into the oven to war at the caain, she left the kitchen

He didn’t like the feeling of beingignored How fucking ironic was that? He followed her trek through the living room, where she kicked off her heels, then padded in her bare feet out the French doors leading to the terrace Hands braced on the railing, she looked out over the view, and he couldn’t get her words out of his head I don’t want to spend another evening alone

He scrubbed a hand along the light beard growth on his jawline, feeling those contained and guarded parts of his psyche slowly caving to the soft, i way she’d asked him to join her He knehat it felt like to be alone, and though he’d spent the past fourteen years living that way by choice, for once he just wanted to enjoy a wo sexual Not just any woman, he amended, but Arabella, specifically

He justified that it was just a h self-control to eat dinner with a wo any physical lines Once dinner was over, he could retreat to his penthouse office until she was asleep for the evening, then he’d join her, because he didn’t relish the thought of spending another night tossing and turning on the hard, unco before

Decisionit on a hook behind the office door, where his suit jacket was, then unfastened the first five buttons down his shirt and rolled the sleeves up to his forearms so he was more comfortable and casual He took the elevator to his apartment, then made his way out to the terrace, where Arabella was still standing, a slight, cool spring breeze feathering through her unbound hair

As soon as she heard his footsteps, she turned around, surprise and delight widening her big blue eyes at the sight of him, and damn if her unconcealed joy didn’t make hirin

“You came!” she said on a rush of breath, her excitement palpable as she clasped her hands in front of her

He pushed his fists into the front pockets of his slacks “It was the tira himself with the humorous tone of his voice

She stepped toward him and raised a brow, her expression equally playful “Was that all that lured you?”

Her Always her God, as happening to hi him closer and closer

“And I’ in her company had factored into his decision

“Okay, I’ll take it,” she said happily “Dinner should be just about warht out How about we eat out here on the terrace?” she suggested, indicating the outdoor table he rarely used