Page 29 of Crowned In Blood
"Red."
He made a gesture with his hand, summoning the server, then ordered the most expensive bottle off the menu.
The man dashed off to retrieve it, while I blinked several times to see if I'd read the price correctly. "Marco, are you trying to go bankrupt on this dinner? That was a fifty-thousand-dollar bottle of wine."
"Don't wound my pride like that, Catalina. I have enough money to buy this restaurant and the entirety of Manhattan twice over." His voice dropped to a whisper. "And if it would please you, I'd spend that and so much more. You're worth it."
It was a line. A simple, stupid, insignificant line, but it got to me. My heart began to race.I need to deflect.
"Are you like this on all of your dinner dates?"
"Honest, you mean?" Marco stroked the stem of his wineglass, his eyes twinkling in mischief.
"No, terribly flirtatious." I sipped my wine, letting the hints of vanilla and cocoa and the silky finish soothe my frayed nerves.
He grinned. "No. I don't go on dates with mafia heads, and I haven't been on a date with a woman in a very long time."
I twirled my glass slowly. "Ah, yes. I can see how that might be the case with the whole women-falling-at-your-feet thing."
He chuckled.
I took that moment to make my final decision on what I'd order, and when I set the menu to the side, he called over the server once more.
Once the eager man left, I leveled with Marco. "You invited me here today for us to get to know one another, correct?"
He folded his hands in his lap. "Yes."
"Is there anything I'm not allowed to ask you?"
"That would defeat the purpose of you getting to know me, and I want you to know meverywell. I'll be happy to answer anything you ask. Are you willing to do the same?"
No.I wasn't sure what he might ask me and if I wasn't careful, I might reveal something I shouldn't.
His shoulders were at ease, his body mostly relaxed apart from his straight position. He was careful, watchful, pensive almost.
Remember why you came here.
Marco had this air of mystery about him, like he could reveal all his secrets and somehow it still wouldn't be enough. And that's what I wanted. Not his charm, or half-truths. I wanted the man behind it all. To look beyond his mask the same way he did mine.
I rolled my shoulders back and nodded.
He hummed low in his throat. "Good, now what do you want to know?"
"Why are you always like that? Flirtatious, at ease when you're around me? Is it because you don't see me as a threat?"
He chuckled. "Absolutely not. I am fully aware of your capabilities and violence." He took a sip of his wine. "It's one of the things I like about you. Your strength is impressive, and I find it admirable."
I was suddenly grateful that my skin was more golden and tanned than white, or else he would have been able to see me blush in the dim lighting.
"Then why are you always at ease around me?"
"Because I want you to feel comfortable with me, and I hope to eventually earn your trust."
I tilted my head to the side. "And have I earned yours?"
"Yes."
"But you barely know me."
