Free Grill Me, Baby by Sophia Knightly Page B

look perfect the way you are.” His dark eyes twinkled. “ Querida , there’s no need to starve yourself with rabbit food.”
    “I’m not in the mood for teasing.” He would never know the painful memories she kept locked in her heart. “Raviolini” was mild compared to being called “Miss Piggy” by her unrequited crush, Todd, a boy who had been her chief competition for valedictorian. When her best friend Kimmie had told her about Todd’s name-calling behind her back, Michaela had been devastated, especially since she’d been blinded by his looks and hadn’t realized how mean and shallow he was. 
    The grooves beside Paolo’s mouth deepened into maddening dimples. “Tell me something. Why does your Aunt Magda want to marry you off?”
    “That is none of your business. I need to clean up the mess in the kitchen.”
    “No, you don’t. I already took care of that.”
    “You did? Thanks. I guess we should call it a night. Don’t forget—we meet at Sublime tomorrow evening—six o’clock sharp. We can’t afford to waste any more time. Please don’t be late.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Paolo saluted. “Good night, Maki . Hope you feel better tomorrow.” 
    He leaned forward and when Michaela abruptly turned to face him, her mouth caught a kiss intended for her cheek. Paolo’s warm, firm lips lingered ever so slightly before pulling away, making her breath catch in her throat as a ripple of pleasure washed over her. She took a shaky step backward and nearly lost her footing. His strong hands caught her waist and gave her a little squeeze before releasing her. 
    They locked eyes and Paolo’s magnetic, dark-eyed gaze drew her into his spell. She would have willingly sunk into his arms if he’d put them around her. She shivered at the sexual, demanding tension emanating from him. Did he feel it too? The intense energy radiating between them, making her dizzy with desire? It had to be that she was famished—not just for food, but for love. That explained the gamut her emotions had run tonight. First, she had felt annoyed with him, then later, upset and hurt, and now there was no denying the hot spark between them. He was driving her slowly mad, and there she was, standing before him hopelessly speechless—a rarity for her.
    “Good-bye,” she managed, finally finding her voice as she stepped away from him. 
    She watched Paolo leave, his large shoulders hulking slightly forward. How did he really feel toward her? The accidental kiss had left her dazed, along with the smolder in his eyes and the solid squeeze of his hands on her waist.
    Heeding her growling stomach, she trudged to the kitchen and grabbed the box of chocolate truffles he’d brought her. She picked up the bottle of wine and carried it into the living room. She tossed her yearbook from the couch and took a swig of wine straight from the bottle. 
    Michaela lifted the box cover and inhaled the hypnotic chocolate scent. She popped a truffle in her mouth and let the chocolate melt against her tongue. What the heck, she might as well finish them off. She took more sips of wine and then got a sudden attack of the giggles when she remembered Tiffany wrestling with the faucet. Keeling over on the sofa, she spilled the remaining truffles on her lap. Oops, well now that they were out of the box, she definitely had to eat them all. Michaela devoured five more luscious truffles, one by sinful one as she drank more wine.
    She was starting to feel woozy as she pulled the rubber band off her ponytail and fluffed out her hair. She kicked off her flip-flops and curled up on the couch, all the while assuring herself that nothing was lost. She would make up for her ruined meal tomorrow at the spa restaurant. 
    Paolo had been so nice and patient tonight when she had been grouchy. Not that she hadn’t had sufficient cause…but she would have preferred if he’d gotten exasperated and left, instead of branding her with his kiss. He was like the velvety