Free An Unexpected Attraction (Love Unexpected Book 3) by Delaney Diamond

recharged him, and the thought of spending time with her tipped his pulse rate forward a little faster.
    “Okay, Mr. Santorini, let’s go.” She walked ahead of him.
    His gaze dropped, admiring the left-right swing of her hips.
    At the door Brenda cast a glance over her shoulder and almost caught him staring at her behind. “This better be some damn good wine.”
    “It is,” he assured her. He opened the door and let her precede him. “Trust me.”
    ****
    If she hadn’t been with Jay, Brenda would have walked right past Vino Luogo, almost hidden in plain sight with a nondescript glass door and nestled between two businesses on either side.
    “Mr. Santorini.” The host, a middle-aged man with a portly build and bushy dark beard greeted Jay.
    “Hello, Joel.”
    “I see you have a guest tonight. Give me a few minutes to find you a table.” He lumbered away.
    “You weren’t kidding,” Brenda murmured to Jay. “You really do come here often.”
    “I’m afraid so,” he said with a small smile.
    Vino Luogo was indeed ‘a little wine bar,’ like Jay said. Dark furniture and dimmed lights created a cozy atmosphere. Shaped like a long rectangle, the dining room contained small tables lining the walls, none able to seat more than four people, the majority accommodating two. A low hum of conversation filled the packed room. If Joel found a free table, it would be a miracle.
    Apparently, miracles do happen. He found a two-top near the back in a semi-quiet corner against the exposed brick wall. Brenda hadn’t planned to eat again, but the small plate menu featured intriguing choices such as edamame hummus and bacon popcorn. She broke down and let Jay suggest a few items for them to nosh on.
    They opted for the bacon popcorn, set in the center for sharing, and a plate of mushroom flatbread for Brenda. Jay chose tomato flatbread with fontina cheese and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. Not long after the food arrived, the waiter poured them each a glass of Nebbiolo wine and set the half-empty carafe on the table.
    Brenda picked up the bowl-shaped stemware.
    “ Salute ,” Jay said.
    He watched her as she swirled the liquid and lowered her nose to inhale its fragrance. “Mmmm.” She took a sip and allowed the wine to roll over her tongue. Full-bodied with complex flavors and notes of licorice, it was arguably the best red she’d ever tasted.
    Across the table from her, Jay wore a self-satisfied smirk. “I won’t ask what you think because I already have a pretty good idea.”
    He did know wines. “When you’re right, you’re right.” She set the glass on the table.
    He leaned toward her, a glint of amusement in his eye. “You can thank me now.”
    She rolled her eyes and said one of only a handful of Italian words that she knew. “ Grazie .”
    Jay watched her with a pleased expression on his face, before lifting his glass and taking a sip.
    She slipped a morsel of cubed flatbread into her mouth, concentrating on the task and the flavor of the caramelized mushrooms. Anything but look across the table at him and the way his mouth closed over the glass.
    “How is your sister?” he asked.
    Her sister Tracey would start her last year of college in the fall. “She’s fine. We spoke last week. Her studies are coming along well.”
    “What’s her major again?”
    “Computer information systems.”
    “Ah yes. Good for her.” He twirled the glass on the table.
    For a long time, neither said a word. Her gaze flitted over the rest of the diners seated at the small tables and the curved, wooden tasting bar. Mostly couples, but there were also small groups of friends, and from the private room a bachelorette party’s cheering and clapping could be heard.
    “I’m sorry,” Jay said.
    Her attention came back to him. She almost missed the quiet apology. Her heart constricted a little, saddened they’d come to this point. “I’m sorry, too. I overreacted.”
    “You didn’t overreact.” He made the statement