by Aven Ellis
“I didn’t oversell it,” he says, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.
Damn, he’s sexy when he flirts.
“No,” I say.
“So I get a kiss.”
He leans in, but I put a hand up to stop him.
“I’ll taste like hoisin and onions,” I protest.
“I really don’t care,” Cade insists, moving in for his kiss.
I giggle as he brushes his lips against mine.
He lifts his head and looks at me. “You taste perfect.”
Ohhhhhh, falling, falling, falling, down the rabbit hole with no way to stop it.
We continue to talk while we eat our steamed buns, and I’m afraid I won’t have room for the lobster ramen that will soon come my way.
“These are addictive,” I say.
“I know. It’s a good thing I skate because I eat here a lot when it gets cold. I love ramen when it’s cold out.”
“Me, too. It’s a great comfort food.”
“I thought your comfort food was pasta,” Cade teases.
“Oh, yes, because I’m Italian my go-to foods must all be pasta-based,” I say dryly. Then I grin at him. “My favorite comfort food is soup. I love soup. But I do love a good ravioli, too.”
“Is that what we’re going to make on Saturday?”
Swoon. I love that he’s looking forward to our night of pasta making after our great outdoors adventure.
“Yes,” I say. “Making homemade pasta is one of my favorite things to do. I use the same recipe that has been passed down in the Rossi family since they came over to Chicago from Italy.”
“I can’t get over the history of that cheesecake recipe, that link to your past,” Cade says thoughtfully. “That would make an interesting book. Think about it. Tracing the recipe and the people who made it and what was going on in their lives at the time. I’d love to study that. Does Nonna have all the family recipes collected?”
I don’t say anything for a moment. I’m touched that Cade not only remembers the story I told him but has a genuine interest in it.
Which means he has a genuine interest in me, too.
“Yes, Nonna is big on passing down the family recipes,” I say. “She’s the gatekeeper of the Sunday gravy. It’s a big family secret. Only certain Rossi women get to learn that recipe.”
“What’s Sunday gravy?”
I grin at him. “You’re so not Italian.”
Cade laughs, and the sound causes warmth to radiate down my spine.
“Yes, my family doesn’t do this Sunday gravy thing. Explain.”
“Sunday gravy is for the big meal that night. It is a meat-based red sauce, and it takes about four hours to cook. Nonna says it’s a sauce of love best cooked while drinking red wine. She waited to teach me the recipe until I turned twenty-one so I could drink with her in the kitchen.” Heat creeps up my cheeks. “I got so drunk that afternoon I passed out before dinner.”
A gorgeous smile lights up his face. “Your nonna drank you under the table?”
I nod. “Yes, how embarrassing is that?”
“But you know the secret,” Cade says, his eyes dancing.
“I do.”
“Will you teach me sometime?”
“I could, but you aren’t ready now. If you’re setting a microwave on fire, you aren’t ready for Sunday gravy.”
An embarrassed expression filters across his gorgeous face and oh, is he cute when he’s self-conscious.
Cade pushes down on his baseball cap. “That was an accident. And so was scorching Jupe’s precious Pot Noodle cup.”
“You scorched a noodle cup?”
Now Cade looks really embarrassed. “Um, yeah. I kind of forgot the water when I nuked it.”
“Oh, the smell must have been awful!” I cry, delighted that super smart Cade is a total disaster in the kitchen.
“Stop it,” Cade says, grinning sheepishly as he shakes his head. “The kitchen is not my place.”
“Then you are not ready for Sunday gravy,” I declare, shaking my head. “I’m not sure you’re ready for ravioli. We might have to start with Pot Noodles.”
“No, you promised me pasta,” Cade says firmly.
“I did,” I say. “And you will get your lesson because I’ll never say things I don’t mean to you.”
Cade’s eyes lock on mine. “I believe you,” he says, his voice quiet.
The sounds of the city street and the conversations of others on the patio fade away. I realize how important it is to Cade that I am always honest with him. Cassidy must have hurt him with a lack of honesty, but like I said, this isn’t a night about her.
It’s about Cade and me.
“I won’t,” I say, speaking from my heart.
No further words are needed to be said. Cade continues holding my hand, his eyes locked on mine, and he’s the only thing that exists in my world at this moment.
As terrifying as the thought is, I might reach the bottom of the rabbit hole by the end of the night.
I’m falling for him faster than I’ve ever fallen for anyone.
While I should slam on the breaks, slow myself down, stop for that yellow light, I don’t want to.
I stare back into Cade’s jade eyes, the ones gazing at me with nothing but sincerity, and I know I have no intention of stopping my heart tonight.
The only question remains is how far I will fall.
And if Cade is falling with me.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I take one last slurp of my lobster ramen and sigh loudly. That was the most incredible bowl of ramen I’ve ever had in my life.
And being able to slurp with abandon because the sexy man in front of me likes my food passion?
Bliss.
“The content, end-of-the-bowl sigh?” Cade asks, slurping from his bowl.
“Let’s see,” I say. “Perfectly poached lobster claw and tail meat served in liquid gold beurre blanc that is as smooth as velvet? Yes. That was a contented food sigh.”
Cade sets his bowl down and wipes his face with his napkin. “It’s freaking phenomenal, isn’t it?”
“I already want it tomorrow,” I joke.
“It’s addictive,” Cade says, his eyes shining.
“Very,” I agree, already hoping Cade will bring me back.
This has been the best date I’ve ever had. We’ve laughed. Flirted. Held hands. Kissed across the table. But best of all, I’ve been myself. Whether that means telling Cade I’m invested or slurping from a bowl in front of him, I’m me. Not monitoring my moves. Not afraid to spill broth on my chin. Free to talk about making Sunday gravy or asking him to clarify a history point he’s talking about because I don’t remember it from school.
This is real.
And I want more of it.
Cade picks up the bill holder and gets out his wallet.
“Thank you for dinner,” I say. “My treat next time.”
He stops and stares at me. “Your treat?”
“Well, it’s only fair.”
“I don’t know if you’ve heard this, but professional athletes are compensated very well. You don’t need to treat me.”
“Yes, I’m aware you get paid an obscene amount of money to take shots on goal and irritate the hell out of opposing players,” I tease, “but that doesn’t mean I can’t treat you, too.”
Cade removes some cash and tucks it inside the leather holder, closing it.
“I like how genuine you are.”
“I don’t know any other way to be.”
His eyes lock on mine again, and my pulse quickens in response.
We get up to leave, and Cade puts his hand on the small of my back as we head out. Oh, I love how his hand always finds a way to keep in contact with me.
We walk out into the street, and Cade reaches for my hand, entwining my fingers with his. I’m aware of people taking pictures of him, but he seems oblivious to it.
“So we’re going to the grocery store next?” Cade asks.
�
�Well, it has fallen on my shoulders to not only teach you how to make pasta, but also how to shop for produce.”
“Don’t forget Sunday gravy.”
“Let’s start with Microwaving 101.”
Cade laughs and puts his arm around my shoulders, drawing me to him and brushing his lips affectionately against my temple.
“Let me guess where you shop. Whole Foods?” he asks.
“That Cornell education has served you well,” I tease.
We get into Cade’s BMW X5 M, and I still can’t get over the fact that his luxury SUV costs more than triple my salary. The SUV is modern, rugged, and sexy.
Just like Cade.
Suddenly my Golden Girls ringtone fills the air.
Gah!
“It’s my tone for Nonna,” I explain. “Let me shut it off.”
“Oh, hell no,” Cade says as he pulls out into the street. “I want to talk to Nonna. Put it on speaker so I can meet her.”
Oh, God. No, no, no! Nonna would totally embarrass me.
Or worse—she could bring up the damn apron.
Shit!
“Um, no, we’re on a date,” I say, fumbling in my large bag, desperate to shut off my phone. Damn it. I’m getting a small purse with my next paycheck so when I desperately need to shut off my phone, I can actually do it.
Cade clears his throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you that.”
The phone stops ringing. I glance over at him, and his light-hearted expression is gone.
“What?”
“Going slow and taking our time doesn’t mean conversations with your Nonna during our second date. I never should have asked that. I’m sorry if I put you in an awkward spot. I promised myself I wouldn’t jump into things, and here I am, repeating the same freaking mistake.”
Oh, no. This is worse than Nonna bringing up the apron. I know we agreed to proceed with caution, but misinterpreting my resistance may bring him to a full stop.
“It’s not that,” I say, pulling out my phone. “I was afraid she’d say something to embarrass me. I didn’t want her to say something to scare you off.”
Cade pulls up to a red light, and my heart sinks, wondering if that is where we are now, too.
Stopped.
“What?” Cade asks, a confused expression passing over his face.
Heat burns in my cheeks. “My family is different. They get all in your business. I didn’t want to put that on you or have them say something that would leave you wondering how to get out of our date on Saturday.”
“Josephine,” Cade says, his eyes lingering on my face, “that’s not going to happen. No matter what they say.”
My heart remains in the pit of my stomach.
“You can’t guarantee that,” I admit fearfully.
“Yes, I can,” Cade says. “Do you not see I’m crazy about you? I have to remind myself to slow down. Because I’m not going to mess this up, not like last time—”
He stops abruptly, and I know he’s determined not to make the same mistakes he did with Cassidy.
The light turns green, and Cade shifts his attention to driving. In the meantime, I decide to take the risk and call Nonna. When she answers, I put her on speaker.
“JoJo!” Nonna cries excitedly. “I thought I missed you.”
Cade’s eyes widen the second he hears Nonna’s voice. I know I’m proving to him in this moment just how much I like him.
“Nonna, I have you on speaker,” I say.
“Why? Are you cooking?”
“No, because I’m out with Cade. We’re going to the grocery store.”
Silence.
“What? JoJo, why are you going grocery shopping on a date? Are you trying to lull him into a coma? If you are wearing sweats, you have learned nothing from me!”
A huge smile lights up Cade’s face.
“Nonna, this is Cade,” he says. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Hold on, I’m going to do a Connectivity Video Connect,” Nonna announces. “Donna-Marie! JoJo is out with Cade. I’m going to do a video chat. Come here so we can both talk to them.”
Oh, shit.
Then Nonna hangs up.
“I warned you,” I say. “My family is all kinds of crazy.”
“I like them already,” Cade says, grinning. “Your Nonna is your mom’s mother-in-law?”
“I’ll need to make you a flow chart, but yes. She lives with them and so does my grandfather, Pop. My brother Anthony lives two doors down with his girlfriend, which mortifies Mom because she wants them married. And Christopher, my other brother, is attending Loyola and lives near campus but comes home for dinner and laundry.”
Buzz!
I sigh. It’s Nonna with her promised Connectivity Video Connect request.
I hit accept and Nonna—along with my mom—appears on my screen.
“Hi, Nonna. Mom,” I say, forcing a smile on my face.
“Why are you grocery shopping?” Nonna asks, getting straight to the point.
“Because I need food,” I say simply. “And Cade was nice enough to offer to go with me.”
“Let me see Cade,” Nonna says.
I point the phone camera at Cade while he drives.
“Hello, Mrs. Rossi,” he says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Sorry I can’t see you right now.”
“Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, but we see you,” Nonna says appreciatively. “You’re nice.”
My face flames. Nice is her word for hot.
Then Mom bursts into tears.
“He’s so good looking. She’s never coming back home,” Mom wails.
Shit!
“Mom, stop it. You knew I was staying in Denver when I moved here last January,” I declare.
“No, no, I thought you’d eventually come home, but I see you’re already grocery shopping with Cade. You’ll never come back now. Not if you’re already so comfortable you can do mundane things by the second date!” Mom sobs.
Gah! I turn the phone back on myself.
“Donna-Marie, did you look at him? I wouldn’t come back from the North Pole if I had a man like that,” Nonna interjects. “Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccce. Whew.”
Good Lord. Mom is crying, and Nonna just declared Cade niiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccce.
Cade will mysteriously come down with the bubonic plague by Friday night.
“Yes, we’re shopping because, like I said, I need something called food. And I’m teaching Cade how to buy produce while we’re there.”
Nonna raises her eyebrows.
“That could be fun,” she says slowly. “Depending on the produce being discussed. Be sure to see how fresh the cucumbers are, JoJo.”
Cade snorts the second he hears that comment, and Nonna winks at me in return.
My face is on fire.
I’ve decided I want bubonic plague now.
“Who are you talking to and why are you crying?” Dad yells in the background.
“We’re doing a video chat,” Nonna yells back, as my family is incapable of merely talking to one another. “The famous hockey player is on it!”
“Cade Callahan is with my daughter right now?”
“She’ll never come back to Chicago. She’ll stay with her hockey player. They are already grocery shopping, Louis! Do you know what that means?”
I need something quicker than bubonic plague.
“Do you all realize Cade can hear you?” I shout.
Silence, merciful silence finally fills the air.
Thank God.
“I want to have a word with him,” Dad says.
So much for that.
I glance at Cade, who looks surprised.
My dad appears on the screen.
“Hi, Daddy,” I say.
“I want to talk to Cade,” Dad requests again, never one to beat around the bush.
I glance at Cade, who nods in agreement.
“Hello, Mr. Rossi. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Cade says, his eyes still straight ahead as he turns into the Whole Foods parking lot.
“I’m going to ask two things of you. One, be good to my daughter. She’s a good girl, and she deserves to be treated well, which she never got from that last idiot she dated.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more, sir. Josephine is amazing. She’s very special, and I swear to you I will treat your daughter with respect. You have my word.”
His promise to my dad fills me with warmth. I know how Cade is, and I know he will keep his word to my dad—and me.
“Good, that’s what a father wants to hear.”
“What is your other request, sir?” Cade asks as he pulls into a parking space and shifts the SUV into park.
“Please do not beat the crap out of Landy Holder like you did last year,” Dad says, referring to a player on the Chicago Buffaloes hockey team. “You deserved your time in the box for that hit.”
Then my dad laughs, and Cade laughs with him.
“Yes, sir.”
“New request. Call me Lou.”
“Yes, Lou, I will.”
“Well, I can’t believe you kids are going to the grocery store for fun, but hey, whatever you want to do. Love you, JoJo. Come on, Donna-Marie. Leave them alone now and that goes for you too, Ma,” Dad orders. “Get off the phone.”
“Bye, Dad,” I say, turning the phone back on me. “Mom, I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you both.”
I swear he’s the best dad ever for getting my over-emotional mother off the phone.
Cade takes the phone back from me and is face-to-face with Nonna.
“Nonna, I’ve heard so much about you and how much you mean to Josephine,” Cade says. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
“You call her Josephine?” Nonna asks, arching an eyebrow.
“Yes, I do,” Cade says.
“Interesting,” she says slowly, and I know I need to ask her what she means by that later. “My son is right when he says JoJo is very special to us.”
To my surprise, Cade reaches for my hand and entwines his fingers around mine as if to tell me he agrees with her.
“I understand why,” Cade says. “Because I think she’s special, too.”
Oohhhhh!
Nonna beams at him. She likes Cade, I can tell.
“Ma! Off the phone!” Dad yells in the background.