melted butter saturated the air. Elle breathed in deeply to bask in the comfort the smells brought to her senses.
Luke placed his hand on the small of her back. “If it tastes half as good as it smells, I think I’ll be in love with this place.”
“I’ve had it. Trust me, it’s to die for.”
Despite the bar area buzzing with college students, they were able to find a small table near the back of the restaurant. Their waitress, a petite brunette with a dimply grin, took their drink orders while they pondered the pizza.
“You know I’ll eat anything . . . and you’re the expert. What do you recommend?”
“Italian sausage for sure. Very Chicago. Do you like mushrooms?”
Luke scrunched his nose. “They’re not my favorite. But I’ll take one for the team if you so desire.”
Elle laughed, taking his outstretched hand in her own. “Nah, we’ll skip it. What about pepperoni? It’ll be a meat lover’s pizza.”
“Ah, now you’re talking. That sounds awesome.”
Their waitress arrived with a glass of cabernet and a stein of beer. Luke ordered the pizza and they sat back in their chairs, discussing their day.
“So you really think I did all right, huh?”
Elle wasn’t sure if Luke was fishing for compliments or if he was really quite so uncertain about his performance, but she found it refreshing regardless. In her experience, he was an anomaly. Nolan and other actors like him were frequently overconfident about their abilities and their egos bruised easily when criticized. Luke, however, was a strong actor considering his lack of experience in front of a camera, and Elle was confident that once he got acclimated to the routine, he’d become a fine actor, perhaps even one worthy of an Emmy nod.
“You were great.”
“Back to the grind tomorrow, huh?”
Elle nodded, taking a small sip of her wine, savoring the notes of blackberry and oak. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” he said, looking as if he was trying to reassure her of his enthusiasm for the show. “I loved it. I think the entire process is fascinating.”
“Me too.”
And it was the truth. Since moving to California, she’d submerged herself in every aspect of television show creation. She wanted to know absolutely everything there was to know, and she hoped it showed in her series. She knew the ropes, the process, the rules of executing a quality television program and she was damn proud of it.
When the pizza arrived, Luke served Elle first before placing a steaming hot piece of deep-dish pie on his plate. Layers of thick melted cheese pooled on their plates and the marinara appeared to be filled with fresh crushed tomatoes and spices. The two moaned their approval of the meal with each bite.
“How have I never tried this place?” Luke asked.
Elle shrugged. “Outside, it just looks like a college bar. I’m shocked they don’t advertise their pizza.”
“I know,” Luke replied. “Clearly it’s the star of the show.”
Elle chuckled before narrowing her eyes. “Did you just pun on purpose?”
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. I have television on the brain.”
Luke reached for Elle’s hand, taking it in his own and kissing the palm.
“Forgiven.”
Luke’s mouth fell open as Elle said that simple word he’d said only weeks before. He then kissed her palm again; this time his lips lingered against her sensitive skin. His eyes closed as his mouth seduced her hand. They’d made love dozens of times, but this small act was one of the most enticing things Luke had done in her presence. So intimate, so sensual. She was hooked. Arousal built inside of Elle and despite her fatigue after a long, tedious workday, and despite the fact they weren’t yet finished with dinner, Elle was possessed by a different kind of hunger.
The hunger for Luke. She wanted him right then and there.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a deep, and oddly familiar, voice.
“Are you enjoying your meal, folks?”
She’d know that voice anywhere. It had been ten years, but it was the same. Exactly the same.
Elle gasped. Her heart sped out of control and a rush of adrenaline flooded her belly. As she mustered the energy to turn to face the man who had stolen her heart years ago, Luke looked at her with confusion in his eyes. When she did turn and look at the man, his mouth dropped and his eyes were wide. He was as shocked as Elle.
“Rigby?”
Troy Saladino hadn’t aged much in the ten years they’d been apart. His muscular chest pulled at his crisp