Duke had just taken a bite of his sandwich. He dabbed his mouth and shook his head while he chewed. After a quick sip of his drink, he rested an elbow on the table. “No. Tiff has several different menus she offers during the flights, depending on our preference. If it’s a last minute flight, I let her surprise me.”
“Did Tiff pick out this one?”
He shook his head. “No. I did.”
Viv nodded, recalling the way she’d introduced him to Bizoli’s, a deli-style pub with a similar menu. His friends used to razz him about going to the hole in the wall, but he’d taken a real liking to it.
“What are your boys’ names?” Duke asked.
“Diego and Dante,” she said.
“Both Italian names…Is their father Italian?”
“No.” And she really didn’t want to talk about their father. In fact, she was wondering if he was doing the math in his head. She and Duke dated nearly their entire freshmen year, until prom hit in late spring. She’d dated the kids’ dad—more of a summer romance—for a couple of months, and had the twins nearly one year after she and Duke broke up.
“Your mom,” Duke said. “She’d always recite these Italian expressions when she got worked up. Does she still do that?”
Viv chuckled. “Totally.”
“Is she doing well, and your dad?”
Viv nodded and grinned as a memory of her own came to mind. “Yes, thank you. I remember you eating caviar back in the day. Did you really like the stuff, or was that just for show?”
Duke pushed up his bottom lip as he considered. “Probably both. It’s an acquired taste, for sure. I kept trying it as a kid because I was supposed to like it. Eventually I loved it.”
Viv nodded. “I once saw a tin of caviar that sold for thirteen hundred dollars. Some sort of Kaluga hybrid brand. Yet some are closer to fifty, or even as low as twenty-five dollars. Is there really a difference?”
He sucked in a breath before giving her a sheepish grin. “Yes. Absolutely. I hate admitting it, but that cheap stuff isn’t right. And the high price caviar—it’s freaking amazing.”
Viv couldn’t help but shake her head.
“Don’t judge,” he said. “It’s not like I live off it. I just…really enjoy it from time to time.”
She couldn’t help but grin from his candor. “The way I enjoy an occasional crème brulée?”
He chuckled under his breath. “More like your macadamia nuts.”
Tingles of warmth stirred in her tummy. “You remember those?”
“Of course,” he said. “They were your favorite. That’s why they kept magically appearing in your backpack.”
Viv had appreciated that more than she’d ever tell. They were rather pricy for her limited funds back then, and he’d spoiled her with a regular supply. She’d loved snacking on them while studying. Loved them even more because they’d come from him.
“I can’t believe I’m actually doing your interview,” she admitted.
“I know,” he said, eyes crinkling with his smile. “I nearly lost it when I saw it was you.”
“Me too,” she admitted with a laugh.
Duke motioned to her sandwich while lifting his for another bite. “You going to eat?”
She glanced at the plate as her appetite finally made itself known with a small twist in her tummy. “Of course. Buon appetito.” Viv picked up her sandwich with both hands and took her first bite.
She stifled a moan while savoring the delicious blend of pepperoni, salami, and those tangy banana peppers.
“This is a good sandwich,” she said after dabbing her lips.
Duke smiled and took another sip of his drink. “I’m glad you like it.”
“How’s yours?” she asked him.
“Incredible.”
“Good.”
“I was going to ask you about the interview. How did you not know it was me?”
Now it was her turn to pull a sheepish grin. “I usually do know. This time I just…” She switched out the words really needed the job for different ones, “…said yes automatically.”
She chuckled. “But I’ve worked with Slipper before. They’ve always offered fascinating subjects.”
A spark of mischief glowed behind his gaze. “You think I’m fascinating?”
Viv hovered over her plate, prepared to take another bite. “I guess we’ll find out.”
The fact was, Duke Benton was undeniably a fascinating subject.
Something made all the more obvious as they eased into comfortable conversation over dinner. Inside jokes surfaced along the way, proving that Duke’s laugh hadn’t changed a bit. And neither had that gleam in his eye as he teased her.
He asked more questions about Diego and Dante, but steered clear of further questions about their dad.
By the time she was heading back to her suite to call and say goodnight to the boys, Viv was in a state of swoony bliss. She’d be first to admit it.
But perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing. Hearing about the twins—that hadn’t scared him away. If nothing else, Viv would definitely be able to give Duke a favorable report. Already she could see he was worthy of redemption.
It’d be up to her to help readers see that for themselves with nothing more than his words and her observations—feelings aside. Already she was looking forward to the challenge.
Chapter 8
Duke hadn’t known he’d be so glad to see nightfall come. Initially, he’d worried that leaving so late was a bad idea. After all, they barely arrived as the sun set.
Turned out that wasn’t such a bad thing. Sure, he and Viv had finally broken the ice. In fact, he’d say they’d done more than that during their quaint dinner for two. Call him crazy or delusional or a little of each, but Duke was pretty sure he and Vivi had rekindled a few of the old sparks as well.
Twin boys.
“Wow,” he said for probably the millionth time since he’d gotten a minute alone. He kept waiting for the idea to terrify him, but it hadn’t yet.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like kids, more that kids didn’t seem to like him. Were it any other woman, he might not invest for that reason alone.
But this was Vivi. And the chemistry was still burning strong.
He blew out a satisfied sigh. Upon arrival, Duke’s right hand man on the island, Sebastian, had helped them get settled. Duke never brought much, seeing how he kept several personal items at the house, suitable clothing included.
It felt good to be in Costa Rica. He hoped Vivi would enjoy it here too. Duke considered that as he stepped through his room, lit only by a lamp beside his bed, and slid the patio door open.
It was a perfect evening. A clear sky overhead, a layer of clouds in the distance, and the low hum of a far off rain over the next island—more trees than land, it seemed.
After one last breath of the fresh night air, Duke stepped back into his room, plopped onto the bed, and tucked his hands behind his head as he stared into the darkness.
He’d taken some time requesting a special gift basket for Vivi’s room. He was glad he had.
Visions of the brown-eyed beauty swept through his thoughts, more welcome than the breeze. Those full lips, flushed cheeks, and ever-analyzing gaze.