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Adler’s cheeky grin made me laugh. “Because I’d be so distracted by you, I’d fuck up my food so badly I’d go home first.”

“I find it hard to believe that you’d be first out when your food tastes this good.”

“There’s also my pesky problem of getting an erection every time you give me praise or insult anyone.” He snickered at his own dilemma. “At least with today, I know my editor will cut it to be waist up only during today’s filming.”

“It’s probably for the best you didn’t get on the show,” I realized before taking another sip of the delicious red wine.

He tilted his head as he looked at me with curiosity. “Why’s that?”

“Because I can well imagine people calling me out for blatant favoritism toward you, which would be a disservice to your talent.”

He perked up in his seat. “Aww, are you saying I’d be your favorite?”

“Something tells me I’d be shit at hiding my interest.”

“Yeah, the fans would probably ship us as Nadler, Adlerò, or Adni.”

I couldn’t stop myself from grinning. “It doesn’t sound like you came up with those off the top of your head.”

“Are you accusing me of doodling them in a notebook for years like a high schooler with a crush?” His playful expression drew another laugh from me. “Because you’d totally be right.”

“Something tells me the video we filmed today will be enough to get the internet talking.” I savored my next bite of the tender pork. “Are you prepared for that?”

He snorted in amusement. “If they don’t, I’m not above making sock puppet accounts to start the conversation myself. But I suspect we won’t have to do much to fan those flames into a full five-alarm fire.”

“It’s impressive how you draw that out in me without even trying.” It’d be disconcerting if it wasn’t so intriguing. As it was, it just made me want to find out more about Adler and his mysteries.

ChapterEight

Adler

They said you should never meet your idols because they’ll inevitably disappoint you. I had always wondered if I was lucky enough for my path to cross with Niccolò de Rosa, if he’d be the man of my dreams or a huge asshole. What a delightful surprise to find out he was even warmer and more charming in person than on TV.

Him loving my dinner was better than all my fantasies combined. But nothing topped him being so clearly interested in me. As much as I wanted to have wild swing-from-the-chandelier sex with him, I was enjoying getting to know the real him while we ate. He regaled me with fascinating stories from his long career that captivated and cracked me up in equal measure.

He helped me with the dishes after we finished eating, giving me a tempting glimpse of a life of domesticity with him I hadn’t realized appealed to me. It was one thing for me to want to jump his bones; it was another to have an unrealistic desire to build a real life with him.

I dried my hands before shutting the dishwasher after we loaded it. The last thing I expected was to be pinned against the counter by Niccolò, who looked down at me like he was ready to make me his dessert.

“Thank you for the wonderful dinner,” he murmured before leaning down to give me a soul-searingly good kiss.

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his neck and tugged him closer as I let him take whatever he wanted from me. Nothing else mattered to me at that moment.

I was breathless when we parted. “I like the way you say, ‘thank you,’” I said with a coy smile, unwilling to let go of him yet.

“Then you’llreallyenjoy what I’m about to do to you next, darling,” he promised, making my dick perk up with interest.

“Planning on working up an appetite before dessert?”

“That depends. Will I survive your dessert?” Niccolò asked with a wary expression that I couldn’t blame him for after roasting him alive with scorpion chili on camera.

I couldn’t help but get a little cocky. “The only thing you’ll be in danger of is catching feelings for me.”

He arched one of his eyebrows in silent challenge. “Oh? And why’s that?”

“Because I made azuppa inglesewith Frangelico.”

Niccolò blinked in surprise but didn’t release me. “Why that out of all the possible desserts?”