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“What’s got you sighing, angel?”

I hadn’t even realized I’d done that.

“Nothing, it’s just…I don’t know.”

He pulls back, those hazel eyes boring into me with such tenderness. “Come on, tell me. What can I do to fix that frown?”

“I was just thinking that I wish I didn’t have to go home. I want to spend more time with you.” I nervously tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, a need to fidget rising as I try to tamp down the anxiousness I feel at speaking my truth. I hate seeming needy, but I trust Cullen not to judge that side of me.

“Hm,” he hums. “How do you feel about pizza?”

CHAPTER TEN

CULLEN

Nowthisis what I missed about the city.

Even though it is a little past 2:00 a.m., this corner street pizza place is still up and running. The smell of melted cheese and baked dough mixes with a slight garlicky undertone. There are two guys working, but they pay us little attention. The sounds of a Formula 1 race rumble from the TV mounted on the wall. This isn’t one of the bustling ninety-nine-cent slice places that are always overrun with people; it is hidden a little out of the way, a few streets down from my hotel.

I sip on my soda, merely enjoying the opportunity to trace the smooth lines of Verity’s face with my eyes as she sways side to side on the balls of her feet, anxiously waiting for our slices to come out of the oven.

I’d hesitated for a moment when she sent me her location, torn between wanting to see her and not wanting to impede on her space. I wasn’t sure if it would be weird for me to just show up or if it would turn her off.

It’s hard to resist Verity. She pulls me in like the moon does the tide.

“Here you go.” One of the employees slides two paper plates with steaming hot square pizza slices across the glass counter to us. His fingers have barely left the plates before Verity scoops them up.

“Thank you!” she chimes as she rushes back to the dinky metal two-top I parked myself at. She doesn’t even spare me a glance, just pushes the margherita slice vaguely in my direction before picking up her vodka sauce slice and taking a huge bite. “Oh my God, this is perfect. Just what I needed after all that tequila.”

I stifle a laugh at how cute she is.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“How’s yours? Can I try some? I feel like you can always tell if a pizza place is good by their margherita pizza. Kind of like how you can tell if a bakery is good based on their chocolate chip cookie. The staples are sort of the benchmark.”

A deep chuckle escapes me. I haven’t even taken a bite yet, but I nudge the plate over to her. “Go for it.”

She happily swaps her slice for mine, humming as she gives it a taste. I wasn’t even hungry to start with. I’d just wanted some sort of an excuse to keep spending time with her, and this was the only thing I could think of other than inviting her back to my hotel room–which my dick wasn’t opposed to, but went against the four-date rule Verity had.

“Which is better?” I ask her.

“The vodka. I like how it has the penne pasta on it. You want to try it?”

“Sure.” I tug her paper plate closer and pick up the slice, taking a bite.

“I said try it, not devour it. God, just how big are your bites?”

“Come on, it wasn’t that bad.”

She lets out a tsk and pulls her plate back to her edge of the table. “No more for you.”

It’s funny. The more I get to know her, the more her walls come down. She is often nervous and rambling, but as each day passes, she relaxes more around me. As we get to know each other further, I find out little things that just click with who I am.

She is someone who enjoys going out but doesn’t need to always be around people. She has an easygoing, sweet personality, but that doesn’t mean she can’t throw a punch when it comes down to it. She’s tossed out more than a handful of snarky comebacks that have impressed me.

I don’t want to compare her to my ex, but they are both ambitious and creative, placing a lot of value and pride in their careers. The difference is, whereas my ex had ended up narcissistic and vindictive, Verity has this breezy softness and selfless intention. She hasn’t let the city harden her shell and I find comfort in that. There’s a sense of safety I feel when I’m around her, like I don’t have to be on guard.

She nudges my ankle with her foot.