Page 66 of Indulging Temptation (Tempting the Heart #1)

LORENA

“ S orry, I’m late. I got fired,” Sarina says, unexpectedly casual for someone who is saying they just lost their job.

“Umm, wait, Ri, are you okay?”

She waves her hand forward before snapping it for the bartender’s attention.

“My boss was a real ass, so it’s a blessing really.”

Remembering she has two jobs, one at Luxe and the other working as a paralegal at a law firm downtown, I'm not sure which she is referring to.

“Your boss at…”

Sarina finishes ordering herself a martini, then swivels the stool over to face my direction.

“The law firm. Please, if it were at Luxe, I’d be beside myself.”

“Oh, okay. You hated that place anyway, right?”

“The work, no. The people, yes. I should’ve known when my dad helped get the job there what it’d be like.

They’re all so pretentious, and honestly, very much like him.

” She goes on to say how irritating the attorney she was working for was, and how she went above and beyond as his paralegal, mainly because he had no idea what the hell he was doing.

It’s always been a wonder to me why she never took the bar after passing law school at the top of her class.

But that’s Sarina, a free spirit whose stubborn determination rivals mine.

I’m sure there’s a deeper reason there, but I choose not to pry.

Her martini shows up on the coaster, and she reaches for it with glee, taking a sip, she dives right into what she’s been dying to know.

“Okay, enough about my shit. It’s New York City, there are a kazillion law firms, I’ll find something.

I already spoke to a connect I have at another firm I used to work at, and I may be able to transfer back there, if I decide to maintain that route of work.

So, tell me, how’s Chef Amato treating that pussy? ”

“Good,” I say, blushing.

“Girl.” She nudges me with her elbow. “I’m going to need more than that. Let me live through you.” She pouts her lips before taking another sip of her drink.

“It’s been ages since I’ve gotten some dick, or pussy for that matter, so I want details. Now .”

“The sex is amazing,” I blurt before she comes up with any more cringe double entendres. “Honestly, the best I’ve ever had.”

She slams her palm down on the countertop in excitement. “That’s what I’m fucking talking about.”

I return her smile, and then my face becomes serious. “I love him, Sarina.”

She damn near chokes on her drink. “You, Ms. I Don’t Believe In Anything Outside of Fuckbuddies , loves him?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck yes.” She gives me a side hug. “That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you, Lo.”

“Thank you.” I grin uncontrollably because it really is amazing. Scary since I haven’t ever allowed myself to feel this way, but amazing, nonetheless.

“Yeah, it is, and my brother seems to be accepting of it now. I mean, considering how he found out by walking in on us and seeing a recording of us.”

“What the fuck girl, I go home to Colorado for a couple weeks to help my nightmare of a sister do all her bridezilla shit, and I miss all this?”

“Pretty much.”

“Well, I’m happy for you, no one deserves their happily ever after more than you do.”

Sarina flips her hair and I playfully flip my hair back, feeling unexpectedly giddy over simply talking about my feelings for Santino.

I debate telling her how the whole love part came up. But those details, and that moment that feel too intimate to share. How we got to that point, and the heartache it took to get there are personal to Tino and I.

“Well, thank you. I just have to figure out what this means for me as his publicist.”

“What do you mean? You two obviously work well together so what’s it matter?”

She brings up a valid point, but for this to work with Tino, which I want it to more than I’ve wanted anything in my entire life, I really want to make sure we maintain our own passions, so at the end of the day we have each other to retreat home to.

Speaking of, we haven’t had any discussion about that since Tino’s townhouse in Sleepy Hollow is finally done, and I’m still on the market for an apartment.

I refuse to live with my brother forever, especially since me and Tino are a couple.

We need our space, and my poor brother doesn’t need to risk catching us in any more compromising situations.

Though the more I think about it, if I’m trying to keep work and us separate, that would give me the opportunity to find something I’m actually passionate about.

I’m good at being a publicist, but do I love it in the same way that Tino loves what he does? No, I absolutely do not.

“Well, I can’t wait to officially meet him, and your brother, for that matter. Your family slash friend group seems so fun. I feel like a loner.”

“They honestly are, you’ll love them. Well, maybe not my brother, he’s hot and cold, plus he’s an attorney, so…”

I meant that joking. I know Sarina isn’t a fan of dating attorneys since her ex is one, and as she rolls her eyes, that’s confirmed.

“Well, it’s a good thing that I refuse to date attorneys ever again.

I wouldn’t even fuck one. Not again, at least. So don’t worry, when I finally meet your brother, he’ll be safe from me. ”

“You know, you can meet Tomás and everyone tonight if you want. We’re having a viewing party of the James Beard Awards to watch Tino.

The whole crew will be here,” I singsong, trying to convince her.

Dante closed Hummingbirds for the night, so it could just be all of us watching and cheering on Tino from New York, since the awards are in Chicago.

She looks down at her phone. “Fuck, I would love to, but I have my shift at Luxe starting soon.”

I let out a dramatic sigh. “You’re a workaholic. That’s why you are never around to hang.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. How about soon, though? Deal?”

“Deal.”

We finish our drinks, and Sarina hugs me goodbye to go off to her shift.

Shortly after, Dante and Tomás come in with my mom and Adrian. And just after that, Gabriella arrives with Luci, along with Tino’s aunt and uncle. Everyone is all here, ready to see him win his award. I know he’s going to. I can feel it.

I reach for my phone to text him and let him know how proud I am of him, but he beats me to it.

Santino: Baby…I’m nervous

Me: Understandable but you should be so proud of yourself

Me: This is a huge deal

Santino: I know hence why I’m nervous…and I wish you could be here with me

Me: Me too

I was bummed that there wasn’t the option for a plus one to go with and support him.

So was Tino. It’s why, despite his love for driving — which calms him especially before big career-defining moments like this — he chose to fly, and has a flight booked for as soon as the awards are over so he can come home to me.

Santino: As long as I get you to myself tonight that’s all I care about

Before I type a response, I see Dante’s name…in our thread, now wanting to die, because I didn’t realize that Tino texted me…in our group chat.

Dante: Wrong chat

Gabriella:

Santino: Shit

Santino: Deleting…

Tino’s message disappears.

Tomás: Deleting what?

Me: Nothing lol

Santino: Are you guys all together?

A slew of yes gifs enter the chat from all of us, Gabriella included as she waves over to me from across the bar.

Me: Clearly lol

Me: We love you.

Dante: Some more than others

Santino: That’s alright, I don’t want anyone to love me the way Lo does…might get weird

Tomás: Yes, and I’ve had enough weird to last me a lifetime thanks to you two

Tomás: Anyway, good luck, brother, we’re all rooting for you

Me: Yes, we are, Chef

Tino sends an gif with someone biting their fist in response as I send one more text to the group before putting going to text Tino. Though once again, he beat me to it, and there’s a message from him.

Santino: I double checked this time it’s our message thread.

Santino: I’m a fucking nervous wreck right now. Not even smoking helped me calm down. But before I go I wanted to thank you for helping me get here. For believing in me. For putting up with me. And for being my piece of heaven

Santino: Fuck, that sounds so corny

Santino: I don’t even care, it’s the fucking truth. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here, and I especially wouldn’t have made it to being a James Beard nominee

I finish reading his texts just as a voice message comes in from him…

When the awards are done, no matter the outcome, I have a little something for you in a gift box that I dropped off to Dante earlier. Don’t open it in front of everyone…it’s for my eyes only.

I text him.

Me: More gifts?

Santino: Yes

Santino: I take care of what’s mine. And I’ll never let a day go by that you don’t know how much you mean to me

Santino: They’re letting us in to sit. I’ll call you on my way to the airport

Me: Love you

Santino: Love you more

I look around at the room full of the people that mean the most to me - minus Sarina and Tino of course since they aren’t here – and it’s difficult to hold the tears back.

Everyone is all under one roof to watch and support Tino.

Here, together, because Tino stayed.

Despite the mounting reasons life gave him to give up, he persevered.

He pursued his passion. Found his calling.

And has made an impact on all of us in one way or another.

I mean, Tomás is even sitting next to our mom’s boyfriend Adrian willingly…

talking for once. For the first time in forever things feel like they are falling into place.

Dante turns on the live broadcast, projecting it onto the wall facing the dance floor, as his staff starts to serve food and drinks to us all. The theme is all of Tino’s favorites. Guava pastelitos, meatballs with their grandmother Amato’s family sauce, ravioli and yuca truffle fries.

With the countdown on the livestream showing five minutes until the awards begin, Tomás excuses himself from his conversation with Adrian, and joins me at the high-top table I’m sitting at. There’s an unmistakable look of stress smeared on his face.