Chapter 111

Ari’s eyes seemed to pierce right through her, seeing every beat of her racing heart. He rose to serve her dessert – tiramisu with whipped cream. ‘Now that I’ve shown you mine… When do I have the honour to sample your cooking?’ His breath, warm and faintly minty, brushed against her cheek as he leaned closer. Elodie’s mind went blank, all thoughts replaced by the intoxicating scent of his cologne and the heat that radiated from his body. ‘Um, maybe next weekend…’ Ari leaned down. It was a slow, agonising tease, his lips brushing against hers, then pulling back, leaving her with a burning trail of longing. ‘I’ll be waiting,’ he whispered. Elodie met his gaze and couldn’t look away. The wine seemed to go straight to her head. As the evening progressed, Elodie found herself unwinding more than she had planned. The wine flowed freely, and she indulged more than usual, causing her to stagger and sway like a tipsy dancer, barely managing to keep her balance. Just as she leaned too far to the