“I knew.” He nods to himself. “If you ask a woman what she wants to eat, and she says steak, you marry her. That’s the secret to happiness. I made you the best steak you have ever eaten,” he vows.

He is not lying.

In fact I have to wonder if I’ve ever eaten steak, because the rich cut melting in my mouth feels like something completely different from what I’ve had before. And after, there’s a course of lobster tail and cream over an array of colorful, delicious things I cannot describe. He calls it salad. I’m too busy to eat to talk, think, or even feel out of place. This is an experience.

“He cooks every day?” I marvel.

I’m going to be the size of a house in a week.

“Yes. Believe it or not, it’s actually healthy,” Calla says. “I despise exercise, and his food keeps me in shape anyway.”

She does not look like a girl who despise exercise, that’s for sure.

Dessert is a chocolate mousse with raspberries. Maybe I should propose to Claudio. I might, if he weren’t very clearly gay.

He joins us for dessert, and openly flirts with Young Thor.

Tia and Sebastian are the first to leave, soon followed by Calla, then Young Thor—he introduced himself as Richard, I think.

Keller stands right after. “I’d better head up, too. Thank you, Claudio.”

I’m on my feet before I think it through. “Yes, thank you. It was truly wonderful.”

I feel very awkward about leaving my plate and everything, but everyone else did the same.

“Can I help tidy up?”

“Isn’t she the sweetest? No, bella, you do not help. Not even I help, here. There are two cleaners working here every day, yes? We wouldn’t want them out of a job.”

“Oh.” Blushing, I nod. “Right. It was the best meal of my life.”

“Ah, Claire, Claire. Say things like this to me, and I take it as a challenge. We’ll do better tomorrow.”

Yep. I am going to gain ten pounds this week and be happy about it.

I follow Keller out of the room, and into the elevator in silence.

25. Claire

25

CLAIRE

Something has shifted in the air. I can’t pinpoint what it is exactly. All I know is that I can feel Keller’s proximity. Every spot where my arm touches his is oversensitive, making my awareness of him overwhelming.

He’s going to touch me, I tell myself. But that’s not quite right. I don’t know he will for sure. The true revelation is that he should be touching me. It would be right. The fact that he isn’t yet is confusing.

I don’t like it.

Touch me.

Touch me, please.

The door opens onto his floor.

He moves to hold it. “After you.”