“I’ve always loved to cook. Elene taught me everything I know.”

“Then why didn’t you become a chef like her?” Luca’s expression faltered then, and she knew she’d strayed into a sensitive area. “You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.”

“It’s fine. I’ve spent the last few days getting to know you better. It’s only fair that you get to know me as well, no?”

Colette didn’t reply. If she said yes she might seem too eager, but if she said no it would be a lie. She wanted to know more about Luca. She wanted to know everything.

“My father had plans for me. I had a mother and five sisters at home depending on me. I had to do what was right for them,” he replied. “That’s how I know when a person isn’t being their true selves. Because I’m not.”

Colette refused the second forkful of food he offered. She leaned in closer as she studied his face. “Why? That must have been years ago surely. Why don’t you be who you want to be now?”

“I still have my family to think of. My youngest sister is at school. It will be a few years until she’s ready and able to take care of herself.”

“So until then, you do what you have to, just not what you love?” Colette said sadly.

“I will be responsible,” Luca replied. Another forkful of food was directed to her mouth then and Colette duly accepted it. It was so delicious, perhaps even more so now that she knew he’d made it just for her.

“Why do you feed me like that?” she asked. “I can do it myself.”

“Because I like to watch your eyes when you eat,” Luca replied. “I like to watch your expressions when you taste what I’ve made. Especially now you know that I’ve made it.”

“How many of my meals have you made?”

A mischievous glint reflected in Luca’s eyes but he didn’t respond. Instead he fed her another bite.

“All of them?” she exclaimed.

“Hush, do you want your friends to hear? They’ll think I’m doing something inappropriate in here.”

Heat flooded her chest and neck once more. “You really did all this for me?”

“I told you: I like you. I take care of what I like.”

If he didn’t stop soon Colette wasn’t sure her heart would be able to take it. No one had ever said such things to her before. She wasn’t sure if she should believe it or how she should respond. All she knew was that she liked it. She liked him.

“What do you do in your father’s business?” she asked as she tried to find something that would keep him talking.

“I’m vice president of Sales,” he informed her.