Raffaele studied the face of the beautiful woman he held in his arms. He was used to dancing with all types of beautiful women, but dancing with Maggie was something special. She’d been so nervous when he led her onto the dance floor, but by their second waltz, she was smiling joyfully.

Raffaele raised a questioning eyebrow at her and Maggie laughed.

“Okay, yes, I am having fun. Dancing is fun.”

He grinned at her. They danced through another song, but when the orchestra started the next one, Raffaele noticed that Maggie seemed to be tiring.

“How about we rest for a few minutes?”

“I could go for a break,” she said. “My feet suddenly remembered that I’ve been on them for most of the day.”

Raffaele steered her to a quiet table in the corner.

“Here.” He pulled out a chair for her.

Maggie gratefully sat down. “Thank you.”

As he sat down across from her, Raffaele asked, “Would you like something to drink?”

“Yes, please. And I’d love to get something else to eat.” She started to stand up again, but Raffaele waved her back into the chair.

“Ah, that’s an easy request.” He lifted his hand in the direction of one of the servers walking through the crowd, and the man immediately moved to their table.

“May I help you with something, sir?”

“Yes. We’d like to taste all the appetizers. I wonder if you could bring us two of each? Thank you.”

Maggie watched him with amusement as the server went to fulfill Raffaele’s request. “You know, we could have gotten the food ourselves.”

Raffaele pointed over his shoulder. “I’m going to get drinks for us.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “I could help with that, too.”

Raffaele shook his head. “Your job is to let someone else wait on you for a change.” He stood and looked in the direction of bar. “Any special requests?” he asked.

Maggie said, “I’m fine with whatever looks good.”

Raffaele looked over his shoulder as he reached the bar, noticing that Maggie was watching him with a smile on her face. He looked back as the bartender greeted him and came up with an idea.

He leaned one elbow on the bar. “I would like a little bit of everything,” Raffaele told the bartender. “Small glasses are fine; we’d just like to taste it all.”

Raffaele thought the bartender looked half amused and half worried, but it couldn’t have been the oddest request the bartender had ever received, since the man quickly went to work.

He walked back to the table where Maggie was waiting, followed by the bartender carrying a large tray with an assortment of glasses. Maggie’s eyes widened and she shook her head.

“What are we going to do with all that?” she asked, and Raffaele could tell she was definitely amused.

Raffaele grinned. “We’re going to try everything.” He thanked the bartender as the man set the tray down on the small table next to the one they sat at.

Maggie added a “thank you” as the bartender walked back to his station.

“Where do we start?” she asked.

Raffaele handed her a glass and took one of his own. He raised the small glass in a salute and she mirrored his motion. Just then, the server arrived with two trays filled with food.

He put one of the trays on the small table with the drinks and the other tray in front of them, saying, “I suggest starting with the warm items first.”

Maggie and Raffaele both thanked him, and Raffaele pointed at one of the tiny pastries. “Try that one.”

Maggie laughed and did as he said. After she took a bite, she tilted her head and shrugged. “Good, but not as good as that first pastry.”

Raffaele searched on the trays and found the first pastry Maggie had tried before they danced. He took a bite of it, then of the second one. Maggie laughed at him as he nibbled and considered. He found that he liked that sound, and he wanted to make her laugh again.

In his best cooking show judge voice, Raffaele said, “I like that the first appetizer made use of seasonal ingredients. However, the second one played it too safe. I want to be wowed by these creations.”

He could tell Maggie got what he was doing, and warmed to the sound of her laughing again. Raffaele handed her another appetizer and waited for her to take a bite before he picked up the other one.

Maggie shook her head. “I’m getting a little bit too much crunchiness, though the flavor is nice.”

Raffaele took a bite. “I agree. A different ingredient would have made a better choice for this dish.”

Maggie pressed her lips together, shaking with giggles. “You do that just a little too well.”

Raffaele grinned at her. “I should offer to be a celebrity judge on one of those cooking shows.”

“I would love to see that. You’d be good at it.”

Maggie handed him another appetizer, something dusted with gold and purple sprinkles. “Here. Try this one.”

Raffaele did, and then turned it around and over, looking closely.

“I appreciate that the chef embraced the theme, but I think deconstruction might show the ingredients better.”

Maggie tried her appetizer and made a little face. “I think the chef might have skipped this one altogether, though I agree it is on point for theme.”

She put the rest of it back on her plate.

They worked their way through the warm appetizers, tasting them and then tasting the drinks. With every bite and every sip, they got more into the spirit of the game. Raffaele relished the banter; Maggie was smart and sharp. She held her own with him. Raffaele was so used to women who were either intimidated by or infatuated with his royal status. But Maggie acted like she’d forgotten his title and was just having fun.

Raffaele picked up the tray with the cold dishes and held it out so Maggie could take one. He took the other and the each took a bite at the same time. They looked at each other and shook their heads at the same time.

“Just…no,” Maggie said, going for the glass of wine to wash down the taste.

“Definitely. There are no words.” Raffaele gulped his own glass of wine. “I’m not sure tasting anything after that is a good idea.”

Maggie straightened up. “We can do this. “It’s our responsibility—no, it’s our privilege—to try all this food,” she said in a rousing voice that would have inspired armies. “We must, for the good of this party, finish our plates!” she finished, lifting her glass of wine.

Raffaele stared at her for a moment, impressed, then Maggie shrugged and pointed at one of the appetizers, saying, “Plus, I’ve really been wanting to try that one.”

Raffaele threw his head back and laughed. “Then, for the good of the party, you shall.” He passed her the tray and Maggie took it.

She picked up the one she’d been eyeing and took a bite, then nodded enthusiastically. “I really like that you can taste all the different flavors.”

Raffaele picked up the other one of the pair and tried it. He chewed slowly, tilting his head in consideration. “I disagree. It’s not bad, but the flavors are fighting each other.”

Maggie shook her head. “It’s a great combination, and everything is balanced.”

Raffaele laughed. “You’re already planning on how you can do this better and put it on your menu, aren’t you?”

Maggie leaned into him as she laughed in agreement, acknowledging his point. Raffaele liked her being close to him. Being with Maggie was easy; it felt natural.

He found himself saying, “You know, this is the most fun I’ve ever had on a date.”

Maggie giggled. “Oh, so you don’t get out much?”

Raffaele rolled his eyes at her self-deprecation.

“I do just fine, thank you. But I don’t get to date world-class chefs. Or women who aren’t blinded by the whole royalty thing. Tonight has simply been fun.”

Maggie nodded. “Thank you.” And then she raised an eyebrow. “I’m still not feeling sorry for your dating life.”

That got a surprised laugh from Raffaele. “Nor should you.”

Maggie sat back and Raffaele thought she looked happy. He was surprised at how much the sight of her being happy pleased him. A lock of her hair fell over her mask and he wanted to brush it back just so he could touch her.

Raffaele drank from his glass while he considered the thoughts tumbling through his head. Gorgeous woman, amazing chef, fun date—he’d never felt this kind of connection with anyone else before. Even the moment of silence that stretched between them now was comfortable and tinged with anticipation rather than awkwardness.

And he was aware that part of what he was feeling was pure physical attraction. It wasn’t just that Maggie was beautiful. It was her smile, the way her eyes crinkled up when she laughed, and the feel of holding her while they danced. He could feel the sparks between them when they touched, and he wanted more of that.

He wanted to see her again.

Raffaele leaned forward abruptly. “I’m turning thirty in a month,” he said.

Maggie looked a little surprised at this declaration but only responded, “Happy early birthday.”

Raffaele shook his head. “My family is throwing a huge party for our relatives and friends. Dinner and dancing for 300 people at the palace. My mother is set on turning it into the event of the season. Would you be available to cook for the party?”

He held his breath while she thought about it, and when she nodded, he was thrilled.

“Yes, I’d love to,” Maggie said. “It sounds like an amazing opportunity.”

Raffaele wanted her to understand that she was more than just a hired chef.

“If you can, please stay a few days after the party. I’d love to show you around.” He smiled winningly. “I’ll feed you the best my country has to offer. You can count it as a research and inspiration if you need an excuse to take a vacation.”

“Raffaele, you don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. I’ve never met anyone I could talk to like you, about food or anything else. We have more than enough room at the palace, and Spiaggi is a beautiful place. It would be my pleasure to introduce you to my country.”

Maggie laughed. “If you’re sure, then I’m sold. I can’t wait.”

Raffaele agreed; he couldn’t wait to show Maggie his home. He clapped his hands together. “Excellent! I’ll text you details tomorrow morning.”

Maggie wrinkled her nose up in a way that Raffaele found adorable. “Speaking of tomorrow morning, and as much as I hate to bring this night to a close, I have to be up early to get things ready at the restaurant. I should go.”

Raffaele nodded. “Of course. Let me have the driver bring the car around and I’ll take you home.”

Maggie shook her head and smiled. “That’s sweet, but please don’t leave on my account. You should enjoy the rest of the party.”

Raffaele studied her. He could tell that she was tired, and if he went with her, she’d feel obligated to be entertaining and talkative.

He wanted her to be at ease, so he agreed, but added firmly, “I’ll stay, but my driver will take you home.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

Raffaele texted the driver asking him to bring the car around, and watched as Maggie wrote her phone number on a napkin.

She handed the napkin to him and said, “You’ve got the number to the restaurant, but here’s my personal cell.”

Raffaele nodded. “We’ll talk more about the party soon.” He stood and offered her his arm. “I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Maggie.”

“Me, too.” She took his arm and let him escort her through the crowded party. When they got to the front door, the butler opened it and Maggie turned to him. “Thank you again, Prince Raffaele.”

Raffaele shook his head. “Don’t say goodbye yet. I’m walking you to the car.” Maggie started to protest and he held up one hand. “Yes, I am.” He dropped the hand in a flourish indicating the open door. “After you, chef.”

Maggie made her way to the car, where the driver had the door open for her. Raffaele waved him back to the driver’s side of the car and held the door for Maggie himself. She stopped and looked up at him.

“Tonight was wonderful. Thank you for inviting me.”

Raffaele looked down into her eyes and had the impulsive thought to kiss her good night. He wanted to, but worried that it would be too forward after knowing her for only a few hours. He settled for stepping forward to give her a brief, but warm, hug. When he pulled back, Maggie was smiling and Raffaele knew he’d made the right call.

“Thank you for coming with me, Maggie. You made this evening truly special.”

He helped her into the limo, and before he shut the door, said, “I’ll talk to you soon. Good night.”

Maggie lifted a hand in a small wave as he closed the door. Raffaele watched the limo drive away, already thinking about seeing her again.