The Purest of Diamonds?. Susan Stephens

hot food for you around this table?’

      ‘I’ve got an enormous appetite,’ Raffa confessed with every appearance of innocence. ‘If any of you don’t want your food, please pass it my way.’

      The other men registered small smiles at this, while Britt and Eva exchanged a knowing look.

      Okay. She got it. Leila was Little Red Riding Hood paired with the big bad wolf for the night. She gave her sisters a warning look, but they just smiled and raised a brow. As long as she could handle it, they were okay with it. Now she just had to watch out that the joke didn’t end up on her.

      The next course was asparagus, which was possibly Leila’s favourite food, but the way Eva was sucking the butter off the tip...

      ‘I can’t believe you’re not eating this,’ Raffa scolded when she again offered to exchange her plate with him, but his eyes were laughing, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

      ‘I don’t want to risk butter dripping down my dress.’ She raised a brow at him, conscious that her sisters were watching them closely. ‘This dress has been through enough adventures for one night, don’t you agree, Raffa?’

      As Britt and Eva exchanged a look, Leila appeared to change her mind, and, lifting a buttery spear to her lips, she sucked on it thoughtfully.

      ‘Here—have another one if you’re hungry,’ he prompted in a way that made her breath catch.

      Her sisters were transfixed by now, while the look in Raffa’s eyes wasn’t doing all that much for her own equilibrium. It was just an act, she told herself, until he captured some butter from her lips on his thumb and sucked it clean. She felt an answering pulse of pleasure with each lazy tug of his mouth. It was such a sexy, intimate thing for him to do.

      And she should look away.

      When it came to the entrée, a black pepper filet mignon with a blob of Gorgonzola on top, resting on a bed of wilted spinach, she was still watching Raffa eat.

      ‘Hmm, delicious,’ he murmured, savouring the delicious meat. ‘Why aren’t you eating, Leila?’

      ‘It’s chocolate fondue for pudding,’ Britt remarked innocently.

      Okay, there was no leaving this game half played. ‘Chocolate fondue?’ She gazed deep into Raffa’s eyes. ‘My favourite...’

      As Raffa paused, fork suspended, she tucked in with relish. This was easy. Where had she been hiding all these years?

      ‘Leila.’

      Why was Raffa whispering?

      She turned to look at him with confidence. ‘Yes? What is it? What’s wrong?’

      She prickled with awareness as he leaned in close.

      ‘You’ve got spinach between your teeth...’