Larissa's POV
The aroma hit me first, rich and intoxicating. "This smells incredible," I breathed, my voice rougher than I meant it to sound.
"Just wait until you try it." Carson placed a generous portion on my plate, his fingers brushing mine as he handed me the wine glass. "Come on, let's eat where we can see the water."
The deck stretched out before us, a private dining room with the endless ocean as our backdrop. Moonlight painted silver streaks across the waves, while the rhythmic crash of water against the cliffs below provided our evening's soundtrack.
I settled into the chair across from him, twirling the pasta around my fork. The first bite sent flavors dancing across my tongue - ripe tomatoes, aged cheese, pasta cooked to absolute perfection.
"Jesus," I groaned, unable to contain my reaction. "This is unbelievable."
Something flickered in Carson's dark eyes. "I warned you."
"You could make a fortune with this recipe alone."
