Chapter 2 #2
I beam. “You said that already.”
“You make me…” He frowns as if searching for the right word. “Nervous.”
“I think it’s you who makes me nervous.”
He smiles and takes my hand over the table and lifts it to his lips. He kisses my fingertips as my insides begin to liquify.
Okay, it’s official… he’s off-the-fucking-hook hot.
“What’s your surname?”
He frowns.
“Bruno what?”
“Oh.” He nods as if finally understanding the question. “Bruno is my nickname.”
“What?” I frown. “I don’t understand.”
“My surname is Brunetti.”
“Really?” I frown. “So…”
“My name is Dante Brunetti, but everyone calls me Bruno.”
“Oh.” I smile, relieved. Dante is a much nicer name than Bruno. “Okay.”
“What is your full name?” he asks.
“Halle Johnston.”
The waiter returns with a bottle of wine, opens it, and pours a little into a glass. He tastes it. “Va bene.”
The waiter then fills our glasses and leaves us alone.
Dante raises his glass and I hold mine up to touch his. “To speed dating… the long way.”
I smile softly. “That sounds perfect.”
“And that’s how I intend on moving forward,” Dante tells me.
“Interesting.” I sip my wine. The last four hours have been so… blissfully regular.
This is what a normal date feels like.
We’ve laughed and talked about all things Italian. We talked about our friends and life in America. Dante has explained in great detail his business plans for the next five years. He’s thoughtful, calculated, and has a very clear plan to where he wants to go in life.
The fact that I still find him attractive is a miracle in itself; he’s the exact opposite to the kind of man I usually gravitate toward. To be honest, the fire has dulled a little with his oversharing, but perhaps that’s because I’m chasing a thrill instead of stability.
No…
I’m going to see where this goes. I know it has potential.
“Ciao.” I hear a woman’s voice.
Dante’s eyes widen. “Mama. What are you doing here?” He stands and kisses her two cheeks.
Oh crap, it’s his mother.
“I’m having dinner with Rosina.” She turns her attention to me. “Who is your lovely friend, Dante?”
“Mama, this is Halle. She is visiting from America.”
“Hello.” I smile as I shake her hand. She’s glamorous and beautiful, not at all what the average woman her age looks like.
“Hello.” She smiles warmly and turns her attention back to her son. “You didn’t tell me you had a date tonight.”
“Mama.” He laughs. “Contrary to what you believe, you do not need to know everything about me.”
“You are wrong, my boy.” She laughs. “Was the meal nice?” she asks me.
“Lovely.” I smile nervously, unsure what to say next.
“Do not forget Sunday,” she tells him.
“I won’t.”
“Actually”—her eyes come back to me—“you must join us for lunch on Sunday, Halle. It’s a family tradition. The week before Christmas, we always go to my favorite restaurant for their tidings feast. You will love it.”
“Oh, that’s so lovely of you to invite me.”
God, I can’t believe it’s Christmas next week. We’ve been so busy settling in that we haven’t even thought about the holiday season.
“Mama, Halle doesn’t want to come to a family dinner.” He scoffs.
Her eyes meet mine. “You don’t want to come, Halle?”
“No…” I shrug. Oh crap, way to be put on the spot… awkward. “I’d love to come… I mean, if that’s okay.”
It would be nice to feel a little festive, actually.
“Of course it’s okay.” Dante smiles, seemingly very pleased, and I feel like I just passed some kind of test.
“I must be going.” She kisses both his cheeks and then kisses mine. “Lovely to meet you, Halle. I will see you on Sunday, my dear.”
“Okay.”
She totters out in her sky-high stilettos as we stare after her. “Wow.” I smile. “She’s beautiful.”
“Ah.” He shrugs. “She works hard at being beautiful.”
“Well, it’s paying off.”
“It is.” He smiles.
“Excuse me,” the waiter interrupts us, “would you like to order another drink before the bar closes?”
“No,” Dante replies. “We’re going to get going now. Thanks anyway.”
We make our way to the front desk and I go to take out my purse, but he shakes his head. “Do not insult me.”
“No, you are not paying for everything.”
“Watch me.” He pays and takes my hand, and we walk outside. The mood between us suddenly changes, and gone is the playful banter we had inside; somehow, now it feels stressed and forced.
Awkward.
“I should call an Uber.” I shrug.
“Me too.”
Oh…
That was where he was supposed to try and talk me out of leaving and I was going to show him just how pure I can be.
I guess that backfired.
We both take out our phones and call the separate Ubers. Maybe saying I would go to the family lunch was a mistake… Damn it, why did I say yes?
It’s way too soon.
“I’m not sure I will come on Sunday.” I wince.
His face falls. “Why not?”
“Well, do you want me to come? Isn’t it a bit early to meet the family?”
“My mother asked you, and trust me, if you don’t go, she will hold a grudge forever.”
“Oh.” My face falls.
“It will be fine; we won’t stay long. Then we will do something fun.” He turns me toward him and takes my two hands in his.
“Okay.”
He leans in and kisses me, softly at first and then it deepens. I feel a swirl of arousal pass through me. “I like you.”
“I like you too.”
“We should take it slow.”
“Yes.” I force a smile. “We should.”
The Uber pulls up, and he kisses me again before we part. “See you on Sunday.”
“Okay.” I climb into the backseat and he blows me a kiss as the car pulls into the night.
I text Allegra.
Oh my god! Had the best night ever.
I put my phone back into my bag and smile out the window. I feel very grown up and accomplished.
No regretful wake up tomorrow.