Chapter 18 #3
“These are for you.” I say rather uncomfortably as I hand her the bouquet.
She takes them from my hand and instinctively buries her nose in the pretty petals, inhaling deeply before looking up at me with a confused expression.
Unspoken questions dance in her beautiful bright blue eyes and my chest tightens.
Her gaze moves to the box of chocolates still clutched tightly in my hands and my eyes follow her gaze.
Looking up at her again she’s staring me down and cocks a perfectly groomed eyebrow at me.
“Uhm, I got you these too, they’re Belgian chocolate truffles. I hope you like them.”
“Like them? You have got to be kidding me. Mr. Marino I love chocolate, any chocolate.”
To my relief I’m rewarded with a smile. Such a beautiful smile. I would give my left rib if only to see her smile like that at me all the time.
“So, why did you get me flowers and chocolates, Mr. Marino?”
“Can we please stop with the Mr. Marino thing first?”
She shrugs and bites her bottom lip. I want to bite that lip.
Shit! I need to focus. This woman makes my head spin.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry for how I behaved before. I know I was an ass and I handled it badly. I just want to make it up to you.”
“Huh! You didn’t have to go through all the trouble Lorenzo, you could have just said sorry.”
“No, I couldn’t. Not at the time. Look, Elena I’m really shit at this. I don’t know how to smooth talk a woman. That’s more Tony’s thing.”
“So, you think you need to smooth-talk me?”
Fuck! She looks annoyed. I’m messing this up.
“No!” I shout. Why am I shouting? Oh, dear God this is going down faster than a Boeing with a blown-out engine.
Panick seizes my throat and I can’t get the words out.
I shake my head in horror, trying to convince her that that is not what I meant and …
Father in heaven this is all coming out wrong… so, so wrong.
I run my hands through my hair and loosen my tie in an attempt to maximise my oxygen intake. It’s suddenly very warm in here. Sweat beads on my forehead and my palms are clammy. I hastily wipe my hands on my pants then run my hands through my hair again, followed by another battle with my tie.
“Elena I… it’s warm in here, isn’t it? Are you feeling warm? I’m feeling warm.”
I dash to the control panel on the wall to adjust the heat. I drop it several degrees but the heat in my veins and the burning of my skin persist.
“I don’t think this fucking thing is working!”
Elena is standing perfectly still, watching me with cautious eyes. Possibly thinking I’ve lost my mind. I start to tug at my tie again when small cool hands cover my own and I freeze.
“Breathe… just breathe.”
The touch of her hand and the soft melody of her voice settle me almost immediately. I stop my frantic movements and just stare down at her. Is this how she settles Angelo?
“Relax Enzo. Calm down.”
“You’re not upset?” The question leaves my lips before I have time to even process what I wanted to say.
“No, I’m not upset. I’m sorry I made you believe that. I was just teasing you and that was wrong. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that to you.”
“So, you’re not angry with me?”
“No, I am not angry with you. On the contrary. Thank you for the flowers and the chocolates… especially the chocolates.”
“So, we’re good then?”
“Yes. We’re good. Are you okay now?”
My breathing slows back to normal; my head seems to have cleared and, I’m freezing.
“Si, I’m okay. I was so worried that I was going to mess this up again. So, you were just teasing me?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You little vixen.”
From the look of surprise on her face, I can tell she was not expecting me to call her that.
“Vixen?”
“Yes, vixen. You put me through hell. That was an awful experience, one I hope to never repeat.”
The look of regret on her face almost breaks my heart… almost. I can use this to my advantage.
“Okay, Lorenzo, how can I make it up to you?” Cue the advantage. I don’t even hesitate.
“Have dinner with me.”
“Uh…” She hesitates. “Okay… I guess I could. Just let me know when.”
“Now!” It was not a question.
“Now?”
“Yes. I know a lovely Italian restaurant about twenty minutes from here. Have dinner with me Elena, tonight… now.” I step into her space with the last two words and I’m close enough to her to witness the exact moment her resolve breaks. She lets out a defeated sigh.
“Fine, just give me five minutes to change.”
“No, don’t change. You look perfect. That dress is perfect. I love when you wear it.”
“You do?”
“I do.”
“Uhm okay then let me just do my hair, I’ll only be a m,”
Before she can finish the sentence, my hands are in her hair pulling out the hairband and the pins holding her tresses in place. The dark waves now free of their confines cascade in glossy silken waves over her shoulders and down her back.
I reach for a lock of her hair that has covered part of her face and gently tuck it behind her ear.
My hand brushes against her neck with the motion and her lips part in response.
I drop my hand and clear my throat breaking the friction in the air.
It would be most inconvenient to have a hard on for the twenty-minute drive to the restaurant.
“Shall we?”
Relief washes over me when she steps forward and accepts my outstretched hand.