Cheers of, “Brava!” surrounded us.
“I mean, you tip well.But this seems a little extreme,” I said to Stefan as he guided me through the crowd.
He laughed.“They're praising your artistry.Not my tip.”
Huh.
Now that I paid attention, I saw what he was talking about.Their eyes were definitely on me.One woman even touched my arm and spoke to me in Italian.I looked at Stefan to translate.“She says she wants to buy the pictures and the eggs from you.”
That made me giggle.“For real?Or are you teasing me?”
Stefan shook his head.“For real.She's offering a good price.”
When he told me how much she wanted to give me, I was more than surprised.“Can you thank her for me?But tell her the pictures are not for sale.”
He gave me a smirk and a nod.The woman seemed disappointed after he refused her offer.But she smiled at me.
The next table we stopped at had delicious looking pastries.Stefan bought us a couple, and I couldn't wait to bite into it.
“These are cornettos.It's best with a cappuccino.”He jerked his head to the next booth where they were serving the drinks.He bought us each a cappuccino and then said, “Let's grab a table.”We found a free one.The tables were tall, and there were no chairs, so we stood.
He handed me a cornetto and a cappuccino.“Thanks,” I said and immediately bit into the light, crunchy cream-filled pastry.“Mm,” I said.“This is wonderful.”The fluffy, creamy center was out of this world fantastic.Like nothing I'd ever tasted before.I took a sip of my cappuccino, and that, too, was wonderful.“Your mom's right.The cappuccino here is way better.”
Stefan sipped from his, too, and smiled at me.“According to my mother, everything is better here.”
I looked at his handsome face.“And what do you think?”
My eyes watched as he licked the cream off his lips.Why was that so sexy?
“I agree with her.My mother's usually right about everything.”He pointed his pastry at me.“Do not ever tell her I said that.”
A small laugh burst out of me.“I promise.”
We ate and drank in silence for a minute or two until I bit my lip and stared at him.Stefan was so good-looking.Devastatingly handsome.And he was with—me.
That still didn't make sense.At all.
“What's going on inside that beautiful head of yours, Francesca?I worry about what you're thinking when you're quiet.”
I rolled my eyes and took another sip from my cup.“I was wondering how mad you are at me.Over my fabulous portrait.”Okay, it wasn't exactly a lie.I also wanted to know the answer to this question.“Like, from one to ten?Ten being—super angry.”
He huffed out a laugh and bit into his pastry.More cream on his lips.
More licking it off.
Yum.
I was glad he couldn't see me clench down below.
“Oh, you'll find out later, Francesca.”He picked up his cappuccino and grinned.“At least your ass will.”
A much harder, deeper clench instantly took me by surprise at his promise of what was to come.
I ignored his comment—or at least I tried to.I picked up my pastry and bit into it.But before I could lick my lips, Stefan leaned down.“Let me,” he said, and proceeded to lick my lips and kiss me.“There,” he said, and straightened.“All better.”
Things—were tingling.
A lot of things.
