Deciding to grab a quick lunch, he pulled up the address to a cafe Enzo had mentioned a few weeks back.
While he drove, Alex rubbed the back of his neck, his mind replaying that last sparring match.
They had been going round for round, and just as Alex was finally about to best Enzo at his own sport, his friend took a cheap shot. Not below the belt but through the heart.
When Enzo called out her name as if she had just walked into the gym, Alex remembered whipping his head toward the door. That’s when Enzo’s left hook landed. Alex knew his friend had held back but it still hurt. Poor Enzo begged his forgiveness for days afterward, something he could now obviously laugh about.
Alex unconsciously rubbed the phantom ache in his chest as his brain granted access to her name. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to think of her, knowing it brought both happiness and pain. A name from his past, one he knew he’d never forget.
Uninvited though it was, the mere thought of her made his heart swell.
Chapter Three
Aria got awaywith no interference, leaving the office building and stepping back onto the now warm, sunny streets.Spring was unpredictable in southern Italy, and Aria enjoyed when the sun chased away the chill of the early mornings.
Walking with thoughts swirling around like a shaken snow globe, she headed toward her favorite cafe a few blocks away, her eyes locked on her moving feet.
Indulging her recurring daydream of abandoning her responsibilities to escape to some remote corner of the world where she could write again, Aria looked up in time to see she had arrived.
She could smell the aroma of tomatoes and garlic, which caused her mouth to water with anticipation. Susanna’s Trattoria was family-owned and never disappointing. She hoped that their tagliolini would put things right.
With her head back down, she grabbed the handle to open the varnished wooden door and pushed forward through it forcefully. But apparently, someone much stronger than her pulled it open from the other side, unknowingly ripping it from her hand.
Aria's heart raced as she stumbled forward, bracing herself for a nasty fall. Instead, she felt warm, calloused but gentle hands grab her upper arms, attempting to keep her upright.
“Oh! I’m so sorry!” Aria exclaimed, grateful for the rescue.
She straightened and quickly flicked her hair out of her eyes, finding herself facing a massive chest. Her head snapped up as she looked into the face of one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen in real life.
He had that rugged, outdoorsy look to him, and she wondered if his tanned skin was natural or caused by hours in the sun.
Long, dark hair fell over his cheeks as he peered down at her in amusement. As she stared, speechless, she noticed details that made the air around her feel thick. A slightly crooked nose and eyes like melted chocolate. A thick beard showcased plump lips with a small scar on the top one.
Plump lips? What? Did I actually hit my head and don’t realize it?
When she blinked to gain some control over her traitorous mind, she saw an unknown emotion flit over the man’s face, something that resembled recognition.
He then tilted his head to each side, the movement hypnotizing her.
The man’s eyes went wide, followed by a smile that grew both in size and intensity as his piercing gaze moved back and forth, up and down across her face as if cataloging it.
All of Aria’s senses seemed to be on high alert and it was then that she realized he was still holding her, his warmth causing a riot in her heart.
“I can’t... I can’t believe it’s you,” he said, his voice deep like the sea in a storm.
“I-I’m sorry?” she answered, her forehead wrinkling.
Does he know me?
Embarrassment flooded her cheeks as the stranger continued to look at her as if he had just won a grand prize.
How long had they been standing there? Seconds, minutes, hours? She saw people walk past them, but she felt like she was in a time warp. Her heart was galloping inside her chest. Her throat was dry, and she couldn’t swallow.
While she tried to order her brain to get in gear and say something, the man quickly bent toward her face, his eyes dancing with glee.
What is he doing?
Before she could register what was happening, the man kissed her on one cheek in greeting. When he moved toward the other, the owner called out Aria’s name from her perch at the front counter.
