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“Yes,” I say, quickly and with enthusiasm. “Yes, thank you – that would be amazing.”
Chapter Three
Nico
I can’t help but grin at how eagerly she accepts my offer. I guess they must have been really lost, and probably for quite some time as well.
“What’s the name of the place?” I ask.
“It’s a café,” she says, showing me the back of the map where she has written down the name. I guess she doesn’t want to risk pronouncing it wrong like her father did. “I heard some recommendations about it online.”
“Ah, yes,” I smile, nodding as I recognize it. “Saint Sebastian de la Thé. I know it well. Come, it’s this way.”
“Oh, we don’t want to put you out,” her father says, irritating me to no end. These Americans – I thought they were supposed to be rude and entitled? They aren’t supposed to try to refuse my help. “You can just tell us where it is.”
“I’m headed in that direction anyway,” I reassure him, flashing him an easy smile – and making sure that the tail end of it drops on her. After all, I want to charm her, even if it is pointless. Something in me is reacting to her in ways that I can’t explain. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way about someone, an urgent need to stay in their presence, in her presence, no matter what it takes.
I lead them through the streets, heading down away from the water. I slow my pace deliberately so that she can keep up and walk by my side. Her father seems to be lagging behind, which is just the way I wanted it.
“So, you are having lunch, I guess?” I say, checking my watch. It’s a little later in the afternoon, but then I suppose they may have been wandering around for a while.
“No, actually, we already ate early,” she says. Even her voice is like music to my ears. What is this woman, some kind of siren? “We just wanted to get a coffee. We only flew in yesterday, so we’re a little tired still.”
“Ah. So, you’re here on vacation?” I ask, even though that much is already obvious. I just don’t want it to be true.
“Yes,” she replies, then exclaims. “Is that it?”
“That’s it,” I say, gesturing to the café. “Well, how about I get a coffee with you? I can show you a few things on the map. This is my favorite café, as it happens.” I glance back at her father as if he has a say in the matter. Truthfully, he doesn’t. So long as she agrees, I don’t mind.
“Oh, if you would, that would be so helpful,” she says, her huge eyes shining up at me. Wow. I think I may be in trouble. If she looks at me like that, I’ll give her the shirt off my back, the watch off my wrist, and the wallet out of my pocket.
“Great,” I say, leaving her father in our wake as I usher her along in front of me to head into the café.
It’s not just to make sure that I can get her inside without her father objecting. It’s also because this way, I can watch her walk in. And I really, really enjoy the view.
We slip inside and get in line, and then I stand between her and her father as we wait to be served. I noticed that she’s hesitating as she looks up at the menu board most of it is written in both French and English, though I wonder if she’s looking at the prices.
“I’ll get this one,” I tell her, quietly enough that only she hears, right before the server asks for her order. She’s so startled, I think, that she just asks for a mocha without responding to me, and then the server is moving on to me.
“For you, sir?”
I smile and nod in acknowledgment to the server, who must recognize me. “The usual cappuccino, please. And for yourself?” I turn to her father and raise an eyebrow.
“Oh,” he says, put on the spot – which was exactly my intention. I don’t want either of them to have a chance to refuse. Since I bought their drink, they can’t say no to at least a chat. “Um, an Americano, please.”
I take out my wallet and hand over the required cash before either of them can stop me, and gesture back towards the seating. “Why don’t you find us a table?” I suggest to her. “Oh – by the way – what name should they write on the drinks?”
She blushes, and I get the feeling she hadn’t realized until now that she hadn’t introduced herself. “Liliana,” she says. “And for him, Frank.”
“I’m Nico,” I tell her with a smile. “I’ll bring our drinks over.”
She nods and smiles back at me, hesitating for just a moment before she turns to go. I’m so busy watching her that I almost miss the server telling me the drinks are ready.
