AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hi, um, I think I’ve been helped. Not sure. The other woman said she would surprise me with something since you are closed, but I’m not entirely confident that it’s going to go well, and… I’m sorry. I’m rambling.” I shut my eyes tight and shake my head.
She bites her lip and pours a glass of wine, setting it in front of me. “Don’t mind my sister, she scares most men. How long are you in Verona for?”
“Just a week,” I reply, taking a sip of the wine. Hell, she could be poisoning me too, but at least I’ll die buzzed with a full stomach. “I’m in Italy for a little over a month.”
“You can have a lot of fun here in a week.” She polishes the bar that doesn’t need polishing.
“I’m Gabriella, by the way.”
“Richard.”
Gabriella’s posture stiffens as her sister walks out. She says something to Gabriella in Italian but it’s too quick that I can’t make any of it out. I discreetly take out my phone and turn the microphone on to translate their conversation.
I told you to get him a drink, not get in his pants.
He’s cute, can I keep him, Cat?
No, you can’t keep him.
Why not? You’re not into him. He’s not your type.
How do you know what my type is? I could be into him.
I nearly spit out my wine mid-sip and quickly tuck my phone away. Both of them turn and while Gabriella’s eyesare dancing with delight, her sister’s burn into me. Fuck, I shouldn’t be turned on by her sister’s menacing glare, the woman is at least ten years younger than me and feisty as hell. If I was looking to hook up with someone here, it would be easy enough between Andrea, the mystery woman from the cafe, and now Gabriella. But something about Gabriella’s sister—or perhaps Cat?—has my cock twitching.
“So, uh, what is the surprise?” I dare ask.
“It’ll be ready in ten minutes,” Gabriella replies, though I’m unsure how she would know that since she wasn’t in the kitchen. “Richard was just telling me how he’ll be in Verona for the week. Perhaps I can give him a tour later tonight.”
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” I insist.
Cat ponders something for a moment, then asks. “A week, huh? Well, Richard, how much of our city have you seen?” Her tone has softened significantly in the last minute, giving me pause. She pours a glass of wine and drinks it in three quick gulps.
“Cat!” Gabriella shrieks, then says something to her in Italian. I’m able to pick up something aboutvino, but that’s about it.
Cat leaves the bar area into the kitchen, her sister following. Watching these two is some of the best entertainment I’ve had in a while. They aren’t fighting over me, it’s just some sisterly bickering, reminding me of my own at home. I continue to sip my wine, waiting for my possibly-poisoned surprise pasta to arrive.
Ten minutes later, as Gabriella predicted, they return with three plates. Cat sets one in front of me, and the others to the right. Gabriella takes one and walks back into the kitchen, huffing something under her breath. As Cat sits on the stool next to me, I lean in an inch and whisper, “Thank you, Cat.” I nearly add, “I hope it’s not poison,” but I don’t want to press my luck.
She rolls her eyes and hands me a fork. I twirl the thin linguini pasta around it, gripping extra shaved parmesan around the moss-green pesto sauce. I take my first bite and have to stifle my moan. I’ve had pesto back home, no less than a hundred times, but nothing like this. The pasta is cooked perfectly, the sauce has extra parmesan, the basil and parsley shine through with a hint of nuttiness. I’m in fucking heaven.
“You made this?”
“Yes,” she scoffs.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” I correct. “It’s fuc—freakingamazing.”
She smothers a smile, almost a glimmer of a twinkle in her eye, but gone in an instant. “To be fair, I prepared thefuckingpasta. The sauces simmer all day. My sister and I helpMammawhen she needs it, which is never.” She laughs and the softness when she’s talking about her family isn’t lost on me. “This one was mine today.”
“Well, it’s the best I’ve ever had.”
“Best you’ve ever had? You’ll have to tell Andrea.”
Mid-bite, I freeze and set the fork on the plate. “I never told you it was Andrea who sent me.”
“It was a guess. You’re staying at the hotel in the plaza?” Cat wipes the corner of her mouth, but misses a tiny amount of sauce. My fingers itch to swipe it away, but I resist.
What’s wrong with me? I shouldn’t want to touch a complete stranger.
