Chapter 13 - THE FIRST DATE WITHOUT BODYGUARDS
Nicolo invited Sofia to dinner.
Not at an expensive restaurant.
Not at a private club.
At a small Italian place near the lake.
He arrived without bodyguards.
Sofia raised an eyebrow.
"Brave."
He smiled.
"Reckless, perhaps."
She laughed.
They ordered pasta.
Shared dessert.
Talked about ordinary things.
Books.
Music.
Travel.
For the first time, Nicolo wasn't trying to impress anyone.
He was simply listening.
Sofia told him about her childhood.
Her mother.
Her first job.
The reason she'd joined federal law enforcement.
Nicolo told her about his father.
His brother.
The expectations he'd inherited.
They didn't excuse the past.
But they began understanding each other.
After dinner, they walked beside the lake.
The wind was cold.
Sofia pulled her coat tighter.
Nicolo noticed.
"Would you like my jacket?"
She smiled.
"No, thank you."
He nodded.
A few steps later, she stopped.
"Nicolo."
He turned.
"Yes?"
"You're learning."
He smiled.
"Slowly."
She laughed.
He looked at her.
"May I kiss you?"
Sofia stared.
For a moment, she looked surprised.
Then she smiled.
"Yes."
The kiss was gentle.
Unhurried.
Nothing like the violence and fear that had first brought them together.
When they separated, Sofia laughed softly.
"What?"
Nicolo smiled.
"I was just thinking."
"About?"
He looked at her.
"How grateful I am that you spilled my espresso."
She laughed.
"Twice."
He nodded.
"Twice."
May you like
And for the first time, the memory of Cafe Luna wasn't only tragedy.
It was also the beginning of something neither of them had expected.
