WHAT AM I DOING? I shouldn’t do this. I should stay away from him, but I can’t. What he did to help me spoke volumes of his character. He didn’t have to step in, but he did. He’s a good man.
I walk up front to fix a display that got knocked over in my rush to get inside. Melissa and Sammy are standing on the sidewalk out front, watching the chaos. When she sees me, Melissa comes inside.
“Hey, did you get your order put in?”
“Yep.”
“What was it for?”
“Books.” I smile and finish my display.
“You okay? You seem a little off.”
“Yeah, I’m good. Having all these people around is a little stressful.”
“It’s only been a week.”
“Tell me about it.”
“What’s your take on Yasmin? She seems a little bitchy.”
I shrug. “I just want to stay out of the way.”
“Does she know Antonio asked you out?”
“I have no idea.”
“Did you decide what to do?”
I look up briefly, contemplating my response. She’s proven reliable so far, but I’m feeling raw after today’s events.
“No.”
“Oh, okay, well, you’ll decide what’s best.”
“Thanks.”
“Would you mind if I go and watch the taping in the park?”
“Not at all. Have fun.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
I wave. “Bye.”
She leaves and Sammy waves at me as they cross the street to the park. I watch from afar as Antonio steps out of his trailer. He immediately looks in my direction, and I smile. He nods his head and takes his place.
I hate to admit it, but he really is kind of phenomenal.
I PACE THE LIVING ROOM, waiting for him to show up. It’s ten after seven, and I’m more nervous than I was last night. I look around making sure everything is ready to go. Candles lit, wine uncorked, pasta cooking. Oh! Music. I push play on the CD player and take a deep breath when I hear the back door open.
“Giovanna?”
“In here.”
He enters the room and my breath catches. He looks spectacular. Holy fuck.
“Hey.” He steps forward and kisses my cheek. He smells so good. “You look amazing.”
“Same to you, Movie Star.”
“All for you.”
“Ah, I wish that were true.”
“It is tonight. I’m all yours.”
I smile and watch as he removes his coat. He’s wearing a cream sweater that looks so good against his tan skin. His hair is not as slicked back as usual, just slightly hanging in his face.
“You look like a damn model.”
“Antonio chuckles. “I used to be. It’s how I got my acting start.”
“Maybe I’ll have to buy your calendar.”
“I’ll sign it for you.”
I laugh. “Would you now?”
“Anything for you, Beautiful.”
“I’m a lucky girl.”
He pulls me into his arms and kisses me hard. “No, I’m the lucky one.”
“You sure about that? It seems like I’m causing some conflict on set.”
“You’re worth every retake, every angry director moment, every diva tantrum.”
“Thank you.”
“Smells great in here. What’s cooking?” he asks, releasing me.
“Spaghetti.”
“Mmm, my favorite. Family recipe?”
“We didn’t cook as a family.” I frown, but quickly erase it. It’s not his fault. He doesn’t even know. “It’s just something I taught myself.”
“Sorry if I upset you.”
“You didn’t.” I smile. “Glass of wine?”
“That’d be great.”
I walk to the table and pour us each a glass. Turning to him, I hand him one.
“Toast?” I ask.
“Sure.”
“To one more night.”
“I can’t drink to that.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I have any say, there will be many more nights between us.”
“For the next few weeks maybe.”
“You never know.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Giovanna…”
“Antonio.”
He sighs. “Let’s not ruin our evening with things we don’t even know about.” He lifts his glass. “To tonight.”
“Tonight.” I clink his glass and take a large swig. Something about him makes me need a lot more alcohol than usual. “I better check on the pasta.”
I slip into the kitchen and finish getting our meal prepared. Really, I just want to strip down and let him do to me what he did last night. How I’ll make it through this meal is beyond me.
I carry our plates to the dining room and set them down. “Dinner is served.”
“I’m starving. After today’s lunchtime drama, I survived on coffee the rest of the day.”
“Let’s not talk about her anymore either.”
“Good call.” Antonio sits next to me. He inhales the steam from his plate and smiles. Lifting his fork, he speaks. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“Well, then you have many choices.” He smiles, twisting spaghetti around his fork. “I just want to understand you better.”
I feign a smile as I try to think of an acceptable backstory. “I like to play the piano to relax.”
“Really? That’s great. Are you good?”
“Decent. I took lessons from the time I was five until I graduated high school.”
“That’s incredible.”
“I guess.”
“Where did you go to college?”
“A private university. You?”
“I didn’t go. Dropped out of school when I was sixteen.”
“Oh.” I twirl some pasta around my fork. “Where are you from originally?” I wish I didn’t ask that as soon as I did. It will only result in a reciprocal question.
“California.”
I’m surprised when he doesn’t ask me the same. He smiles at me. “This is really good.”
“Thank you. It’s the only thing I know how to cook.”
“It’s all you need.” He takes a sip of wine. “So, tell me what your life is like when there’s not a movie set in town.”
“It’s quiet. I get up early, go for a run, and get to the shop around seven. I like to do my office work when I’m alone. Then after work, I come home and I read, or I play the piano. It’s a simple life.”
“It sounds nice.”
“It would be boring for someone like you.”
“Possibly.” He grins. “Every now and then it would be nice though.”
“Yeah.”
“Melissa said you aren’t from here.”
I shake my head.
“Can I ask where you’re from?”
I smile. “California.”
“Oh, something else we have in common.”
“Sounds like it.”
“I know you don’t like to talk about your upbringing, so I won’t ask.”
“Thank you.”
“But if you ever want to tell me or talk about it, I’m here. I’m a good listener, and I keep secrets. I know just what it feels like to have your life exposed when you don’t want it to be.”
I look up at him and smile. He seems genuine. “You’re not at all like what you seemed those first few days I met you.”
“You mean you don’t think I’m an arrogant ass anymore?”
I laugh. “Well, you did come across pretty strong.”
“I did. I’d apologize, but I can’t. I reacted to your beauty and your strength. I would do it all again.”
“It worked out pretty well for you.”
He takes my hand in his. “It did, but this isn’t a game or a conquest to me. I know it sounded like that, and well, it was at first. I won’t lie about that. But you’re different, Giovanna, and I know that. You’re special.”
I pull my hand away.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nice what you’re saying, it is, but I don’t know…”
“Tell me.”
“I just don’t want to develop any attachment to you. It will only result in disappointment.”
“Hey, look at me.” I look up and gaze into his eyes. “Remember when you agreed to go out with me the first time?”
“You mean yesterday?”
Antonio chuckles. “Yeah, yesterday. Do you remember what your reason was?”
“I deserved to have a little fun.”
“Right. Are you having fun with me so far?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then. Can you commit to having as much fun with me as possible without worrying about the future? Can we just live each day as it comes, without thinking about how it will end?”
“I’m trying. I just don’t want to get hurt.”
“I don’t want to hurt you. Besides, I might be the one that develops the attachment.” I roll my eyes at the comment. “Come here.”
“Where?”
“Over here, on my lap.” I grin and move over to him. He cups my face in his hands. “I’ll be honest. I think about the future and how this will end. I try to come up with solutions so that it doesn’t. I don’t like the idea of never seeing you again once this movie is over. I don’t have an answer yet. I just want to soak up every second I can in your presence, and I’ve decided that has to be enough for now. I just have to let the future play itself out however it will. You have to do that too.”
He leans forward and kisses me. He’s right. I just have to go with it.
“I’m not really good at free-form plans.”
He laughs. “I’m not surprised. I’ve really turned your life upside down.”
“You have. It’s pretty nice though sometimes.”
“Just sometimes?” He grins tickling me until I laugh. “My goal, Giovanna, is to make every minute we’re together your best minute. I hope that’s enough to erase any of the negative side effects.”
“There you go being super romantic again.”
“It’s not acting, Beautiful. I mean every word.”
I brush my fingers over his cheek. “I’m not hungry anymore. Take me to bed.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.”
WE LIE STARING AT THE CEILING, hands entwined. Antonio plays with my fingers.
“Do you ever travel?” he asks.
“I have in the past.”
“Where is your favorite spot in the world?”
“A tiny town in Switzerland called Murten.”
“Switzerland?”
“Yes, I spent some time there for school. One day, I got on a train and let it take me wherever it was going. I ended up in Murten and instantly fell in love. Whenever I started to feel overwhelmed, with school, or just life, I would hop on the train and go back there. I would sit in a cafe, soak in the natural beauty, and write my cares away in a journal. No one knew me there. No one could find me there.”
“Sounds like the perfect spot.”
“It is. I try to go back every couple of years. It’s my happy place.”
“I’ll have to look it up.”
“Where’s yours?”
“Right here.”
I laugh. “Seriously though.”
“Okay, seriously, my favorite spot is Taormina, Sicily. I traced my family roots back there and went on a month long tour. It is by far one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and to know that it’s in my veins made it all the more special. I go back every year.”
“It’s your happy place?”
“It is.”
“So, I just have to ask, and you don’t have to tell me, but you made a comment last night about having plenty of money. This is a sleepy town. It doesn’t seem that you would be making a killing at your bookstore.”
“I got an inheritance when my parents died.”
“Oh, I see. Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry.” I kiss his hand. “I could live the rest of my life and never work, but I needed something to do, so I opened the store. It wouldn’t survive at all without my supplementing it, but I love it, and I love this town.”
“How did you end up here?”
“I looked at a map, closed my eyes, and where my finger landed is where I went.”
“Very adventurous of you.”
“I knew the part of the country where I wanted to live, and I knew it had to be a small town. That was my only criteria.”
“Well, I for one am glad we both picked the same town.”
I grin. “So am I.”
“I’ll tell you something about me.”
“Hit me.”
“The reason for the charity.” I sit up slightly. “After my dad died, my mom was left with nothing. No life insurance policy, no savings, literally nothing. We lost the house, and she refused to ask her family for help since they never approved of her marriage. She didn’t want them to know that he didn’t provide well for his family.” I stroke his arm as he talks. “She found a few jobs here and there, but nothing steady. There were more than a few nights where we ended up in a shelter or food kitchen.” He looks at me with such deep sadness in his eyes. “You know something, Gio? We were never looked down on when we went there. They smiled and fed us and pinched my cheeks and told me what a cute kid I was. They never turned us away. Because of people who volunteer at places like that, I never had to go to bed hungry, and we never had to sleep outside.”
“Oh, Antonio,” I whisper.
“Years later, my mom got a job that paid enough for us to get an apartment. I was so proud of her, and I promised her that when I hit it big, she would never have to want for anything again. When I got my first paycheck, the first thing I did was buy her a new car.” He laughs softly. “Before I even bought anything for myself.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“She did so much for me. She attended every one of my performances at school and encouraged me to live my dreams. She’s the only date I’ve ever taken to awards shows.” He looks at me with those gorgeous blue eyes. “I feel like I was blessed to be so well received in this business. I was blessed to have a mother like her, and I was blessed that there were shelters and food kitchens available when we needed it. The least I can do it cut some melons up.”
I brush my fingers across his cheek and kiss him. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Thank you for caring.” He smiles. “I’ve never told anyone that before. To protect my mom.”
“I would never say a word.”
“I already know that.” He kisses my nose. “Let’s get some sleep.”
“Okay.” I snuggle against him. There’s a lot more to him than I thought.