Chapter 8
Luca
I spent the rest of the day planning my night with Sabrina, something romantic and unexpected. When the perfect activity presented itself, it didn’t take long to make the necessary arrangements.
While getting ready, an unpredictable excitement took hold. It wasn’t like I hadn’t dated before, but what I realized while shaving was I hadn’t really set out to date. How strange was that? Of all the times I took a woman out, whether it was dinner or just drinks, I never once considered it more than just that.
It had to be Sabrina. There was something about her company that just felt comfortable, and I meant it when I said it felt like we’d known each other for years. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to. Considering we were together all morning, and I pushed to see her tonight, that most definitely wasn’t a normal occurrence for me.
I made it to Sabrina’s apartment on time. She insisted I call her when I arrived, so I didn’t have to bother finding a parking spot. As I waited in front of her building while leaning against my car, my phone buzzed with a text.
Kyle: Where are you?
Me: Why?
Kyle: I bought a new dress and need your opinion…
He added an eye rolling emoji, before the dancing dots appeared again.
We’re all going out to dinner. Want to come?
Me: No.
Kyle: Why not? Have a date with your hand?
I debated lying, then thought better of it.
Me: No, fuckhead. I’m going out with Sabrina.
I expected dots, but got an actual phone call instead. “What?”
“Bring her.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
“Are you planning to get lucky tonight? Shouldn’t you take it slow? She’s a mom, you know.”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Wait!” I released an audible sigh and waited. “It’s been awhile, do you need pointers?” I ended the call before getting a laughing emoji from the jackass.
A few minutes later, Sabrina appeared in black slacks and an off-white jacket. I watched her walk toward me, sporting a smile that I couldn’t stop. “Hi,” she said shyly when I pushed off my car.
“You look amazing.” With a hand on her elbow, I chastely kissed both her cheeks before opening her door.
Before she got in, she placed a hand on my arm and said, “Thank you, Luca.”
A smile tugged on my lips. “For?”
She gave a gentle shrug, “It’s been a long time since someone… a man treated me like a lady.”
“Sweetheart, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” I winked and closed her door. It infuriated me that she hadn’t been treated well in the past. That was all about to change—starting with tonight.
I pulled out onto the road heading to our destination. “So, where are we going?” she asked, twisting in her seat to watch me as I drove.
“Dinner.”
“That’s specific.” When I cut my eyes her way, her full lips quirked to the side in a smirk. “Is where we’re going a surprise?”
“You don’t like surprises?”
“I used to… not anymore.” I slowed the car for a red light and turned to face her. Her expression seemed cynical, my thoughts moving to the truth she shared regarding her husband’s infidelity. Before I could change the subject, she asked, “Do you like surprises?”
“Yes, with the right person surprises can be… orgasmic.”
“Orgasmic, huh?” A devious expression lit up her hazel eyes. “I’m due for orgasmic.”
Well, fuck. A sudden pull had me leaning toward her. She mimicked my motion, and just before our lips touched a horn sounded causing her to jump.
“New Yorkers,” I mumbled, driving through the intersection annoyed at not getting a kiss. “If we were in Italy, the guy behind us would’ve cheered for us to continue.”
The melodic sound of her laughter filled the car, and the vibration under my palm as it rested on the gearshift calmed me. Even though the heady feeling that I could fall for this woman… really fall for this woman, should have had the opposite effect of relaxing me.
Every once in a while, I’d glimpse at her. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she looked straight ahead. “Would you like to listen to some music?”
She smiled as we approached another red light. “Sure, whatever you like is fine. I’m usually listening to Disney music or some new kid’s album. Which really wasn’t new music. It was music from when I was a kid now sung by kids.” I couldn’t help but chuckle, “Sorry, I’m rambling.”
“I like listening to you ramble.”
“Do you have a sexy comeback for everything?” In the dim light, I could see her face flush right before she turned toward the window.
“You think I’m sexy?”
Her head slowly turned toward me, “No.” She bit the corner of her lip.
“I didn’t think so.” I winked and turned the radio on just as the light turned green. Gesturing toward the touchscreen console, I said, “Go ahead, pick something.”
With trepidation, she reached forward and touched one of the preset stations. The first song she landed on was, Pour Some Sugar on Me. Another stab at the small screen changed the tune to, Come on Baby Light My Fire. It didn’t take long to mimic her previous action, changing the station once again, to land on, I Want Your Sex. She groaned, and mumbled, “Oh my God.”
I started laughing, “How about this.” My thumb changed the mode to my iPhone. “I rarely listen to the radio since my taste in music varies, I prefer my playlists.”
Ed Sheeran’s, Thinking Out Loud, filtered through the speakers. She sighed, “I love this song.”
“Me, too.”
The rest of the drive was filled with my favorite tunes and easy conversation. When I pulled into the parking lot next to the pier, her eyes widened like the sun. “We’re going on that yacht?” The inflection in her voice solidified that she’d love this surprise.
Pride filled with relief washed over me knowing I made the right choice. “We are.” I exited the car, walked around to her side to open her door. Without hesitation, she took my outstretched hand, linked our fingers together as if this was our tenth date rather than our second, if you counted this morning. The chilly night air caused her to shiver. I released her hand to drape my arm across her shoulders. “It’s warmer inside.”
“Mmm, I’m cozy now,” she said, staring up at me.
Once we checked our jackets, we were led into the dining room. Some diners were already sitting at their tables, each set with a red rose in the center. But when we reached ours, Sabrina let out a small gasp. “Oh, Luca.” Stepping in front of the maitre d’, I pulled out her chair. Sabrina’s eyes focused on the colorful Gerbera daisies in the small square vase on the center of the table. “How?” She reached out and stroked a few of the petals with the tips of her fingers. “Everyone else has roses.”
“Roses aren’t special enough for you. Plus, they’re not your favorite.” Her eyes shimmered. The pretty hazel orbs blurred by unshed tears. I reached into my jacket pocket, pulled out a monogrammed handkerchief, and handed it to her.
Her lips twisted into a smile as she dabbed the corner of her eyes. “Thank you. I’m sorry, it’s just…”
Repeating the words she had said before, I finished her sentence. “It’s been a long time since someone treated you like a lady.”
She nodded. “You’re a wonderful man, Luca. How is it you’re single?”
It should have taken me longer to come up with a reply, but there was only one that came to mind. “Because we just met.” That was the absolute truth. This woman stirred things in me that went beyond me wanting nothing more than sex. Thoughts of her body wrapped up in my arms, her lips touching mine—simple things made my pulse quicken. But, the day I sank deep inside of her, fusing us as one, no doubt would make my soul want to soar.
Her lips made a small “O” as she expelled a breath and stared at me. “You know what’s funny?”
I cocked a brow. “What?”
“I think you really mean that.” On my nod, she looked down at the mascara stained cloth in her hand. “I’m so sorry, I’ll have this cleaned and return it to you.”
“Keep it. I have a dozen of them, compliments of my nonna.”
She smiled and ran her thumb over the stitching. “What does the S stand for?”
“Salvatore.”
“Luca Salvatore Benedetto.” Hearing my name roll off her tongue made me want her to repeat it. “Can’t say that’s Irish.” She laughed.
I knew Callahan was Irish, but that was her married name. “What’s your maiden name?”
A coy smile grew across her face. “Ricci.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope, my father is half Italian, half Greek. My mom is from Switzerland…” Her fingers fiddled with the ends of her hair. “Hence the blonde. I’m a spitting image of my mother.”
“She must be gorgeous.”
“Thank you. I suppose you could say I’m a mutt.”
“That’s the last thing I’d call you.” Sabrina Ricci. That sounded so much better than Callahan. Maybe I’d use that when I introduced her to my mother. That thought stopped me dead in my tracks. When did I ever want to introduce any woman to my mother?
I know… never.
“So, how is it that you’re Italian and your son never had pepperoni or sausage before? I think I had sausage before strained vegetables.”
“My son is the pickiest eater on the planet. The only time he has red sauce is on a pizza.” All I could do was stare at her in disbelief. “I know what you’re thinking. Believe me, it makes my father cringe when we go there and Mikey has pasta with butter. That’s why I was so stunned when he was more than happy to eat what you were having last week.”
“And you said you’ve never been to Italy?”
“No, sadly. My father keeps talking about going back to see his great-aunts and uncles, but we haven’t made it there yet.”
We studied the short menu, there were only a couple of options to choose from. Once the waiter was back, we placed our order along with a bottle of Cabernet.
A small dance floor was strategically placed between the tables and a long bar that stretched along the back of the boat. We had been so comfortable with our conversation, I hadn’t even noticed we started moving. When soft dinner music started to play, I stood. “Dance with me.”
The jazz instrumental song that played, filled the room with a seductive aura. I circled her waist with my arms, resting my hands on the curve of her ass. Because of our difference in height, she placed her hands on my chest. I could feel the warmth of her touch through the fabric of my shirt.
Our hips pressed together, leaving no space between us. With each sway, the friction between our bodies became a distraction, as did the look in her eyes. I didn’t want to move too quickly with her, especially because of the hurt she carried. It was buried well beneath the surface, but with the subtle comments she had made caused shards of her past to surface. Sharp enough to reopen wounds and cut into her happiness.
“This was a lovely surprise.”
“I have many more surprises for you.” My words were absolutely true. There were so many things I wanted to do, and while living in New York never had anyone I wanted to do them with. For the first time since moving here, I could picture that person clear as day. Seeing the sights, taking drives, laying on a beach, or even making out at the back of a darkened theater were vivid in my mind, and Sabrina was who I saw doing it all with me.
I watched her watch me, wondering what else she was thinking. Asking her could ruin the moment we shared, but ignoring could as well. If I had to guess, she spent the last year of her life, or longer, ignoring her own needs. How could I have been the first man to come along and pay her the attention she deserved?
This woman needed to be properly romanced.
And I was just the man to do that.