Page 60 of She Belongs to Me
“I think I’ll enjoy that. Unless I’m grilled.”
“Oh, I assure you that you will be grilled.” She laughed and everyone around us admired the beautiful woman getting ready to walk into the restaurant.
The entire city was incredible and before I walked in, I took a few moments to enjoy the view in every direction. While the traffic was horrific, everyone zooming around corners in tiny cars as she’d done, the majesty of the buildings in the distance was awe-inspiring.
“I think you’ll enjoy the food here.” Isabella walked inside past the hostess, who greeted us with a huge grin. I could see a man in the back in a suit. As soon as he noticed her, his entire face lit up. I would say he was the epitome of what Americans thought of when we envisioned older Italians.
Short. Pudgy. A funny-looking mustache. He had that in spades.
He walked quickly in our direction as Isabella headed for a table. While it didn’t have her name plastered on it, I had a feeling people knew instinctively not to sit there.
“Come here often?” I asked as the short man quickly moved in our direction.
She finally removed her sunglasses, her smirk just as adorable as the beautiful woman. Isabella was the epitome of an Italian princess straight out of an animated movie. Gorgeous. Voluptuous and there wasn’t a single man in the crowded bistro who wasn’t staring at her.
“I adore their mimosas.”
“La donna più bella del mondo onora il mio ristorante.” The man in the suit was right here, pulling her chair out, beaming like a kid.
“He thinks the most beautiful woman in the world is gracing his restaurant,” she whispered, rolling her eyes.
“Guido,sai che è meglio che chiedermi di uscire di nuovo.”
I had no clue what was being said other than his name. Guido?
Guido, you know better than to ask me out again.
He acted as if he was broken-hearted, placing his hand on his heart. “Would the lovely ladies enjoy a bottle of our finest champagne?”
“We’ll start with mimosas,” Isabella told him, waving him off. I couldn’t help but notice no one had pulled out my chair.
“Does that happen all the time?” I was genuinely curious.
“With Guido it does. He means well. He’s very sweet and never forgets my birthday, but my brothers learned a long time ago, I will not be fixed up with anyone. I do like them younger and with hair. But he’s undaunted, asking me out every time he sees me.”
We both giggled. “There seems to be no shortage of gorgeous men in this town.”
“Oh, please. Some flaunt whatever ridiculous title they were given as a baby, which means nothing these days. Others couldn’t get it up with two hands and a flashlight.”
People would call her crass. I found her refreshing. “At least men find you attractive.”
“Oh, please. You’re stunning. You’re simply living in your studies. I admire you for that, but the hot doctor look sadly only works for men.”
“How do you know?”
“Grey’s Anatomy? Please. Whew, baby.” She fanned herself and we continued to laugh as if we were fast friends as the tall flutes of mimosas arrived. Complete with a slice of a fresh orange. She didn’t acknowledge the waiter, but he didn’t wait around to see if we were ordering either. “Plus, I noticed something a little while ago.”
“What’s that?” I took a sip of the heavenly concoction and realized I had no clue how long it had been since I’d had a mimosa. Another taste was in order. Maybe I could really relax.
“My brother has a little thing for you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed her sly look as if I’d been caught in a lie. I spit out almost the entire sip, narrowly avoiding spewing all over her. “What?” I quickly grabbed a napkin, but knew drops were trickling down my face. What a sticky mess.
She was holding the flute as if taught by an aristocrat. “Please. I was beginning to think my brother swung the other way, but his expression was positively carnal. You’d make a beautiful couple and perfect children.”
“Whoa. Hold on here. I barely know the man because he refused to allow me to get close over the years. Yes, he was generous to a fault, but I’d felt like the bastard stepchild and nothing more after a few years. He’s incorrigible, needing to have his own way with everything. He acts as if I’m fragile when I’m anything but. So far, he’s treated me like a child in almost every respect and he’s surly on top of that.” I was huffing out the words, but they were true.
And her grin was slowly increasing. “A match made in heaven.”