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Chapter Twelve
Date number two.
Bruno entered Cafe Intermezzo and scanned the almost empty dining room. Of the three women he had chosen, he believed Casey was the best fit. She had a great sense of humor and had been engaging during their conversation at the mixer. Physically, she appealed to him with a shapely figure and blonde hair.
They planned the meeting to avoid the dinner crowd, which meant finding a seat in the European-style coffeehouse should be easy.
He spotted her in the back, her bright blonde head standing out in the low-lit room. As he approached, she looked up.
Beautiful red lips. Friendly blue eyes.
“Hello again,” she said.
“Hello, Casey.” Bruno sat down.
Before they began their conversation, a female server approached. Casey ordered a coffee and pastry, and he opted for an espresso and the flourless chocolate torte.
When they were alone again, she said, “It’s good to see you. I’m really glad you chose me.”
“It was an easy decision. I enjoyed our conversation, and we have a lot in common.”
Casey angled a smile across the table at him. “I have a question for you,” she said.
“Please, go ahead. This is our opportunity to get to know each other better.”
“As a chef, do you have a difficult time dining out? Are you secretly judging the food and atmosphere of every restaurant you enter?”
Bruno laughed easily. “I admit to being pickier than the average consumer. I know how food should be prepared and what the decor of a good restaurant should look like. I notice the details that the average diner doesn’t. A blessing and a curse, believe me.”
“I’m sure. When our food arrives, you’ll have to tell me how the torte is. I haven’t tried it before.”
“I can tell you before it arrives since I’ve had the torte before, and it’s delicious.”
“Good to hear. I’ll have to order it the next time we come back.”
Not subtle, but smooth. Bruno allowed himself a smile.
“Tell me more about your family. You said you’re from Kentucky?” he asked.
Casey nodded. “Like you, I come from a big family. Growing up, our lives were chaotic, but I wouldn’t change a single moment. I have great memories of us seated around the table for big Sunday dinners and crowding into the living room on weeknights to watch our favorite shows.”
Bruno slowly nodded. Strange. He seemed to remember her saying she was an only child at the mixer. Did he have her background mixed up with one of the other women he met?
“How many siblings do you have?”
“Originally, there were seven of us, but one of my brothers passed away a few years ago.” A cloud of grief crossed her features.
“I’m sorry.”
She took a quivering breath and slowly released the air from her lungs. “Losing him made me take a good look at my life and its direction, and I realized I was focusing on the wrong things. Instead of pursuing more accolades and the next promotion, I wanted to be married, and I wanted kids. I don’t want to go through life alone, you know?”
“I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way.”
“Ideally, I’d love to have two kids, but I’m open to more if my husband wants additional children.”
Great. They were on the same page as far as children were concerned.
The server arrived and placed their food and beverages on the table.
