Page 105 of Valentino

“Just meet?” He smirks, his elbow is leaning on the table and his finger is steepled on the side of his face.

“Yeah.”

“Where did we just meet?”

“Well.” I think for a moment, what’s a cool way to meet a person. “Umm…. I was sitting at this table having dinner alone and you were sitting over at the other side of the restaurant and our eyes locked across the room.”

His eyes glow with tenderness as a smirk tugs at his lips.

“You wanted to meet me so you sent a rose over with the waitress.”

He does smile this time. “What kind of rose?”

“Red.” I widen my eyes and point to the red rose on the table. “Obviously.”

“Oh.” He chuckles. “Of course.”

“And.” I smile as I imagine what could happen next, I like this game. “I invited you over to join me, and you accepted.”

“Nice.”

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Valentino Leone.” His eyes hold mine. “What is your name?”

“Anna Russo.” I sip my wine.

“Anna Russo,” he repeats. “What a beautiful name.” The husky way my name rolls over his tongue makes butterflies swirl deep inside.

“Tell me all about you, Valentino?”

“Well….” He looks over at me and I know he’s wondering what to say because even though this is a game, it kind of feels important.

“I’m hardworking and I….” He smiles wistfully. “I don’t believe I’ve ever been in love before.”

What?

“Never?”

“Kind of.” He sips his wine as I hang off his every word. “There was this girl I met in a library many years ago that I absolutely adored.”

Oh....

“What happened to her?” I whisper.

“I didn’t have the courage to ask her out.”

“Why not?”

“I knew she was too good for me and I let her slip through my fingers.”

Emotion floods my heart, slipped through my fingers…that’s exactly how I’ve always felt.

“You should have asked her out.”

“I know.” He nods. “Biggest regret of my life.”

“Do you think it’s too late,” I ask hopefully. “For you and her?”