But Valerio’s tribulations were forgotten as he approached the bar, where a vision of beauty perched, sipping a glass of wine. She wore a pair of high-waisted silk slacks, a blouse in shimmering gold, and a delicate gold chain. She set down her glass and rose to her feet as he came near.
“Valerio?” she said, tilting her head.
“Piacere, bella, a pleasure to meet you in person!”
He leaned in to kiss her cheeks, and his face plunged into the fragrant fall of her hair. She smelled sweet, like candied apples.
—
“It’s my favorite raw vegan place,” she told him as they followed the waiter to a table beside the wall of water. “Healthy—and ethically sourced.”
The menu was singed into the surfaces of polished wooden boards. Valerio ordered a glass of red, and eagerly perused the list. The prices nearly made him spit, but the cold weather had primed his appetite. He just wanted to eat. Besides, he was proud to be with this stunning woman. The eyes of other men were on them, jealous of his good fortune.
“What do you recommend?” he asked Maria.
“Oh, it’s all nice!”
At her encouragement, Valerio ordered the lasagne, and Maria, pesto spaghetti.
He reminded the waiter that he’d forgotten to bring the bread.
“Oh, we don’t serve bread,” came the reply.
“It’s a raw vegan restaurant,” Maria gently reminded.
“Bread is vegan,” he said.
“But it isn’t raw,” said the waiter. “Can I perhaps interest you in an appetizer? A house favorite is our zattera di verdure—tartare ofshredded radicchio, mango, pine nuts, and paprika served in charming avocado boats.”
“That sounds delicious,” said Maria.
“Okay,” agreed Valerio, who hadn’t moved past the disconcerting news that bread wasn’t served. His stomach made an uncouth grumble.
“Tell me about yourself,” Maria encouraged when the waiter retreated. “You seem like a very successful man. What do you do?”
Valerio shrugged, trying to remember what he’d put in his profile. Certainly nothing about his police career. He worked for the anti-corruption unit, Sezione Falchi Squadra Mobile, and this was something you just didn’t advertise.
“I work for the city,” he said.
She leaned forward, eyes glimmering with candlelight. “I’d love to hear about it.”
He wished he could tell her, impress her with his clever investigations, his stakeouts and strategies, the criminals he’d gotten to confess. But that would have to come later, when he knew her better.
“I do my part,” he said. “Some of it’s dull. But it can be satisfying.”
The wine came, and Valerio was grateful for the familiar flavors, and the heat in his empty belly.
—
He redirected the conversation to Maria, and was surprised to learn she was younger than the twenty-seven years she’d claimed on her profile.
“I say that to weed out the creeps,” she told him. “I’m actually twenty-one.”
“That’s very young!” he realized.
Gemma had just turned sixteen in October.
She laughed. “I’m legal, if that’s what you’re worried about!”
