I was in my heels, so I wouldn’t be able to make it far, but it was still better than being in a fully armored vehicle like someone was about to launch a nuke at us.
“Let me know if your heels bother you. I’ll carry you.”
“I’m okay.”
“It’s not much farther.” He didn’t give me a hard time about the quiet scene I’d made in the car. He walked slowly to match my pace, every one of his steps two and a half of mine.
A couple minutes later, we made it to Il Gabriello, a restaurant that was constructed underneath the street. After a steep walk down the stairs into the cavern, we were taken to a table right next to the curved rock that reached overhead. Constantine had to be mindful of the walls because he was not built to be underground.
The second we took a seat, he ordered a bottle of wine and still water for the table. He didn’t even look at the menu, like he already knew exactly what he wanted because he’d been there before.
I was still flustered by the ride here. “I’m sorry about—”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s fine.”
I knew he wasn’t just saying that to dismiss the conversation, because he’d always been truthful with me. “I don’t know why it makes me uncomfortable.”
“Because you aren’t used to it,” he said. “I won’t put you in that situation again.”
I didn’t want to ruin the night before it even started, but he seemed to be okay with it. “You already know what you’re getting?”
“The steak with pepper sauce.”
“You really love your steak, don’t you?” I teased.
“This place makes the best steak I’ve ever had.”
“Ever?”
He nodded once. “Ever.”
“Wow, you’re really selling it.”
“Go for it. I would love to buy a woman a steak.”
“You never have?”
“Maybe my mom one time ...”
The waiter came back with the wine and the water, and Constantine ordered for the two of us, getting each of us a steak and a side of greens and potatoes for us to share. He always took the lead so I didn’t have to say a word.
When the waiter was gone, he turned his complete focus back to me, staring at me intently like we’d never met before. Like he needed to get to know me all over, commit my features to memory, study me like he didn’t know my body underneath the black dress.
“Your mom must really hate that you live here, especially after your brother passed away.”
He didn’t flinch at the mention of his twin. “She was really upset about it, initially. She’s gotten better about it. Or at least she’s gotten better about keeping it to herself.”
“So, she does know ... what you do?”
He nodded. “The main points, yes. But she’s asked me to spare her whatever details I can—otherwise, she’ll never sleep again.”
“She must be proud of you, though. I would be if you were my son.”
His body remained rigid, but there was a change in his gaze, a hardening of his stare. A hint of a smile crept on to his lips, just a ghostof it, and then it was gone. “I’m glad you feel that way. That’s what I’ve always wanted in a woman.”
I realized I’d shoved my foot into my mouth, made a step toward him that I hadn’t meant to make, a commitment that still seemed out of reach.
“A woman who will always stand by me. A woman who believes in what I do just as much as I do.”
