I knew my tardiness would not go unnoticed. With my business meeting running late on top being new to the area, I was later than I wanted to be and it couldn't be helped. Over an hour late but at least I made it.
There was a break in the rain as I stepped out of my black Audi TT. I checked out the small shopping center. There was a grocery store in the strip and another across the street. A coffee shop, book store, several restaurants, a small bar, and a specialty donut shop were all neighbored the small Italian restaurant, where I was meeting my uncle.
As I walked through the doors of Del Sole, I took off my suit jacket. It was warm inside. Much more comfortable than the chill left behind from the April showers. Draping my jacket over my arm, I rolled the sleeves of my shirt up to my elbow.
Del Sole's layout was very open. You could see from the front of the restaurant to the back with a few privacy walls dividing the space. Custom paintings of Italian scenes covered the walls. Towards the middle of the dining room was a large brick oven. The mouth and oven and the stone chimney were all I could see above the bar.
I didn't see a hostess so I scanned the large dining room for my group. There was a server delivering a check to a table near the front, so I waited.
"Evening sir. How may I help you?"
Her voice was melodic and the hairs on the back of my neck prickled. I couldn't turn to her, not yet. Acting nonchalant I continued peering around the restaurant.
When I finally gave her my attention the first thing I noticed was how piercing her green eyes were against her slightly tanned skin. She was stunningly beautiful.
Hearing her question 'how can I help you,' spurred thoughts of how she could help me. Her lips were full as they drew back into a smirk.
"I'm meeting some people," I stated as I tore my eyes away from her. There weren't many tables left in the dining room. A few couples lingered. A couple of families chatted quietly over desserts. My eyes fell to my uncle's table toward the back. I smiled and was about to tell the waitress when she followed my stare.
"Aw, so you're our straggler?" She said it so casually and with a hint of amusement, it made my jaw slack. "You're joining Gio tonight, correct?" Her smile was genuine as it reached her eyes. She tilted her head waiting for my response.
"Yes, Mr. Moretti." I tried to steer the conversation.
Who was this server who was acting so casual with my uncle? Either she knew him well or she had no manners. Not many people were allowed to call him by such a casual nickname. She hadn't tried to correct herself and instead, she held her smirk, making my dick twitch.
Fuck! You're not fucking the waitress tonight. I chided myself.
I followed her to the back of the restaurant. She was shorter than me by about a foot, but even that was impressive. She must have been close to six feet tall. Her hair was dark brown and even though she had it pulled up into a high ponytail, it was long. Hitting her lower back right above her rear.
With every step I watched her ass complement the sway of her hips. In the few seconds that she led me back to my uncle's table, I couldn't help but wonder what her skin would feel like under my touch. The thought of the weight of her ass in my hands when I would hold her against me. I let out a low groan as the front of my pants grew taut.
"Micah, there you are!" My uncle's deep Italian accent greeted me as I brought my attention away from the waitress. The look on my uncle's face told me that I'd been caught admiring her assets. I'd own it.
"Thank you baby girl," I flirted with the waitress as she arched an eyebrow at me and gave me a meek grin.
She took my drink order without pulling out her notepad and I gave her a wink as she turned and left. I was fairly certain that she was biting her lip as she turned, making me smile wider.
She seemed to know that she was gorgeous which made her so much more attractive to me. She seemed to revel in the fact that my eyes were on her and she would catch me watching her. Her smile was contagious.
"Hungry?" Giovani had asked. They had already finished off most of the appetizers and there was a half pizza left on a stand in the center of the table.
"I am, but I can pick at what is left." I picked at the calamari.
"No, no. We'll ask Remi what you'll have tonight. She has an outstanding pallet and always makes good choices." Before I could decline, Giovanni was calling their waitress over.
She was already on her way over with my glasses. I smiled noticing that she hadn't stopped moving.
"Remi," my uncle seemed so happy to see the young waitress. It was different from his regular serious, down to business, demeanor. He had curled his arm around her waist and was looking at her affectionately. "This is my nephew, Micah." He paused for a moment to look at me before he continued, "Micah, this is Remi." Smiling, my eyes met hers.
I had to make a good impression. My uncle had caught me checking her out and now he was formally introducing us.
"Nice to meet you, Micah." There it was again, that melodic voice that was melting me and my name from her lips sounded damn good.
She extended her hand, but I wouldn't shake it. I stood, sliding my fingers along her palm, turning it as I hooked her fingers with mine, and planted a lingering kiss against her knuckles.
I could almost feel her breath still. Her skin was soft and warm in my hand. Although her skin was soft, there was a section of her palm that was callused and rough. She worked hard. As I stood, her doe eyes were wide with her mouth parted.
"The pleasure is mine, Remi." I enjoyed watching her cheeks flush.
Giovanni let out a hearty laugh and some of the men with us chuckled. Remi withdrew her hand and turned her full attention to my uncle. "Did you need something, Gio?"
"Tesoro, you remember when I would ask you to surprise me? For my meals?" He turned to me knowing my dirty mind would twist his first question.
It wasn't his question that had me staring at him, though. Tesoro. He was calling this girl his treasure. His darling! I hadn't heard him use endearing words like that since Tessa.
"Yes, I remember, are you still hungry?" She wore a playful smile as she answered him, giving him her fullest attention.
"Not for me, my dear," he was chuckling. "Micah is new to DC. Will you bring him one of your favorites?"
"Any requests?" She looked from me back to Giovanni. We shook our heads in tandem.
"Vita mia, anything you choose will be spectacular."
Holy shit!
I felt the lead in my jaw as I realized my uncle just called this beautiful waitress his life! Tessa and Alina were the only ones I had heard him call 'vita mia,' my cousin and my Aunt. Tessa had died nine years ago. His only daughter and one of my cousins.
"Yeah, okay. I have just the dish." She was beaming as she turned from us and headed into the kitchen.
When Remi had left, the conversation at our table picked up and turned back to business. I wanted to ask what Remi meant to him, but I held my tongue.
My uncle had brought one of his personal guards with him, Alton, as well as a friend of his in the construction industry, as well as another businessman.
With my venture into building a nightclub in the heart of downtown, DC, I was glad that my uncle brought Charlie Hittle. He owned one of the largest commercial construction companies in the metropolitan area and had several well-known buildings in his portfolio. He didn't cut corners and made sure that the vision you brought his team was fulfilled. It also helped that Giovanni trusted him. I knew that whatever I envisioned for the club would be doable, including the more private areas.
It looked like I had just found my team. I knew that Giovanni had a lot to do with us meeting, making sure we were both here that evening and that we got some time to discuss plans. We exchanged information and continued with our conversation.
With talk diverting back to casual chat I couldn't help but look for Remi. Since she had left us, I felt like I looked up at the kitchen door every time it opened. It seemed the only people in and out of the kitchen were a busty blond waitress, the manager, and the hostess. What was it about Remi that had me so tied up?
When Remi did emerge from the kitchen she was holding my plate. Although the smile on her face looked forced. The smile didn't reach her eyes, as if something was bothering her. Although I wanted to ask what was wrong, I didn't. We didn't know each other and it wasn't my business.
The pasta dish she placed in front of me smelled like garlic heaven. "Here we are. Chicken Penne. One of my personal favorites. Simple but filling." Closer to us now, her smile was even weaker.
"Thank you," I held her gaze. Her smile finally reaching her eyes.
The dish looked as good as it smelled. I could see thinly sliced chicken, baby portobello mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced zucchini, and spinach mixed into penne with marinara. Remi offered freshly shredded parmesan and I accepted. The cheese was melting almost as soon as it hit the dish.
With a stir and a sift, I pierced my fork into the mix. The flavor pairing was perfect. I didn't even realize it, but I had closed my eyes and let out a sound of delight.
"Enjoy," she excused herself and disappeared into the kitchen. I hadn't caught her expression but from the tone in her voice, she sounded proud of her choice.
"It's not on the menu, but Remi knows her food. She is an amazing young lady," my uncle stated dryly. Squaring his shoulders and making me his target. Giovanni leaned in and extended his pointer finger towards me. "She is my favorite girl here."
You're favorite girl, in general, I thought. I knew it was more than that and had a feeling I was going to be lectured about finding the right girl. I had almost gotten used to it. Every family gathering, I was lectured on settling down, finding a good girl to share my life with, and making more Morettis.
"You want her." Giovanni had asked it without asking at all. He didn't wait for me to finish my bite and respond, instead, he continued. "I can tell that you do. Do you think I didn't see you following her like a butcher's dog? You could be good for her, but she deserves to be treated like the queen she is." He had sat forward, elbows on the table and paused. I stopped eating and gave him my full attention. I waited and listened. "She is a good girl. You'd need to treat her right. She has been through so much in her young life. No more of this 'sleep with anything' life you have. Done. You be done. For her."
"I never treat women wrong, uncle. I may not commit, but I never treat them wrong." I rolled my eyes to the ceiling as I took a long sip of wine. Taking another bite of my meal, my uncle continued talking about his love for Tessa's mother, Alina. The conversation went exactly as I thought it would. I hadn't settled for any one woman and I felt free doing it that way. I didn't have any plans to move anytime soon and decided to consider my uncle's spiel about finding love instead of lust.
The family had set me up to do whatever I had wanted to do after getting my degree in business degree. My life had been filled with parties, loud music, drinking, and women. I did what I enjoyed and took over a family club in Miami. When I expanded I took over another club a few hours away in Orlando. Florida was a tourist hot spot and young people were always looking for an escape. That's what I provided.
Now I was home, after years, in DC, and planning on making my mark on the nightlife community here.
Our group talked about business, women, Italy, and family. Remi came close to hearing their conversation a few times but it seemed Giovanni had mastered the hush. When she headed in our direction, he lowered his palms to the table and the conversation stopped. He gave her his full attention and I could tell that he slowed conversation to give her the respect of his attention. Something he didn't do for many.
Dinner dwindled down and dishes had been cleared. All that remained was the wine and good conversation. I took notice when the blond waitress was let go for the night because Remi was the only one who was moving around the restaurant.
Remi came around and sat at the only empty chair at their table, between Giovanni and I. With an air of confidence, she avoided my eyes as she engaged in casual conversation with the table. After a while, her shoulders slumped and it looked like she could have fallen asleep at her seat.
"Are you doing anything special next month?" Giovanni had asked her. His volume hinted that he was trying to keep the conversation between the two of them.
"I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I have thought about a few options, but I'm leaning towards donating." There was hesitation in her voice. Her eyes became transfixed on her nails as she picked at her cuticles.
They both fell silent and my uncle just stared at her. His forehead wrinkled and the corners of his mouth were downturned. I wanted to understand what had just happened because neither of them looked happy about their conversation.
Feeling like an outsider to their inside conversation, I decided that it was none of my business and tuned into the other conversation at the table. The men were talking about steel and proper building codes. The conversation was boring to me, so I lowered my stare to my hands, folded on the table with my thumbs flicking at each other when I heard Giovanni speak again to Remi.
"You know if you need anything at all, I am here for you. I know you will say you are fine, that you don't need help. I know you're a big girl," his voice was low and I tried to catch the conversation without being caught. My peripheral vision picked up him swirling in the air with his hands like he always did when the conversation was casual. "You need time off and you can't afford it, I will cover.."
"I can't accept that," she interrupted him, but he stopped her with his hand over hers on the table, signaling her to stop.
"You can if you must. It has been a year. It is still fresh. You must take the time to heal." He closed his hand around hers and urged her to look at him as he lifted his other hand to her chin. "I will pay for all of your bills next month and the month after if that is what is needed."
Shit! What the fuck had happened that he was willing to pay for this waitress' bills? My imagination was running wild with scenarios. Clearly it wasn't sexual. He talked to her like he had talked to his daughter. Especially with him pushing me to make a move with Remi, there was more to it.
I turned my head slightly when she stood up. Without a word, she leaned forward and cupped the back of Giovanni's neck, as she kissed the top of his head.
"Do you need anything else tonight, Gio?" She was tired, it was written all over her face and it looked like we were her last table.
"No, cara. Just the check."
When Remi returned she went to place the check in front of my uncle, but I slid my hand over her wrist and retrieved the check book from her.
"Thank you, I'll take it." I may have been new to town, but it was about damn time I paid. She glanced at Giovanni and back at me, smiling. I knew that she probably didn't see anyone challenge Giovanni for the check. She released the check book to me. "If you'll wait just a moment, you can have it back," I said as I relinquished her wrist.
I pulled my wallet from my pocket and put my black card in the slot. Handing it back to Remi, smiling and thanked her again.
"You didn't have to do that, I would have taken care of dinner." My uncle was old fashion. He invited us out. He planned the get-together. He felt the responsibility to pay.
"Well not tonight," I countered with a grin.
"Fine, but I will cover the tip," Giovanni huffed. He threw down a few hundreds and that caused a stir among the men at their table. Alton stayed quiet with a thin smile, he was used to this. "What? She is like family to me. I take care of my own." His eyes met mine and there was an unspoken understanding and respect.
The two business men took their leave. Talking amongst themselves as they left into the pouring rain.
Remi delivered the credit card confirmations and gave me a curious smile before turning her attention to my uncle again. What is that for?
"Thanks for coming in. It was so good to see you again." He embraced her and whispered something to her before he released her and headed for the restroom.
Turning to me she took a seat. She sat sideways next to me and leaned one arm on the back of the chair. Cocking an eyebrow and played her tongue along the backside of her teeth. She looked like she wanted to ask a question, but didn't.
"Something on your mind, Remi?" Her name rolled out of my mouth. I raked my teeth over my bottom lip before taking the last swig of my wine.
"Just curious, Gio said you're new to town. Where did you move from?"
"Florida."
"What brought you here?"
"Work. I'm opening a new club in DC."
"Club?" Her eyebrow shot up as a smile tugged at her mouth. "What kind of club?" She was playing with her fingers as she spoke.
"Nightclub. You know, full of loud music, low lights, and lots of alcohol." I loved my clubs and had enjoyed setting them up to be a full experience. VIP seating with bottle service. Low and high stages that both staff and clients could use."
"You'll have to let me know when you open your doors, I'll have to come check it out."
"What would you be coming for? Music? Dancing? The booze?" I paused as I wondered just how much of a good girl Remi really was. "Or maybe you'd come for the hook ups."
She giggled at that. The sound of her laughter sent flames licking along my exposed arms. Tilting her head to the side as her eyes scanned my face.
"What makes you think I wouldn't be coming out just to see you?"
"Please do," my voice had lowered and I could feel my pulse surge.
She hummed and then answered my original question, "I'd want to come out for all of it."
"Really? What's your drink of choice?"
With a big sigh, she looked up from her hands and pressed her lips together. "I guess you'll have to get to know me better to find that out." She smiled and fell silent again.
Was she blushing? She was the one flirting with me, yet her cheeks had hints of a rose hue.
"I'd like that," I whispered, finally.
She was cute when she was flustered and I wondered what else she was thinking about. The heat in her cheeks dissipated and she turned sullen.
"You alright?"
She leaned in and whispered "Just thinkin'."
"Oh yeah? About?" I turned my head to face her. She was close and I could smell citrus, lemon, maybe. Not like a cleaner, but sweeter like iced lemonade on the hottest day of summer. Cold and clarifying.
"Nothing you need to worry about," her tone had changed. Slightly raspy, now. She averted her gaze to the floor.
She was close to me and it was tempting to close the distance. I waited, not sure if I should make the first move or not. Reaching out, she put her hand on my shoulder before she stood. The electrifying heat from her hand burning through my shirt, into my skin.
My jaw tensed, I was still looking where she had been, which now was empty space. I took a deep breath as her hand left me and she began to walk away with the check book I'd finished signing.
"I do hope you come back, Micah. It was nice to meet you."
The bathroom door clicked open and my uncle emerged and made his way back to our table. I lifted myself from my seat to give him my goodbyes before he headed out and I headed to the restroom. Glancing back, I saw Remi throw away the paper I'd written her a note on. Had she even read it?
She was stubborn but also confident with herself. It was refreshing. Clearly she was going to make me work for her attention and that was something I wasn't used to. Uncle had said she was special, that was clear.
As I headed out, Remi was sorting menus. I stopped next to her. Taking in her perfume.
"Do you realize how special you are?" I asked, leaning into her.
There it was again, that smirk. Her green eyes lit up with amusement and she stopped what she was doing to lean on the hostess stand and closer to me.
"Special, hmm?" I could feel the warmth of her breath as she stared at my mouth. "Micah, the real question is do you know how special I am?"
I was falling into the depths of her eyes, gorgeous emerald seas. She was beautiful and her features were tantalizingly attractive. I could feel the magnetic pull as she turned away from me and headed back to the kitchen.
"Have a good night Micah," she sang as she waved without looking back.
The cold air outside greeted me. Almost as good as having a cold shower. I needed a drink. Something stronger than wine. As I wandered by empty storefronts, the music from the small bar greeted me while my thoughts stayed in Del Sole with Remi.
Remi was different. She wasn't like any of the women I had brought home. I knew what it was that drew me to her. She was a hard-working, confident, and strong. Making her so much sexier. She was the type who would turn me down.
A challenge.
A challenge I wanted to win.
***
A/N- Thank you for reading! If you're enjoying the story, please comment, vote, add to your library, and follow for more! <3