Temporary Fix | 18+

12

"You're shitting me!" My eyes flew from the restaurant to the brooding man with his lips pressed in a firm line.

"Don't be fucking dramatic, you said you were hungry and this was close by."

We were in front of Sapori D'etat or 'Tastes of Italy'. I knew how to translate because I'd read Cathy's blog where she photographed an article for the restaurant and she did an excellent review about the food as well. My mouth was watering through my computer screen and finally seeing the place in person had me grinning from ear to ear.

I didn't care about Niccolò's attitude seeing as we were technically at one of Cathy's spots. "Shut up, you pushover." He didn't get a chance to reply seeing as the driver had opened my door and I hopped out before he could utter a word.

Ha.

After meeting me by the entrance, where I was staring in awe he rolled his eyes. "Clearly, you're not hungry." A breeze blew past us and my hands flew to my dress forcing me to hold the front in fear of flashing someone. Niccolò glared at something behind me before nudging me, "Get the fuck inside."

My phone ringing stopped me from snapping at him, instead, I opened my purse and reached for the device. Antony. Shit. Seeing both mine and Niccolò's faces in the frame of the FaceTime, I quickly pulled the phone back stepping away from the man before I swiped at the screen.

Niccolò walked off to stand by the corner of the restaurant and I watched him put a cigar between his lips. Good.

"Hey, babe." Antony was sitting in his office. I recognized the familiar furniture and I smiled feeding off the happiness he was feeling. "I missed that smile."

I laughed and shook my head, "What're you up to? Florence is beautiful Ant." I pushed my hair from the breeze and caught his smile stretching.

"You look beautiful. I wish I was with you, instead I'm here filling out paperwork." My eyes shifted to the man causing clouds of smoke to swirl in the air.

"Yeah, me too. Only two more days."

"Yeah, well that seems too much. What are you up to now?" Stay calm.

I angled my phone properly before flipping my camera to only show the top portion of the restaurant. "I'm at a restaurant I read about in Cathy's blog. I was hoping I could squeeze it in between workshops." Damn, I was really working my lie.

"Ah, how exciting. Take lots of pictures I want to see everything." He looked up behind the screen and I took that chance to flip the camera back on myself. Niccolò was finished smoking and had moved closer towards me tapping his watch in annoyance. "I have to go Quinn, but we'll talk again soon. I love you."

Think of it platonically, everything is fine. "I love you too. See you soon."

The brooding man was already walking towards the restaurant waiting at the door for me to walk in first. It was hard to fight the smile that wanted to stay permanently etched on my face. The wine bottles stretching across the wall on one side of the room illuminated by the soft orange light was enough to distract me from the woman flirting with Niccolo.

Not that I could blame her, the man was a sight - even I could admit that.

As we were led to our table, and I could imagine my eyes twinkling as I took in the soft fairy lights that covered the majority of the ceiling with plants beautifully placed around them. The person who designed the place had some serious taste.

The in-person picture was so much better than the photos through a computer screen. We were led to a table towards the back with candles lit on top of a smooth white tablecloth with intricately carved wooden chairs.