Quixotic (2)

7

"Are you nervous?" His friend asked with a cheesy grin on his lips, "I mean, dude, she's hot."

"I know." Brian said to his friend, nodding his head as they paced down the hallway to the hotel, "I know she is!"

His eyes locked on her lips the moment she opened the door, noticing how beautifully her smile was accented across her features. He quickly moved to look at her eyes, his heart lifting for a moment as he searched for the words to say. He was standing completely still with this blank look on his face.

She was wearing a maroon shirt covered by an olive green jacket. Black pants hugged her legs, and she wore a pair of dark brown boots that traveled up to her knees, "You look --." His words stopped when he saw her face flushing pink, and Joe nudged his arm.

"Spit it out, buddy." He hummed jokingly, making a small laugh escape Aria's lips as Q squeezed his eyes shut and tilted his head back in embarrassment, "You look beautiful, sweetheart." He told the woman standing beside the door, an excited grin on his lips as he stepped around Brian and entered the room, "Now, where's the little one?"

"Joe, I swear, she better be returned in one piece." She scolded as Mila stepped from the back of the room and hugged her legs, "Mila, this is Joe." Aria introduced with a smile, saying, "You're going to go to his house and play with his daughter for a little while, okay?" She guided the young girl to step in front of her legs, quickly adding, "Don't argue."

The little girl tilted her chin to the ground, but Aria nudged her forward, saying, "Be respectful and listen to Mr. Joe."

"Don't worry about her." He hummed happily, reaching to hold the child's hand. Mila glanced up at Aria, looking for permission before accepting the stranger's hand, "She's going to have plenty fun with Milana tonight."

"There's going to be another kid there?" Mila asked, hugging one of her lion stuffed toys to her side, asking him, "Is she going to play with me?"

"Well, she's still a baby, but I'm sure she will try." He told her, recognizing the over sized jacket that hung over the child's shoulders. He flashed a quick smile to Aria, then looked back down at the child, asking playfully, "Ready to go, kiddo?" The child nodded shyly and slowly began to walk back down the hallway with Joe.

"Hi." Brian hesitantly began, clearing his throat as he stood in the hall, "You look great." He hummed, a nervous grin pulling at his lips as he motioned to her outfit, "You're finally dressed for the weather."

"I am." She hummed, pulling her camera bag off the counter before taking a step toward him and pulling the door shut behind her, "So, where are you taking me? I'm sure you know all the good restaurants and tourist attractions."

"I'll surprise you." He hummed, asking her, "Do you like Italian?"

They drove to a nice restaurant and he asked for a table for two. Sliding into a booth, she lifted the menu and smirked at him, asking, "Is there where you take all the girls for the first date?" She asked, a teasing grin on her lips as he met her eyes.

"I don't go on many sit-down dates." He told her, admitting, "I usually hang around the bars."

"Ah." She sighed, nodding her head as she skimmed the words on the page, "Then, what made you choose this restaurant?"

"It's a favorite of mine." He shrugged, telling her, "The food is great, so I thought you'd like to try it."

"Can I offer you a sample of wine?"

Aria's eyes widened as she met Brian's glance, and he turned to the waiter, nodding his head, "Yes, please." He hummed.

"Thank you." Olivia hummed as the waiter poured them each a glass of red wine.