Chapter Two

“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.”

-Elinor Glyn

...

“Why a suit?” Gia asked. It was the only thing she could think of to change the subject. It seemed like an appropriate question; not overstepping or personal. 

As far as she knew, that is. 

Leon’s dark eyes watched her from across the table. He knew what she was asking without an elaboration. “I have a family reunion next Saturday. My great aunt is turning seventy-nine.” 

“Wow. Congratulations. Well, I suppose it’s her I should be congratulating, but seeing as she’s not here...” 

God. Gia took another sip of her water. Her nerves were beginning to rise again, but one more look into those warm eyes had them simmering in her veins. 

How can he calm me so easily? she wondered while watching him. 

“I will pass on your kindness. My aunt will appreciate it.” 

“Do you have a big family?” 

“My family is crazy huge. I have so many cousins and aunts and uncles and second cousins and great aunts and uncles that I can’t keep track of them all.” Leon laughed sheepishly making Gia laugh too. The deep sound was contagious to her ears, Gia was fastly learning. 

“Do you have a big family, too?” He asked, watching the way her mouth spread with her laugh. 

“Not really,” she replied. “I have a younger sister, but she still lives with my mother north of here. My mother never had any siblings.” 

“And your father?” 

Gia bit her lip. “I haven’t seen or spoken to him in years.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” 

“That’s alright,” she assured him, smiling warmly. “you weren’t prying.” 

“I never met my father. I was raised by my grandparents.” 

“I’m sorry. That must have been difficult.” 

“I won’t say it wasn’t easy seeing the other kids in my neighborhood playing with their parents, but my grandma and grandpa were good to me growing up. I never wanted for anything.” 

“Me either. My mother was always working, but she made sure my sister and I had a roof over our heads, always. I can’t complain.” Not about that part of her life, at least. 

Leon smiled. “It seems we both have experience with hard working women. I’m forever grateful for the childhood I had.” 

Gia returned his smile. “Me too.” 

Sure, there were rough times, but at the end of every night Gia had food in her stomach and a warm bed to sleep in. 

“What is that you do for a living?” She asked. 

“I give boat tours at South Beach.” 

What an interesting job to have, Gia thought. It was certainly better than being a dry cleaner, though she didn’t dislike her job in the slightest. 

She could imagine what it would be like to get a tour of the city along the coast, sightseeing all the famous houses and tourist favorites, all the while having his romantic voice in her ear, explaining the histories and background of the coast, the water glittering with crystal reflections below them. 

“That’s very interesting. How did you get into that business?” 

“My uncle fixes boats for the company Island Queen. They were looking for a tour guide and I’d been searching for a job at the time.” 

“Had you been living in Miami for long?” 

“Eight years and counting. I certainly knew my way around.” 

“Why did you decide to move to Florida?” 

“I moved full time after I took a vacation here. I...got a woman pregnant.” 

Gia’s light brows lifted up. He was a father? That comment about making up for things made sense. If he was an alcoholic he had surely made mistakes that he wanted to fix. It wasn’t Gia’s place to pry into his business, but like they had said she wanted to know everything about this man. 

Of course, Gia wasn’t so sure she would be inclined to share everything about herself. At least not this past year... 

“That must have been...an adjustment,” she said for lack of what to say. “How old is your...” 

“Son.” Leon filled in. “And he just turned seven.” 

“And you moved here for him?” 

“I did. I wanted to do right by him, but then...” His deep voice trailed off and he looked up at her. There was pain in his eyes, and he seemed to be searching for something in hers. He must have found what he was looking for, because he continued vehemently, “my grandfather passed away. It messed me up for a while. I wasn’t there for him like I should have been. My grief turned me into a bad person. I didn’t handle it well, and it caused me to make some irreversible mistakes. He was five when I first met him.” 

Gia wasn’t sure what to say. 

What could she say? 

She had no children, and probably never would-despite what the doctors have said. 

Leon noticed that she was stuck for what to say next. But he appeared to be letting out a lot of things that were bothering him. So, Gia nodded her head to encourage him to continue. 

And he was going to, until Kylee appeared with their plates of steaming gnocchi. She set them down in front of them, then told them to enjoy their meal before hurrying off to the back of the restaurant. 

Gia glanced down at the food below her. It smelled divine, and since she hadn’t eaten anything since lunch, her stomach caved in with hunger. She grabbed her fork and stabbed a creamy dumpling. Before she brought it to her mouth, she looked back up. 

Leon was watching her again, his own steaming plate forgotten, steam billowing up past his face. 

Her cheeks flamed once more. His dark eyes were alluring and warm, but there was worry in them too. 

“Have I made you uncomfortable again?” He asked, his accent thicker than it had been all night. 

“Not at all. I appreciate you sharing this with me. I know it isn’t easy to talk about the things that we regret.” 

“Thank you for your understanding. Like I said earlier, I will be honest with you. I figured since the conversation led us there, I might as well share about it. Ask me anything, Gia. I’m happy to answer your questions. The only thing I ask is you do the same. Can we agree on that?” 

He was so nice, polite, and honest. 

Gia really found it refreshing. She thought it was something she could get used to. After how this year has gone, Gia never wanted anything less than honesty in her life, even if it was brutal and wasn’t what she wanted to hear. 

“We agree.” Gia said, her voice soft, her eyes hopefully conveying the earnestness she felt. 

Even if Leon wasn’t a man she would see after tonight, she wanted openness between them for the time they had. 

She decided right then that she would tell him if the conversation demanded it. 

Even Gia wasn’t so confident in that thought. And she was the one who had it!

They smiled at each other warmly. Then, Leon broke the stare to ogle the plate of food between his elbows braced formally on the table. 

Gia could tell that his grandmother had taught him good manners. She wondered if that was the reason he was such an amiable man, why he owned his mistakes and spoke about them like they were just facts of his life, and he was giving them their proper due instead of wallowing around in them. 

Gia had the brief thought that she could take something from Leon after this night was over. 

“How did a woman like you end up working at a dry cleaners?” Leon inquired after he took his first bite. 

Gia followed suit and the delicious creme danced on her tongue. Her head tilted back slightly and a sound of pleasure escaped against her will. When she opened her eyes, Leon’s eyes were focused on her mouth where she still chewed. There was a hungry look in his hooded gaze, and Gia had a strong feeling that it wasn’t because he craved food. 

No, she felt he craved her. 

He licked his lips, his gaze never leaving her mouth. She swallowed, and his eyes followed that action as her throat went up then down. Up then down. Her heart began to race faster. It hadn’t stopped since she sat down at the table. 

“A woman like me?” She asked in a breathless tone. Gia felt desire like never before ignite inside of her. Leon was invoking so many different emotions in her, and this one was by far the strongest and the best. 

She took another bite of pasta while she waited for him to respond. 

Shaking his head, but still focused on her mouth, he replied, “a woman with your looks, the way you handled customers, I just wonder why you chose a job like that. Not that there’s anything wrong with dry cleaning. That isn’t what I’m saying.” He was quick to add. 

Gia understood. Dry cleaning was not her first choice of a job, but it was what was available at the time. Months ago she had it all, but a series of bad news had left her a jobless accountant, loaded with fresh medical bills, and in desperate need for a new apartment. 

She loved working at Al’s, though. There were always customers, even on the slow days, and Al was a great boss that was too sweet. He was forgetful sometimes, evidenced by this morning, and he could be crabby when his wife was giving him a hard time at home, but he was all around a good man that treated her well and paid her decently. Enough that she could save money-that went to her unpaid bills- with her rent controlled apartment and feed herself every night of the week. 

“I understand what you meant. And yes, being a dry cleaner wasn’t my dream job. I used to be an accountant.” 

“You’re good with numbers?” Leon asked as his gaze finally left her mouth. “What school did you go to?” 

Unsurprisingly, Gia wanted that heated gaze back on her mouth. The area was tingling with need. 

“I am great with numbers, but sadly that wasn’t enough to keep my job. I...got involved with a client and it ended badly. Very badly, in actuality.  When I ended it several months ago, so did our business. Unfortunately he was such an important client that it cost me my job.” And a bunch of other things, Gia added silently. “And I went to school at the University of Florida.” She added out loud. 

“That’s horrible,” Leon said, referring to the part about her job, assumed Gia. 

“It was. Anyway, I needed a job on short notice and Al’s was the first place I found. I was picking up my own clothes, you see.”

“Ah, customer loyalty. You applied for the job?” 

“I heard Al’s wife, Gina, talking about hiring extra help. I offered my services on the spot, and here we are.” 

“That was generous.” 

“Thank you. I don’t hate my job, by the way. I may not be making nearly as much money, but I realize that I don’t wake up every morning and dread going to work anymore.” Now she dreads other things.

“I think happiness is really important. They are always talking about finding happiness in AA.” 

“You go to meetings?” 

“Every Thursday night. I can be a prideful man, but even I am man enough to admit that without my program I wouldn’t be where I am today.” 

“That’s very inspiring.” 

“Thank you. I pay my dues.” 

“What’s your son like?” Gia asked, her mind wandering back to the young boy. 

She wondered what he looked like, if Leon’s genes were stronger than the woman he impregnated. She wondered if he had his eyes, or his smile, or his strong features. 

“He’s very particular, but is very excitable. His mother has him on a routine that he’s used to. He’s very...passionate about how he does things. His food can never touch, the only juice he enjoys is white grape, and only white grape. I made the mistake of bringing him purple grape once. I never will again,” he laughed. 

“He sounds like a character. What’s his name?” 

“He is the most important person in my life.  And his name is Tyler.” 

“Can you tell me more about him?” 

“Well, he really loves the zoo. His favorite animal is the giraffe. He always wants to feed them when I take him. His room is arranged by cubbies. He’s got them all on shelves in their own spot. Everything has a spot. I call him my little OCD buddy. I think he gets that from his mother. I’ve never been organized.”

Gia laughed along with him and they lapsed into a silence as they continued to eat. A few simple questions were exchanged for answers, but otherwise the silence was peaceful. 

“How are you enjoying the gnocchi?” Gia asked at one point. 

“Very delicious. I think I underestimated it.” 

Kylee came to check on them a couple of times and refilled Leon’s water. While they ate, Gia glanced around the restaurant at the other couples and groups eating, laughing their hearts out, and intimately talking under the romantic light. 

She could feel his eyes on her time and time again, and every time they would meet, it was electric. 

“Does he look like you?” 

“Yes yes, very much. He has my eyes and lips. He got my hair and the way I walk. He’s really like my mini-me. I wish I could have been there to see him as an infant.” 

“Do you have pictures, videos, anything?” 

“His mother was kind enough to give me a few of his pictures, and I’ve seen a couple of home videos. Still, it isn’t anything close to the real thing, I’ve realized.” 

“I’d imagine nothing is.” 

“Do you have any children?” 

“Not yet.” And probably never. 

“Do you want kids?” 

“I haven’t given it much thought, if I am honest.” 

That was a lie. 

She hadn’t let herself give it that much thought. She was still so young, she considered that she had time, but even then she was never sure if she could go through with it. Maybe it was her daddy issues, but Gia never wanted to go through the experience alone. And with everything that had happened to her, she never once thought a man would stick around once they found out. 

She found herself wondering if Leon would stick around if he found out the truth, but Gia didn’t allow herself to hope for a possibility like that. Leon may have wanted to get to know her now, but what would happen if he knew...

For some unfathomable reason, the thought saddened her to a maddening degree. Very rapidly she was intrigued by this man. Even knowing the unflattering parts about him, she couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to bed him, to feel his hands on her, his warmth pressing into her. 

Gia couldn’t imagine he was bad at it. But her herself, now that was a different story. She had been told by her last lover that she was lackluster in the bedroom. Of course, that man-she never wanted to even think his name again, wanted to do things to her that she wasn’t comfortable doing, and after finding out the things he had done, she knew she would never want those things with him. 

She thought about doing those things with Leon, and suddenly they didn’t seem as disgusting as she once viewed them. Suddenly she was fantasizing about how it would be to do those things...

“My grandmother always taught me never to ask a woman her age, but...” 

“She was right; you should never ask a woman that.” Gia teased, but she wasn’t offended. 

Leon appeared to be about to apologize, so Gia was quick to clarify, “I’m only kidding. I’m twenty-six. And you?” 

Leon smiled, taking a sip of his water. “I will be thirty-one in September.” 

The age was not a put off to her at all. Four years and change was hardly anything to balk at, though she knew some women liked them even older. She was never one to like someone who was old enough to be her father-it just felt too weird, but she would admit that she had been attracted to men who were ten years her senior, and even sometimes more. 

“Are you a Virgo or a Libra?” 

“I’m a Virgo. September fifth.” 

“Me too! I’m September tenth, actually.” 

“If you ask my opinion, Virgo is the best horoscope and fall babies are the best. My son is a fall baby as well.” 

“I agree. I love cool weather and the holidays. Even being an adult, I still get excited for Christmas and Halloween.” 

“Not Thanksgiving?” 

“I don’t mind Thanksgiving.” 

“Thanksgiving was my favorite growing up. So much family would gather at my grandma’s house. All the kids would be outside playing baseball and my grandma would be in the kitchen for days cooking so much food it could feed the whole block. We actually did a couple of times. By then, everyone was calling her grandma.”  

“What was it like, to be surrounded by so many people?” 

Gia didn’t know if she could stomach that many people at one time. She wasn’t one to cover up the fact that she was more of a homebody than anything. She only had three friends to her name as it was, and she only visited her mother and sister a couple of times a year. 

“Wonderful. And hot. It always got so hot in the house. We’d be all sweaty from playing outside then come in the house for something to drink. We’d be shooed out soon enough with lemonade, but being surrounded by happy spirits was always good for the soul, or so my grandma would always say.” 

“Your grandma seems to be a smart woman.” 

“Thank you, but enough about me. I feel like I’ve been talking about myself non-stop.” 

“You haven’t; I’ve been talking too. I like hearing about your life. I...well I really like the sound of your voice.” Gia flushed, the words coming out in a vomited rush. She just couldn’t keep the words in, damn her. 

He heatedly watched her, eyeing her like he had been doing throughout their meal. “I like the sound of your voice, too.” 

“Really?” She asked, her eyes lighting up. She was almost embarrassed at how happy that compliment made her. 

How can I be shy about him calling me beautiful yet fine when he says he likes my voice? She asked herself. 

Maybe it was because she was more comfortable now, as opposed to half an hour ago. 

Wow. 

Had it really only been that long? 

“Yes, very. I’m liking a lot of what you have to offer, Gia.” 

“Really?” She asked again, stupidly. 

He smiled kindly. “Really. Now tell me about you. Where are you from?” 

“I’m from here, well from Florida. Ocala to be specific.” 

“I’ve never been.” 

“It’s not anything too special. Only in the last few years has it been expanding with more business and real estate. I only go a couple of times a year because my mother and sister live there.” 

Gia couldn’t help but continue to ask him questions even though he felt he was overshadowing her. In some ways, she liked that. Gia felt her life was so boring, if you didn’t count the lives she lives vicariously through on her Kindle every night. “Where all have you been in Florida?”

“I’ve only really kept my sights in Miami, except for one weekend in Fort Lauderdale.” He said, then smiled at her cheekily. “I see what you’re doing, Gia. Do you not want me to get to know you?” 

“It’s not that. It’s just...well, I’m not a very interesting person.” She could feel her face flushing the longer he stared at her in bewilderment. 

“I doubt that, Gia. Very much. Want to know why?” 

“Why?” She asked timidly. 

“Because I’m already very interested in you. I thought I made that clear already.” 

“I’m not fishing for compliments, if that’s what you’re thinking.” 

“I don’t think that; I think you need some reassurance is all.” Leon took a deep breath, as if preparing himself. Then, leaning forward, he grabbed both of her hands. “I think you are very beautiful. I feel a connection here, and I’m at a point in my life where I want to explore the things I feel connected to. I’ve calmed since I’ve been sober. I think...I think I’m ready to settle down.” 

With her. 

He didn’t say that part out loud, but Gia heard it echo in her head as if he did. 

They scared her, those two words. 

But the thing was, she wasn’t sure if it scared her because it was so soon for him to say those words, or because she wasn’t entirely dismayed by them.