Her Best Friend's Brother(34)

He cocked his head waiting for an answer.

“American?”

“Si. Yes I am, sorry.”

He seemed to find that funny. “You are sorry that you are American?”

“No. I am sorry that I didn’t understand what you said. I am stil learning.”

“I asked you to dance with me.”

“Oh! Umm sure… yes. Thank you.”

He thought that was funny too. Standing up they walked closer to the other dancers. Tal, this man towered over her even in her dancing shoes. Despite being dressed in a relatively loose button up shirt she could tel he was muscular. Big solid forearms bulged below his roled sleeves, and his shoulder was hard beneath her hand. He was a wonderful dancer. This was lucky for Libby as she was not-- and two poor dancers together are always a disaster. They danced two or three songs, and he held her close enough to smel his cologne the whole time.

“Would you care to take a walk with me? Mia Belezza?” He had to lean down and speak directly in her ear, because the music was much louder on the dance floor. Hot breath tickled her neck.

Libby stiffened. He clearly read the discomfort in her expression because he added “It is too warm in here, and we cannot talk. We wil go just outside. The street is wel lit, and popular. I won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable.”

So prince charming is also a gentleman, she thought and alowed herself to be led outside. “What did you cal me?” Libby asked when the quiet of street made conversation possible.

“Mia Belezza”

Libby thought for a moment. “My pretty?”

“It sounds nicer in Italian, but yes. And you are quite pretty.” He was smiling widely now, and covered the fingers she had tucked in his arm with his free hand. They settled on a bench under a street light, just a little way from the entrance to the club.

“Does that make you the wicked witch of the west?” Libby laughed at the mental picture of this very masculine man in green face paint.

“Scusi?” He frowned.

“Like from The Wizard of Oz—in the movie the witch says I’l get you my pretty and your little dog too!”

Everything she said seemed to be funny to this man. He laughed loudly “ I can’t say I have ever seen that movie.” Touching her face briefly he continued. “You make me laugh. Perhaps I should cal you mia risata? I would rather cal you by your name.”

“Libby—it’s short for Elizabeth.” Duh like he realy need that clarification. Why was she so nervous?

“Elisabetta.” His eyes crinkled like he was stil laughing at her. “You see everything sounds nicer in Italian, Betta”

“Oh.” He was right; her name was much prettier in Italian. “Umm what’s your name?”

“Gio, it is short for Giovanni.” He was teasing her! Libby laughed and the tension broke.

It was very late when Gio and Libby shared a cab, and he let her out in front of her building. Consumed by each other’s company, they had barely noticed the hour.

Gio wasn’t a student. As a matter of fact he was a teacher at the culinary institute. Not for the pastry classes and Libby was glad because that would have been awkward.

He was 30 years old and the difference in their ages hadn’t even fazed him. In addition to teaching classes Gio also owned a bistro. And this led to talking about her mother’s bakery/ café, and Libby’s own aspirations.

They talked about her program at the university, and he was impressed that she was keeping up with two sets of courses. And they discussed what sightseeing she had managed since arriving in Rome. Another round of laughter folowed when she lamented that she hadn’t had a motor bike tour.

“Like Audrey Hepburn!” He exclaimed.

“I’m not sure… did she ride a motor bike?” This elicited more laughter. Gio laughed a lot. Libby hadn’t decided yet if she was insulted, or not.

“In Roman Holiday… it is very famous. You must see it.”

And that was how they spent the evening: getting to know each other. Libby alowed herself only a smal moment of comparison, and reflected that this was an experience she was missing with Tony. Because they would never have a need to stay up al night exploring each other’s lives and personalities. When the cab stopped in front of her building Gio had smoothly waved away her attempt to pay and he instructed the driver to wait until she was inside the building.

The next day Libby slept in; she hadn’t gotten into bed until almost sunrise after al. Just before lunch time, Libby’s door buzzed. “Betta, may I come up?” Gio’s rich voice sounded through the intercom.

Glancing around her smal room, Libby took in the mess. A pile of discarded clothing choices was stil on the floor in front of her closet left from the dressing for the previous night. Her bed was stil unmade, because of course she had only just climbed out of it. Gio would not be impressed, Libby. She scolded herself.