I’d read a few guides before moving, but honestly, I’d come to New York because I’d desperately needed a change of scenery, a fresh start.
“I know we’ve had dinner, but I could eat a porchetta sandwich.” My mouth was already watering at the prospect. I kept glancing at the sandwich shop. It was open, of course, because Rome was alive until well past midnight.
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Sure, why not?”
“You’re making fun of me.”
He shook his head, but that playful glint in his eyes was not fooling me.
“Careful, Mr. Winchester. I’m still building that first impression.”
“Ms. Smith, you’re a tough customer.” He trained those blue eyes on me, wiping away every thought. “Come on, let’s get your sandwich.”
Guess who ordered food for himself? That’s right, Cole. I was being a bad influence on him. His sandwich was with mortadella. They didn’t have any place to sit down, so we just leaned outside against a wooden railing, devouring our food. This piazza too was full of vendors flashing fluorescent items, calling out at tourists.
“Holy shit, this is good,” Cole exclaimed.
“You sound so surprised. Again. Did you think I was going to feed you something bad?”
“Not at all, hot doc.”
I laughed. “Hot doc, really?”
“It’s been on the tip of my tongue all evening. Slipped out after all. Despite my best efforts to make an excellent first impression.”
“You’re doing okay so far,” I assured him.
“Okay? I never settle for okay, Laney.”
My heart rate accelerated. I cast my gaze away and didn’t look at him again until I finished my sandwich.
“What’s our next stop?” he asked.
“The Trevi Fountain. It will also be the last one.”
“Don’t want to give me too many chances to make the best first impression?”
I grinned. “It’s not that, but I need to get up early tomorrow.”
“You have a shift?”
“No. I’m doing a tour of the Colosseum.”
“Thought you already saw the city.”
“Saved the best for last. I’m so excited. I want to read up a bit on it just before the tour. It’s guided, so there will be someone explaining everything, but if I read about it before I hear it, I remember it even better.”
“Fuck, you’re cute. All excited about a tour.”
“Ah, so Isabelle was right. You’re a charmer through and through.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
I tapped my temple. “Just filing it all here. Details for that first impression.”
His eyes flashed. I wiggled my eyebrows, pointing to my right.
“That’s the way to Trevi,” I said.