I pick up my espresso cup and take a sip. The bitterness of the espresso is tempered by the grappa, which lends it a sharp, clean taste. All in all, it doesn’t taste too alcoholic, but more like an intense, if concentrated, coffee.
"Well?" he arches an eyebrow. Bet he expects me to say I don't like it.
I firm my lips. The liquid is not too hot. The temperature is just right to down it in a shot. I hesitate then raise my cup."Salute!"I drain the rest of the grappa-espresso combination, then sputter and cough as tears run down my cheeks.
Seb chuckles. "You're supposed to savor it over a few sips, not toss it back."
He hands me the glass of water, and I drink from it. A trail of heat runs down my gullet and expands in my stomach, filling me with a nice warmth.
"Mmm." I smack my lips. "I can definitely see the merits of that. Do you think he’d bring me more, if I ask him?"
"More than that will get you drunk, and I need you in full control of your faculties for what I have planned later."
"And what’s that?"
"If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise."
Elsa
"Oh, it’s gorgeous." I gaze up at the mosaic that takes up an entire wall of the ancient Villa Romana in Piazza Armerina, a small town a few hours' drive from the restaurant.
When he said he wanted to surprise me, this was not what I expected. We finished lunch, and two of the men exited the restaurant first and scanned the surroundings to make sure that it was safe before we walked to his car. We drove along the gorgeous coastline. Once more, he switched on the music in the car— more Puccini, thenAidaby Verdi. The haunting music faded away, to be replaced by the strains of a very familiar tune.
"No, wait." I straightened. "Is that... It can’t be, is it?"
Music from Joy Division’sLove Will Tear Us Apartfilled the space.
"Whoa!" I listened to it for a few minutes, then turned to him. "You know what you’re playing, right?"
He shot me a glance, as if to say, ‘are you really asking me that question?’
"It’s Joy Division," I supplied.
He nodded.
"It’sLove Will Tear Us Apartby Joy Division."
"I’m aware." He frowned.
"You like this song?"
"Iamplaying it," he reminded me. "I assume the song is of some significance to you?"
"It’s Kea— I mean, it’s the favorite song of The-Actor-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named."
"Of course it is." He threw me a sideways glance, as if he wasn’t quite sure what to make of my reaction.
"It’s just..." I shook my head. "I can’t believe you’re playing it, that’s all."
"It’s part of a collection I put together," he admitted.
"It’s an eclectic collection," I remarked.
"I’m an eclectic man."
"More like a hardheaded, over-the-top, dominant, full-of-himself alphahole."
"I’ll take that as a compliment." He snorted.