Page 45 of In His Veins

She looks ready to scold me, but she’s distracted by something over my shoulder. I follow her gaze and realize the entire restaurant is watching us. Ava flushes again and hurries out the exit. I catch up with her as she’s opening the passenger door. Bracing my hands on the frame of the truck, I force it shut. She’s encircled by my arms and turns to face me.

“I think you like to cause a stir,” she whispers, her eyes focused on my lips.

“You have no idea,” I breathe, and kiss her fiercely.

26

AVA

Cal drives in silence and it’s a comfortable thing. With his hand on my thigh, I feel like I can finally relax for the first time since my shift started. I don’t know where he’s taking me, and I can’t find it within myself to care as my eyes drift shut.

I’m not sure how long I’m asleep, but I wake up to the sound of a soft, pleasant voice singing along to the radio. He finishes the chorus of “Faithfully” when he realizes that I’m awake.

“Feel better, sweetheart?” I sit up and rub my eyes.

“You sing,” I say, baffled. He chuckles, scratching the back of his neck.

“Not really, I just like that song.” I suddenly realize how little I know about him, about to say as much when he pulls into a parking lot. I hadn’t noticed before, but the sun is starting to set. We must have been driving for a few hours.

“Where are we?” I ask as he parks his SUV. One hand rests against the steering wheel while the other slides up my thigh. I suck in a breath and he grins.

“I’m taking you on a date.” With that, he leaves me in the car as he walks around the hood to open my door. I frantically run my fingers through my hair and rub the back of my hand over my mouth in case I drooled in my sleep.

“You could’ve at least taken me home to change my clothes,” I insist as I take his offered hand. We walk to the door hand in hand, the casual contact makes me feel warm.

“You’re perfect,” he counters, and the warmth in my belly turns into an inferno.

He holds open the door to the Italian restaurant as we walk into the small dining area. When the host notices Cal, her wrinkled face lights up with a broad smile.

“Cal! My boy, it’s been far too long.” She hobbles to us and pulls him into a tight hug. He embraces her automatically, laughing as she scolds him in Italian. At least, I assume she’s scolding him because she waves her pointer finger in his face as she talks.

“And who’s this little thing?” She asks, peering down at me. Cal drapes his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against his side. The woman’s eyes grow round as she speaks excitedly in Italian again. He shakes his head, but the smile never leaves his face. The tender expression nearly melts me on the spot.

“Nonna,” Cal interjects. “This is Ava. Ava, this is Nonna Maria. While she’s not a blood relative, she’d insist otherwise.” Nonna Maria waves him away and pulls me into a surprisingly strong embrace. She smells like lavender.

Cal says something to her in Italian, making my jaw fly open. I had no idea he could speak more than one language, and I’m desperate to talk to him alone. A moment later, my wish is granted as Nonna Maria ushers us to a private booth at the back of the restaurant.

“I feel like I’m in an episode of the Twilight Zone,” I admit as Nonna walks away.

“I’m sure you have questions,” Cal says as he hands me a menu.

“Several,” I say flatly. “Why don’t you start with why we’re here?” His eyes lock on something on the other side of the room and I turn to see Nonna Maria scolding an older man. He smiles affectionately before turning his focus back to me.

“I first stumbled on Nonna’s restaurant the day I returned from Afghanistan. Chase was put on a different flight, and I flew back to the States alone. We planned to meet up later, but I was starving by the time I landed. I grabbed a cab from the airport and told him to take me to his favorite restaurant in the city. I ended up here.”

“And Nonna?” I ask.

“She was here that day and couldn’t stand how lonely I looked. She talked to me for hours. I was abrasive and haggard after my time in the Middle East, and she scolded me as if I arrived late to her house for family dinner. I’ve spent a lot of time in this restaurant since I left the military.”

“Why did you bring me here?” My heart hammers as I wait for his answer.

“‘I want to unfold,’” he says with a toothy grin.

“Oh my god, you’re reciting poetry to me.” Cal leans back in his booth as Nonna returns to our table with two glasses of water.

They have a lengthy conversation in Italian again and he points at the menu several times. I realize belatedly that he’s probably ordering for me, but I don’t even care as I listen to him speak. Nonna shares a knowing smile with me as she teeters toward the kitchen.

“Seriously, how many languages do you know?” Cal rubs the back of his neck.

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