CLAUDIA

I stared at Alfonso with a mixture of amusement and disbelief while he served tables at my grandparents' small restaurant with much enthusiasm on his face. This was one of the things he did to soften up my grandfather.

It's been three days since he started working here despite Nonno's protest that we didn't need another hired help and besides he told us that he couldn't possibly afford to give salary to Alfonso which my boyfriend replied—goodness, I could feel that my cheeks warming up at the thought—replied that he wants to work free at the restaurant to help us.

Nonno firmly refused but Alfonso insisted that he had nothing better to do here in New York than help my grandparents run their small business. So far, he's been an essential help in the restaurant Nonna's workload lessened considerably thanks to him.

My eyebrows knitted together watching Alfonso serve tables. Before he came into the picture the restaurant already had its loyal customers but now that the news of a young insanely handsome waiter in this small restaurant spread around town like wildfire ladies swarm the place like bees on a lone flower in the garden.

What the... I bit back the curse that wanted to escape my mouth as I watched from the sidelines how ladies smiled too adoringly in his direction while taking their orders. I tightened my hold on the silver tray in my hand as I was tempted to hit it on the head of those women over there.

"I like him, Claudia." My grandmother spoke beside me, distracting me from my dark thoughts about staging a murder inside their restaurant.

I looked at her a little distractedly. "What do you mean?"

She smiled at me tenderly, gesturing for Alfonso with her head. "Your man. He's polite, patient and most importantly he's understanding with your grandpa's stubbornness."

I took a deep breath, remembering how rude Nonno was to him. "If only Nonno can see the things you notice, Nonna, then I would be truly happy."

"Oh, he knows it too," Grandmother replied with a soft laugh. "Believe me, Claudia, your Nonno likes him more than he shows. I bet he was just testing how serious Alfonso is to you. He wants to be sure that you're in good hands."

Hope lit inside my heart. I looked at Nonna with hopeful eyes. "You think so?"

There was a gentle smile on my Nonna's face as she affectionately tapped my shoulder. "I know your grandfather for decades and I know how his brain works. He might look like he disapproved of that young man but deep inside I know that he likes him. You see, even with his dire remarks about Alfonso he didn't send him away when Alfonso kept on showing up at our door. He still let him eat meals with us from breakfast to dinner even if he kept on insisting that he didn't like the young man."

"What if he truly doesn't like Alfonso because he's simply rich?" I voiced out, as uncertainty ran through my spine. "I think Nonno doesn't have a high opinion of the elite one percent of the Italian society."

"Honey," Nonna stared me straight in the eyes as they held seriousness in their depth. "Your grandpa's bark is worse than his bite. Believe me, he likes Alfonso, I mean, where else can you find an heir serving tables in a small restaurant just to please the grandfather of the woman he's dating."

I raised an eyebrow at my Nonna with such amusement. "Alfonso truly won you over, does he?"

My grandmother gave me a self-conscious smile touching her cheeks slightly as if she was somewhat embarrassed. "As long as I can see that he's sincere with his intention towards you and he loves you then I like him. It doesn't matter if he's an heir or penniless orphaned."

I could feel that my heart would burst with such happiness. "That's why I do love you so much, Nonna, you're the best, and Nonno too when he's not being impossible."

Grandmother laughed, shaking silvery her head. "He's a stubborn lout what can we do? But let me tell you a secret, figlia." She leaned a little closer as if she were about to say a guarded secret. "When your Nonno was just courting me he suffered the same fate as my father. I think I can see that he can see himself in Alfonso when he's younger. Persistent."

I leaned my head on my grandmother's shoulder. "Love can be a scary feeling, don't you think, Nonna? I feel that this happiness will not last."

"Ah, my granddaughter is uncertain," Nonna remarked. "Love can be the happiest thing that can happen to you but it also can be the most painful feeling you can experience if you find the wrong man but the process will both teach you how to be strong."

"What if this will not work in the end?"

Nonna smiled gently in my direction. "That would be awful but if it's meant to be, then we can't do anything but accept."

"When did you realize that Nonno was the one for you?"

My grandmother smiled and widened, probably remembering the past. "I didn't exactly remember when or how I just felt it in my heart and before I knew it I already accepted his proposal."

"True love, it is, then?"

"Of course." My grandmother replied with conviction. "Why else would I stay married to him if it's not for love? When we first married we practically had nothing but a small roof over our head and a house with almost no furniture besides a small bed but we're truly happy and very much in love from there we started our family and slowly started achieving our dreams."

My gaze was caught when I noticed that Alfonso was coming on our way. Nonna smiled at him before excusing herself before she went back to the kitchen to help Nonno.

"Tired?" He asked me with a bright smile on his face. Why does he need to look so handsome without exerting much effort?

"A bit," I replied with a tight smile, I couldn't help but feel sour whenever I remembered why ladies chose to dine here in our small restaurant solely because of him. Am I jealous? I scoffed at myself that's ridiculous.

"Let's go out for a bit to get some fresh air." He suggested, taking my hand and pulling me to the entrance door before I had the chance to answer.

Once we were outside, I exhaled a profound breath. I need to pull myself together I have to remember that I have no reason to be jealous of those fawning females and just focus on working on my grandparents' restaurant. I didn't come here among other things I came here to visit my grandparents I need to push the negativity away from me.

"What's wrong?" Alfonso asked curiously.

"Nothing."

"Hey, let's go for a short walk after our lunch." He suggested gamely, his eyes lit meaningfully.

"I can't possibly leave my Nonno and Nonna working alone in such time," I informed him casually, looking at him straight in the eyes.

"I already have your grandmother's permission," he countered, smiling at me. "Besides, the restaurant is not that busy during those times."

The busiest time in the restaurant is between eleven and one in the afternoon that's why we usually take our lunch around 2 p.m. I arched an eyebrow at him. "What about your adoring fans they might miss you if you go missing around that time?"

I cursed myself silently, I blurted it out before I had the chance to stop my loose tongue when I specifically told myself not to let jealousy mess with me and my work. Now I probably sound like a jealous girlfriend.

He blinked at me, clearly not understanding what I meant. He gave me a puzzled look. I suddenly feel mortified for my uncalled possessiveness. "My what?"

"Nothing," I said dismissively. "Let's go back inside. Nonna probably wondered where we went."

I was about to walk away from him because I could feel that my cheeks were warming up he might laugh at my ridiculousness but before I had the chance to do that Alfonso held my hand to stop me in my tracks. "Wait," he was fighting off his laughter. "Where are you going? Let's talk a bit."

"I'm going inside," I murmured, unable to meet his eyes.

He squeezed my hand tightly. "Look at me, per favore." He commanded gently. "Please, Claudia, amore."

"No." I stubbornly replied. I want to smack my head for that stupid slip. Now he would have a grand time teasing me because I let my jealousy get the best of me.

He guided my face to meet his gaze. There was unmistakable laughter in his eyes as if he was blissfully happy about something. "Can you be honest with me?"

"I'm not sure," I replied softly, incapable of looking away from his charismatic eyes.

"Are you jealous, Claudia?" He dropped the question without warning. I scowled at him when I saw the way his face was immensely pleased before he had the chance to hear my answer. It was as if he already knew the answer but he was just waiting for me to say it out loud.

"Don't ask me such a stupid question." I snapped at him. I need to salvage my pride somehow. How can I be so witless and practically impose that I have been jealous?

"Oh!" He chuckled, placing both of his palms on each side of my face, and showered my face with small kisses.

"What do you think you're doing?" I tried to avoid his kisses but he was not stopping. "If Nonno catches you doing something like that he will chase you with his kitchen knife."

He looked down at me with mischievous eyes. "I don't think so. He's busy in the kitchen at the moment while I am busy with his granddaughter."

I glowered at him. "What a terrible thing to say. Let go of me at once I am going back inside. I need to help Nonna serve tables."

"Before I let you go you have to answer me first," he bargained, still holding me like a prisoner in his arms. "Are you jealous, amore mio?'

"Yes! Happy?" I said crossly because I knew he wouldn't stop until I told him that. "Now can you release me so I can go back to work?"

"In a moment," he answered sanguinely before I had the chance to react he closed the distance between us and claimed my mouth in an ardent kiss, in the middle of the street and broad daylight. I was fully aware that passersby gave us a look for such a display.

When he was finally satisfied with frying my brain cells he finally let go of my lips and I absentmindedly went back inside the restaurant leaving me outside. My brain barely functioning since that passionate kiss we shared outside and I was amazed that I still somehow managed to get orders and serve them correctly. But I noticed that when I was serving a group me gentlemen Alfonso was with me as if guarding me which I didn't understand since they looked harmless.

After our lunch as promised Alfonso whisked me away for a short walk. Nonna permitted us since the restaurant was not that busy. He held my hand as we walked side by side. I was aware of how my heart beat so loud in my chest.

"I thought you said you want to be on my Nonno's good side?" I asked when we were sitting on the wooden bench under the shaded tree in the park not far away from the restaurant. "I don't think whisking away his granddaughter for a midday rendezvous will make him soften up towards you."

"I've been a complete gentleman in the last couple of days," he stated coolly. I shrieked when he lifted me off the bench and placed me in his lap. "I think it's time if I do something naughty with his granddaughter."

I looked around conscious of the way I sat in his lap. "Behave," I told him sternly while trying to remove myself from his lap.

"Stay still," he instructed, tightening his arms that were wrapped around my waist. He leaned down until his face rested on the side of my neck. I could feel his hot breath tickling my sensitive skin. "I miss holding you like this with your grandparents always watching us it's hard to have some time alone with you. I'm in pain, Claudia."

I drew back so I could look at him with a worried expression. "What? Are you hurt? Where?"

He gave me a mocking smile. "You know what? For a bold woman like you, you're pretty innocent sometimes."

My eyebrows drew together. "I don't understand?"

Instead of explaining in words, he demonstrated it in action. He ground my bottom to his lap where I felt a bulk between his legs. My eyes widened when I understood what he meant earlier. "That has nothing to do with me, idiot!"

"I beg to disagree," he breathed as if he was truly in pain. "Whenever you're around I feel this kind of pain."

I could feel that my cheeks were warming up. "It's not my fault you can't control that certain part of your anatomy."

"It's not something that you can control, Claudia." He replied calmly, there was an evil grin playing on his lips. He kissed the hollow of my neck. "One of these days we have to do something about this hunger, my love."

"Stupid man," I fought back the sensation I felt when his lips touched that sensitive part of my skin. He was seducing me in broad daylight. This man was the very devil himself, he had no shame whatsoever. "I will not give in to your seduction."

"We'll see about that, shorty." He teased, while his fingers made little exploration on my ribcage. "You don't know how often I imagine you laying on my bed naked and your hair spread on my pillows like a Roman goddess."

My breath was caught this man was lethal, all right? Even if, I kept telling myself not to fall for his seductive words I feel affected by them. "Stop corrupting me, you evil incarnate man."

He let out a soft laugh before meeting my gaze. He dropped a quick kiss on my unguarded lips and then his smile broadened when he saw that he caught me off, guard. "I love you, Claudia."

"I am not even sure if I already love you," I muttered under my breath.

The smile on his face didn't even vanish. "It doesn't matter. I'm willing to wait until you fall for me completely and I am confident that will happen sooner than you thought."

"Arrogant."

"Confident." He contradicted playfully.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "That same confidence that you believe that you can make Nonno like you?"

"Oh, I know that he likes me."

I couldn't help but laugh at his self-assurance. That's one of his traits that I hated the most in the past but now when he's showing that side of his, I was merely amused.

He cajoled me to explore the city by walking around the neighborhood and we didn't realize that it was almost twilight when we went back to the restaurant. I immediately removed my hand from his when I spotted Nonno standing outside the restaurant.

"Nonno..." I started. Was he mad that I went out the whole afternoon with Alfonso?

He regarded Alfonso with a look and then he slid his gaze onto me. "Dinner is almost ready. Help your grandmother set the table." Without another word, he marched inside the restaurant leaving me staring at him with my mouth slightly hanging open.

Alfonso leaned down at me and whispered near my ear. "See? I told you he secretly likes me."

I stared at him for a long moment before smiling reluctantly while shaking my head. Well, he might be correct since it's become a routine that Alfonso dined with us every day. Maybe Nonno might secretly like him as he thought.

But one this is for sure. I am happier each passing day because I have to spend it with this sneaky man and my heart feels happy and at ease whenever he's beside me. I followed Nonno inside and I couldn't miss the way Alfonso played with my fingers while he was trailing behind me.

Scheming. That's what he is but I wouldn't want him any other way...