Chicago, best described as the windy city. It's a place Sophia never really thought she would settle down. There's a lot of things to love about this place like a beach that's so close to the city, walking along lake Michigan in the summertime. The amazing architecture of the buildings and the people are just as great. Well, if you could just ignore the little gang fights once in a while. Chicago is really the best.
It's been a year since Sophia took the decision to to come to chicago. She didn't even know how she came about the decision and also it was the first place she thought about when asked what ticket she wanted to book. She didn't really know why, not like she regretted it. She didn't even blink when she left everything behind, her career and well that was all to leave. The leaving behind was done by other people. Raphael. Sophia was not about to dive back into thoughts of the darkest time of her life.
Walking down the shore of lake Michigan in the early evening just to clear her mind. She noticed a man playing fetch with his dog or more like trying to get the dog to jump so high and boy could the dog jump.
"Whoa, that was crazy." Sophia didn't realize when she said that out loud or not to talk about when she moved so close to them. The dog had jumped six feet high just to catch the stick the owner threw, the jaw clamped around the wood with an audible crunch, the stick splintered into nothing but scraps.
The man turned around surprised that someone was there with him. Sophia gave him a sheepish smile.
**********
Dante spun so fast on his heels, alarmed that Gio hadn't alerted him to the fact that someone was around. Dante had been sure that he was alone.
Apparently not.
The woman in her baggy tank and jogging shorts, stood at a a good distance. Her dark hair streaked with a bit of blonde was pulled into a loose ponytail. She had the lean tone body of an athlete and Dante found himself staring at her curves. From her hips to her waist. She was definitely fit and had an average height.
Sophia put a fist to her jutted hips
"Do you stare this often?" She wasn't sure were the boldness came from. On a normal day, Sophia wouldn't even want to have a conversation with a stranger not to talk of a good looking yummy stranger.
Dante smirked, amused at her candor.
"I do when something deserves my attention,"
Sophia grinned "Seriously, that's what you got?"
She thought it would be fun to indulge in a bit of harmless flirting. It's been so long since she allowed herself to have a bit of fun. She had always been walking around like there was a dark cloud following her and there probably was. There was something about this guy though, that should have made her to run for the hills considering after everything she's been through.
Dante shrugged, what else could he do?
"I only speak the truth you know"
Sophia looked him up and down and thought that he dressed a bit unusual for someone that was just walking his dog down the beach.
"Do you often wear a suit when you walk your dog down the beach?"
"Sometimes"
"Really?" She couldn't believe that.
"Do you often question random people on the beach?"
"Sometimes, is that a problem?"
Dante thought, 'nice she's a smartass too'
He looked at her for a while "No I guess it's not"
"Good" Sophia told him, her full lips curving into a smile making her features all the more beautiful.
"Because I was starting to wonder what kind of man wears a suit and walk his dog down the shores of Lake Michigan"
"Were you?"
Sophia stared at Dante right in the face and it was the first time he got to really look at her eyes and it shocked him. Blue like the sky and stormy like the sea.
"Was I what?" she asked
"Wondering what kind of man I am because of the suit, the dog, the beach" he clarified.
She cocked a brow but lowered her eyes to Gio, the dog who had been progressively moving closer to her throughout their conversation.
Sophia didn't look bothered as the dog rubbed his muscular body on her and sniffed with his short snout. Hell, it was probably the first physical contact she had in a long time. How pathetic was that, her first physical contact over a year was with a dog. Well, not that she minded. The dog looked snuggly despite his large stature.
"Bad things happen to people who aren't paying attention," Sophia said.
Dante nodded. "That's true."
She gave him another look adding, "I guess bad guys don't normally wear a suit or walk their dogs down the beach"
That was funny, Dante thought.
Considering he had just killed a man a couple of days ago just for getting his dog agitated. Not like he was going to tell this beautiful stranger about that. The less she knew, the better.
"Well, it is what it is and what makes you think I'm a bad guy dolcezza?" Dante smirked.
"Oh come on, you're giving off the vibes and also call it female instinct. Plus what's the meaning of dolcezza? I'm guessing that's Italian?"
Dante was surprised that she was able to get the language right. Laughing a bit he said "Yeah it is Italian and it means sweetheart."
"Oh" Sophia said, as her cheeks had a tint of red. She was blushing, she felt like the ground should open up and swallow her whole.
Dante laughed more and it sounded like music to her ears. "You're cute."
Dante whistled for Gio to come back to his side and without.
"Is that right?" Dante cocked his brows.
He was about to say something when his phone buzzed, sighing harshly he picked up the call.
"Cazzo, what the hell do you want now?" Dante said pinching his nose. Sophia looked at him and thought that she had never heard Italian sound so sexy from someone before.
Now that she thought about it, he did look all bit of Italian. He was quite handsome, dark-haired green eyed man with shoulders so expansive and wide.
Sophia wondered if she could give love a try again but quickly caught herself that she was thinking far ahead, she barely knew this handsome stranger, not even his name.
She wondered if she should leave because it looked like the phone call suddenly kept him in a bad mood.
"Can't you cafones do one thing right in your life?" Dante shouted, he toned down his voice a bit when he realized he wasn't alone.
"I'll be right there, don't move an inch" He said with his head down and pinching his nose.
He turned back to Sophia with a little frown on his face "I guess I have to leave now, duty calls."
Sophia tried not to her disappointment be obvious on her face. "That's alright I guess and hey It's not everyday I get to have a fun conversation with a handsome stranger."
Dante laughed. "Yeah"
"Sorry I didn't quite catch your name?" Sophia asked. "Dante, my name is Dante." he said with a smile.
"And, what about you dolcezza. What's your name?"
"Sophia" she said with a smile too.
"Hmm, Sophia a name befitting a beautiful princess." He threw her a wink.
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around princess."
Dante said as he turned to walk away with Gio. Sophia looked at him as he left but it wasn't until he was out of her sight before she realized that he had not collected her number.
How the hell was he going to see her?