It was finally one a.m before Sophia was finally able to close the bar and lock up. She was exhausted from all the running around. Jude- the last security guard to always leave for the night waited with Sophia, as she locked the entrace of the bar and then turned to face the darkness of the parking lot.
A very large part of her was surprised to see the Dante leaning against the side of his black Mercedes and looking like he had all the time in the world to stand right where he is.
Sophia might have grinned, may have liked to see him there, possibly got a thrill from it but it's not like she would admit it.
his side, the dog—Gio, she thought Dante had called him—sat next to his master, but his behind wiggled when he saw Sophia. As though he recognized her, and was excited to see her. It was cute—such a big, nasty looking dog, and he seemed joyful to see her.
"Is he going to be a problem?" Jude asked, nodding in Dante's direction.
Sophia laughed and shooked her head, "Definitely not going to be a problem but thanks for looking out for me, Jude."
"Always going to do that Sophia." Jude winked at her before he turned to take long strides to his car parked at the far end of the lot. Sophia didn't miss the way Dante's eyes narrowed at Jude.
Amused, she laughed while approaching him, "Did you just glare at Jude?" Sophia asked Dante.
Dante's piercing eyes turned back to Sophia in a blink, "Yes, I did. That a problem?"
Sophia laughed, "Dante, he's my employee. Anyways I can't believe you stayed this late waiting for me." Dante chuckled and straightened out a bit.
"What if one of the security had called the cops on you for loitering about?" Sophia tilted her head to the side, asking him.
Dante gave out a dark chuckle, "I'd like to see them try. The cops won't even be able to touch just one strand of my hair. Very little scares me, ragazza," Dante said.
Sophia squeezed her face in confusion, "And, what does that mean?"
Dante held her hands, pulling her close. "Nothing dear. Now you wouldn't happen to mind a late night meal or early morning snacks, would you?" Dante asked with an award-winning grin on his face.
Sophia narrowed her eyes at him and pretended to consider his offer, "You know a girl shouldn't be eating this late..."
Dante rolled his eyes, "Come on doll, I waited hours just to ask you to do something with me tonight."
Sophia sighed and pouted her lips, "Fine, alright. Let's go."
"Where are we even going to get snacks by this time of the night?" She asked.
"Dolcezza, We're in a city that practically doesn't sleep all the time. There are a lot of places that are opened. Plus, I actually know some good places." Dante said.
"Oh, you do huh?" Sophia asked with raised eyebrows.
"You could do with some little fun anyway. You look like all the fun had been sucked out of you." Dante suggested.
Sighing again, Sophia nodded her head, "I definitely could use some fun." She glanced at Gio who was still wiggling his backside that rested on the ground. "Is he coming?" She pointed to the dog.
"Gio follows me everywhere, there's always someone who is willing to keep an eye on him or take him for a walk, as long as he hasn't bitten them yet."
"That's a joke right?" Sophia asked still staring at the dog.
Dante flashed a grin she thought was predatory and incredibly sexy.
Sophia's mind flashed back to someone she knew had that kind of smile....Raphael.
She quickly shook her head at that thought and looked back to Dante.
"Not particularly." Dante murmured.
As Dante was about to open the side of the car door for her, she turned to face him and asked, "Is this like a date?"
"Call it whatever you want bella, as long as I get to hang out with you." Dante said.
********************************************
"Here we are," Dante said, pulling his Mercedes to a smooth stop in front of the restaurant's entrance.
Despite Gio's jumping forward to rest his big ass body on the middle section between their seats— he always got excited whenever he was able to come to one of Dante's restaurants.
Dante saw Sophia's eyes widen and asked, "Something wrong?"
"That line, I guess." Sophia pointed to the line of people standing outside the restaurant.
Ah, yeah. The line of still-waiting people itching to order something from the Italian restaurant despite the time.
"I can't believe you think we'll get in with a line that long. Dante maybe we should probably check out another place. The sun would probably be up by the time it gets to our turn." Sophia said.
Dante chuckled loudly, "I don't wait in lines,"
Ever. Saying nothing else, Dante cut the engine, and opened the driver's door. He waited as Gio quietly followed behind his owner, and his metal collar clinked with every step of his paws. Sophia glanced back at Dante with a furrowed brow before she finally got out of the car, too. He'd drop his keys with the security at the front and they'd park his car. Simple.
Dragging the tips of his fingers along the short, stiff hair of Gio's head, Dante joined Sophia's side. She said nothing even as he put a hand to the small of her back, and gestured at the restaurant waiting in front of them. "Ladies first," he urged. Sophia peered over at him with a sly smile. "Who owns this place, anyway?"
"Me, actually." Dante said.
"I wish I was surprised." Sophia replied.
Dante grinned sinfully. "What gave it away?"
"Oh, I don't know. Different things."
"Mmhmm. Does that change things, then?" Dante asked.
Sophia cocked a brow. "What would it change?"
"You're a business man, Dante. So am I, nothing is changing." Sophia laughed.
Dante stopped and stared at her with admiration in his eyes. "Maybe I should own a few bars too and become your competition." Dante joked.
Sophia laughed like she was challenging him. The sound of her laughter made him hard. Sophia leaned closer, put a hand against Dante's broad chest to pat the spot directly over his thundering heart, and then her mouth came close enough to his ear that her soft lips grazed his skin as she spoke. "Oh, I don't think we'll be competing, Dante. At least, not in this sense." She didn't give him the chance to respond before she stepped away from him altogether, and headed for the restaurant entrance. Dante rocked back on his heels—admiration and lust spinning through his bloodstream—and watched the way Sophia's ass swayed in those tight-as-fuck leather pants of hers as she walked away from him, not to mention the peek of creamy skin her crop top showed off.