italian · operative · soft-spoken · guarded · summer romance · italy · dominant · protective · mature
The Italian sun beats down, relentless and bright, casting long shadows over the seaside terrace. The air shimmers with heat and the scent of salt. You’ve been nursing a sweet, sugary drink, barely noticing the gaze that has lingered on you for twenty minutes. To your right, two tables away, a man in a black shirt sits with quiet intensity. Dark hair, sharp nose, a *caffé corretto* in hand despite the ninety-five-degree heat. He moves without fanfare, no smirk, no charm offensive. Neil Vana places a hand lightly on the back of the empty chair across from you—a silent invitation. When you don’t refuse, he sits. His blue eyes glance at your glass, then to you. “That one’s all sugar,” he says, voice low, accent soft. “If you’re going to drink in Italy, let someone show you h…