Chapter Text
She watched him take his seat on the other side of the table. He looked beautiful, the soft light shining on his features making him look like a classic movie star. She counted her blessing that she was lucky enough to be here with him. “Have you been here before?” She couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been here before on a date.
Rafael shook his head. “Never.” Longing for her touch he reached for her hand, his fingers playing with hers.
“How did you find this place then?” She asked, once more looking around the restaurant. There were quite a few people yet it still felt private and intimate.
“Someone suggested it to me.”
She raised an eyebrow at his words. Had he talked to someone about their date and asked for advice? It seemed so unlike him. “Who?” She was curious.
Rita had cornered him in his office the other day demanding to know if he’d finally gotten his act together and declared his love for Olivia. Reluctantly he’d admitted that while he’d not done exactly that he had finally asked her out on a date. Rita had then gone into a lengthy monologue telling him Olivia was the best thing that had ever happened to him and if he were to screw up she was going to kick his ass. Having been hit by a sudden wave of insecurity, knowing all too well that Olivia was the best thing that had ever happened to him, he’d asked her for advice for his date. She’d made multiple suggestions which he’d all written down and investigated. He’d settled on this one. Looking at her, here in this romantic setting with the candle light, her dark brown eyes soft and warm, he admitted softly who it was. “Rita.” He felt silly having to take advice from his friend about a date.
“Rita?” Seeing, yet not understanding why, he was feeling a bit uncomfortable she decided to let her question slide. “I’m glad she did.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“I’ve been thinking about this moment.” Olivia admitted softly, playing with the wine glass as she said it. The waiter had just left their table after taking their orders.
“Yeah?” He looked at her from his side of the table, her words delighted him. With the soft light shining on her face her brown eyes seemed to sparkle even more. She was so beautiful and she was here with him.
She nodded. “Being on a date with Rafael Barba. I wondered how you’d be on a date, thought about what it would be like.”
“And?” He hoped she wasn’t disappointed.
“Better than I imagined.” She was happy he covered her hand with his again. She needed his touch. “What about you?” She hoped he’d thought about them on a date too. “Have you thought about a date with me?”
He shifted in his seat. “Ever since I met you.” He admitted, his voice low and soft.
His somewhat sheepish admission made her heart skip a beat. “Really?” After their memorable first meeting she’d thought he disliked her, found her to be abrasive and too stubborn.
“I always thought you’d be out of my league.”
“Why?”
Once more he shifted in his seat. “Because I’m this Cuban boy from the Bronx and you are a queen. I could never be what you deserve.”
She watched the way he kept his eyes on the table, his hand fidgeting with the knife. He rarely showed her this side of himself, the vulnerability. She knew the insecurity was there in his eyes even if she couldn’t see them. “Rafael..”
“No.” He stopped her from saying more. “I’m not...” He didn’t know what he wanted to say. He usually managed to push his insecurities away, not wanting to dwell on them. He finally looked up at her. “To be here with you like this...” Another sentence he couldn’t finish. “You make me happy.”
“You are this big shot lawyer who walks the walk, talks the talk. You are sophisticated, charming and ooze confidence. You...,” she faltered, “I’ve seen you at fundraisers and other functions and you play the room, charming the women and the men. You know how good you are. And me...” She gestured at herself. “You deserve someone at your side who is just as sophisticated, just as elegant and just as beautiful.” She shrugged. “I know that’s not me. I’m just a girl from Manhattan.”
“Liv.” He’d let her talk, but needed to stop her now. He didn’t want her to talk like that about herself. “You know you’re so much more.”
She gave him a watery smile, her emotions getting the best of her. She shook her head at his words. “Despite all that.” She said referring to her own insecurities. “Despite maybe not being what you deserve, I want to be at your side. I want you at my side.”
He wanted to push his chair away from the table, go to her and take her in his arms. He was going to make sure that there wasn’t a day that would go by without her knowing how much she meant to him. “I hate that we’re here right now.”
“Hate?” Olivia quirked an eyebrow at his words.
“Yes, because I want to take you in my arms, hold you close and if I had my way never let you go again.”
She hummed. “That sounds nice.”
“Yeah?” He asked, head tilted, his green eyes soft and vulnerable.
“Yeah.” She replied.
TBC…