Smitten: A Mafia Romance — Chapter 24

"Aunty, please do not embarrass me." Cole pleaded for the umpteenth time as they entered the restaurant.

"Oh please." The woman scoffed at him, "When have I ever embarrassed you?"

"We do not want to get started on that."

"Where is she?" The woman asked looking around.

"She's the one behind the counter."

"Oh my." She exclaimed fixing her eyes on Korina, "She's so pretty."

"I know right." Cole smirked, "Please no forward questions, we have only been on one date."

"Oh, Just trust me boy." The old lady said assuring him and he recalled he knew better than to trust her.

Korina stared in utter confusion as Cole walked towards her chatting and smiling with the old lady by his side.

The two quickly reached the counter and she wanted to bolt.

"Hi Korina." Cole said smiling tightly.

"Hey lovely girl." The old lady said, she gave Korina a very warm wide smile and reached out to pinch her cheeks playfully.

What? Korina stared in shock, horrified at the woman's move.

Cole shook his head, face palmed and let out a groan.

"Hey, Good afternoon." Korina greeted, "Good afternoon ma'am." She mustered a smile at the ederly lady.

"Afternoon dear." The lady answered and turned to Cole, "Oh Cole, she's such a sweet girl." She said cheekily.

Korina raised her brows and gave Cole a questioning look.

"I am sorry." He mouthed, "Can we talk?" He asked.

"Ok sure." Korina replied, "Just get a table, it's almost my break, I am gonna be with you soon."

"Okay." Cole said and turned, leading his aunt away in search of a table.

Korina let out a huge sigh of relief that they were gone for now, she still couldn't understand what was going on.

"Meeting the family already." She jerked in shock at the voice and turned to see Mark leaning against the shelf behind her with an amused look on his face.

"You startled me dirtface." Korina said poking him in his chest.

"Hey, no need for the name calling, Chill okay." He winked at her.

"Fine."

"So who do you think that ederly lady is?" Mark asked, "His mother?"

"I don't think so, his parents are not here, remember?"

He nodded, Korina had given him details of their date.

"Whoever she is." He said, "I can tell she likes you."

"Of course she does." Korina smirked, "I am me, a very likable person."

Mark rolled his eyes and snorted at her, "Likable indeed, Pest."

"I should go now." She said pulling off her apron, "Gonna use my lunch break to hang out with them."

"You should." Mark said his eyes finding Cole and the ederly woman's seat, he stared and saw that the woman wore a frown on her face, "For it seems she is getting impatient."

Korina made her way to the table that Cole and his Aunt were sat.

She pulled out a free chair and sat on it, joining them.

"Cole." She acknowledged, "And madam."

Ederly woman I don't know, She thought, starting at Cole's Aunt, she guessed she should be above 40 and she aged fairly well, she still looked good.

"This is my aunt." Cole said breaking her thoughts, "And..."

"I am Grace." The woman said cutting him off causing him to frown, "Pleased to meet you, Korina."

She took the woman's outstretched hand, "I have heard so much about you and Korina is such a fine name and the name matches the person." The woman smiled flattering her.

"Thank you ma'am." She smiled back.

"Just call me Grace dear." The woman said, "So tell me more about yourself, I would love to know more about the woman my nephew is dating."

"Dating?" Korina gritted looking at Cole in shock and she saw guilt and fear written all over his face.

You are so screwed man, She glared at him.

"Actually Aunt we..." He was cut short by his aunt as she pinched him from underneath the table.

"Oh hush Cole." She scolded, "I was talking to the girl not you." Cole rolled his eyes at her.

"So Korina, this is leading to marriage right? Would you love to marry him?" She asked, "You both would make cute babies."

Korina blushed at her statement unable to answer.

"This is gonna be disastrous." Cole muttered low enough for his ears only, he leaned back on the chair as his Aunt kept drilling Korina with embarrassing questions.

Cole glared at his aunt as she strode cheerfully out of the restaurant, she had given him a wink and a smile before waving goodbye and walking out.

He was sure she had ruined all chances he had with Korina with all her suggestive questions, marriage implying statements and forwardness.

"What was the meaning of that?" Korina asked Cole, her hands folded across her chest, brows furrowed in a frown and eyes staring daggers.

"Uhm...s..hi...i..."

"You aren't saying actual words Cole." She rolled her eyes.

"Look, Korina I am so sorry." Cole apologized, "I was about to come meet you here to talk and I had to drop her at her home but one thing led to another and here we are."

"Uh...huh..." She shook her head.

"I am sorry." He apologized again, "I know she made you uncomfortable."

"Yeap, hell she did." Korina said, "Talking of marriage, she sure did."

"I am sorry."

"It's okay." She sighed.

They stared at each other for sometime before Cole started small talk again and persuaded her into having some snacks with him."

"So can I drop by your place tonight?" He asked, they had been together for a while now, Mark was covering up for her, "pick you up and go somewhere?"

"Are you asking me on another date?" She asked.

"Nope." He lied, "I just want to make up for what happened today."

She raised his brows at him.

"Fine, fine, it's another date."

"Hmm."

"Please go out with me again, please." He pleaded.

"Okay, no problem, I will." She agreed.

"Really?" He asked his face brightening up with a wide smile, eyes shining with excitement.

"Yea."

"Yes!" He did a dramatic victorious first bump causing Korina to laugh.

"See you at 8."