See you in Monaco

“You know he’s a spy for Interpol, right?”

“I thought he was American.”

“He is. He’s a spy for Interpol and studying abroad.”

“I see.”

“Then… why are you still there?”

“I want to meet him.”

“Natalia, you know he’s here to arrest you.”

“I’m not so sure about that. Besides, it would be such a shame to waste this dress.” Natalia gestured to the elegant green cocktail dress that hugged her figure and matched her eyes. “I’ll talk to you soon, Kadyn,” she said as she deactivated her earpiece.

As she said those words, a young man dressed in a crisp blue suit stumbled in through the restaurant doors. He looked around in bewilderment, dazzled by the light reflecting from the chandelier and the fancy dress of the patrons. Natalia watched as he shrugged his shoulders, readjusted his stance to look cool and casual--too cool and casual to be natural, Natalia noted--and attempted to look as if he was in control of the situation and unconcerned with everything.

He almost blended in, except for the fact that the way his eyes swept the crowd was too focused, too disciplined, too practiced. That changed when his eyes met hers. The sight stunned him three times. First, he was stunned to see the beauty staring intensely back at him. Then, he was stunned because he realized she was the one he was there for--the criminal who had previously eluded all attempts of capture. Finally, he was stunned because he hadn’t expected the legendary thief to be so mesmerizing.

She gestured to the empty seat at her table and before he had time to calculate the situation, he found himself seated in front of her.

He cleared his throat so his voice wouldn’t fail him. “Miss Pierce.”

“My, my. A man with manners,” she grinned. “You’re much nicer than your colleagues. Please, call me Natalia.”

“My colleagues?” he inquired.

“Your friends at Interpol,” she said as she poured them each a glass of Merlot.

One look at her face told him there was no denying it. “Ah yes, them.” A moment passed between them, and there was something in the silence that felt electric. Something about her that drew him in. Something that felt dangerous… or exhilarating.

He cleared his throat again as he refocused on the present. “So what are you doing here tonight?”

She smiled. “This is the best seaside restaurant in Bordighera. And look at that view.” She gestured toward the window and he could make out a ship on the horizon, sailing on waves that shimmered as the sun set. He looked back at her and found himself distracted by the shape of her lips.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, before he could stop himself.

“It is, isn’t it?” she replied.

He was relieved that she hadn’t noticed that he wasn’t talking about the sunset. Or maybe she did. Rather than think about, he chose to press on with conversation. “But why Bordighera?”

She looked back at him with a expression that hinted to her practiced recklessness. “Well, I’ve been to Italy several times before--I’m sure you know the heists that I’m thinking of--but never to Bordighera.”

“Why now?”

“Why not?”

He found himself stumped. Or maybe lost in admiration. “What an exciting life you lead, Miss Pierce.”

“It is. And call me Natalia. Which reminds me: you know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

“I’m not sure I should tell you.”

“If you don’t tell me now, I’ll just find out later. And it’s hard to enjoy a first date with someone when you don’t even know their name.”

After a moment of hesitation, he relented. “Jack.”

“Do you have a last name, Jack?”

He hesitated again before replying, “Atkinson.”

“Jack Atkinson. Did your schoolmates ever call you---?”

“No, they did not,” he said quickly. “Though I have heard the joke several times before.”

She laughed, and something about her smile made him melt. “I’m just teasing. And I’m surprised you haven’t pulled out your badge yet.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Well, aren’t you going to arrest me? Or, try, that is?”

“No.” It was his turn to smirk, and for some reason she found that she liked it.

She arched one eyebrow. “No?”

“I wouldn’t want to ruin our first date.” He lifted a glass to toast to her.

She lifted a glass to join him. “Aren’t you afraid that it’s poisoned?”

“I’m not.”

She was slightly taken aback in spite of herself. “Why not?”

“I trust you.”

There was something about him that was so earnest, she couldn’t help but believe him. Or maybe she just wanted to. “That’s not possible,” she laughed. “I’m the world’s favorite criminal at the moment. Who knows what I’ll do next.”

“You’ve never taken a life,” he said. She looked up at him intently. “You have always knocked out your opponents when you couldn’t trick them, distract them, or flee the scene before they got there. You’re a thief, not a murderer.” Almost as if to prove his point, he took a sip from the glass.

She marveled at him for a moment before placing her glass on the table. “Touché.” She looked back up at him and asked, “So what happens next?”

“What do you mean?”

“What happens next on this date? Or after?” A smile tugged at her lips and she looked up at him with teasing eyes.

Jack felt a blush creep up his neck. By the time he found his words, his cheeks were bright red. “Where are you headed to next?”

“I was thinking maybe Monaco.”

“Maybe I’ll see you there.”

“I hope so. But I’m afraid I have to go.” She rose from her seat. “Don’t worry, the bill has already been paid for.”

“Doesn’t the guy normally pay on the first date?”

“You can pay for the second.”

“So there’ll be a second date?”

“If you’d like.”

“Promise?”

She smiled, turned away, and strode through the restaurant doors. He couldn’t help but watch her walk away.

On the street outside the restaurant, she reactivated her earpiece. Kadyn’s concerned and somewhat scolding voice filled her ear.

“Natalia, that was a huge risk. You know you’re not supposed to deactivate your earpiece. If something had happened, I wouldn’t have known.”

“I know, Kadyn. But I trust him. And besides, he’s new to this. That’s why we’ve never seen him before tonight.”

“You told him where you’re going to be next. You know, where you’re going to be stealing things next?”

“He won’t remember that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember the Merlot?”

“Yeah?”

“It was spiked.”

“Woah, you poisoned him? That’s not really your style.”

“It still isn’t. When he gets to his car, he’ll pass out and wake up with no memory of tonight.”

“With no memory of you.”

Natalia stopped in her tracks. It was a moment before she kept walking. “I have a feeling I’ll see him again soon. I want a second date.”