"...Which one are you?"

The rest of the dinner went on a much lighter note with neither of them revisiting the heavy subjects brought up at the beginning. The conversation flowed effortlessly around the carefully selected food that offered a bit of everything. They were both slow eaters, and having a conversation while eating extended their meal.

The last bites of dessert were enjoyed in a nearly empty restaurant with only one table other than theirs still occupied.

"Coffee?" he suggested. "Unless you're one of those people who can't sleep if they've had caffeine at night."

She laughed, feeling light and bubbly.

"I usually grab a cup of coffee when I can't sleep; it helps me doze off."

They both laughed at that.

"A fellow coffeeholic, I approve."

She thought that he changed his mind when he stood up then walked to her side of the table and offered her his arm.

"Let's enjoy it on the terrace. Shall we?"

She took his arm with a wide smile, enjoying the small shared preferences she discovered with him. Like Alonso, she preferred enjoying her coffee or tea outdoors rather than indoors especially when the temperature was on the warmer side. Although always delightful, hot drinks tasted better when the weather was colder.

"Pick a seat," he offered when they crossed the threshold onto the terrace with a panoramic view over the desert.

Her eyes swept the place; there were many comfortable-looking seats but the one that caught her eye was the two-seater swing in the corner. Natalie hesitated. Would he find that choice odd or childish?

"I see that you're eyeing the swing, it's a good choice."

His amused expression got on her nerves, and as the two of them headed towards the swing, she abandoned her attempts to walk gracefully in high heels and stopped walking altogether.

"Do I strike you as someone who still enjoys swings like a young girl?"

He frowned, "I thought you were leaning towards this particular swing among the options. Did I misread the situation, baby girl?"

Baby girl?

"...Well, it's just that it might be challenging to enjoy coffee while we're swinging."

His next grin was gorgeous, "I've got a solution for that."

Signaling to the waitress who discreetly observed them from a respectful distance, he took hold of Natalie's hand and settled on the swing.

"Would you like something to drink, sir?"

The overly breathy tone in the waitress's question drew Natalie's attention. Glancing at the waitress's face, she noticed her batting her eyelashes repeatedly at Alonso who was fully focused on Natalie.

"Bring us two coffees, please."

The waitress became flustered.

"W-What kind of coffee, sir?"

"The kind that comes in closed cups with lids."

Surprised, Natalie looked at Alonso again. He smiled and winked at her in a way that triggered butterflies in her stomach.

"Well, we can definitely serve the one you choose in a cup with a lid, Mr. Valois. What kind of coffee would you like, sir?"

Natalie scowled at the waitress with red curls and a nose piercing, finding her unnecessarily seductive tone and insistence annoying, It reminded her of what Alonso had told her earlier by the elevator, that he didn't chase women; Maybe he doesn't have to, maybe women simply throw themselves at him like this one!

"...Surprise me," he replied dryly a moment later finally making eye contact with the red-headed waitress, his sharp gaze made the poor woman squirm.

"Coming right up!"

Natalie's eyes tracked the waitress as she returned to the restaurant. Though she was not certain of it, she could have sworn that the redhead was talking to herself.

"Problem solved," Alonso said, his soft tone back in activation.

Turning her face to his side again, Natalie looked at him with newfound admiration. The fact that he understood her choice of seating without words and completely ignored a woman who was not only attractive but also available and willing brought Natalie a heavy dose of satisfaction.

...Which one are you?

Is Alonso Valois the playboy on the magazine cover, or is he the dependable and kind person sitting beside her?