“A job offer,” Damian said with a shrug. He smiled at her question. “Can’t it be both? I don’t know, I think it’s the cherries they use, they’re nice and tart.”
“Head hunted from afar, you must be something special,” Lottie teased with a smirk. “I’m starting to think you must be on commission, I swear I’ve never had such an indepth conversation about a pastry before.”
Damian shrugged. “Well, I wasn’t actually planning on coming back, but fates conspired. Not that I don’t like Verona, but I really enjoyed living in Rome. And I’ve had the apple, they’re good, but the cherry just has this fantastic tartness to it. But that may be a personal preference.”
“What brought you back then?” Lottie asked, tipping her head and looking expectantly for the answer. “You really are selling this cherry pastry. I may have to get one before I leave but I do have to ask, are you usually a cherry fan or is it just this particular one?”
“Yeah, thirteen years,” he answered with a smile. “And the coffee isn’t great, but the pastries here are good. Try the cherry one next time you’re here.”
“That’s quite a while,” she agreed, almost about to remark he didn’t look that old but stopping herself in time. “Cherry pastry, got it. I’ll give it a go but it will have to be pretty impressive to beat the apple and cinnamon ones.”
Damian laughed and shook his head. “I said it was the same, I didn’t say it was impressive. Believe me, I’ve had very good coffee before. I was just appreciating the fact that I can count on things in Verona to be the same as when I left.”
“Been away long then?” she asked quickly. “I wouldn’t think mediocre coffee shops last all that long but maybe I’m wrong.”
Lottie's wild adventure 