When they walked inside, Annie's apprehension returned. As expected they were greeted by Remo and she immediately turned her head, trying to avoid the restaurant owner's gaze. As she did so she couldn't help looking at her surroundings. The small Italian restaurant smelled heavenly of herbs and spices, most of which were found only in Italy. Nothing but the best for Remo, he always said. And she'd heard the phrase repeatedly.

This restaurant was like a second home to her. She'd come here almost nightly with Caroline, Richard and Del, and even more often with her dates… the ones that were usually one night stands; two or three if she was lucky. Now the idea that she'd had so many one night stands with so many different men actually sickened her but she shoved the reality from her mind. What was done was done and there was no changing that. Instead she concentrated on her surroundings, and the fact that somehow her hand had found its way into Jimmy's once more.

Although the restaurant looked exactly like it had the last time she'd been here, and every time before that, tonight it felt different.
How was that possible? It had the same small wooden tables covered in trademark red checkered table cloths, white lace curtains, flickering candles that bounced light off of the caramel colored walls and suddenly she knew… the dim lighting created the most romantic atmosphere imaginable; one that made her heart flutter with eagerness.

It was funny that she'd never noticed how incredibly romantic her favorite restaurant was. And the really crazy thing is that she would have had to have been a fool to miss it. Maybe that was precisely the point. She had been a fool, chosing the wrong men for the wrong reasons, which would explain why she'd been alone for most of her life.

At that moment she felt a warm weight on the small of her back and she turned to find Jimmy starting at her in concern once more. But it was the way the candlelight shone on his face that struck her the most. He was even more handsome than before. The thought made her swallow hard and she found it difficult to catch her breath.

Once more he was looking at her with concern and she had the craziest urge to cry. No one had ever cared for her like this before… or even at all.

"Annie, are you sure you're all right?"

"Uh huh..." She nodded, blotting her eyes with the handkerchief he handed to her. "Thanks." She held out the handkerchief to him but he merely smiled and gently pushed her hand away. "You keep it. I want you to have it."

"Oh… but-."

"I have plenty."

Crazily she blushed again, touched by the ridiculous gesture. Get a grip, Annie. This isn't a gift! It's just his stupid handkerchief and he probably doesn't want to carry it around with your disgusting tears all over it. And why are you crying anyway? This is just a guy whom you're never going to see again and definitely aren't going home with!

"Oh shut up!" She yelled. She was barely aware that she had spoken out loud until she saw the smile disappear from Jimmy's face. "Okay… I'm sorry I was just-."
Horrified, her hand touched his forearm. "Oh God, I'm sorry. I wasn't talking to you. I was… Never mind. Um… do we have a reservation or…"

"Of course! You have to at a place like this!" He said in the same dramatic tone as before. Boldly he stepped up to the host stand. "Table for two please!" he shouted, bringing Remo to the stand. "I have a reservation for two under "Callahan!"

"Ah, welcome to my restaurant! Remo's!" Remo said loudly. "I hope your dining experience will be superb, Mr.…."

"Callahan!" Jimmy repeated. "Jimmy Callahan! And this is my incredibly beautiful date, Miss Annie Spadaro!"

Remo held out his hand, taking Annie's hand in his. "Pleased to meet you, Miss…."

Annie smiled nervously, suddenly embarrassed. "Hi Remo."

And then finally Remo's eyes widened at the sight of the woman he knew so well. "Annie, what are you doing here?"

"What do you think she's doing here?" Jimmy snapped. "She's on a date! With me!"

"With you?" Remo repeated. "That's impossible! You're… wait a minute… you look awfully familiar!" Remo said. "Aren't you…"
"Jimmy Callahan, Sir!" Jimmy said proudly.

"Mamma mia!" Remo shouted, slapping his forehead in disbelief. "I know you! You're my IRS agent! You audited me for no reason at all! Do you have any idea how much you-a cost me in taxes? I almost had to close ze restaurant! You're crooks! All of you! You should be ashamed of yourself! You-."

"Remo, he's not just an IRS agent!" Annie said, suddenly feeling the need to defend her date.

"Right, he's a crook and a thief too!"

Surprisingly, Jimmy looked defated and he lowered his eyes once more. "Um... Annie? Maybe you're right. We should go somewhere else."

"No, Jimmy. I don't want to go anywhere else!" She shouted. "You went to all this trouble to make these reservations and we're going to stay whether Remo here likes it or not! And by the way Remo, crooks and thieves are the same things! Didn't they teach you that in Italy? " Annie snapped. "And Jimmy is neither of those things! He's kind and funny and really smart and… Oh God… why am I doing this? Um… the point is we're just here for dinner so do you mind?"

Daringly Annie glanced at Jimmy to find him smiling at her in gratitude.

And it was only natural that she smiled back.