Second Chances in Chianti (Escape to Tuscany Book 2) by T.A. Williams (online e reader .TXT) 📕

gave her another of his cheeky grins. ‘So, does this mean there’s still hope for me?’

She could feel her cheeks glowing in spite of her best efforts, but she did her best to sound resolute, as she replied. ‘Richie, you’re here with Carrie, and I’m with David. Just forget me, would you?’

He didn’t say any more and she was glad when they reached the pool.

Layla was stretched out on a sunbed under a parasol, her bikini positively microscopic. Beside her was Millie, reading a book, also in the shade. Carrie, wearing a different bikini from yesterday, was taking photos of the wonderful flowers all around the edge of the pool, which effectively sheltered it from any wind and any prying eyes. As she spotted Richie, she came running.

‘Hi, Richie, finished your homework?’ She caught hold of him and kissed him warmly.

Alice waited until Carrie had released him, before satisfying her curiosity.

‘So what’s this about homework, Richie? Have you gone back to school?’ She asked it in jest, but was surprised to see him nod shyly.

‘Yes, but nothing on your level. I’m trying to get myself a degree. I never had a chance to get all the way through college.’

Alice was mightily impressed. ‘That’s amazing, Richie. Good for you. What’re you studying? Drama?’

‘I didn’t dare – everybody would realise what an awful actor I am. Don’t laugh! I’m doing climatology. It seemed like a useful thing to learn about, seeing as the Earth is busy burning itself up.’

‘Terrific, Richie, really. Well done, and you’re a great actor.’ Although terribly low on self-esteem. ‘I’m so impressed.’ She saw him smile shyly again and was reminded of the insecure little boy she had once thought she loved, lurking beneath his handsome grown-up exterior. ‘Have you got long to go?’

‘September’s the start of my final year, but I’ve got a whole bunch of reading to get through over the summer.’

‘And if Pals Forever goes ahead, what happens then?’

‘I’ve already talked to them and they say they’ll let me take a couple of years out before picking up the course again if necessary. So it’s all good.’

Alice dropped her towel on a sunbed alongside Millie and walked down the steps into the water, relishing the refreshing feel after her walk in the hot sunshine. As she swam up and down the pool, she wondered if the Labrador next door had somewhere to swim – she knew that an obsession with water was typical of the breed. She stubbornly refused all attempts by her brain to think about the dog’s master. She was in a relationship with David and that was that.

At least for now.

Finally, she climbed back out of the pool and dabbed herself dry, before stretching out on her sunbed. She closed her eyes and started thinking about yet another man who wasn’t her boyfriend: Richie. She was really pleased that he appeared to have successfully turned his life around and she applauded his decision to go back to college. If the new series took off, she would find herself in very close contact with him – probably fairly intimate contact, if they were indeed trying for a baby in the show. How did she feel about that? Was there any lingering attraction?

As soon as that thought came to her, she shook her head angrily, doing her best to dislodge it. She was here with David. Why had she suddenly started having these kinds of thoughts about two other men, while she was still in a good, solid relationship? And it was a good, solid relationship, wasn’t it? Had all her common sense started to desert her because she was back in the Hollywood bubble? She growled to herself in frustration.

‘Something wrong, Al?’ Her train of thought was interrupted by Millie’s voice alongside her. ‘What’s all the growling about?’

‘Nothing, Mil. Just thinking about Zoë, I’m afraid.’ The little white lie was definitely preferable to admitting that she had been hallucinating about two men, neither of whom was the one waiting upstairs in her bedroom. What on earth was going on inside her head? She did her best to sound normal as she hastily changed the subject. ‘What are you reading?’

Millie held up the paperback and Alice recognised the cover immediately. The Playboy and His Women had been an international bestseller for some years now, allegedly turning its author into a multi-millionaire. She hadn’t read it and had no desire to do so. From what she had heard, it was a bitterly depressing attack upon the concept of love, romance and relationships – at least from a male perspective. Whatever women told themselves, the book made it brutally clear that all most men wanted was sex. Although this pretty much matched up with a lot of her experiences of men over the years, until she had met David, she saw no reason to read anything so cynical.

‘Why on earth are you reading that crap, Mil?’

‘I bought it at LAX before I left. I needed something to read on the plane. And it’s not crap. It’s pretty bleak, but he’s not that far off the mark.’ She caught Alice’s eye. ‘His main character, Justin, reminds me of a lot of the men I’ve dated.’ She gave a little sigh. ‘I’ve almost finished it. I’ll let you have it when I get to the end. Really, it’s a good read and they say there’s going to be a movie next year.’ She dropped the book onto her lap and looked across at Alice. ‘Anyway, what do you think Zoë’s going to tell us tomorrow?’

‘Hopefully, that she’s decided to give up and pass the new series over to another director, but don’t hold your breath.’ She caught Millie’s eye and winked. ‘Tomorrow morning’s going to be an interesting meeting.’

‘It certainly will be. By the way, Paolo said that tonight we’re having a barbecue. Maybe Zoë will get plastered and tell us all about it over dinner.’

The barbecue was amazing.

The chef had prepared a variety of kebabs –