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

some laden with beef and others alternating chunks of chicken with vegetables from the villa garden. Some were made up of baby octopus, squid and prawns, along with cherry tomatoes and green peppers. To be on the safe side, some were straight vegetarian. There was grilled pecorino cheese, little wild boar sausages and, for any homesick Americans, home-made burgers complete with bacon and cheese. Tonight, as well as wine, there was ice-cold German beer in huge glass mugs for those who wanted it, and the whole thing was accompanied by a selection of salads and a mountain of fries.

Alice helped herself to a couple of the kebabs and half a slice of hot cheese and sipped her beer, which was excellent. She grabbed a beer for David and pressed it into his hand.

‘It’s beer, not wine, so I won’t be slapping you, unless you’re into that sort of thing.’ She was feeling really guilty after all her thoughts about other men, so she reached up and gave him a smacking kiss that clearly surprised him.

He glanced back at her. ‘What was that for?’

‘No reason. Enjoy your beer.’

Tonight there were several little tables strewn around the terrace and they took their seats with Millie. Seconds later, Richie appeared with Carrie and politely asked if they could sit down with them. Carrie had more salad than meat on her plate, while his was piled high with fries and the biggest burger Alice had seen since her days in the USA. The thing was almost as big as the litre of beer alongside it.

‘Blimey, Richie, are you going to be able to manage all that?’

Carrie answered for him. ‘He’ll manage. I’ve never seen somebody so slim eat so much and not get fat.’ She caught Alice’s eye and grinned. ‘It’s not fair.’

Alice’s attention was then gripped by a little cameo playing out at the table opposite them. Layla, resplendent in yet another designer dress, had taken a seat there and was looking at something on her phone. As she did so, Harry appeared on the terrace and helped himself to a big mug of beer from Paolo. He stood there for a moment, checking Layla out, before taking a few big mouthfuls for Dutch courage and heading across to her table.

‘Um, Layla, do you mind if I sit with you?’ He sounded unusually hesitant. Layla’s head jerked up and Alice caught her breath, waiting for the explosion. The divorce had been caused by his multiple infidelities, after all. Time stood still for what seemed like an age, before Layla’s face cleared and she waved dismissively towards the seats opposite her.

‘Sit where you like, Harry.’ And she returned to her phone.

Harry swallowed another huge draught of beer and sat down. As he did so, Zoë came out onto the terrace, accepted a glass of red wine from Rosanna and went across to Layla’s table.

‘You two not eating?’ She sounded amiable enough. ‘Something smells good.’

As if only just realising there was food on offer, Harry jumped to his feet and nodded. ‘Good idea. Can I bring you anything?’ Layla ignored the question and Zoë shook her head, so he went over to the table alongside the barbecue, where Paolo was serving the food. Zoë sat down opposite Layla and swallowed half her wine in one go. She either really liked wine or was nervous – either way, it looked promising. Maybe Millie’s prediction that she might drink too much and spill the beans was going to come true.

Alice felt a touch on her arm. It was Millie. ‘I think that’s the first thing Layla and Harry have said to each other since we got here.’ She was whispering, but Richie must have heard and he leant across the table towards the two of them.

Keeping his voice equally low, he added. ‘That’s progress. He rolled up at a party she was at a couple of years ago and she threw an ice bucket at him… and it was full.’

A minute or two later Antonia and Benny arrived, and Alice took the fact that they were together and talking as a good sign. She knew full well that his scripts would be every bit as important to the success of the new show as any one of the actors. The two of them collected plates of food and drinks, and sat down together on another table. As Antonia passed the other two tables, she raised her wine glass in a little salute. So far so good, Alice told herself. For now, at least, peace would appear to have broken out and she settled down to eat her meal.

Chapter 8

When Alice left David in bed next morning at eight o’clock and went downstairs, there was no sign of Harry, so she went for a run by herself. Although she rather liked the idea of seeing the Labrador again, she deliberately decided not to run up towards the neighbour’s estate, just in case the fair-haired man might be there. She felt strongly that the unexpected frisson of attraction she had felt for him was just plain wrong for somebody in a relationship as she was, so she set off in the opposite direction. Using the key code, she let herself out of the same side gate she had used on her way to the village but, this time, instead of heading downhill, she turned left and started jogging uphill along the track. Everything she passed was bone dry and she wondered when it had last rained here. Although there were no clouds in the sky, it was a bit hazier this morning, and the air felt clammy and humid. Maybe there was a storm on the way. Of course, she reminded herself, at ten o’clock they were scheduled to have the big meeting chaired by Zoë and there was the very real likelihood that a storm would erupt in there, irrespective of what the weather outside was doing.

She climbed steadily, speeding up as she fell into her