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

and Zoë had offered to host a Q&A session, but when they assembled in the dining room – minus David and Carrie – it was to see no sign of Antonia and to hear from Zoë that not only had Conrad received Layla’s email, but he had already read it and replied. Not without a great deal of satisfaction in her tone, Zoë read the answer aloud to them. It was not long and the gist of it was that the new series of Pals Forever would go ahead with Zoë at the helm, and if that didn’t suit Layla, Benny or Alice, then that would be their own hard luck. As Zoë reached the end, Alice stood up.

‘Thank you, Zoë. I see no point in staying on for your Q&A session, so I’m going for a walk.’ She waved to the others and left, closely followed by Benny and Layla. Outside, on the terrace, the three of them paused for breath.

‘I’m taking bets it doesn’t last more than one season.’ Benny was shaking his head sadly.

‘I think that’s a pretty safe bet, although I hope it does better, just for Millie’s sake.’ Alice glanced across at Layla. ‘Any regrets, Layla?’

‘Some… I’ve enjoyed these past few days, all of us together again, but I just can’t stand that woman. Why on earth is Conrad being so hard-nosed and stubborn? Surely there must be other good directors out there who could step in and, that way, the cast would stay on board. It makes no sense.’ She took a couple of deep breaths. ‘Still, my agent tells me he’s got me a leading role in a new romcom to be filmed in Scotland next winter. I’ll try to call in and say hi, if you’re still in the UK.’

‘I hope so.’ Alice had always liked Layla.

Alice went on to tell her and Benny about next week’s interview for the auction house job, and they wished her well. Layla then announced that she was catching a flight home that same evening and Benny decided he would accompany her. As the two of them went off to pack, Alice went upstairs to look for David, but the room was empty. Typically, his phone was still on the bedside table, so she had no way of contacting him. Presumably, he had gone out for a walk, so she slipped on her trainers and went out to look for him. As there was no sign of him at the pool or in the gardens, she set off down the road to see if he had gone to the village for a coffee and a change of scene.

When she got to the bar, she found he wasn’t there either, so she ordered an espresso and took a seat outside in the shade. When Rita brought her coffee, she had some promising news. She told Alice that she had been asking around for a rental property and she had found one. The builders had literally just finished modernising a little house in the village, and furniture was being moved in today or tomorrow.

‘It’s number 5, Vicolo del Centro, and it’s just across the piazza from here. Why don’t you go and take a look. The owner, Signor Innocenti, told me he’d be there most of the day today.’

Alice thanked her profusely and reached for her coffee. It was boiling hot so she had to wait, impatiently, for it to cool before heading over to Vicolo del Centro. While waiting, she suddenly discovered she had company. A cold, wet nose thudded against her thigh as Guinness the Labrador skidded to a halt beside her and did his best to climb onto her lap.

‘Ciao, Guinness. How’re you today?’ As she did her best to dissuade him from climbing all over her, she looked up and saw his master coming across the piazza towards her. Trying to ignore the involuntary hiccup from her heart, she gave him a little wave. ‘Hi, Matt.’

‘Hi, Alice. I’m sorry about Guinness. He has absolutely no manners at all.’

She grinned at the dog who, having accepted that he wasn’t going to be allowed onto her lap, was now sprawled at her feet, all four paws in the air, grunting happily as his wagging tail raised a little cloud of dust. ‘He’s fine. It’s lovely to see him.’ She decided she had better make it clear that she had better manners than the dog and added, ‘And it’s lovely to see you.’

He was wearing sunglasses so she couldn’t see his eyes, but she distinctly saw a smile cross his face and linger for a moment. ‘It’s great to see you, too.’ He hesitated for a few seconds before carrying on. ‘And you’re looking terrific. No wonder Guinness is in love with you.’ As he spoke, it looked almost as though his cheeks flushed, but she barely caught a glimpse before he turned towards the cafe door. ‘Can I get you anything?’

‘I’m fine, thanks. Do come and join me if you have time.’

He disappeared inside, leaving her to reflect that she had just asked a strange man to sit down and chat to her while her long-term boyfriend was waiting for her back at the villa. Common sense kicked in. She picked up her espresso, managed to swallow it without burning her throat, and stood up, determined to get back to David as soon as possible. What had she been thinking?

She went inside to pay and found Matt about to come out of the door, holding a crate of mineral water in his arms. She stood aside to let him pass and, as he did so, he gave her a little smile.

‘I’m afraid Guinness and I have to get back. Have a good day. Come on, Guinness, we’re off.’

Alice wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed.

When she arrived at the charming old red-brick cottage situated in a narrow side street just off the square, she found the front door wide open so she knocked and called