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

over the two of them. Just as she was catching her breath after the cold shower, a heavy object landed on top of her, before ricocheting across to Matt.

‘Guinness! Get off, you little bugger! I’m soaked.’ Matt’s voice was more frustrated than angry. She knew how he felt.

Alice raised herself onto her elbows and took stock. She looked as if she had just taken part in a Miss Wet T-shirt competition, she was emanating an unappealing odour of Labrador, and there were dirty paw prints across her tummy. Alongside her, a very happy dog was wrestling with his master, who looked even more bedraggled than she did. In spite of the unwelcome interruption to what had had all the makings of a defining moment in their budding relationship, she felt a wave of mirth rise up inside her and she burst out laughing. A second or two later she caught Matt’s eye and he, too, erupted into a fit of laughter. The Labrador, clearly puzzled by this bizarre behaviour by the two humans, finally relinquished his master, sat down on the straggly grass and occupied himself with burrowing for an itch somewhere under his armpit.

‘I’m really sorry about that, Alice. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Guinness has absolutely no manners.’ She saw his eyes run across her body and felt another thrill. ‘Are you all right?’

In answer she leant across, took his face between her palms and kissed him softly on the lips. ‘I’m just fine. And you?’ It didn’t just feel good, it really did feel right, and she almost purred.

His eyes were barely a couple of inches from hers. ‘Never better. And it’s all down to you.’ He leant in and kissed her again, before suddenly drawing back. ‘Great! That’s all we need: Baden bloody Powell and his band.’

She followed the direction of his gaze and saw that the Scout troop had returned and were in the process of pulling towels and costumes out of their backpacks, clearly about to leap into the pool. She and Matt got to their feet, and she rearranged her clothing as best she could – but not before spotting a gangly lad in his teens with his eyes glued to her chest. As they made eye contact, the boy blushed and looked away.

She glanced across at Matt. ‘I think we should maybe consider moving camp.’

He nodded and glanced at his watch. ‘To be honest, I suppose we should make tracks. I’m afraid I’ve got to head off to Rome tonight. I’m driving down and it’s going to take about three hours, so this means I need to go back home, jump in the shower, change and get away as soon as possible.’

Doing her best to swallow her disappointment, Alice nodded. ‘I see. Is this a business thing?’

‘A bit of both. Mostly business, but my grandma lives just outside Rome and my mother told me she hasn’t been too well, so I thought I’d call in on her this evening.’

While Alice was impressed that he cared enough about his old grandmother to drop in and see her, she knew she would have preferred to spend the evening – if not the night – with him. Still, drawing upon her thespian background, she produced a big smile, reached up and gave him another kiss on the lips.

‘I look forward to picking up where we left off when you return – maybe without Guinness’s participation.’

On the way back to the tower they talked a lot and she felt she knew quite a bit more about him by the time they got there. However, there still remained the mystery over just what he did for a living or, at least, how he had made his money. After all, as her mum had pointed out, historic Tuscan towers didn’t come cheap. Mind you, she reminded herself, in fairness she still hadn’t told him about her acting career. It would no doubt all come out in due course, as their relationship progressed – and for the first time she truly believed it would. By now it was mid-afternoon and the temperature was surely well into the thirties. Although they hugged the limited shade on offer as far as possible, Alice was sticky with sweat and very conscious of the lingering aroma of Labrador on her body by the time they arrived back at his home. She told herself it was maybe just as well he was hurrying off, so she could go home and take a long shower.

As they reached her car, they stopped and stood facing each other. She did her best not to let her disappointment show. ‘Well, drive safely. When will you be back?’

‘I’ve got meetings tomorrow and the day after, so I should hopefully be back on Friday.’

Alice did her best to ignore the wave of frustration now that she knew she wouldn’t see him for several days. ‘Would you let me buy you dinner that night?’

He reached out and took her hands in his. ‘You don’t need to do that.’

‘I was wondering about cooking for you but I’m not the greatest cook in the world and I wouldn’t want to risk poisoning you. Seriously, let me take you out to Giovanni’s restaurant. I’d really like to and, besides, I’ve already sampled your hospitality.’

‘I still don’t think you should pay but, all right, if you insist, that would be great.’

‘Excellent. I’ll book a table.’ A sudden thought occurred to her. ‘What about Guinness? Is he going to Rome with you? Do you want me to look after him?’

‘That’s kind of you but it’s all arranged – I’ll leave him with Virgilio. Guinness often stays with them. They spoil him rotten and he loves them. He’ll be fine.’

Accepting the inevitable, Alice released his hands and opened the car door, but then had to take two steps back, as a blast of scorching air came belching out. The Fiat had been sitting in the sun all day and the door handle was