by T A Williams
Finally pleading exhaustion, she took refuge on a bench up on the promenade and watched the proceedings with her equally tired-looking dog sprawled at her feet. The band was fairly good – and certainly loud enough – although the selection of numbers they played probably wouldn’t have made it onto many UK playlists. Still, everybody from kids to pensioners appeared to be enjoying themselves.
She was sitting on the bench, sipping from a bottle of water, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Dan standing there and smiled up at him.
‘I’m far too tired to get up. If you want a kiss you’ll have to come down to my level.’
He leant down and kissed her on the cheeks before taking a seat alongside her, the Labrador now sitting with his head resting on Dan’s bare knees. He stroked the dog and glanced over at Sophie.
‘So, are you tired because you’ve been dancing?’
‘I feel like I’ve been dancing with the whole beach. A continuous cycle of them. I’ll have to introduce you to Rachel’s Spanish friends who’re staying with us. They appear to have boundless energy.’
‘How’s that going?’
‘It’s going fine and, in spite of my initial fears, they’re a nice bunch. What about you? Have you been dancing with anybody special?’
‘I haven’t been dancing with anybody yet, but I’d love to dance with you if you feel up to it.’
‘Give me another five minutes, would you? And then we’ll need to find somebody to look after Jeeves. Otherwise he joins in and the results aren’t pretty.’ She caught his eye. ‘So, did you call Jennifer and tell her how you feel?’ He shook his head and she couldn’t restrain a grin. ‘I knew you’d chicken out.’
‘I did call her, I promise, but it just felt so weird trying to say something as important as that over the phone. But I did ask her to come over to Italy and hopefully she’s going to come in late September. Maybe it’s best if I leave it until then…’ His voice tailed off uncertainly and then he turned the question back on her. ‘How about Chris? Have you heard from him since he arrived in France?’
‘No, but I wouldn’t expect to, really. We’re close friends but we don’t speak to each other every day. I suppose I could call him, though.’
‘Why don’t you?’
She mulled over the thought for a moment. While she did so, Lolita appeared, looking equally hot and tired. Her very short shorts showed off her legs – and bottom – to advantage and she had no doubt spent her time fighting off the attentions of her two Spanish suitors, quite probably plus a number of local men. She gave Sophie a little smile and pointed to the bench alongside Dan.
‘I sit? Very hot.’
She sat down and Sophie introduced her to Dan, who impressed her by switching into fluent-sounding Spanish. While the two of them chatted, Sophie pulled out her phone and made a decision. She would call Chris. She would use the subterfuge of wanting his opinion on what price to put on an old copper bed warmer for the antiques fair. In fact, she reassured herself, this was a valid reason for the call. She and Rachel had been debating this earlier. She pressed call and waited. It took a while before he replied.
‘Hi, Sophie, all well?’
She assured him all was well and hurriedly explained their query about the price to be on the label. As expected, he quickly provided a solution. After that, she did her best to keep the conversation going as naturally as possible.
‘So how’s life in the mountains? I’m at the beach festival at Santa Rita this evening and it’s baking here.’
‘I thought I could hear music. Well, if it makes you feel any better, we’re submerged under a thick cloud here, you can’t see your hand in front of your face, and it’s pouring with very cold rain.’
‘How are you filling your time if you can’t go out?’
Sophie wasn’t sure she really wanted to hear the answer to this. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Dan get up, with Lola at his elbow, and point towards the dancers. He mouthed the words ‘going for a dance’ before the two of them disappeared into the crowd.
‘I’m actually sitting in the bar at the moment. Don’t worry, I haven’t been in here all afternoon. The hotel’s got a gym and a pool so I’ve been for a workout and a swim. I met up with Paola and she said to say hi if I was talking to you.’
‘Oh, right, thanks. Did you meet her in the pool?’ Somehow Sophie had a feeling this meeting might have been orchestrated in advance by the elegant Italian.
‘In the gym, actually. She really keeps herself in shape.’ I bet she does, Sophie thought to herself. ‘We ended up spotting each other, you know, helping each other with the weights. She can push a surprising amount.’
‘Oh, good.’ What else could she say? ‘Anyway, as long as you aren’t drinking yourself into an early grave.’
‘No fear of that. And what about you? Is there dancing at the beach?’
‘I’ve just sat down after what felt like hours of dancing. And in sand, it’s exhausting.’
‘Dance with anyone special? Your American friend for instance?’
‘My American friend has just gone off to dance with Lolita. You’d like her. She’s wearing spray-on shorts and a top that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. As for me, I’ve danced with three different Spanish men – one of them the size and shape of a barn door. I’m just glad he didn’t tread on me.’
‘Well, just as long as you’re enjoying yourself.’ There was a pause. ‘And I wish I were there with you.’
This sounded promising. ‘You do?’
‘Yes, a bit of warm sunshine would be great.’
Once again he appeared to have fired and missed. Nevertheless, she decided to give him her message anyway – after all it was the reason for her call. ‘Like I told you before, I miss you, Chris, and I wish I was there with you, rain or no rain.’
‘And I miss you, too. A lot.’
And that was that. They said their goodbyes and hung up.
She sat and watched the dancers, easily identifying Dan’s head rising up from the crowd. The band had chosen that moment to play a slow tune and she distinctly caught sight of Lolita’s mop of lustrous dark hair against his chest. She hoped for his sake that he would be able to iron things out with the girl in America. As for herself and Chris, she had a horrible feeling matters were being taken out of her hands. She had had her chances to tell him how she felt – or rather, how she thought she felt – but she had blown it. If he ended up with Paola she couldn’t really blame him. But, anyway, hadn’t she arrived here convinced that she was happy with her canine companion and didn’t feel the need to seek out another man? Was it the sultry Mediterranean air that was threatening to upset the applecart?
‘Get a grip!’
She must have said it out loud.
‘Sounds serious. How’re you doing, sis? Here, I brought you a beer.’
Sophie looked up to see Rachel behind her. Unexpectedly she was alone. Somehow Sophie had expected to see at least one of the Spaniards at her side.
‘Thanks for the thought, but I’ll just take a sip. Apart from the fact that I’m driving, I feel knackered.’
Rachel took a seat beside her. ‘So why are you sitting here snorting about getting a grip?’
‘Men, Rach… or maybe me… probably me. I’ve just phoned Chris because I’m worried he’s going to be seduced by the lovely Paola and yet I’m the girl who said she was happy on her own. What’s wrong with me?’
‘Nothing’s wrong with you. He’s just a really good guy. It’s natural you should feel attracted to him. I do.’
‘You do?’ For a moment, Sophie had a sinking feeling. Surely her sister wasn’t going to step in and take another boy from her…
‘Yes. What’s not to like?’
‘So why didn’t you make a move on him while he was here?’ Sophie wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer to this either. She saw her sister hesitate.
‘Because you’ve called dibs on him of course and apart from anything el
se, to be completely honest, there’s still Gabriel over in Orlando. I can’t get him out of my head.’
Sophie caught hold of her hand. ‘He was The One, wasn’t he?’ Her sister just nodded, her eyes on Jeeves at her feet. ‘Well, Rach, like I told you before, you should do something about it. Honestly.’
Once again, Rachel just shook her head. ‘It wouldn’t do any good. I’ve just got to accept that it’s all over and move on.’ She looked up. ‘Just like you’re going to have to do if things don’t work out between you and Chris.’
They sat in silence for some minutes before Rachel suddenly reached over and gave Sophie a warm hug and a kiss. ‘It’s not all bad, Soph. At least I’ve got you back now.’
Chapter 19
The evening ended with fireworks – but not just of an incendiary nature.
The official firework display started at ten o’clock and was impressive. It was fully dark by this time and the sky over the sea was lit up with magnificent multicoloured swirls and shimmering stars interspersed with ear-shattering explosions. Sophie hadn’t realised it was coming and as the first rockets whooshed up into the air from pontoons in the water, she dropped to her knees to comfort her dog and to grab his collar in case he should decide to run off in terror. She needn’t have worried. Unlike his reaction to thunder and lightning, apart from a couple of louder bangs that had him pressing against her leg, Jeeves appeared to be as fascinated as everybody else by the display and even wagged his tail from time to time.
When it ended, Sophie left the beach festival and took Jeeves back up to the castle. Rachel also declared herself ready to go home and Sophie left her to round up the others, hoping they wouldn’t drag it out too much. She was feeling quite weary by now and the idea of being woken up in the small hours by the revellers’ return didn’t appeal in the slightest. When she reached Paradiso, she drove round to the piazza in front of the castle and climbed out to open the main gates.
It was then that the trouble started. She had just unlocked the gates and pushed them open when she heard footsteps and then a voice behind her.
‘Ciao, bella.’
She instantly recognised that voice and spun round in horror. In the light of the single street lamp he was unmistakable.
‘Claudio, what the hell are you doing here? I told you not to come.’
‘Yes, but I knew you didn’t mean it. I just had to see you and I know you really want to see me, don’t you?’
She stood there, rooted to the spot but, as he moved closer, her brain finally kicked into gear and she held up her hand to stop him. In the orange streetlight he was as handsome as ever, without a single hair out of place, but she could feel the anger bubbling up inside her like a volcano.
‘What did I say I’d do if you came here?’ She was almost hissing at him.
‘Give me a kiss, hopefully.’ He held out his arms towards her and she took a step backwards while reaching in her pocket for her phone.
‘Never in a million years. As you appear to have forgotten, I said I’d phone the police.’
He assumed an innocent expression. ‘Why? I haven’t done anything wrong.’
Sophie made a quick decision. ‘Then I’ll call my boyfriend. He’s on his way up here now.’
‘Your boyfriend?’ He didn’t sound so sure of himself now.
Sophie glanced down at her phone and typed a hurried text to Rachel and to Dan.
Claudio here. Please come now.
Old habits die hard. It occurred to her as she pressed Send that she could have saved a few milliseconds by omitting the word please.
‘Now there’s no need to do that, Sophie. It’s me, Claudio. I don’t mean you any harm.’
‘I should think not.’ Even so, she took two more steps backwards.
‘Listen, Sophie, I really miss you. Ever since you went off and left me I’ve been miserable.’
‘Like hell you have!’ She could feel the anger building again. ‘Now, stand aside while I put my car away.’
She climbed back into the car, drove it slowly through the gates and parked. She toyed with the idea of locking herself inside it to wait for the cavalry to arrive but, going round to open the boot for Jeeves, she decided she owed it to herself to get out and face him. The dog jumped out and, to her surprise and delight, he didn’t immediately trot over to Claudio to give him a friendly greeting. Instead, sensing something in the air, he stopped dead and stared suspiciously at the Roman. For once, his tail wasn’t wagging and Sophie could hear what might even have been a low growl from him – something decidedly out of character. She took heart from his reaction.
‘Please don’t come any closer, Claudio. My dog’s very protective of me.’
By this time she could clearly see that the hairs on the back of the Labrador’s neck were bristling. Good old Jeeves! This did wonders for her confidence. Claudio was still standing by the gatepost, looking uncertainly at Jeeves but, as she tried to close the gates, he didn’t move out of the way.
‘So you’re going to just slam the gates in my face after everything we’ve meant to each other?’ There was an edge to his voice now that she didn’t like one bit. She glanced at her watch. The text had only been sent five minutes ago. Even if Rachel and Dan had already left the beach, it would take a while longer before they arrived – assuming they had seen the message. Sophie choked back her anger – and a tiny tremor of fear – and did her best to keep the conversation on a level footing. For now, all that counted was keeping Claudio on the other side of the gates, so she tried to keep him talking for now.
‘Tell me, why are you here, Claudio? Even you must realise that there’s no chance I would ever trust you again or give you a second chance.’
‘You give me a second chance? You left me, remember? I’ve come to tell you I’m prepared to take you back.’
Sophie couldn’t believe her ears. Talk about thick-skinned. Deliberately taking a deep breath before replying, she tried to keep her voice as neutral as possible so as not to antagonise him. ‘I left you because you were unfaithful to me, or are you trying to tell me that’s not true?’
He shrugged his quintessentially Roman shrug, shoulders almost reaching up to his ears and with his palms splayed outwards in front of him. ‘So I played around a little. We all do that. But you don’t need to worry – the other girls mean nothing to me.’
‘Clearly neither did I. And as for playing around, it’s not what everybody does and it most definitely isn’t what I do.’ She pricked up her ears as she heard a car’s engine approaching fast. He must have heard it too as he turned to take a look. Sophie took advantage of his momentary distraction to slam the left-hand gate into position. Now just the right-hand one remained.
To her delight, Dan’s little Fiat squealed to a halt just outside, closely followed by one of the Spanish cars, from which Rachel and a bunch of others emerged. Dan came running across and Sophie was mightily relieved.
‘What the hell’s going on here?’ Ignoring Claudio, he looked across at Sophie. ‘Are you all right?’
She nodded as the two men turned to face each other and she knew she had to act fast to stop the situation spiralling out of control. On the spur of the moment she reached out her hands, beckoning Dan but addressing Claudio.
‘I told you my boyfriend was coming, Claudio. Please go. It’s all over between us and I really, truly never want to see you ever again.’ She caught hold of Dan’s hands and tugged him towards her, anxious to keep him out of the way of Claudio, who, she knew well, had a very short temper. ‘Thank you for coming so fast, Dan.’
He took his cue and appeared quite unphased at having been described as her boyfriend as he encircled her shoulders with his arm and pulled her towards him.
‘That’s what I’m here for.’
A few seconds of silence followed while the two men sized each other up. To Sophie’s surprise, the silence was broken by Jeeves who let out a real sinister growl. His lip curled and the streetlight reflected on his gleaming wh
ite teeth while his hackles were still up. It was clear that the hackles of both men were equally raised. The last thing Sophie wanted was for there to be a fight and she was about to dive between them when help arrived from a formidable source.
Into the space between the two men stepped the Incredible Hulk. Juan looked decidedly threatening, especially when, in true Hulk tradition, he pulled his T-shirt off – admittedly without tearing it into shreds or turning green, but still… He threw it disdainfully into the shadows, exposing ridge upon ridge of rippling muscles glistening in the orange light, and spoke to Claudio in a voice that, while calm, brooked no argument.
‘Listen, cabrón, you have a choice. The lady wants you to leave, so leave. If you decide not to go, then I’m going to pick you up and throw you into the horse trough over there. Understood?’
The standoff lasted barely another handful of seconds before Claudio finally got the message. Without a word he spun on his heel and strode off towards his car which was parked outside the restaurant where he had, presumably, been waiting for her. He climbed in, slammed the door and gunned the engine, shooting off with a vicious squeal of tyres.
Everybody relaxed.
First things first, Sophie wriggled out of Dan’s grip and ran across to catch hold of Juan and give him a massive hug – barely managing to get her arms around his broad back. ‘Thank you so very much, Juan. You’re my hero.’
She kissed him on the cheeks and hurried back to Dan who was now ruffling Jeeves’s ears. She threw herself at him and hugged him tight.
‘And you are my knight in shining armour. Thank you for being prepared to play the part of my boyfriend.’