TB B

by SJ

  Emily was transfixed by everything she was hearing. ‘He…said…what?’ she said unbelievingly.

  ‘That you told him you’d always fancied him, and that you wanted him to…you know…’

  Emily flopped her hands to her sides in complete resignation. ‘Coral,’ she said slowly, ‘how could you believe such…such…total nonsense, such make-believe…such lies?’ She shook her head slowly, while Coral looked across, her face flushed with emotion. ‘Do you honestly think that I’d be capable of such a thing?’ Emily paused. ‘But I think you should know the truth. Nico was the guilty party in this case.’ She hesitated, looking away for a second. ‘I was in the kitchen, making us some tea, and he came in and almost trapped me against the sink—and I had to be really off with him, Coral. I didn’t exactly tell him to get lost but it amounted to the same thing.’ She paused, knowing that her heart rate had quickened at the memory of it all. ‘I was never going to say a thing about it because it didn’t matter. I was able to swat him like an irritating fly, and he got the message all right. But,’ she added, ‘I agonized over whether to tell you, to warn you, really, just what he’s like.’ She paused, reaching to put her hands on Coral’s shoulders. ‘I think you know that yourself. And I think you also know that I’d never betray you like that—we’re mates, Coral. We do trust each other…don’t we? Or I thought we did.’

  In reply, Coral threw her arms around Emily’s neck and held her tightly.

  ‘Oh, Ellie,’ she whispered, ‘I’m sorry…really, I am.’ She looked away for a moment. ‘I’m really sorry I doubted you, even for a second, Ellie…and also that I…jumped on Giovanni on Saturday like that. I was only making a point, and I felt terrible afterwards. Disgusted with myself.’

  The light suddenly began to dawn, and Emily whispered, ‘You mean…Giovanni didn’t…’

  ‘He didn’t do anything,’ Coral sniffed. ‘Of course, I’d had far too much to drink and I was grateful that he didn’t try and push me off…Well, he’s far too gallant for that, isn’t he?’ She blew her nose again. ‘I was getting my own back on you, Emmy, that’s all. Will you…forgive me?’ she added.

  Emily put her arms around Coral and held her tightly, suddenly feeling light-hearted—and light-headed. ‘Of course I will, Coral,’ she said, relieved, and embarrassed, by Coral’s confession. Her own reaction at the time, and her attitude towards Giovanni, had spelt out its message all right. She did care about him! And she was jealous! She might just as well have shouted it from the rooftops!

  Every time her mobile rang, Emily hoped that it would be some news about Rupert. Several times she’d been tempted to ring Giovanni herself, then decided against it. He had said he would get in touch if there was any change, and obviously there wasn’t so it was better for her not to interfere. It wasn’t as if she’d ever met Rupert, but Giovanni’s haunted expression after he’d seen his friend would stay in her memory for a long time. The normal suave, somewhat devil-may-care confident manner had temporarily vanished, and it was obvious he’d been shattered by the appearance of his friend.

  It wasn’t until Thursday afternoon that Giovanni got in touch and at the sound of his voice Emily’s heart leapt.

  ‘Giovanni—I’ve been waiting for your call…How is…how is Rupert…?’ She hardly dared to hear his answer, fearing the worst, but he cut in quickly.

  ‘Rupert is going to be OK,’ he said quietly. ‘He regained full consciousness last night.’ There was a long pause. ‘They think he’s going to pull through.’

  Emily realized that her heart was pounding in her chest—this time with relief at the news—but why? she asked herself. Why did it matter so much to her, anyway? But of course she knew why. It was because she cared deeply about it for Giovanni’s sake—and for Rupert’s parents, of course—but mostly for Giovanni, whose obvious distress had upset her more than she wanted to admit, and whose happiness seemed to be more important to her than she’d imagined. Her voice was shaky as she answered.

  ‘That’s wonderful, Giovanni!’ she exclaimed. ‘Tell me everything. What caused his collapse? Was it…is it…?’ She didn’t want to frame the dreaded word.

  There was silence for a moment. Then, ‘Look, I can’t tell you it all over the phone,’ he said. ‘I’m still at the hospital…but I’d love to see you, Emily. Can you meet me somewhere this evening?’ As he spoke, Giovanni crossed his fingers. He’d expected a frosty reception to his call, and was massively relieved that Emily seemed her normal self.

  ‘Of course I can!’ Emily said at once. ‘Oh, Giovanni, I’m so happy for you—for Rupert and his parents…They must be ecstatic. I was so…so afraid when there was no news…

  ‘So were we all,’ he replied grimly.

  Emily thought quickly. She didn’t want to suggest that Giovanni came to the flat again.

  ‘Giovanni, let’s meet by the river,’ she said, ‘down by the London Eye. About seven-thirty? We could have a drink or a coffee somewhere.’

  ‘OK, fine,’ he agreed.

  By the time Emily had finished everything she had to do at the office it was gone six-thirty and she knew she’d have to hurry if she wasn’t to keep Giovanni hanging around waiting for her. Downstairs in the cloakroom, she changed into a pretty pink dress. Then, after a wash and touching up her make-up, she brushed her hair and tied it back in a long ponytail. Glancing at herself in the long mirror so thoughtfully provided by the management, she wondered why her appearance mattered…but she knew the answer to that. It mattered because she was going to be with Giovanni Boselli. She wanted him to like what he saw, and she stared at her reflection for a moment. She’d never intended for this to happen, had never intended that the unlooked-for relationship should deepen at all—but somehow it had started to and she seemed powerless to stop it. Then she shook her head, cross with herself. What she did, or didn’t do, was entirely up to her and she could find plenty of good reasons not to see him ever again-if that was what she wanted.

  She turned away resolutely and left the building. The only reason she was seeing Giovanni now was to let him tell her all about his friend—who, thankfully, was going to recover. So that particular panic was over.

  She was almost twenty minutes late before she got to the Eye, and she spotted him at once—at the same time that he saw her tripping down the steps towards him. Walking swiftly to meet her, his smile broadened and he caught her hand in his, looking down at her approvingly.

  ‘It’s so good to see you, Emilee-a,’ he murmured. ‘I’ve booked us a short trip on the water…It’s such a lovely evening. I hope that’s OK?’

  ‘Perfectly OK,’ Emily replied. She loved a boat trip, and it would be a wonderfully relaxing way to sit and talk for an hour, she thought.

  Still holding her hand tightly, he led her over to the moorings and helped her onto the boat, which was waiting. There were only a handful of people already aboard and, pushing her gently in front of him, Giovanni indicated one of the seats at the back. Then he sat next to her and looked down, resting his arm across her shoulders. And Emily looked up into those mesmerizing eyes, feeling her whole body flood with an indescribable heat, making her almost breathless. Swallowing quickly, she turned away, watching the boat being untied, watching as the water began to move alongside them, watching the gulls soar hopefully. Eventually, Giovanni broke the silence between them.

  ‘Thanks for postponing whatever else you had planned for tonight, Emily,’ he said softly, and she interrupted.

  ‘I wasn’t doing anything,’ she said. She paused. ‘And I do want to hear about Rupert.’ She hesitated, thinking that now was not the moment to mention Saturday night, if she could ever bring herself to do it. ‘I thought you were never going to ring. As each day passed I thought the worst must have happened,’ she said.

  He tightened his hold on her. ‘Yes—sorry I didn’t get in touch, but there was nothing to say…All the waiting, watching, hoping, despairing…was awful, Emily. Like a nightmare.’

  ‘Were you there al
l the time?’ Emily asked.

  ‘Yes, almost,’ he replied. ‘I felt I couldn’t leave Rupert’s parents to shoulder it alone…They seemed to gain strength from me being there.’ He paused, swallowing, and, looking up quickly, Emily could see that he still seemed moved by the experience.

  Then, little by little, all the details came out—how the three at the bedside had talked quietly about old times, funny things they remembered, new plans, new hopes, anything and everything to help pass the hours. How, once or twice, Rupert had seemed to come round, then would sink back to the oblivion which enveloped him. And, as Giovanni spoke, Emily leaned into him—as if she wanted to share the crisis—and the feel of her soft body melting so deliciously into his provoked such an intense desire in Giovanni that he had difficulty in restraining himself, in not telling her how much he desired her, longed for her, wanted her for ever.

  Pulling himself together, he stared down at the water beneath them for a few seconds. ‘Have you noticed how distant all the traffic seems, even though we’re still in the middle of town?’ he murmured.

  ‘Yes,’ Emily said. ‘Any expanse of water has the effect of isolating you, doesn’t it?’ She paused. ‘But—go on—about Rupert…’

  Giovanni took a deep breath. ‘Well, the breakthrough came last night,’ he said. The nurses had made their final rounds and I was preparing to go back to my hotel. Rupert’s mother was going to have a couple of hours’ sleep in the side room while his father was going to stay up and keep watch.’ Giovanni swallowed, and something—she didn’t know what—made Emily rest her head on his shoulder, turning her face into his neck, his dark masculine scent making her body churn.

  ‘Go on,’ she said quietly.

  Headily conscious, now, of Emily’s action, Giovanni waited a few seconds, not wanting to interrupt the moment. Then, ‘I was bending slightly over Rupert, squeezing his hand…and…you know…saying, “G’night, mate-see you tomorrow”…and suddenly his eyes opened, almost lazily, you’d say, and he said…he said…’

  ‘Go on,’ Emily murmured, looking up into Giovanni’s eyes, which were wet with tears. ‘What else?’

  ‘Rupert looked straight at me and said, “Joe—Lucky Joe—what are you doing here?”’

  Recalling the event, Giovanni couldn’t go on for a second, and Emily squeezed his hand, swallowing a lump in her own throat. What a moment that must have been! For Rupert, for his parents—and for Giovanni! That he should be the first whom Rupert had responded to!

  Releasing her hand briefly, Emily took a tissue from her bag and touched Giovanni’s wet cheeks, and he didn’t stop her. Seeing him emotionally upset did not detract in any way from Giovanni’s masculinity, she thought. And it was nothing less than she would have expected from a passionate Italian male. It was part of his strength.

  ‘So,’ she said, ‘what now?’

  ‘Well, there is still a long way to go,’ Giovanni said, ‘but our worst fears are over, and Rupert’s basically a strong man…They’re sure he’ll pull through, though it’s bound to take time. But, as his mother said—when she’d stopped dancing around the place—we’ve got all the time in the world. And anything precious is worth waiting for.’

  Sitting there together on the gently chugging boat, with occasional lights beginning to come on along the riverbank, there didn’t seem any need to say much more at that moment…Giovanni revelling, not only in his good news, but in being clasped in Emily’s soft arms. Because she had responded to him in the way he was used to with women…in the last half an hour he felt that a massive emotional barrier between them had been breached, and if his luck held he may still be in with a chance.

  And Emily, with her head tucked into his neck, could only wonder at this man she was nestling into. At what a valued, loyal friend he must be to those he loved-and how disarmingly vulnerable he himself could be. Not to mention those other things—drop-dead good looks, a physique to make the mouth water and a sensuous tenderness to warm the coldest heart. So then—what of her good intentions? She mustn’t let him get to her like this…Wasn’t Giovanni Boselli the enticing chocolate that could have poison at its centre?

  And then, unbelievably and almost in slow motion and as if it was the most natural thing in the world, Giovanni took her into his arms properly, turning her so that they embraced as two lovers, his arms encasing her soft body and his dark head bent to reach her mouth. And, without stopping to think, Emily responded eagerly, loving the feel of him, the feel of his body harden against hers, the intoxicating sensuousness of their moist parted lips melding as one. Her whole body throbbed with desire, every warning instinct flying away with the breeze as he slipped his hand inside her dress and held her breast in his palm. Her flesh yielded to the magical press of his fingertips and she had difficulty in controlling her breathing.

  How long they remained there like that, neither would ever know. What they did know was that they both wished it could go on for ever, where nothing could interrupt this time of gentle lovemaking or break the delight of unexpected passion.

  Presently, Emily regained something of her self-control and sat back, pushing a wisp of hair away from her face. And, easing himself away, Giovanni looked down at her, his eyes black with continuing desire for this beguiling woman. He cleared his throat.

  ‘I could do with a drink,’ he said huskily, ‘and isn’t it time for some food?’ Though food was the last thing on his mind! ‘We’re almost back where we started from,’ he added, ‘so we’ll be getting off in a few minutes.’

  ‘I know somewhere nearby where they do good snacks,’ Emily said, ‘then I must go home, Giovanni…’

  ‘Of course,’ he replied, ‘and it was good of you to meet me tonight, Emily. I appreciate it.’ She’d never know how much!

  By now it was getting dark and the lights of the city had come on, casting gentle shafts of gold into the night sky. Not daring to glance at herself in her handbag mirror, Emily wondered whether all the erotic feelings which had engulfed her were written all over her features! But she did not regret the experience, not for a single second…Giovanni was the very first Italian she’d ever known in a close sense—and all she could think was Wow! She couldn’t begin to imagine what might have followed in a more private situation…!

  They disembarked and found the place to eat and presently, as they sat with their coffee, he said casually, ‘By the way, I have a very special invitation for you, Emilee-a,’ and she looked up at him quickly. ‘My dear Mamma is going to be sixty in October,’ he went on, ‘and there is to be a big party.’ He paused, looking across at her, melting her heart with his gaze. ‘Please say you will come, Emily. I will take you. We will go together.’

  Emily couldn’t help smiling. She’d not expected that kind of invitation. Not so soon after meeting Giovanni’s mother. ‘When is it to be?’ she asked.

  ‘On the twenty-eighth—I hope you are free,’ he said earnestly.

  ‘Well, I’ll have to look at my diary,’ she said, knowing very well that she was not booked up that month. ‘But thank you for inviting me,’ she added politely.

  She smiled up at him. She’d have to think of something, a really good excuse not to accept, she thought, after what had happened to her on the boat earlier. Her common sense was trying to tell her something! He was alluring, she admitted that, and, heaven help her, she could begin to adore him! But her deep anxiety of not being able to trust would just not leave her…No, she would not be going to Italy with Giovanni Boselli for his mother’s party, or for any other reason. Definitely, definitely not!

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  AFTER what could only be described as an incident-packed week, Emily decided that, so far as relationships were concerned, she was going to have a complete rest and not think about anyone at all for a bit. Rupert’s predicament, her father’s announcement, Coral’s confession and, most of all, her heated moments with Giovanni on the boat, must all be pushed into the background of her thoughts.

  But the rest she’d pr
omised herself was short-lived when one morning she received a call on her mobile and, hearing Coral’s voice, she frowned briefly. The two girls rarely contacted each other during office hours.

  ‘Coral, hi—what is it?’

  ‘You’ll never guess, Ellie. Steve’s just called me, and he sounded awful! Said he had to see me.’ There was a pause. ‘Something’s wrong, I know it is…I think he may be ill!’

  Emily smiled briefly. Coral was such a softie, she thought—even after the casual, heartless way Steve had dropped her, she still cared about him. ‘Well, what else did he say?’ Emily asked.

  ‘Not much—just that he had a big problem and needed to see me about it. Do…do you think I should see him, Ellie, talk to him?’

  ‘I suppose there can be no harm in doing that, Coral,’ Emily said guardedly. ‘But, you know, keep things casual.’ The memory of how hurt and upset her friend had been was still uppermost in Emily’s mind.

  They rang off and Emily sat staring into space for a few moments. The way that Steve had behaved had been so out of character it had completely shattered Coral—and mystified Emily. He was a decent, kind man—or so she’d always thought. How could he have changed overnight and been so cruel? Then her mouth tightened. Hadn’t she been dealt the same kind of blow herself? Why should anyone be surprised by anything, or anyone? People did change, she thought bitterly, even the ones you least expected to. No wonder you had to be wary of the opposite sex—of people in general.

  Although her curiosity about Steve’s phone call was killing her, Emily decided not to contact Coral later in the day. Anyway, they were hectic again at work, which more than occupied her mind. It was seven-thirty before she got home and, unusually, Coral was there first.