A withered-looking old woman with a permanent stoop appeared, dressed in black from head to toe, and gave me a smile full of gaps where some of her teeth were missing. She looked riddled with arthritis, some of her fingers stuck out at odd angles, but her eyes looked like those of someone much younger and she had incredibly sharp cheekbones. I had a feeling she was quite a stunner in her youth. I smiled back at her as she set the tray down on a small table next to my sun lounger.
‘Grazie, Rosita, grazie,’ Alec nodded, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.
‘Prego,’ she grinned.
‘Grazie,’ I added, giving her a grateful smile. My Italian was rusty, but I knew hello, goodbye, thank you, and enough to order food.
‘Bella ragazza,’ she replied, winking at Alec and kissing the tips of her fingers before whipping them away from her lips.
‘Sì, lo è,’ he smiled. She disappeared and he picked up a cloth and dipped it in the bowl of water, squeezed it, and held out his hand. I put mine in it with a wince as my scuffed elbow stretched out, followed by a gasp as that familiar crackle of energy that happened whenever we touched shot through my body.
‘What did she say to you?’
‘Beautiful girl,’ he replied as he carefully dabbed my wound.
‘And what did you say?’
‘I said yes, she is.’
‘Why are you here, Alec? Are you involved with my commercial?’
‘No, don’t worry, I got the message from Jean-Claude that you don’t want to work with me again,’ he said sharply. It was obvious I’d offended him and I wasn’t in the mood for an argument. He was right, I was starving and right now, I just wanted something in my stomach to take away the nausea I was feeling. We both stayed silent as he put some cream on my elbow, then wrapped a bandage around it, securing it with a safety pin. ‘There. I’m not exactly a trained medical professional, but it should hold up until you get it looked at by the hotel doctor tonight or tomorrow.’
‘Thanks, it will be fine.’
‘I don’t want you getting an infection. Here, drink this,’ he ordered, passing me the small shot glass. I knocked it back and shuddered, sticking my tongue out and pulling a face. Crikey, that burned. He laughed and took the glass off me and set it back on the tray.
‘Then I’ll see a doctor. Were you always this bossy?’ I asked.
‘I like to be in charge,’ he smiled.
‘Hmmm, yes you do, don’t you? Chairman of YFC and now world-renowned independent photographer who snaps his fingers and everyone jumps.’
‘Except for you. You run, or fall, frequently. At least you don’t seem to have broken anything this time. How’s your nose? You’d never know,’ he said, his eyes inspecting it.
‘It’s fine,’ I blushed, embarrassed to be reminded of that whole meeting. I groaned as my stomach vocalised its annoyance again.
‘My God, woman,’ he laughed. ‘It's a good thing I took the liberty of ordering for you when I booked the table. It should be here any minute. Can you stand?’
‘I fell off a stationery moped,’ I laughed in return. ‘It was hardly a fast-action movie collision.’
‘You look pale,’ he commented as he helped me up and led me to one of the dining chairs. ‘Then again, after that “you’ve been tangoed” look, I bet that you get that comment all of the time now.’ I looked up at him with my mouth open and he burst out laughing. ‘Please, a world-exclusive photo and you thought I wouldn’t see it? I’m just miffed I couldn’t claim credit for that one.’
‘So not funny,’ I giggled.
‘It kind of was, and the other shots of your rescue.’
‘God no,’ I groaned, covering my face with my hands. ‘How mortifying.’
‘I’m glad you and Poppie were ok. How is she?’ he asked as he opened a bottle of still water he extracted from an ice bucket at our side.
‘She’s great, got engaged recently as a matter of fact.’
‘Reece?’ He started pouring my water for me.
‘You didn’t hear?’ I asked, looking at him in surprise.
‘Hear what?’
‘He cheated on her, with a number of women behind her back. She only found out because one of them threatened to tell her, so he confessed, hoping to salvage the relationship.’
‘What a shit, I never saw that coming,’ Alec stated, shaking his head. ‘Bit of a bitch to try outing him and upsetting Poppie, too.’
‘Yes, I thought so. You know her actually,’ I nodded, grabbing one of the breadsticks from the glass in the centre of the table. ‘Your ex, Ruth.’
‘Really? Actually, I can’t act surprised, I told you I realised she was a nasty piece of work after what she did to you. I’m glad to be rid of her. She still keeps in contact with my mother, hoping one day I’ll change my mind.’
‘What’s going on here, Alec?’ I asked, chewing on my bread as I held his gaze. ‘Sitting here chatting like we’re old friends?’
‘We are old friends. We’ve known each other for over ten years, Paige.’
‘Sporadically,’ I reminded him. ‘I’ve spent more time with Jean-Claude’s chihuahua Chi-Chi than I have you and that nippy little bugger let’s no one near him.’
‘He really doesn’t,’ Alec chuckled. ‘We may not see each other often, but I follow your career, and I ask about you whenever I have dinner with Jean-Claude. I care about you, Paige, I always have, always will.’ He picked up a breadstick and put the end in his mouth, slowly biting it. My eyes lingered on his lips as I imagined him doing that to one of my suddenly swollen and aching nipples. Crap. He was some kind of Hogwarts graduate, with a magic power to make me horny. I was Wright horny. It happened every damn time I saw him.
‘I’m seeing someone. He’s really nice. His name is Spence. You’ll have seen him too, in that rescue photo. He was the firefighter who carried me to safety and hosed me down, trying to stop that tan from developing, but of course you know that failed. Anyway, we went on a date and he made me laugh, he’s really funny, I think you’d like him. I like him. He’s super fit, in that really toned and muscular way, like you, but a bit bigger, but not bulky, you know? I hate bulk. He was December in the calendar last year. You might have seen it. Ha! Wouldn’t it be funny if you’d shot it and you’d both actually already met? Anyway, I’m really happy with him, the sex is … whooo,’ I exclaimed, shooting my hand off into the air. ‘A-ma-zing! He has so much stamina. I had no idea sex could be so good, you know? I mean, there were only two before him. Toby in Grand Cayman and Marc, you know Marc, apparently he’s called The Jackhammer, but of course no one told me and, my GOD! I bet you had a bet on it too, didn’t you? Jean-Claude made a mint out…’
‘Paige,’ Alec interrupted softly, reaching over the table to clasp my hand, which I realised I’d been rapping up and down on the table in time with my twitching foot. ‘You’re babbling, like you’re prone to do. Why are you suddenly so nervous? I’m here for work and I already knew you were dating.’
‘You did? Of course you did, Jean-Claude told you. He loves to gossip.’
‘Is it serious?’
‘It can be. I mean, if you tell him a secret and he lets slip to the wrong person. You know what our industry is like.’
‘I meant is your relationship serious?’
‘Yes, I really like him.’
‘Does he make you happy?’ he asked. I looked down to see he was still holding my hand. I quickly snatched it away and put it on my chest.
‘You mean happy in here?’
‘Yes.’ He sat back in his chair and lifted his water to his mouth, taking a sip as he watched me over the rim of his glass.
‘Yes, he does,’ I nodded with a smile. I had feelings for him, not intense feelings like I’d had for Alec, but feelings all the same that I could see growing the more time we spent together.
‘Good.’ I saw Alec swallow hard and nod. But a strange look crossed his face right as I registered that I’d thought “I’d had for Alec,” not “I have fo
r Alec.” Was I really getting over my deep-rooted feelings for him? Was this thing between us just sexual attraction now? ‘I just want you to be happy,’ Alec added.
‘I am and I’d like the same for you. How about you and Tiffany? I hear marriage is on the cards.’
‘Look, here comes our first course. I hope you were serious about being hungry, as I ordered a lot of food, not sure what your favourite was.’
‘I’m really hungry,’ I grinned.
‘I’m hoping we can do this again, whenever we’re in the same city. I like spending time with you. To friends,’ he toasted with his water.
‘To friends,’ I replied, clinking his glass.
‘You’re not staying in the hotel?’ I asked as I removed my helmet and put it on the seat and he pulled off his.
‘No, I have an apartment here. I bought one in most of the cities I work in regularly, it made more financial sense than staying in The Domville each time. What are your plans tomorrow?’
‘A well-overdue lie in and just some sightseeing. I never seem to have enough time usually.’
‘Let me pick you up, I know the city inside out. We could do a walking tour and grab some lunch,’ he suggested.
‘Aren’t you busy?’
‘Not tomorrow. It’s easy to get lost if you don’t know where you’re going. I’ll be waiting down here at ten-thirty.’
‘I haven’t actually said yes,’ I reminded him.
‘Jean-Claude is holding castings for his own line all week. You really want to hang out with your two assistants for the next few days? Don’t you see enough of them? Ten-thirty, don’t be late.’
‘Yes, sir!’ I saluted. I leaned in to kiss his cheek. ‘Thank you. Other than scaring me to death by making me think I was being kidnapped for ransom, I had a fun night.’
‘Me, too. Night, Paige.’
‘Night.’ I ran up the steps, rubbing my sore hip which I was sure was going to be bruised. I turned and waved to him before heading in and up to my suite. It had been a fun night. It would be nice to spend some time with him now and then, especially when I was away from home. I cleaned my makeup off, brushed my teeth, and climbed into bed. I checked my phone to see three missed calls from Spence. I thought about ringing him back, but it was late and I wasn’t going to get the ridiculously long lie in I’d planned, so I sent him a text, letting him know that I was ok, that I missed him, and that I’d ring him tomorrow night. Working so hard without a proper holiday was starting to catch up with me.
Monday
‘Alec, stop,’ I screamed as he splashed me with water from the Trevi fountain, laughing his head off. I giggled and splashed him, making him dart a safe distance away with his precious camera around his neck. I couldn’t believe how much we’d fitted in already in one morning, with him taking non-stop pictures, quite a few of me. He insisted they were for work purposes, but I couldn’t help wondering if that were true. It was like we were young again, back in the Quarry Park in Shrewsbury. I just felt so relaxed in his company. Conversation came naturally, we were always laughing, and it certainly didn’t hurt that he was incredibly easy on the eye. But I was with Spence and he was with Tiffany. We were just friends with a past, that was all.
‘Come on,’ he called over the heads of tourists surrounding me. ‘We haven’t eaten yet and I’m starving.’
‘Me too,’ I confirmed, standing up to find I’d lost sight of him. ‘Alec?’
‘You take picture?’ asked a Chinese tourist as he stood in front of me with a hoard of his friends standing behind, watching me expectantly. I smiled politely. I knew it was a mistake putting my shades on top of my head, I’d been recognised. If I agreed to a picture with him, then I’d likely never get away, but it would be rude to refuse.
‘Sure,’ I smiled. I stepped up to him and put my arm around his waist, leaning in as I tried to find his friend with the camera.
‘What you do? Han my boyfriend!’ hissed an annoyed-looking girl as she shoved me off him and thrust her camera in my hands. ‘Just take picture already.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I exclaimed. ‘I thought he wanted a picture with me.’
‘Crazy British woman, why he want picture with you? Give me camera back,’ she scolded, snatching it off me as I stood there flabbergasted. ‘Wait, I know you,’ the Chinese girl scowled. ‘You been seeing Han?’
‘No!’
‘Then why you want picture with him and why I know you?’ she demanded, hands on her hips with fury seeping from her eyes. There was a sudden babble of excited voices, talking in Chinese so fast, my eyes couldn’t dart back and forth between their lips fast enough, but I was sure I heard my name being said as the group surged forward. ‘You Paige Taylor, supermodel! Why you not say, me and Han have picture with you,’ she nodded, her face changing in an instant from one of a scorned girlfriend to one of excitement.
‘No, me, me first,’ shouted another of the group. All of a sudden, all hell broke loose as all of the tourists started to look and I was recognised. I stepped back, trying to get some space as they all started to crowd me, but there was nowhere to go. I had the smooth travertine wall of the fountain behind me, and if they didn’t back off, I was going to end up floating in it.
‘Paige, quick, grab my hand,’ I heard Alec’s voice yell.
‘Where are you?’ I called, looking around frantically.
‘Behind you,’ he laughed, tapping me on the shoulder. I looked around and gasped. He was standing in the fountain, holding out his hand. ‘Quick, I can hear the police coming, I don’t want to get arrested.’
I grabbed his hand and he pulled me up the low wall and into the freezing cold water, which reached just under my knees. I was grateful I was dressed in flip-flops and a pair of denim shorts, and I giggled as we tried to run through it, me nearly pulling him down as I slipped on all the coins lying under the surface. I could hear the whistles of the police being blasted behind us as they tried to break through the crowds, but Alec leapt out, dragging me with him and squeezing through a small gap in the crowds at the side, and we started to run. We darted along the narrow streets, dodging our way through the insane amount of people strolling along, and I dropped my shades down to cover my eyes and hopefully disguise myself a bit better.
‘Slow down,’ I laughed, ‘I’m going to pass out.’
‘Can’t, the police are still chasing us. I could carry you,’ he grinned, his blue eyes shining with mischief.
‘Because that won’t slow you down at all! I’m serious, I can’t keep running.’
‘Ok, quick, in here,’ he ordered as he pulled me into a narrow alley between two shops. He pushed me up against the wall and grabbed my face in his hands.
‘What …. What are you doing,’ I whimpered as he pressed up against me.
‘Pretend to kiss me,’ he ordered as the noise of police whistles got closer.
‘I beg your pardon!’
‘The best way to go unnoticed is to blend in. Pretend to kiss me, like we’re a couple of young Italian lovers.’ He didn’t give me a chance to object to his crazy scheme, as he dipped his head and planted his lips at the corner of my mouth. I felt my stomach flutter, just the way it had all those years ago, and found my hands moving to clutch his slim waist as I closed my eyes and breathed him in. I could feel my chest heaving, rising and falling in unison with his, and it took a moment to realise that the police had shot past and were moving further away. Neither of us let go, until I felt Alec’s nose graze my cheek and I quickly pushed him away from me.
‘Do you think it’s safe to go?’ I asked, trying not to look at his face. I was with Spence, I was happy. I shouldn’t be reacting like this to Alec being so close to me.
‘Let’s risk it,’ he confirmed after a momentary pause. ‘Take my hand, I don’t want to lose you in the crowds.’
‘Alec, I …’
‘It’s just a hand, Paige, you’ll get lost if we get separated. I know a great restaurant not far from here where we shouldn’t be bothered,
we can eat then head on to the Colosseum. You don’t want to miss seeing that, but you may want to keep your glasses on, to avoid us being mobbed again.’
‘Ok,’ I nodded and put my hand back in his, trying to ignore that rush of excitement I got again as our skin touched.
Alec walked me back to the hotel in the dark. I was tired after such a long and eventful day, but I’d had so much fun with him. We’d seen most of the key sights and had had a delightful pasta meatball lunch, followed by ice creams as we strolled through the city. I was too full to even think about dinner, and too tired to want to do anything but have a nice hot bath and curl up in my comfortable super king-sized bed.
‘I had a fun day,’ he confirmed as he walked me across the lobby to the lifts. ‘Even though we nearly got attacked by a Chinese mob and arrested for paddling in the fountain.’
‘Me too,’ I laughed. ‘Thanks so much.’
‘What are your plans tomorrow?’
‘I don’t know, I wasn’t sure whether to hire a car and head out of the city, or to go to The Vatican and browse the museums, see the Sistine Chapel, and wander the grounds.’
‘I’ll tell you what. The weather is meant to be amazing tomorrow, why don’t I pick you up? I have a car here, we can go to Lake Martignano, there are hammocks in the trees along the shore. We can take a picnic, swim, and chill out. On Wednesday, I can take you to Vatican City. It’s been a while since I went, it would be a nice change.’
‘Don’t you have work to do?’
‘Not for the next couple of days, just like you. Say yes, save me from the boredom of my own company. I’m not like you, I don’t travel with an entourage of assistants and beauticians,’ he grinned.
‘What about Jean-Claude? He’ll be upset that he hasn’t seen you.’
‘I’m having dinner with him here in the hotel tonight actually, I’d better hurry up and go and change. Flip flops, board shorts, and a t-shirt won’t cut it in here,’ he confirmed, looking down at his watch. ‘Why don’t you join us?’
Until We Collide Page 14