Flirting in Florence

by Aimee Duffy

  HarperImpulse an imprint of

  HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

  77–85 Fulham Palace Road

  Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

  www.harpercollins.co.uk

  First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2014

  Copyright © Aimee Duffy 2014

  Cover images © Shutterstock.com

  Aimee Duffy asserts the moral right

  to be identified as the author of this work.

  A catalogue record for this book is

  available from the British Library

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction.

  The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are

  the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to

  actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is

  entirely coincidental.

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  and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

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  Ebook Edition © August 2014

  ISBN: 9780008106317

  Version 2014-07-25

  Digital eFirst: Automatically produced by Atomik ePublisher from Easypress.

  For the ninja, super-graphic-girl and queen Catco.

  I couldn't have done this without the support of you 'special' ladies.

  Contents

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Florence

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Aimée Duffy

  About HarperImpulse

  About the Publisher

  Florence

  Chapter Eighteen

  ‘This is much, much better,’ Elle said as she led them through the door of another of the Muirs’ luxury properties.

  Ciara realised that the Hollywood mansion in LA, the beach house in Miami, the townhouse in Paris and the spectacular multi-levelled house in Santorini were only a taster of their family’s wealth.

  Everything here was marble and gold with Renaissance art in the form of statues and paintings she’d have thought would be in museums, not in someone’s entrance hall. Again there was a spiral staircase and she could see their granddad’s style in the structure, or maybe Zack had helped with the design.

  Either way, now she knew why Zack was worried about giving all this up. It must be terrifying to go from having everything to nothing. Not to mention the fact he thought he’d be letting so many people down.

  ‘Elly, you’re talking like you’ve spent the last few days in a Travelodge,’ Zack teased.

  Travelodges were perfectly fine accommodation in Ciara’s opinion. The five star hotel they’d just left was stunning.

  ‘A hotel never has the same comforts,’ Elle said and on that note a woman dressed in black wearing a white apron came to greet them.

  Unsurprisingly, both of the Muirs spoke perfect Italian – or at least she assumed it was perfect by the unfaltering string of words delivered with confidence. More staff appeared and Elle must have instructed them to take the luggage upstairs because that’s what they did.

  ‘Okay, I say we get showered and then hit the bars. The sun’s going down and I don’t want to waste a night stuck in here,’ Elle said, then turned to the stairs assuming everyone would agree instantly.

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with a quiet night,’ Ciara protested. After all, her funds were running low and she’d promised Elle she’d show Zack he could have a great time without spending a fortune.

  Elle whirled on her. ‘A night out isn’t going to break the bank, Cia.’

  A night out with those three could put her in debt for the rest of her life. But they had a point too. She didn’t want to spend the last stop of her trip stuck in a house, even if the house was massive and incredible.

  Luckily, she’d abused the wifi at the airport and had pre-planned their trip to the city thanks to travel websites. And the cheapest place for a night out was somewhere the tourists didn’t go much, or so said the reviewer.

  ‘Fine but if we’re going anywhere it’s the bars in Piazza di Santo Spirito. I hear it’s not as touristy as the other places.’

  Elle liked exclusive and Ciara took her shrug as a win.

  ‘I think tonight I’m going for classy rather than slutty,’ Gem said, following Elle up the stairs.

  Hand in hand with Zack, they trailed up behind her friends.

  Elle laughed. ‘There’s more to it than wearing a nice dress, Gem. If you get on a guy’s knee two minutes after you meet him, it doesn’t matter what you’ve got on.’

  ‘It’s not slutty if he’s into it. What do you think Zack? Is it better to go with the buzz or be a tease and frustrate the guy?’ Gem turned to them with genuine curiosity in her eyes.

  His cheekbones darkened. ‘Um, I don’t think I should answer that.’

  Gem stopped on the stairs and scowled. ‘So you think it’s slutty?’

  He held his hands up. ‘Didn’t say that. I meant different guys see things differently. Just like you three.’

  ‘What do you think?’ Gem was relentless when her temper got the better of her.

  ‘Well, that depends on the girl.’

  Ciara was beginning to hate this conversation. ‘Look, to each her own. Can we drop this?’

  ‘You don’t need to be jealous, Ciara. He’s all about your fufu. I want a guy’s opinion on this.’ Gem folded her arms and waited while Ciara’s face flushed.

  ‘Just bloody answer her so we can get ready!’ Elle demanded.

  Zack took his time in answering, despite Elle’s death glare. ‘Some guys like it when a woman takes charge and makes the first move, and almost every man I’ve met wants complete honesty up front. If you’re clear it’s just about sex, I don’t think that’s slutty. It’s actually kinda hot.’

  Ciara had to bite her lip to stop herself from asking if that was a jibe at her. It wasn’t like she lied to him in LA. It had been crazy sex – the wild, furious, all-night-long kind – and she’d been clear about her no-relationship rule the next day.

  But now… her reasons for keeping things light were weak and if he asked where she thought they were she’d be lying if she said they were still in holiday fling territory. Sometime after she’d left Miami she’d realised that much pain wasn’t normal – it was more like she’d been grieving.

  So she tuned out of the rest of the conversation and let Zack lead her to their room, situated at the opposite side of the house from Elle’s. But even if she was in the mood for a round before they went out, she doubted any sound would carry through the thick concrete walls.

  She went to her case and started to unpack a few dresses while Zack disappeared to the ensuite to start the shower.

  It was better to keep her mouth shut and not ask if he meant her when he’d been talking to Gem. After all she’d been the one to kiss him first. Feck, she’d been the one so frantic to get him naked but unwilling to let him go that he had to make the decision for her.

  And putting it all down to super pheromones and chemical reactions seemed like a stretch, especially since she cared about him to the po
int she hurt when he hurt – which she’d been doing ever since he got to Ibiza.

  God this really was a feckin mess, wasn’t it?

  ‘Wanna share to save time?’ Zack asked. He’d disposed of his clothes and was gloriously naked as he leaned against the doorway to the bathroom.

  Her mouth got dry and her fingers stung at the tips, like they’d been away from him for far too long and were having withdrawals.

  No way was this just pheromones. Borderline addiction, but not a chemical reaction.

  But that was the thing about addicts, they got bored and moved onto a bigger high eventually, didn’t they?

  ‘Ciara are you okay?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine. Look why don’t you go first? If I get in there the water will be cold before we get out.’ She didn’t mean to sound so distant, but the idea that she was hooked on him was freaking her out.

  ‘Gem’s wrong. That’s not why I’m here. It’s about more than sex. I like spending time with you, too.’

  It took her mind a minute to grasp what he meant – Gem’s vag jokes. She rolled her eyes and forced a smile. ‘After four years I know when not to take Gem seriously.’

  He treated her to a delicious half-smile. ‘Good. Now how about you let me wash your back?’

  Her gaze darted to his hands. His long fingered, strong hands that happened to be hanging by his sides, framing his hips and a very impressive appendage. Heat sizzled in her lower belly until all her worries disappeared under a craving so deep, she wasn’t sure it would ever disappear.

  And Ciara wasn’t enough of an eejit to refuse what he was offering. No woman on the planet would be. Especially since time was running out.

  ***

  Thanks to Ciara’s online hunt for cheap and cheerful nightlife, they found a little restaurant on the Piazza where the food smelled heavenly and the dishes were reasonably priced. Even Elle didn’t seem to mind when she clocked a table full of delicious Italian men in suits nearby.

  ‘Okay this wasn’t a terrible idea,’ Elle admitted, using the menu as a prop to spy on the men. ‘You don’t see local talent like that in the mainstream bars.’

  ‘I bet they’re out to relax after a hard week at the office. I’d be happy to help them de-stress,’ Gem added.

  Ciara wrinkled her nose but couldn’t stop from grinning. She’d had a perma-smile since the not-so-relaxing shower she’d shared with Zack earlier. And now, even with Elle and Gem sharing the same table, there was definitely a romantic feel in the air. The sun was almost down for the night and the outside tables were covered by a canopy lined with lanterns giving the restaurant a magical aura.

  Zack leaned close to whisper in her ear. ‘You’re awfully quiet this evening.’

  It wasn’t intentional. They’d been in Ibiza a mere eight hours ago. All that morning sex, travelling and then a bout of pre-evening sex had really done her in. Not to mention the looming deadline reminding her that she was a few days away from never seeing Zack again. It didn’t help that he didn’t seem bothered by the impending separation, and worse was the fact she shouldn’t care either.

  ‘I’m starving,’ she said so she didn’t have to bend the truth.

  He laughed and linked his fingers through hers beneath the table. ‘You’ll need to top up your energy levels for later. I have plans.’

  ‘Ice cream plans?’ she asked, then bit her lip when she realised her friends were at the table too.

  Elle made a gagging noise while Gem moaned, ‘Are we ever going to get the details?’

  ‘If you want sex advice, Gem, watch porn or better yet, google it,’ Zack replied.

  Gem crossed her arms and frowned at him. ‘I don’t need advice, I just love the details.’

  ‘Well I don’t,’ Elle butted in. ‘Let’s order then talk about something else.’

  ‘Fine by me,’ Zack said, then swooped down to nibble on Ciara’s earlobe.

  Her reaction was instant. Blood simmered through her veins and her breath caught in her throat. Anywhere else she’d give into the sensations but here, now and with her friends as witnesses, she fought for composure and pulled away.

  ‘Zack!’

  His grin was wicked and his eyes were so dark she could drown in them. The heat raged on in her stomach but she refused to give into it – she couldn’t.

  ‘This is getting ridiculous. You two need to lock yourself in a room for a week and get it out of your systems so you can both act normal in public,’ Elle said.

  Ice spread through her veins as reality set in. That was never going to happen. They were leaving soon, far too soon. Even a week didn’t seem long enough. Even if they had a month left she doubted she’d be ready to say goodbye.

  The amusement disappeared from Zack’s eyes too and he squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll behave.’

  ‘Thank God for that!’ Elle, seemingly satisfied with his promise, waved over a waiter to give their order.

  Ciara’s head was spinning so much she ordered the first thing that jumped out at her on the menu. Luckily it was a gorgeous, creamy pasta dish and Zack ordered something with a tomato and basil sauce which she got to try.

  Still, she didn’t track much of the conversation and when the place mostly cleared out and shifted gears for the night, she barely even touched the glass of wine she’d ordered as she pretended to listen to the others.

  Zack didn’t exactly behave, but even Elle couldn’t moan at the occasional kisses he placed on Ciara’s head or when he wrapped his arms around her to pull her back so she rested against his chest. She was very aware of him, just not much else and gave up pretending to listen in favour of looking around the Piazza at the church and quaint little buildings.

  ‘Florence is gorgeous, isn’t it?’ he asked.

  She nodded, thinking now was the time to snap out of this heavy mood. Turning to face him, she said, ‘I’ve found a way to see all of it and for under a hundred Euros. Impressed?’

  Zack’s eyebrows climbed his forehead.

  ‘Don’t be dubious. It’ll be fun.’ She hoped.

  ‘Count us out,’ Elle said.

  ‘We didn’t come to one of the top fifty fashion capitals of the world to look at paintings,’ Gem agreed. ‘And the designer outlets here are full of great deals!’

  The day she could afford Prada, even at 10% off, she might refer to the designer clothes as deals.

  ‘What are you inflicting on me tomorrow then?’ he asked.

  ‘Can I borrow your phone?’ she held her hands out. When his brows pulled together she explained, ‘There’s this Arttour iPhone app I want to download.’

  He handed it over silently while Elle laughed.

  ‘Looks like she’s dragging you round the museums tomorrow,’ Elle said, like that was the most horrifying thing ever.

  ‘Some of the Renaissance pieces are incredible.’ He grinned at her, all of his confusion gone.

  Ciara couldn’t resist, she stuck her tongue out at Elle. She knew he’d be into art. After quickly downloading the app she handed back his phone to show she had no ulterior motives – like checking his texts, Twitter account or call log. No matter how tempting.

  ‘You two are weird,’ Gem said.

  Elle grinned at Gem. ‘And perfectly matched. Oh well, it means we can spend some serious time at the shops!’

  The waiter set down a bottle of wine with fresh glasses in front of Elle and Gem that none of them had ordered. ‘The gentlemen to your right insist that you try this.’

  Ciara glanced over at the same time the others did. The table of businessmen was down to two and she had to admit, they were the finest of the bunch.

  Elle told the waiter she’d be sure to let them know how the wine was, then poured a glass for her and Gem. ‘Okay, before we go over there are ground rules.’

  ‘I really don’t think Zack and I were invited,’ Ciara said, not really wanting to watch her friends go into full-on flirt mode. She’d much rather go back to the house and have a long, slow, lazy session wi
th her date.

  ‘The rules are for Gem.’

  Gem pouted and she and Zack both covered their mouths to stop from laughing.

  ‘I’m not following your five-point seduction plan. They bought us expensive wine which means they want into our knickers, why bother with small talk?’

  Now that she had a better understanding of the pressure on Gem to succeed, she could see why she’d want to go out and have as much fun as she could before real life started. Elle didn’t seem impressed though.

  ‘I don’t think they’re the kind of men we can just walk over and invite home, Gem. A little tact goes a long way.’

  ‘I think this might be our cue to leave them to it,’ Zack said to her and she nodded.

  Gem tilted her chin, a sign she wasn’t happy with Elle. ‘Fine, I’ll be tactful but the one at the far side’s mine. He’s making me tingly already.’

  ‘Definitely time to go,’ Zack said, pulling her up from the chair.

  Ciara had to agree.

  He pulled a few notes from his wallet and put them down on the table. A few hundred Euro notes!

  She waited until they’d said goodbye and they were walking through the dimly lit streets before she turned to him. ‘Why did you leave all that money there? The whole thing probably didn’t cost more than a hundred and we were supposed to split it.’

  He stopped walking and frowned. ‘Habit, I guess. I forgot.’

  He forgot to make sure he didn’t have to give away more than she had left for the rest of the trip? She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

  ‘Zack, do you even want to follow your dreams? I can’t help if you think nothing of paying that kind of money for things on a daily basis.’

  ‘I get it, Ciara. It was a mistake. Can we drop this?’ he asked, all his usual humour gone as he got serious.

  Great, now she was a nagging non-girlfriend. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.’

  He sighed and pulled her close. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, he said, ‘It’s me who should be sorry. I asked for your help. Getting annoyed because you’re helping isn’t fair.’