The Boselli Bride

‘Oh, well, that’s largely up to me,’ he said casually. ‘But I’ll probably be there in the next week or so.’ He leaned across to top up her glass. ‘I have a flat in London, so I can come and go as I please.’

Hmm, Emily thought. A flat in London, and he’d said he’d a flat here in Rome too—all the education he spoke of had obviously provided him with a very sound income! She would find it difficult to be able to afford a flat of her own—sharing the rent and expenses with Coral was the only way it could work for her.

At that moment her mobile rang and, frowning, Emily reached into her bag to answer it. She hoped it wasn’t Coral to say she’d landed herself in some sort of fix!

It wasn’t Coral—it was Paul. And Emily smiled involuntarily at the sound of her brother’s voice.

‘Hi, Emmy,’ Paul said. ‘Just checking up—you’re due home tomorrow, aren’t you?’

‘Paul! How good to hear you,’ Emily said, smiling across at Giovanni briefly.

‘Has it all gone well?’ Paul wanted to know. ‘Found your way around OK? Where are you now?’

‘Everything’s gone like…like a dream,’ Emily said, ‘and I’m sitting in a lovely restaurant having the most fabulous meal…’

‘Is Coral there? Let me have a word,’ Paul said. He and Coral had always got on well.

‘Oh…well…Coral’s not with me,’ Emily said casually. ‘We’ve sort of…parted company, just for this evening…’

‘Oh? You’re on your own?’

‘No—not exactly…I’m having dinner with…with a friend.’

There was silence for a second. ‘Someone you know?’

‘Well, I do now.’ Emily smiled, looking across at Giovanni again. She wished Paul wouldn’t worry about her like this. ‘I’ve met Giovanni…Giovanni Boselli,’ she said hurriedly, ‘and Giovanni has been a great help in finding me a couple of places I couldn’t locate, and now we’re enjoying a fantastic meal, Paul…I must bring you here one day.’

She could just imagine the expression on Paul’s face. Where his sister was concerned, he saw predatory males on every corner.

‘Oh…well, then,’ Paul said. ‘Have a good time, and safe travelling tomorrow, Emmy. I’ll ring you later on…’ He paused, lowering his voice. ‘Take care, won’t you…be careful, Emmy.’ Then, ‘Dad sends his love, by the way.’

They ended the call and Emily replaced the phone in her bag, not looking at Giovanni, but she knew he hadn’t taken his eyes off her. She decided not to tell him that Paul was her brother. Let him think what he liked. And, for a ridiculous moment, Giovanni felt a surge of jealousy run through him at the way Emily’s eyes had lit up as she’d spoken to the man at the other end. It had to mean that it was someone special…even though she’d said she wasn’t in a relationship at the moment.

By the time they’d finished the meal—with neither of them having the chocolate mousse—it was almost midnight, and reluctantly they left the restaurant and began strolling back to where Giovanni had parked his car. Emily sighed, taking a deep breath as she looked up at the sky.

‘This evening has been the perfect way to end my tour,’ she said. ‘Thank you, Giovanni.’

‘I consider it to have been a…privilege to have your company, Emily,’ he replied, and there was no teasing note in his voice as he said it.

What happened in the next couple of seconds would always remain a blur in Emily’s memory—but, without any warning at all, her ankle suddenly twisted horribly and with surprising force—so that she found herself sprawling to the ground, her arms flailing helplessly at something, anything, to help her. And, although Giovanni had been walking very close beside her, he was not able to do a thing to stop her falling. Then, with an incoherent curse, he sprang forward and grabbed hold of her and pulled her to her feet.