‘This is amazing.’ Emily let out a small sigh of appreciation.
‘I’m glad you like it. Let’s settle in and meet for dinner in about an hour.’
She glanced at him, presumably surprised at the terseness of his voice, but he couldn’t help it. Somehow in the past few days he’d been sidetracked from the true purpose of this trip. Had got caught up in Emily, in her company, her conversation and, of course, the fateful kiss itself. He had seen some of her vulnerabilities even if he didn’t understand them and in so doing he’d lost sight of his goal to find his sister. Not good. His family meant everything to him. More than that, he would not break the promise he’d made himself after Lydia and the pain and humiliation of her rejection—never again would he get involved in any depth at all, never again would he put his feelings on the line.
‘Dinner sounds good,’ she said.
He nodded; it would give him time to contact Samar, the cocoa-farm owner, and ask him again about Jodi. See if he had remembered anything else about how she had been, whether she had mentioned anything about friends or acquaintances or plans. He would also need to request that Samar didn’t mention Jodi to Emily. At this stage there was no point—after all, he might be able to discover what he needed without involving Emily at all.
Once in his cottage he pulled his phone out. ‘Samar. It’s Luca...’
Preliminaries over, Luca segued into what he really wanted to talk about, ‘I was wondering about Jodi’s visit to Jalpura. She mentioned a friend’s name and I wanted to look them up, but I’ve lost the message Jodi sent me and I can’t get hold of her at the moment. Did she mention anyone to you?’
There was a pause as Samar clearly gave the matter some thought. ‘She spoke a lot about the film festival and her job there and I believe she did mention meeting the royal princess. I got the impression it was more than a meeting, more of a friendship, but I am sure you wouldn’t forget that. Plus it wouldn’t be that easy to just look up royalty.’ A laugh travelled down the line. ‘I am sorry, Luca. I cannot remember anyone else.’
‘Don’t worry. It isn’t that important.’ Royalty? Luca’s brain whirred. Jodi certainly hadn’t mentioned meeting royalty.
‘Perhaps you could ask Jodi for an introduction,’ Samar continued. ‘Get royal endorsement for your chocolate.’
‘I’ll do that. Thank you. And, could I ask a favour? Please do not mention Jodi in front of Emily tomorrow. There is a slightly complicated situation going on and...’
‘You do not need to explain, my friend. Women are complicated.’
Goodbyes said, Luca disconnected and began to pace as he tried to figure out what to do with this new information, wished that Samar had recalled it when he’d spoken to him weeks before to question him. It was a slim lead that might lead nowhere but it was better than nothing and he would definitely follow it up.
A glance at his watch and he headed to the door, exited his cottage and headed for Emily’s. He’d keep dinner quick and get back to do some research into the Jalpuran royal family.
He knocked on Emily’s door, braced himself for the impact. She truly did stun him anew every time he saw her and he wished she didn’t. Didn’t understand the visceral punch and it unsettled him that he couldn’t seem to douse or control it.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
‘Ready.’ Dressed in black smart trousers and a tunic top, she looked perfectly presentable in her usual understated way. He sensed it was deliberate, that she dressed to eschew attention, to deflect notice.
She picked up a small evening bag from the table by the door and stepped outside into the balmy scented evening, pulled the door shut behind her.
He led the way to the outdoor terrace where tables dotted the mosaic tiles and it was only now, as a waiter materialised, pulled out their chairs, lit candles and provided menus, that he really took in the setting and its implications. The scent of frangipani rode gently on the air, the flicker of candles added to the twinkle of the fairy lights that artfully bedecked the surroundings. The tables were placed discreet distances apart and as he glanced around he saw the place was full of couples. And for a crazy moment he imagined that he and Emily were here together as a couple, that he had the right to lean across the table and brush his lips against hers, to hold her hand as they chose their meals, to play footsie under the table.
Resolutely he turned his attention to the menu just as the waiter approached, held out a basket filled with garlands of flowers. ‘Would you like to choose one for your beautiful lady?’ he asked.
He saw Emily open her mouth to deny the need but all of a sudden Luca wanted to choose some flowers, wanted her to put them in her hair or round her neck. To jazz up the plainness of her outfit and show off her beauty. ‘Of course,’ he said and studied the different choices, settled on a white jasmine, took it out and leaned across the small intimate table and carefully tucked it into her hair, felt his fingers tremble at the feel of her silken strands, heard her breath catch too.
Leaning back, he surveyed his handiwork. ‘Beautiful,’ he said. The waiter beamed at them both and moved away.
‘You didn’t need to say that. I mean, you’re right, it’s probably easier to let them think we’re a couple like everyone else here. But there’s no need to overdo it.’
‘I wasn’t. I was simply stating a fact. You do look beautiful.’
He’d swear she shifted slightly on her seat, looked more than a touch uncomfortable. ‘Thank you. I guess.’
‘It’s not an insult.’
‘I know.’
‘Then why has it made you so uncomfortable?’
‘I told you, I don’t think looks are relevant.’
‘So, if we were a couple you wouldn’t want me to say you look beautiful?’