Just for the briefest moment she felt the touch of his fingers on her hand, as it lay inert on the bar-top.
‘Perhaps,’ he said quietly, ‘we might try and find out.’
He shifted position, leant towards her slightly. There was a quickening in his voice as he spoke.
‘Eloise, would you have dinner with me? Just dinner. Here—now. Just so we can... I don’t know...talk things through, maybe? Or maybe not talk them through. Maybe just have a companionable meal together? See how we get on? I won’t pressure you—you have my word. And besides...’ He looked at her now. ‘Pressure is the last thing we need now—either of us.’ He took a breath. ‘So, what do you say?’
There was a diffidence in his voice, an uncertainty. It struck her that never had Vito ever sounded uncertain before. Unsure of her response.
But he always knew what my response was going to be, didn’t he? He knew I’d just acquiesce instantly, totally! Go along with everything he said, everything he wanted!
A poodle—that was what her plain-speaking mother had called her. Jumping up eagerly every time he said, Walkies! He hadn’t been arrogant about it, or demanding, but she’d always gone along with him in everything. She’d kept telling herself to be careful, but in the end she hadn’t been careful at all, had she?
But now?
What was the truth of it? What was the truth of how she felt about Vito? How could she know?
All she knew was that she had to find out. Because now, with the future she was facing, it was essential for her to make the right decision about Vito—about what she meant to him and he to her.
And what he would feel when he—
No, that was too far, too fast. For now this was about themselves, only that. That was what she must first discover.
So, slowly, she nodded her head. Saw his eyes flare with relief, with gladness. Felt a little lift inside her in response.
He lifted a hand, had the barman scurrying over to him.
‘We’ll be dining here,’ he said. ‘We’d like the menu, please.’
A minute later the maître d’ glided out of the restaurant, greeting Vito with respectful familiarity, assuring him that standards were every bit as high now, despite... He grimaced, left it at that. Being tactful about the change in ownership.
Five minutes on and they were seated at their table, their choices for dining made. A strange, powerful sense of familiarity encompassed her as she sat across the table from Vito—as she had sat a hundred times, in a score of Viscari Hotels across Europe. Yet again she felt emotions tumble about inside her head, jumbling the past and the present. So familiar—and yet utterly changed.
But it feels good to be here with him...
Emotion flickered like a candle in her head, casting light and shadows.
It feels...right.
She veered away from the thought again, knowing with a steadying breath that above all she must be careful...cautious. The day had brought so much turmoil to her...
She took another little steadying breath. Vito was right—they needed calm. That was it. Calmness, ordinariness. Ease...
No pressure. No pressure at all.
She felt herself steady and the candle ceased to flicker, burning calmly instead.
When the chosen wine arrived, instinctively Eloise moved to cover her glass. She sensed Vito’s eyes, curious on her, and gave an awkward smile.
‘Empty calories,’ she said, knowing she must give a reason. Then, with sudden decision, she took her hand away, let the sommelier fill her glass. Half a glass would not hurt her.
She felt Vito’s eyes on her, warm now, and was aware that his gaze was sweeping over her figure. It filled her with self-consciousness, and she was glad her top was as loosely cut as it was, despite her gain in weight being only slight.
‘You look beautiful,’ he said, his voice as warm as his gaze.
Eloise felt colour stain her cheeks. ‘Don’t—’ she said. It was half a whisper, half a plea.
Immediately his expression changed. ‘I’m sorry—I have no right—’