A Dangerous Solace

‘We will have lunch tomorrow, yes? I would like to know how you are enjoying Rome.’

She looked properly at Maria Benedetti and realised the woman who had so disapproved of Josh was offering her an olive branch.

‘Yes, I would like that,’ she fumbled, thinking of Friday. Thinking of her ticket. Thinking of the man beside her who still hadn’t asked her to stay. She knew now that he wouldn’t.

But she had relaxed, and she realised it probably had less to do with the Principessa and more to do with the chip on her shoulder which had been whittled down in the weeks she’d spent with Gianluca.

She wasn’t standing out in this crowd. She belonged here every bit as much as Maria Benedetti.

And it wasn’t just the dress. Although it helped.

Smiling a little for the first time all evening, she looked around the room, taking in the crowd—and then she saw him.

‘Ava?’ He lifted his hand in a half wave.

Josh appeared like a mirage in front of her, tall and thin in his tux, tugging on his bow tie.

‘I can never manage these things. Alessia fiddled with it in the car and now look at it.’ He wasn’t quite meeting her eyes and she could see the nerves in him.

Her first instinct was to straighten it for him, but then she remembered he wasn’t her little brother any more. He was a grown man. She should treat him that way.

Not even questioning why, she threw her arms around him.

He hugged her back awkwardly.

‘It’s okay, sis,’ he muttered in her ear. ‘I’ll get you out of this.’

She looked at him in surprise, about to tell him there was nothing to get her out of, but instead she hugged him again. It was so good to see him. It was so good to have the courage to show him that.

The curse had been broken, she thought a little fancifully. She hadn’t realised until this moment how she had carried his sentiments around with her for seven years. Rich, disappointed and alone. I’m not going to spend my life alone and unloved, she thought, because no matter where life takes me my brother will always love me.

She had a big smile on her face when a small hand touched her elbow and she recognised Alessia, five feet of crackling energy. She had hardly changed.

‘Your gown is so beautiful. You look like a princess. Gianluca, she looks like a princess! Why have you been keeping her locked up? I thought we’d have to come up to Rome and break you out, Ava.’

‘Gianluca has been very kind,’ Ava heard herself say sincerely, and caught the look of surprise on his face.

‘He stole you,’ Alessia accused.

Well, what did she say to that?

Gianluca put a glass of champagne into her hand.

Other people joined them. Gianluca’s cousin Marco and his wife, Valentina—the couple she had already met. She liked Tina. There was something down-to-earth about her that made her wish all of this were real. She would have made a good friend.

A very pregnant good friend.

‘I miss champagne,’ she said, indicating Ava’s glass.

‘It’s not very good,’ Ava lied.

Tina smiled and, nudging her elbow, steered her away from the group.

‘I saw you being introduced to Aunt Dragon. How did it go?’

‘The Principessa was most kind.’

‘Really? How odd. She’s usually brutal to other women. I guess it’s come as a shock to her to be introduced to one of Gianluca’s girlfriends.’

Ava was about to blurt out, I’m not his girlfriend, when Tina said cheerfully, ‘In fact you’re the first. You’re not Sicilian, are you?’

Baffled, Ava shook her head.

Tina moved a little closer. ‘A virgin?’

‘Pardon?’

‘No, you’ve got that look. That well-loved look.’ The other woman gave her a little smile. ‘Don’t turn around, Ava, but Gianluca hasn’t taken his eyes off you. I think he’s worried about what I’m telling you. So I’ll make it quick. He’s a nightmare for women. Looks gorgeous, and he’s got the title, all that money. Willing women for Gianluca are like—I don’t know...ice in Siberia. Too much of a good thing, yes?’

Yes, she knew. But she felt it like another punch to her chest wall.

‘I’ve never seen him so happy.’

‘Happy?’

Gianluca stepped up to her and for a moment Ava wondered if he’d heard. He took her hand and wordlessly drew her away from the group.

‘You need air,’ he said, almost offhand.

Ava gave Tina a little shrug, but the other woman gave her a wink.

On the terrace he removed his jacket to cloak her shoulders. Ava shook her head, backing up.

‘We need to talk.’

* * *

She was incredibly beautiful tonight.

But it wasn’t like the beauty he had seen in her unguarded moments—waking up first thing in the morning, her eyes sleepy-soft, murmuring silly things to him that made him want to move mountains for her...or just kiss her.