A Place in the Sun(10)

“It’s supposed to be a beautiful day,” she continued.

I nodded. “I might test the water, try to tan my pale English arse a bit.”

She giggled and stepped closer, rounding behind the front desk and propping her elbows up on top of it. “I mean to ask you…” She glanced out the door and then back to me, working up the courage to continue. “The first day, you were with the two guys…”

“Massimo and Gianluca?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes! I was wondering, um, how you became to know them?”

“How I met them?” I asked, making sure I’d understood her.

She nodded.

I explained to her how they’d helped me when I’d passed out in the square, how they’d carried me into the abandoned bed and breakfast across the square and then suggested I get a room here.

“I didn’t know them or anything, but they were very nice to help me out.”

“And Gianluca? He helped too?”

I frowned, a bit confused. “Yes. Why?”

She smiled. “Many girls in the village…lo amano.”

The way she spoke about him, the slight glow on her cheeks proved that Chiara was likely one of these girls.

“Love,” she continued, as if I hadn’t understood her point already.

“Does he date any of them?” I asked before I could stop myself.

She shook her head vehemently. “He’s, umm…” Her cheeks went red as cherries. “He sometimes goes just for one night or so. Nothing serious.”

Interesting.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs behind us and Chiara straightened up to greet the guests trickling down. I offered her a wave and promised to chat soon, enticed by the possibility of her continuing to spill info about Gianluca.

Like the day before, the square was quiet in the early morning hours. Shutters were locked tight, restaurants were closed, umbrellas and chairs were stacked out of the way. I scratched the sleepy cat on the boat cover again (lazy bugger) and reminded myself to bring him back a bit of meat from my breakfast.

Small trucks and carts were driving up and down the road for their early morning deliveries and midway to The Blue Marlin, I glimpsed the beginnings of an open-air market. Trucks and stalls, small tables, and umbrellas were popping up. None of them were ready for customers yet, but I surveyed their goods as I passed. A few of them were selling fresh produce from around the region, fruits and vegetables in every color. There was salami and cheese, pesto and olive oil, lemons the size of my head! A woman at a flower stand rearranged buckets of fresh blooms and I longed to buy some, but I had nothing to store them in back in my small room.

Vendors smiled and nodded at me as I strolled by, and I promised to return after breakfast. I could watch them setting up from my perch on the patio at The Blue Marlin. My American friends weren’t there, so I ate alone, treating myself to eggs and bacon and a second cup of milky tea. I told myself I wasn’t in a rush to leave; I was enjoying the morning, but really I was lingering there, hoping to catch another glimpse of Gianluca.

He was nowhere to be found, but in the middle of my breakfast I’d locked onto a woman across the street. She stood out among the crowd of vendors with her long blonde hair and pale skin. Bright red lipstick stained her lips and her forehead was covered by a bit of fringe. She was wearing this amazing blue dress, all tight up top and flowing around her legs. Gold bangles clinked on her wrists as she worked to unload racks of clothes. She wasn’t the only vendor selling clothing, but hers were the most stylish. She had loose linen shirts and bright sundresses. I already had my eye on a few of them when she stood back, wiped her brow, and turned her sights on The Blue Marlin.

I tried not to stare too much as she breezed past me, but I caught a quick flash of her perfume; it was a floral scent I recognized from a shop back home in London. When she emerged a second later with a to-go cup in her hand, she paused at the table in front of me and popped off the black plastic lid.

I watched her tear open a packet of sugar and dump it in, and then I leaned forward, knowing in that moment that I had to make this girl my friend.

“I really like the clothes you’re selling.”

She glanced over with a prepared smile, but it faded as her eyes fell on me.

“You.”

I leaned back in my chair, caught off guard. Do I know her?

She realized her mistake a moment too late and then laughed.

“Sorry, you don’t know me, but aren’t you the girl who passed out in the square the other day?”

I inwardly groaned. How many people had witnessed my embarrassing moment? I’d hoped it’d been contained to Massimo and Gianluca, but if this girl knew about it, there was no telling how many others had seen it as well.

“Yes. I’m the utterly naff girl who can’t ride trains without getting sick. I guess it’s my superpower.”

She grinned. “Don’t worry about it. I only know about it because my boyfriend was one of the guys who helped you. He told me about it afterward, and—”

“Who?!” I croaked. “Who is your boyfriend?”

She beamed. “Massimo. He’s brilliant isn’t he?”

I hadn’t known relief could feel so bloody good. “Yes. Absolutely brilliant. And handsome too,” I added with a big smile.

She was clearly smitten, completely lighting up when she mentioned him. She was quite beautiful up close, with round eyes and a small nose. Her skin was a million shades lighter than mine, but it worked on her. She pulled off the ethereal fairy look quite nicely.