accentuating the length of her dark eyelashes. He picked up his copy of the menu which the waiter had just given them, trying to concentrate on the selection of dishes on offer.
‘You’ve obviously been here before, Giovanni,’ Emily said with her eyes on her own menu. ‘What do you recommend amongst all this?’
‘I can recommend just about everything,’ he said at once, ‘but it depends on what you feel like.’
After a few moments, Emily put down her menu. ‘I’ve made my decision,’ she said lightly. ‘I’ve decided that you can order for both of us.’ She paused. ‘And I shall trust your choice unequivocally.’
He shrugged, grinning across at her. ‘Well, if you’re going to live dangerously, here goes,’ he said. ‘And anyway, in all matters, large or small, I like to think that any woman is perfectly safe in my hands.’
Just then, the waiter came to their table and, as Giovanni gave their order for wine, Emily gazed out of the window, swaying her shoulders lightly to the rhythm of the popular medley the pianist was playing. The hotel was situated at a spot overlooking the Spanish Steps, affording a bird’s eye view of the mellow roofs of old Rome, and Emily felt grateful, again, for having met Giovanni—because he was right. She would probably have never come across this charming restaurant, and at this moment, with stars beginning to pin-prick the darkening night sky outside, and the soft lighting and friendly atmosphere in the candlelit room, Emily felt as if she had been transported to an enchanted island. And she didn’t want to be rescued from it—not just yet!
Giovanni broke into her reverie. ‘I’ve ordered white wine, Emily,’ he said, ‘and for the meal, I thought grilled tuna with tomatoes and taggia olives, followed by suckling pig in sweet milk sounded about right. Plus a mixed salad.’ He paused. ‘I hope you approve.’
‘Heartily.’ Emily smiled.
‘And we’ll consider dessert later,’ Giovanni went on as the waiter departed. ‘Their chocolate mousse with hot chocolate sauce is a known favourite,’ he added.
‘Well, if I’ve room, that will certainly be the one for me,’ Emily said lightly, and he grinned.
‘I thought so,’ he said. ‘That’s why I mentioned it.’
Emily kept her eyes lowered for a moment. If he thought he knew her so well, she’d better watch what she said in future. This man seemed able to infiltrate her persona without even trying. He was getting close—dangerously close—she thought. But…she’d relax and enjoy it—just for tonight. There was no harm in accepting the fact that she was liking the feelings which Giovanni was arousing in her—the sense that she was not only liked, but that she was desired. And, in any case, these trifling few days would soon pass into history and would simply come in the category of harmless holiday meetings which never came to anything—and which never meant anything. Which was exactly how she wanted it. This time tomorrow she’d be back in the flat—alone—because Coral was going to spend the weekend with her parents, with just the unpacking and the laundry to fill her thoughts.
Their wine arrived and Giovanni raised his glass. ‘Let’s drink to…let’s drink to this evening,’ he murmured.
Emily picked up her own glass and gently clinked it against his. ‘To this evening,’ she replied slowly, letting the sparkling bubbles tease her lips and tongue. ‘This is wonderful,’ she added.
When the food arrived, Emily looked down at her plate. ‘This is rather…generous…’ she said. ‘I hope I can manage it all.’
‘Do your best,’ Giovanni said as he unfolded his napkin. ‘You look to me as if you need just a little building up, Emily.’
But he didn’t mean that, and shouldn’t have said it, he thought as he watched her for a second. It was true that she had a slender figure—unlike many of his compatriots, who were more generously endowed, but she possessed the most exquisite curves and, in his experienced opinion, they were all in the right places!
Presently, he said, ‘So, where are they sending you next, Emily?’
Emily picked up her glass to take a sip of wine. ‘I’m not sure,’ she replied. ‘I shall know when I go back to work on Monday. But I normally spend the following week in the office after I’ve been away—to report back.’ She picked up her knife and fork again. ‘What about you, Giovanni? When do you expect to leave Rome?’ As soon as she’d said that, Emily wished that she hadn’t because it looked as if she was trying to find out when he’d be in London.
‘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
