him and nodded. ‘You offended your fiancée too,’ Bella said. ‘I don’t like her but don’t be that man who cheats.’ She said the same words she had on the night they had found each other. ‘I thought better of you.’
He was better than that, and it mattered enough to tell her.
‘We broke up,’ he said, ‘about ten minutes after you got fired.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ Bella said. ‘You say that just so I agree to go back to your room with you.’
‘No,’ he said. ‘I’m saying that because this morning wasn’t about cheating or lying, it was about us and my wanting you.’
‘You didn’t think to tell me?’
‘Oh, I did,’ he said, and she frowned as he spoke on. ‘I decided it was safer not to.’
‘Were you worried that you might have called down for room service?’ Bella smiled just a little and so too did he.
‘Yep.’
Then he broke the last piece of her heart.
‘I’m leaving after this dance,’ he said, and from the strain in his voice she knew that he meant it. ‘I’ve booked a helicopter—’
‘You’re the best man.’
‘I know,’ he said, ‘but I have to go and I have to think and I can’t do that with you...’
He couldn’t, because he was as turned on as she was. If he stayed, if there was even one more dance they would be back in the hotel room and tonight Matteo needed to be the best man he could be.
Not for Luka but for Bella and himself.
He kissed her cheek and said goodbye and he held her a moment and smelt her hair and then she watched as he went and said farewell to the bride and groom. She saw the lights of his helicopter and Bella stood alone.
With her pride, though.
It offered little consolation.
BELLA WASN’T A MAGPIE.
She didn’t take shiny things for herself.
The nice things she wanted were for the people she loved.
Tonight, though, her desire was selfish.
‘Sophie...’ Bella went over to her friend and Sophie was the happiest she had ever seen her. It was clear to all that this wedding was no farce—you could feel the love between Sophie and Luka.
‘I’m going to be the worst bridesmaid in the world,’ Bella said, and Sophie smiled as she told her that she would be leaving early.
‘Are you going after the best man?’
Bella nodded. ‘I’ll never be suitable wife material for Matteo,’ she said, ‘I get that, but...’ She didn’t finish. She didn’t need to explain to her friend that the one night she’d had with Matteo was one she had fought for five years not to remember.
Bella wanted one more night that she would never let herself forget.
‘Go,’ Sophie said, and they had a cuddle. ‘Do you need a car?’
‘No, I’ve asked Pino to take me.’
Bella slipped away from the wedding party and into the churchyard and past the beautiful gravestones, then she went back to her mother’s grave, which the villagers still dressed with kindness.
‘I love you, Ma. I love you so much and one day I’ll be back to give you the stone you deserve, but tonight I’m leaving. I’m going to spend the money I’ve saved on myself. I’m going to do something not because I have to but because I want to.’
* * *
Pino, the village messenger, had moved from a bicycle to a moped and now lived a very clean life, but at Bella’s insistence he rode faster.
Yes, it was freeing to take the road out of Bordo Del Cielo that would lead her to Matteo.
They drove alongside the ocean with the forest that had saved her on the other side and finally she was free to make her own choices, however unwise they might be.
She took the last flight out and was back at her flat by the small hours, and as she showered only then did Bella remember that she was supposed to be back at work at six to start the breakfasts.
With all that had happened in recent days, she had forgotten to swap her shift.
She wore no make-up as she pulled on a green uniform and her sensible lace-up shoes. She might regret it tomorrow but right now she would follow her heart.
* * *
And Matteo followed his.
He arrived in Rome to a packed city that felt empty, and after a short time away from Bella his head was already completely clear.
The decision he had been coming to since he had stood, right here at this fountain, was made now, and he took the coin from his pocket and tossed it in.
He would be back and with her by his side.
And if that were the case, there was a lot he needed to do.
He arrived back at the hotel and made the necessary phone calls and then he fell into a dreamless sleep.
Or, rather, it was dreamless at first.
BELLA HAD NEVER been scared of the dark and she wasn’t now.
She walked down the alley at the side of the hotel and went in through the workers’ entrance, but she did not head to the kitchens where her shift was due to start later.
Instead, she took an elevator up to the top floors where she didn’t usually work.
She took out her swipe card and told herself that if he was not alone, there would be no more water-throwing, she would simply turn and leave.
She lied to herself!
But he was alone.
She knew it the second she walked in and saw him lying there. Matteo was asleep on his back and she stood a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust. He was far less careful with his clothes than yesteryear because they were all tossed on the floor, along with a couple of towels. She moved her gaze and took in the delicious sight of him. One arm was up over his head, his other hand was on his flat stomach and the sheet just covered him.
Bella walked over quietly and she wanted to wake him with a kiss but her fingers were
