Chapter 5
5
BEN
‘I’m so sorry, there’s no one here to help with the car.
’ The woman behind the counter of the hotel gazed at Ben adoringly before frowning at Rose and Aurora looking less than impressed.
Then again, after an hour’s walk on a hot, dark and dusty road, he knew they all looked unkempt.
‘Well, when will someone be here to help?’ Rose grumbled.
‘He’ll be here, mattina – in the morning,’ the receptionist told her slowly, as if she were talking to an idiot, in a mixture of Italian and English.
‘Surely you have a number for somebody who can come now?’ Rose asked, dismissing the receptionist and turning as if she expected Ben to have a repairman on speed dial and glaring when he shrugged, making him choke down a chuckle.
She was so uptight; he’d never met anyone who needed to let go so much – and there was something about her that made him want to be the one who set her free.
Then again, he had a history of falling for the wrong women and he wasn’t going to do it again.
He was all about casual these days, and Rose clearly wasn’t a woman who’d consider anything like that.
She’d probably tie him up in rules before they were even allowed to kiss.
‘I’ve got the paperwork from the car,’ he told her.
‘I’ll start by calling someone from the hire company to see if they can help.
Why don’t you both see if you can find us something to eat and drink while I try?
’
Aurora nodded and Rose pursed her lips as he paced towards the front of the hotel with his mobile.
When Ben returned ten minutes later, they were sitting in the reception area in round orange seats surrounding a coffee table, and there was a spare chair ready for him.
On the floor, Coco was eating from the bowl Rose kept in her handbag.
‘The kitchen’s about to close, but they’re going to rustle us something up at astronomical expense,’ Rose told him, her mouth pinching into an unhappy line.
‘Rose is allarmante . Scary,’ Aunt A translated with a girlish grin.
‘The woman was unable to refuse her – which is good because Aldo tells me the chef here is magnifico !’ She swished her glittery skirts as she crossed her legs, and chuckled when Rose pulled another face.
Ben was beginning to suspect Aurora enjoyed winding Rose up as much as he did.
She hadn’t given the spiky Love Doctor a nickname yet.
Was she too difficult to read or was Marco’s aunt waiting for something, another spooky sign perhaps?
‘I’m afraid the car company can’t get anyone here until the morning either,’ Ben told them, scratching his fingertips along his scalp, which felt gritty and hot after the long walk from the car.
He needed a shower, preferably a cold one, or better, a long, hot soapy bath.
Maybe Rose would offer to scrub his back?
He glanced at her. Maybe not .
‘Where are we going to sleep?’ Rose asked, looking dismayed, her face paling despite the fact that her cheeks were endearingly pink from the recent exercise.
‘We asked about rooms, but there aren’t any available.
The receptionist says we can’t sleep here – although if you ask, she’ll probably offer to share her room with you.
’ Rose took a moment to turn and glare at the woman with an intensity that might have scorched snow if there had been any.
‘And there isn’t another hotel for miles.
What are we going to do?
’
‘Aldo says not to worry, all will be taken care of.’ Aurora, looking relaxed, wriggled her middle and index fingers mysteriously.
Rose pulled a disbelieving face, just as the phone rang at the reception desk and the woman answered and began to speak in rapid Italian.
Ben couldn’t make out all the words, but Aurora started to nod and smile.
She’d always claimed she could commune with spirits, and until this moment Ben had taken her words with a pinch of salt.
Marco had never questioned his aunt’s talents, but Ben had always thought that was more about family loyalty than anything else.
But after today, he was beginning to wonder if perhaps Aurora did have a gift, after all.
Then again, if she did, why hadn’t she warned him about his ex?
He watched the receptionist smile at him as she put down the phone, and he wondered briefly if she was indeed going to offer to share her bedroom with him.
Then he saw her tap something into the computer before shimmying out from behind the desk, just as a waiter emerged from another doorway.
He carried a large white plate filled with bruschetta, mozzarella balls, olives, cheeses and various breads.
Ben inhaled the mouth-watering aroma and his stomach grumbled.
The man placed the plate on the coffee table without comment before ceremoniously whipping out smaller plates, napkins and cutlery.
Aurora immediately grabbed a dish and dug in.
‘Do you have wine?’ she asked cheerfully, and the waiter nodded without smiling, then disappeared.
‘We have two twin rooms available last minute. They are connected by a shared bathroom – we normally reserve the rooms for families, but we will make an exception for you,’ the receptionist told Ben, completely ignoring Aurora and Rose.
‘Why is the accommodation only available now?’ Ben asked, curious as to why they hadn’t been vacant earlier.
‘What is the saying you English use?’ Aurora queried as she swallowed three olives in quick succession.
‘Something about looking at a gift horse and a mouse?’
‘Mouth,’ Rose corrected as she added a couple of tiny pieces of food to her plate.
‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
’
‘Why would you ever want to do that?’ Aurora barked as she fed a piece of chorizo to Coco who gobbled it with gusto, somehow avoiding the older woman’s fingers.
Ben heard Rose sigh.
The receptionist echoed her.
‘The people who had reserved the rooms just called to say their plane was diverted and they can’t get transport here tonight.
’ She smiled shyly at Ben.
‘This is a lucky break for you, no?’
‘Perhaps they were sent to Nice too,’ Rose muttered darkly.
‘I suppose we should be grateful we made it as far as here. Even if my suitcases got lost and the car’s as useless as a chocolate teapot.
’ She looked around, her expression anything but thankful.
‘Chocolate teapot? But it would melt, cara —’ Aurora glanced up, her forehead squeezing in confusion.
‘Do you want the rooms or not?’ The receptionist complained, directing her question to Rose.
‘ Sì ,’ Aurora said quickly, nodding vigorously.
‘We will take them both.’ The woman smiled and winked at Ben, then she headed towards the counter.
‘Who’s going to sleep where?
’ Rose asked roughly, glaring at Ben with distrust.
‘Of course, you will share with me,’ Aurora soothed.
‘But I apologise, cara – I talk in my sleep. To Aldo and other…’ She wafted a hand.
‘Friends. I can’t help myself.
’ She mimed zipping her mouth up before unzipping it again and shaking her head.
Rose shrugged. ‘That’s okay.
I think I could sleep through anything at the moment,’ she said wearily.
‘I’m sure it’ll be fine.
I’m just a bit worried.
’ She glanced down at her dress looking startled, as if she was surprised by what she was wearing.
‘I have nothing to wear to bed. I can wash my trousers again ready for tomorrow.’ She eyed the linen trousers which she’d laid over one of the orange chairs and grimaced.
After being trampled on the ground by Coco, Ben suspected they needed CPR to revive them rather than a quick rinse in the sink.
‘I have a nightdress,’ Aurora said, eyeing Rose speculatively.
‘It’s very sexy, and I’ve always loved orange silk.
’
‘I have a T-shirt you can borrow,’ Ben chimed in, guessing the no-nonsense Love Doctor would prefer to wear something less glamorous, and trying not to picture her in seductive nightwear.
‘You’ve already loaned me enough of your clothes,’ Rose said politely to Aurora.
‘Thank you, I’ll take the T-shirt,’ she told him.
‘ Buono . I have a new dress for you to wear tomorrow, though. I insist.’ Aurora grinned when Rose paled.
She turned to Ben, ‘ Bello , you take Coco to your room.’ She pointed to the dog.
‘ Pulcino , mi raccomando. I’ve got my eye on you.
’
‘Just make sure she doesn’t try to eat you while you sleep,’ Rose whispered.
‘She’d do that?’ Ben gaped, watching the dog bolt down the rest of her food enthusiastically, suddenly worried.
It was only when he caught the hitch of Rose’s mouth that he realised she’d been teasing him.
It came as a surprise; he hadn’t seen a hint of humour from her until now.
He liked it – which was not a good sign.
‘We should go to bed,’ Aurora said, swallowing another piece of bruschetta before rising.
‘I’m just going to eat something first,’ Ben said, watching as Rose bent to pet the dog, who immediately yapped and tried to bite her hand.
She looked hurt, but the emotion was wiped from her face so fast he wasn’t sure if he’d imagined it.
She pointed to the dog carrier and bowl.
‘Good luck,’ she said lightly before following Aurora.
When they were halfway to the reception desk, the waiter appeared with a bottle of red wine and three glasses.
Aurora grabbed them.
‘I’ll leave your drink in your room, bello ,’ she promised as the receptionist gave her a key.
Rose was about to follow but suddenly stopped.
‘I need to speak to Luna.’
‘I’ll see you in the room,’ Aurora sang as she disappeared through a door leading to the bedrooms.
‘You want to talk to her now?’ Ben asked.
Rose nodded. ‘I was trying not to speak with her until we arrived. But we need to tell her that we’re not going to make it to the engagement party tonight.
’ She checked her watch and winced.
‘We’re already late, I can’t believe I forgot until now.
’
‘I already told Marco we weren’t going to get there.
After I called the car hire company.
’ His friend had been worried at first, but when he found out what had happened, he was more relieved that they were all okay.
He’d been a little concerned when Ben mentioned Rose’s intention to convince Luna to postpone the wedding.
But Ben had told him not to worry.
Even though he had no idea how they could stop her from carrying out her plan.
Rose frowned. ‘What did he say?’
‘That they were going to postpone the engagement party until tomorrow, so we can all be there.’
Ben saw Rose’s eyes flicker and wondered if she was pleased.
Tension tightened his shoulders – this whole situation was playing into her hands.
Delaying the party meant she’d have time to speak with Luna and encourage her to postpone the wedding before it got too far.
He’d had a chance to see her in action now.
She was demanding, persuasive and tenacious too.
They were qualities he admired.
But if Rose set her sights on Luna, would she be able to convince her friend to delay the wedding?
Should he be taking the threat to Marco’s happiness more seriously?
He frowned. It would be easier to see Rose as the enemy if he wasn’t attracted to her.
He shook his head – he was an idiot, and he needed to pull himself together.
‘I could call her now,’ she said thoughtfully.
‘Marco said they were going to have an early night,’ Ben lied.
It was an impulse; one he wasn’t particularly proud of.
He felt bad, but Marco had sounded so happy on the phone.
If Rose spoke to Luna, the bride might start to have doubts.
But surely once Rose saw the happy couple together, she’d rethink?
Which meant he was going to have to try to stop her from talking to her friend this evening.
Whatever it took.
‘But it’s not that late…
’ Rose said, checking her watch again.
‘Italy is very romantic and they are engaged…’ Ben trailed off, hoping Rose would fill in the details for herself.
When she did, her blush was swift and he rocked on his heels, shocked by the intensity of his reaction to it.
Rose gulped as heat travelled down her neck.
‘Fine,’ she croaked.
‘I’ll call tomorrow.
’ She tugged her mobile out of her bag.
‘If I can find a phone charger, that is – I’m almost out of battery after the journey and speaking with my dad.
My charger is in my suitcase.
’
Ben thought about the charger in the bag currently hitched over his shoulder.
‘I left mine in the car, and as you know, Aurora doesn’t carry a phone,’ he said.
Was all really fair in love and war?
He hoped so, but that didn’t stop him from feeling guilty.
‘If you switch yours off, you can save your battery and charge it tomorrow.’ That way there would be no chance of her calling Luna before the morning and no chance of her friend getting in touch with her either.
Rose stared at him for a beat, and he felt a flush begin to form at the back of his neck.
Could she see he was lying?
She finally nodded. ‘I suppose.’ She sighed, then fiddled with the side buttons on her mobile until the screen went blank.
Then she turned and headed after Aurora, leaving Ben wondering why he felt so bad.