Chapter 7
7
ROSE
Rose was furious.
She’d let her guard down.
Had begun to believe that perhaps Ben was a decent man, one that she could trust – but now it was clear he was her nemesis, right to the very marrow of his deceiving bones.
She’d kept her eyes shut for most of the journey to Bellemilia, refusing to communicate with him but responding to Aurora whenever she commented on the view or shared funny anecdotes from Aldo.
It might have been childish – more like the way her parents sometimes behaved – but she couldn’t seem to help it around him.
Forget the power of pheromones, Ben Pearson was more like her own personal kryptonite.
She was so disappointed .
She’d begun to like him and that was something she rarely allowed herself to feel.
Then again, it was probably for the best. They’d get there soon, and she couldn’t allow herself to lose focus even for one second.
Luna’s future was on the line.
‘We’re here,’ Ben said, sounding relieved as he stopped the Citroen in front of a cream stone restaurant with a sign indicating they’d arrived at La Marina.
Pots of fragrant olive trees and barrels of pink hydrangea lined the large patio and steps leading up to the entrance.
People were sitting at the wooden tables in the sunshine eating pizza, fresh salads and large plates of pasta, and Rose’s stomach grumbled as she got out of the car and caught a whiff of the delicious food.
There’d been no time for breakfast this morning, and the receptionist at the hotel had begged the chef to at least provide a picnic for Ben.
But even a flash of Ben’s gorgeous smile hadn’t persuaded the chef, and Rose had briefly pondered what was wrong with him.
She might not trust Ben, but that didn’t dim the power of his extraordinary good looks.
Through the entrance of the restaurant – which was framed by a rustic archway decorated with apricot pansies, magenta dahlias, and purple snapdragons – Rose could just make out a room filled with yet more chunky tables, chairs, shimmering glasses and sparkling cutlery.
Soft music was playing, giving the buzzy restaurant an authentic and relaxing feel.
Almost every seat was taken by a customer; most chatted or laughed while they tucked into the wine and food.
She could feel the warm ambiance from where she was standing by the car and suddenly wished she was sitting inside.
She moved to the other side of the car and saw an open doorway leading to a terrace at the far end of the restaurant.
A single empty table had been laid with glasses, plates and fresh cutlery.
Knobbly, leafy trees hung over the table that would shade the patrons from the midday sun.
Rose wondered if the table might have been set for them.
Luna suddenly bounced from the right of the entrance, followed by a dark-haired man wearing a navy suit.
‘We’ve been tracking you for hours!
’ her friend exclaimed, tossing a strand of white-blonde hair from her oval face as she grabbed Rose and gave her an enthusiastic hug, beaming.
‘Only you could take this long to get to my wedding,’ she teased, pulling away so she could look Rose up and down, her heart-shaped mouth pinching.
‘What are you wearing?’ she asked, her face a picture of confusion as she took in the azure dress Aurora had insisted Rose put on this morning.
Since her cream linen trousers would need an act of God to get clean after Coco had trampled them, she hadn’t had much choice.
The dress was sparkly, with a long flowing skirt that she’d tripped over more than a couple of times.
It had a low bodice that, because it was a little too big for her, exposed her collarbone and far more of her chest than she’d have liked.
‘You look stunning!’ Luna declared, hopping up and down, her delicate lace dress fluttering around her knees, as she took Rose in.
‘I do not and this is not mine,’ Rose said firmly.
‘I texted you when we arrived in Nice to say my suitcases went missing, remember? They still haven’t turned up.
’ She fiddled with the soft material of the sleeves self-consciously.
‘I borrowed this from Marco’s aunt.
’
After finally getting to use Ben’s charger in the car, she’d phoned the airport to see if there was any news about her luggage, only to hear the staff were still looking.
They were very apologetic, but Rose suspected they weren’t confident they were ever going to arrive.
‘Of course!’ Luna blushed as Aurora stepped out of the car and, holding Coco under one arm, gave the younger woman a hug.
‘I’m Luna Kennedy,’ she said.
‘Indeed, you are. I will read your palm later, cara , but I can already tell that you are the perfect fit for my nephew. He can be a little inflexible at times, and I can tell you are going to be quite the antidote.’ She grinned.
‘My husband, Aldo, thinks you’re delightful too.
’
‘He always agrees with you,’ Ben said with humour.
‘Funny that.’
‘Where is Aldo? Didn’t he come?
’ Luna asked, looking towards the back seat of the Citroen.
‘He is with us in spirit,’ Aurora said mysteriously, wafting a hand as she handed over Coco.
‘Ah.’ Luna nodded as she took the dog and Rose realised that she’d probably already been tipped off about the clairvoyant aunt.
‘Of course. Nice to meet you, Aldo.’ Luna spoke into the sky and then turned back to Aurora.
‘I’d love a reading; Marco and his family have told me how talented you are.
’
‘Of course, cara ,’ the older woman promised.
‘You and Rose are the first on my list. We will start with my crystal ball. That’s the easiest way to tell if your marriage will last – and how passionate and fruitful it will be.
Or…’ She winked at Rose.
‘If there is a new love on the horizon.’
‘We should do it tonight!’ Luna gushed.
Rose coughed. The reading sounded like a terrible idea.
Yet more fictional promises when her friend needed to focus on cold, hard reality.
Rose also suspected Aurora had set her sights on getting her together with Ben – and she had no intention of engaging with that fantasy.
The man spelled TROUBLE in sparkly capitals.
Luna pressed her nose into Coco’s fur.
‘I’ve missed you,’ she purred to the demon, stopping momentarily to give Rose a cheeky grin.
‘Did you two make friends over the last few weeks?’
‘We have a new understanding,’ Rose said dryly.
‘Involving her ignoring me and me not turning her into a winter coat.’
‘I know you love each other really,’ Luna snorted.
‘You’re just too stubborn to see it.
’ She let out a sigh as she perused the dress Rose was wearing again.
‘This is making me rethink your outfit for the wedding.’ She took Rose’s hand.
‘This is a much more feminine look for you. More like my style.’ Luna pointed to her own sheer, floaty skirt.
‘You seem more approachable – you’re more likely to find yourself a husband if you dress like that.
’
‘I have no intention—’ Rose shook her head.
She was used to Luna winding her up about her lack of love life.
Her friend grinned cheekily, her skin pinking under her tan.
Usually, Luna looked pale – a result of all the hours she spent working on her tea business, toiling over emails late into the night.
But she looked less stressed, happier than Rose had seen her for a long while.
It was a good sign, but it might just be the result of time in the sun – it wasn’t necessarily Marco’s doing.
Her insides tightened as she imagined how hurt Luna would be if their romance fizzled out, or if she ended up falling for him, only to discover he was after her money – or something else.
Even if his motivations were true, they could be all wrong for each other.
Hadn’t Rose seen the results of impulsive weddings over and over with her parents?
It’s why they had to wait, to make sure they knew each other properly and weren’t walking into a terrible mistake.
‘There’s no need for you to buy anything new.
’ Aurora pointed to her suitcase in the back of the Citroen.
‘I’ve plenty of dresses for leonessa in here.
’
‘What does that mean?’ Luna asked, glancing over her shoulder towards the man who was whispering urgently with Ben.
She recognised him immediately from the picture Ben had showed her.
He was just as handsome in the flesh, a little swarthier than Ben.
Not quite as tall, or as good-looking as Ben, but Rose considered that to be a point in his favour.
Dazzling people with your lucky DNA was bordering on rude.
He broke off his conversation and gazed at Luna as if he knew she was looking at him – his whole face suddenly lighting up.
‘It means lioness, tesoro ,’ Marco said, pacing towards her, his gaze intense.
‘And that means darling,’ Luna told Rose.
‘Lioness.’ She nodded studying Rose.
‘That fits.’
‘It is apt.’ Ben eyed her too, although his expression was more playful.
‘Mostly because you’re never sure if she’s going to ignore you or wrestle you to the ground so she can bite off your head.
’
‘You already know her so well.’ Luna laughed and reached out to grab her fiancé’s hand, tugging him closer.
‘This is Marco,’ she said, skirting her arm around his lean waist and spinning him until they were facing.
‘And this is my best friend, Rose. It’s essential you love each other as much as I love you.
’
Marco gave Rose a tentative smile, but it was clear from his guarded expression that Ben had already filled him in on her intentions and was concerned.
She should have seen it coming, but it was still disappointing because it meant she was going to have to work extra hard to get the groom on side.
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ Marco said formally, offering Rose his hand.
‘We’ve got a table set up on the terrace for the five of us.
Unfortunately, the rest of my family aren’t available this afternoon.
Wedding plans,’ he added, his eyes filled with meaning.
‘But we’ll see them all at the family villa later for our engagement celebrations.
’
‘We’re all staying there,’ Luna gushed.
‘It’s absolutely huge!
’
She grabbed Rose’s hand and propelled her until they were trotting up the steps at speed, heading towards the entrance of the restaurant.
‘You’ll get to meet everyone later and I know you’re going to love them all.
Just wait until you try the food.
I’ve already put on three pounds.
’ She tapped a palm on her flat stomach.
Rose tried to keep up, but her foot caught in the long skirt halfway up the steps.
‘No!’ she yelped just as Ben appeared from nowhere and grabbed her elbow, pulling her upwards just before her head crashed into the tiles.
‘Thank you,’ Rose rasped, and Luna echoed her agreement.
‘He’s your very own prince charming,’ she gushed.
‘Hardly,’ Rose huffed.
‘I really need to get some clothes that fit.’
Ben insisted on holding on to her until they reached the top and then Rose shook off his hand, irritated by the tingles left shooting across her skin.
She was not going to let herself be attracted to him.
‘I’m sorry about last night,’ Ben whispered as Marco caught up with Luna and guided her ahead of them, leading them through the busy restaurant towards the table on the terrace that Rose had seen earlier.
She paused when they got outside to gaze at the view.
It was spectacular. On the right of the balcony were fields of twisty, blooming, grape vines heavy with fruit – on the left, a crisscross of hills filled with pink, orange and green plants and trees were framed by a stunning blue cloudless sky.
She took in a deep breath before turning back to Ben.
‘Sorry about lying to me, or sorry you got caught?’ she asked coldly, taking a seat at the end of the table, closest to the view.
Luna headed towards the chair opposite, but somehow Ben beat her to it.
‘Why doesn’t Aunt Aurora sit next to Ben, then I’ll sit beside Rose and you can be at the head of the table?
’ Marco suggested to Luna.
‘It means we’ll all get to see how beautiful my fiancée is and you’ll get the most magnificent view of us all.
’
Luna beamed at him and sat, gathering Coco close.
Rose could see her friend from here, but there would be no chance of a private conversation.
Were the two men trying to separate them?
Ben leaned forward again as Aurora began to chat with Marco and Luna.
‘I guess I’m sorry about both,’ he said, answering her earlier question, his voice low.
‘You’re not going to stop me from speaking to Luna,’ she said, glancing at her friend who was now talking animatedly, waving her arms as she recounted a story.
Ben shrugged. ‘You strike me as the type of person who usually gets what she wants. But for now, can we please lay down our swords and enjoy lunch?’
‘I suppose,’ Rose muttered, sighing.
‘We do need to eat.’ Soldiers didn’t go into battle without a full stomach, and she wouldn’t be at her best if she was hungry.
A waiter appeared from nowhere and began to pile the table with large platters of delicious-looking food.
‘I haven’t ordered anything,’ Rose told him.
‘We’ve chosen all our best dishes for you to sample,’ Marco said before he pinched his nose, looking like he was going to sneeze.
‘Try it all, see what you enjoy.’
‘We’re thinking of serving a lot of this at our wedding,’ Luna said excitedly from the end of the table.
‘It would be wonderful if you could tell us what your favourites dishes are. I refused to organise anything until you arrived.’
‘You shouldn’t rely on me…
’ Rose said tentatively.
‘You know how I am with strange food.’ She believed in sticking with what you knew.
That way there was less chance of getting it wrong.
Luna laughed. ‘Well, I asked Mum, and she said a bowl of cereal, so I think you’ll be more help than that.
’ She tickled the demon under the chin as Marco suddenly sneezed, swiping tears from his eyes.
‘Where is your mum?’ Rose asked, talking loudly so Luna could hear above the din.
‘It’s taking her a while to get off the island.
Apparently, the ferry’s been out of action, but someone’s promised to take her in their boat.
’ Luna shrugged. ‘The only problem is she’s not sure when they’ll be able to do it.
So she’s just waiting at the moment.
She’s bringing my grandmother’s sapphire necklace; it’s my borrowed, old and blue.
’ She smiled shyly. ‘I know I’m being superstitious.
’
‘She’ll get here, cara ,’ Marco said, patting her arm.
‘You’ll have your jewellery, I guarantee it.
’
‘But what if she can’t make it?
’ Rose asked reasonably.
‘Surely it makes sense to delay things until you’re sure she’s going to arrive?
’
Perhaps persuading Luna to postpone the wedding would be easier than Rose had imagined.
If Deborah couldn’t get here in time, surely they’d have no choice?
‘I’m sorry, but it’s not going to be possible.
’ Marco frowned.
‘Sadly, it’s not.
’ Luna nodded. ‘We plan to hold the wedding on the same day as Marco’s parents married,’ she explained.
‘Which is in four days.’
‘It is a lucky day for the Marinos,’ Marco said, picking up his wine.
‘My grandparents also wed on this day and their parents before them. It is important to my family, and it cannot be changed.’ His voice was firm.
Luna smiled at Rose.
‘I’m not worried, Mum won’t let me down.
She’ll get here somehow – fate will be on her side.
’
‘Indeed, it will,’ Aurora agreed.
‘Aldo says she will definitely be on time.’
Rose pursed her lips.
The special date explained Luna and Marco’s haste.
It also meant her plans for an alternative wedding in Brighton would definitely be rejected.
But whether Deborah would be there was another matter altogether.
‘So now you understand why everything’s happening so quickly,’ Luna said, beaming.
‘I suppose.’ Rose shrugged.
They could still have done it on the same date in a year, but she wasn’t sure Luna would want to hear that argument.
She leaned back in her seat as the food began to pile up, filling every available space on the table.
When the waiter had finished, he began to explain what everything was, pointing at each of the plates as he spoke.
‘Polenta crostini with tuna; calamari with garlic aioli and a lemon wedge; olive and caper bread; bruschetta; antipasto with bean dip; mozzarella and balsamic vinegar; meat, olives and cheese.’ He tried his best to speak in English, but his Italian accent was heavy, making some of the words difficult to understand.
Rose was pleased when he performed a dramatic flick of his wrist and left just as another man arrived loaded with empty plates.
He doled them out as a woman dressed in a tight black suit arrived and began to fill their glasses with crisp white wine and sparkling water.
Rose noticed she took extra care filling Ben’s, hovering around him for longer than necessary.
He glanced up at her a couple of times, speaking quietly and even winking once.
He was obviously incorrigible when it came to women.
Was that why his fiancée had decided not to go through with the wedding?
Too afraid of losing his attention long term?
‘It’s amazing here, isn’t it?
’ Ben asked as the waitress left and he began to tuck into the feast. Rose found herself nodding out of politeness.
She’d never been to Tuscany – partly due to her fear of being in a car on the wrong side of the road, and partly because she preferred her home comforts – and always knowing what was coming next.
Also, her parents kept her busy and she was loathe to leave them alone for long without support.
She picked up a piece of calamari with her fork and glared at it suspiciously as Ben scoffed down three.
‘You’re supposed to eat it, not turn it to stone,’ he joked when he noticed, stabbing another two.
Rose grimaced and took a bite.
It tasted surprisingly good, not what she’d expected, and she quickly swallowed.
‘Do you stay with Marco’s family every year?
’ she asked, glancing at Luna who was still being monopolised.
Ben nodded. ‘As I said, the Marinos are my family. I come two or three times most years with Marco and for Christmas. I used to come more regularly because my ex’s family used to live close by.
’
‘They’ve moved away?
’ she asked.
He nodded.
‘They wanted to make a fresh start.’ He shrugged looking unconcerned.
He looked around as a couple got up from one of the tables and someone came to clear.
‘It’s busy today.’
‘Isn’t it usually?
’ Rose asked sharply.
‘Are the Marinos…’ She paused.
She didn’t want to be rude.
‘The restaurant does seem busy, but is that because it’s July?
I’ve heard of businesses struggling out of season, even in a place like this.
’
Her mind whirred as she looked around.
What if Marco had needed to get engaged to someone?
What if it hadn’t mattered who it was, and meeting Luna was simply a happy accident?
Was the story about the date being significant simply an excuse to push through the nuptials?
Luna was about to become a very wealthy woman.
Italian laws were complicated, and she hadn’t had a chance to investigate what happened during a marriage or divorce.
Ben’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Rose.
‘Yes, it’s always like this.
Busy and successful.
The whole family work hard and this place is a testament to that,’ he said flatly.
‘I’m sure once you’ve had a chance to get to know Marco and his family, you’ll see there’s really nothing for you to worry about.
Luna and Marco will be very happy, and their marriage will last for years.
Give them a chance.’
‘I’ve been counselling couples for almost eight years,’ Rose said as she plucked an olive from a bowl and nibbled the corner.
She didn’t normally like them, but this one was plump and a tantalising mixture of salty and sweet.
‘Many of their marriages are in trouble and almost all of them wedded in a rush. A lot of them have wonderful families – it doesn’t necessarily mean tying the knot was the right decision.
’
She paused for long enough to eat the rest of her olive and to take a tiny sip of the delicious wine, considering her next words carefully.
‘Most of the couples I see didn’t know each other well when they embarked on their supposed lifetime together.
’
‘Have they all split up?’ Ben asked.
‘I thought you were all about saving relationships?’
She sighed.
‘I’m good at what I do, but even I can’t work miracles.
Couples need to want to put in the work.
They also have to listen to my advice and learn to be honest with themselves.
’ She paused as her parents flashed into her mind.
Neither of them ever listened to her.
She put her fork down, suddenly losing her appetite.
‘I will say almost all of them wish they hadn’t rushed into their marriages.
Mostly they see that as the root cause of their mistakes.
’
Ben scratched his head.
‘My parents weren’t dating for long before they got engaged.
’ He looked reflective.
‘Speed didn’t make a difference to them.
They were together for over forty years – and as far as I know, they were happy for all of it.
Marco’s parents are similar.
’
Aurora let out a sudden loud burst of laughter across the table.
He added, ‘Aurora met Aldo in Vegas, and they married a week later. Their marriage is still going strong.’
Rose didn’t want to tell Ben what she thought about that marriage.
Aurora was wonderful, but clearly a fantasist. Or perhaps it had simply been too painful to let go of her husband?
‘There are always exceptions, but I don’t think we can bank on them.
How long were you with your fiancée before you decided to marry?
’ She regretted the question when she saw the look of shock on his face.
‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up.
’
‘It’s okay.’ Ben waved a hand as Luna giggled and leaned closer to Aurora.
He waited until their laughter died down, his easy-going expression returning.
‘I knew Sophia for a year before I proposed, and we were engaged for almost another two.’ He paused.
‘I met her when I was visiting the Marinos, and we took it from there.’
‘A holiday romance?’ she asked.
‘Not for me, but…’ His expression remained blank.
‘If we’d known each other longer, I’m not sure if it would have made a difference.
She didn’t feel the same way.
Surprising, I know.’ He flashed her a smile, and Rose wondered if it was real.
‘Perhaps if she’d had more time, she would have realised it before you got to the altar,’ she said gently.
‘We had over three years. Besides, I’m not sure time is as important as you think.
When you know, you know, and when you know it’s wrong, you’re probably right.
’ Ben shrugged.
Rose had another sip of wine and waited.
Silence was the space where you learned the most interesting things.
Pieces of puzzles people didn’t always intend to share.
It was irritating how much she wanted to get to know Ben, how much she suddenly wanted to flesh out and colour in the empty spaces of his life.
Did he care, or was he just as emotionless about his relationships as he was making out?
‘So you have rules that you think make relationships work?’ Ben asked.
Rose took a slice of mozzarella and used a fork to push it around her plate before nodding, suddenly wary.
Was he going to make fun of her?
‘Yet you’re not married or in a serious relationship – at least that’s what you told Aunt A.
Why is that?’
A waiter appeared and began to clear some of the empty plates.
Another topped up Rose’s wine before she could tell him she didn’t want more.
She picked it up and sipped, using the time to gather her thoughts.
‘I haven’t met the person who is right for me yet,’ she said slowly.
‘My rules are important, but they have to work in tandem with – rather than replace – things like chemistry and attraction.’ Things that had been sadly lacking for her.
‘Chemistry?’ Ben checked, and when Rose looked up, his eyes were dark.
‘You have a rule for that?’
‘Nope. That happens by itself,’ Rose said as something in her chest fizzed.
She cleared her throat.
‘I think a shared sense of humour is important too. You should enjoy the same things.’
Ben raised an eyebrow when Luna and Marco began to laugh, their heads bobbing together.
‘Okay,’ he said flatly.
‘I had all those things with my ex, but my relationship still didn’t last. As far as I’m concerned, there are no guarantees, although it would be easier if there were.
’ He paused. ‘It would have saved me a fortune in caterers and rings.’ He folded his arms and gave her a half smile.
‘Tell me about your other rules, I’d like to know if I was missing something important.
’ Rose could see from Ben’s expression that he was sceptical.
She sighed. An unbeliever – she dealt with them all the time.
‘One.’ She wriggled a finger and then sipped some water to counter the alcohol.
‘You don’t sleep together until you’ve been seeing each other for at least seven weeks.
’
Ben’s mouth tipped.
‘Seven,’ he choked. ‘Why not six?’
‘Years of study,’ Rose said.
‘By seven you’ll have started to let your guard down, there will be less secrets.
If there are cracks, and you’re willing to look, you’ll begin to see them.
Time makes things more difficult to hide.
’
‘But what if you can’t keep your hands off each other?
’ Ben looked more indignant than amused.
‘That’s where restraint comes in,’ Rose said dryly.
‘Instant gratification is one of the biggest curses of our generation. Lovers need to wait rather than leap in.’ Her eyes tripped to Luna who was stroking Coco and gazing at Marco adoringly.
‘That way we know what we’re getting ourselves into.
There’s less chance of making a mistake.
’
She’d had a front row seat for every one of her parents’ disasters.
It was enough to put you off love for life.
Although she hadn’t lost faith.
If you followed the rules and met the right person, a happily ever after was possible, if not guaranteed.
‘Sounds to me like you’re trying to take the romance out of love,’ Ben said softly.
‘That’s not it,’ Rose shot back, picking up her wine again.
This conversation was unsettling, but she didn’t want to give Ben the upper hand by letting him see she was rattled.
‘There’s room for it, you just have to savour, take your time.
’
Ben looked sympathetic.
‘By denying each other.’ He frowned.
‘I’m not sure I like your rules.
’
Which was hardly a surprise, but his words still bothered her.
‘There’s nothing wrong with them,’ Rose said stiffly, pushing her empty wine glass into the centre of the table.
She’d had enough.
‘Tell me another,’ Ben said.
She sat back in her chair and considered him.
‘You shouldn’t marry until you’ve been together for a year – and it’s important to know exactly what you both want for the future.
I have a checklist I give my clients.
’
‘A checklist.’ Ben smirked, swallowing the rest of his wine.
‘I’d love to see a copy.
’ His smile had returned, and his eyes were sparking with amusement.
‘You’re not a client, but I’m sure Marco will share it with you once I give him a copy.
I just need to find a printer so I can print them from my laptop,’ Rose said primly as the three waiters appeared again, carrying another mountain of food.
‘We should eat.’ She banked her irritation as they began to place the dishes on the table.
‘Disagreements don’t mix with food.
’
‘Is that another rule?’ Ben teased as the waitress – who’d been ogling him earlier – came to refill his wine glass.
He smiled up at her again and then blew a kiss.
Rose swore she could hear the woman’s hormones combust.
She forced her gaze back to the grape vines away from the table and took in a slow breath.
Annoyingly, it was even more obvious now that she and Ben were on opposing sides and there would be no convincing him that she was right.
So be it. She just had to work out how to convince Luna to postpone her wedding without him or Marco getting in the way.