Chapter 8
8
BEN
‘I’ve arranged a special surprise,’ Marco said as the waiters appeared again, and he pushed back his chair and stood, sweeping his gaze to take in Aurora, Luna and Rose, who was still seated opposite Ben.
The table was littered with empty plates after they’d all gorged themselves on an incredible selection of desserts.
Ben wasn’t sure if he’d be able to move, he’d eaten so much.
Even Rose had surprised him by trying a spoonful of each – her pretty face flushing, as if she’d been embarrassed about showing her pleasure.
Every bite she took had been so cautious, so careful – she’d been fascinating to watch.
He wondered now if that was another of her rules – a deliberate attempt to stop herself from leaping into anything and enjoying herself.
But why was she so wary: was it just her parents?
It was startling how much he wanted to know.
‘What surprise?’ Luna asked excitedly, rising to her feet too, still clutching Coco.
Ben hadn’t had a proper chance to speak to Marco, so had no idea what his friend had planned.
‘A tour of the kitchen for the three of you!’ Marco declared as a man Ben recognised as one of the chefs, and two waiters, strode towards the table holding a tray filled with colourful drinks.
‘Here’s a selection of digestivos for you to take with you while you’re exploring.
’
‘Aldo and I would love to see the kitchen.’ Aurora stood and rubbed her stomach.
‘But I’m not sure if I could eat or drink another thing, caro .
’ Despite her declaration, she quickly grabbed a glass from the tray and took a sip.
‘Well, maybe just a small Limoncello.’
‘I’m not sure I can either,’ Luna said, grinning at Marco and kissing him on the cheek.
‘But I’ll try like Aunt A.
Thank you, it’s a lovely idea, and I know Rose will enjoy meeting the team.
’ She picked up an amaro and a passito and offered both to her friend.
Rose stood and went to join the two women, taking one of the drinks, before giving Marco and Ben a suspicious look.
‘What about the demon? You can’t take her into a kitchen,’ Rose said, eyeing the dog which Luna was still carrying.
‘We’ll leave her with Marco.
’ Luna grinned. ‘They can get to know each other. It’s important they get on.
She’s going to give him the rings during the wedding ceremony.
’
‘She’s more likely to eat him,’ Rose said darkly.
Luna tried to pass the shih tzu to her fiancé, but he waved his arms and shook his head.
‘I’m sorry, tesoro .
’ He blinked and then sneezed again.
‘I’m allergic.’
Rose looked over at Ben, and he could read her triumphant expression.
Dammit .
‘To dogs?’ Luna sounded shocked.
‘But?—’
‘I’ll take an antihistamine later.
We’ll work it out, cara ,’ Marco soothed, his brown eyes crinkling.
‘If you love Coco, then I’m sure I will learn to love her too, eventually.
’ His face contorted as he fought another sneeze.
‘I’ll take her,’ Ben offered, taking the bundle of fluff in his arms. Coco immediately settled into his chest, wagging her tail.
‘We’ll be waiting for you – and I’m sure Coco will do exactly as she’s asked,’ Marco promised, his eyes continuing to water as he eased away from Ben.
He watched the three women leave the terrace, before taking the seat Rose had just vacated.
Then Marco stared at the dog for a moment, his expression brooding before he leaned away as if trying to avoid her scent.
‘We need to do something about your Rose,’ he whispered.
Ben’s heart skipped.
‘She’s not my anything,’ he said roughly.
Never would be – only trouble lay in that direction.
Trouble he had no intention of seeking again.
His attention shifted to the other side of the terrace, to the doorway Rose had just walked through.
He tried to catch of glimpse of her before he realised what he was doing.
What had got into him?
He was behaving like a horny teenager.
The waitress who’d been serving him wine had scribbled her mobile number on a card and sneaked it to him earlier, but he’d barely acknowledged it at the time.
He’d been too caught up with teasing Rose.
He’d fish the card out of his pocket later, see if she wanted to meet for a drink.
That would be the best way of getting the Love Doctor out of his mind.
‘Regardless – you need to help me keep her away from Luna. At least until after the wedding,’ Marco muttered, falling silent as a new waiter appeared and placed cups, a jug, sugar and a coffee pot on the table before disappearing.
Marco poured them both a shot of espresso without a word.
The liquid was thick and black, and Ben knew it would help clear some of the food and wine from his system.
Maybe it would straighten out his wayward hormones too.
‘I know I sound possessive, but Rose and Luna must not be left alone,’ Marco repeated, his brown eyes worried.
‘At least not until Rose has had a chance to settle in. She should get to know me and see how happy Luna is. I can’t lose her – not now I’ve finally found my true love.
’
Ben sipped his coffee and winced.
‘You just sent them off together. They’re going to have plenty of time to chat now.
’ He added a couple of sugars and a large dash of milk to his cup, leaning back in his chair and trying to relax as a cooling breeze skipped across the patio, ruffling his hair.
‘No.’ Marco shook his head.
‘I asked the team to keep the three of them busy. They will fill them in on the history of the restaurant, the food, anything they might find remotely interesting. There will be no opportunity for alone time at all.’
Marco, looking concerned, scrubbed a hand through his thick dark brown hair.
‘I know Rose is important to Luna and that she will listen to whatever her friend has to say. She’s told me about Rose’s job as the Love Doctor.
’ His forehead creased.
‘How she counsels people and helps their relationships work. She has many rules, apparently.’ He winced.
‘Luna respects her and wants Rose’s approval for our wedding.
’
‘Which I’ve told you Rose is unlikely to give,’ Ben said, taking another sip from his cup.
‘ Sì .’ Marco looked unhappy.
‘I don’t want to interfere with their friendship.
It’s important to Luna.
’ He sighed. ‘But I don’t want Rose to talk her out of marrying me either.
’
‘She’s going to try,’ Ben said seriously.
His friend had looked happy when his fiancée was here, but now he could see the lines of concern etched around his eyes.
He knew how much Marco had been hurt by his last girlfriend and didn’t want that to happen again.
‘She can only try if she gets the chance,’ Marco said, his unhappy expression morphing into something more determined.
Ben knew that look from work – usually when Marco was trying to convince a client to choose his most innovative architectural design.
‘What do you mean?’ Ben asked slowly, taking another sip of the hot liquid.
It was at least thirty degrees in the shade, but the coffee was still doing a good job of cooling him down.
‘There are four days until the wedding,’ Marco said.
‘I need you to keep Rose occupied so she doesn’t get a chance to talk my fiancée out of marrying me.
At least until she sees for herself how well suited we are.
’ He tapped a finger on his chest. ‘Which of course she will.’
Ben wasn’t sure of anything.
Rose had some very rigid ideas and was overprotective of her friend.
With good reason, if her stories about Luna’s previous relationships were true.
He cleared his throat.
‘I’ll do whatever you want.
But Luna will get suspicious if we lock Rose in the wine cellar and she disappears.
’ He laughed just in case Marco thought he was serious.
His friend was clearly smitten with his new fiancée, and Ben wasn’t sure how far he’d go to make sure the wedding went ahead.
‘We won’t have to resort to that.
Women love you. I saw the new waitress earlier.
’ Marco waggled his eyebrows.
‘Perhaps you could distract Rose with a?—’
‘Romance?’ Ben snorted, shaking his head.
‘Are you asking me to seduce the maid of honour?’ He wasn’t serious, but that didn’t stop his idiot body from reacting favourably to the idea.
‘Of course not.’ Marco shrugged.
‘But it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve tempted someone.
She’s beautiful, serious and opinionated – exactly your type.
’ His dark brown eyes were lively.
‘I don’t have a type anymore.
’ Ben stared into his drink.
‘I’m happy to spend time with Rose, but I’m not going to have a fling with her,’ he said firmly.
‘Firstly, she wouldn’t be interested.
’ Coco let out a chirpy bark from where she was curled up on his knee, and he wondered if the dog was agreeing or warning him off.
‘Secondly, it’s not the right thing to do.
I’m not looking for a fake date.
It all sounds great on paper, but people –’ Probably him, ‘– might get hurt.’
Thirdly, Ben liked Rose, and he’d sworn off getting involved with anyone he knew he could develop real feelings for.
Still, the thought appealed – and for a nanosecond, he considered it before dismissing the idea.
Marco sagged. ‘Okay, I understand, my friend. I don’t want you to do anything untoward.
I just thought I saw a spark between the two of you when you arrived.
’ He nodded. ‘But will you agree to keep her busy and away from Luna, at least until she has a chance to get to know me and my family?’
‘I can try,’ Ben said.
‘But we should be practical. Rose is going to get suspicious if she’s forced to spend all her time with me.
Perhaps Elena, Leonardo, Cesare, Isabella, even Aurora, might be able to keep her occupied sometimes?
’
Marco nodded, looking a little less stressed.
‘I spoke to Mama and Papa after you called last night. Nonno and Nonna I will speak to later, if I can get them in the same room.’
‘Are they still fighting?’
‘Yes.’ Marco looked unhappy.
‘Nonna keeps trying to talk me out of getting married.’ His frown disappeared momentarily.
‘On second thoughts, perhaps we should keep her away from Rose too.’
‘Tell me how I can help,’ Ben asked, squeezing his friend’s shoulder.
‘Could you two run some errands together, give me more time with Luna? Surely Rose can’t disagree with that?
’
Ben thought about spending more time with her, and he tried to read his mixed feelings as interest prickled his senses.
‘It could work.’ He nodded.
‘But –’ He frowned. ‘– I need your family to understand that Rose is on Luna’s side.
She isn’t some terrible stranger trying to mess up your wedding.
’
Marco gave him a curious look.
‘You are worried about how my family see her?’
Ben shrugged, trying not to show how much he’d grown to like the woman.
‘She’s not the bad guy here.
She’s wrong about you, but that doesn’t make her the enemy.
’
He’d seen the odd flash of vulnerability since they’d met, and he didn’t want her to somehow get hurt.
She might be misguided, but Ben could tell she was coming from a good place.
His parents had never pulled him into their marital squabbles.
A lifetime of that could skew the way you saw love.
It would definitely make you wary.
‘You like her.’ Marco’s eyes sparkled and he suddenly grinned.
‘Then I don’t understand what’s so wrong with my original plan.
’
‘I like Coco, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to date the dog,’ Ben said dryly.
Irritated, because a part of him did like Marco’s idea.
Flustered, he picked up his coffee.
‘Tell me about these errands,’ he snapped, sipping so much that it burnt his mouth.
It was strong and he’d probably be tossing and turning all night, but at least it was helping to sober him up.
Not that he’d drunk much, but he still felt a little lightheaded.
And that had nothing to do with Rose.
Marco waved a hand. ‘Mama has a list of jobs. Choosing the food and wine is now done, but making the party favours, ensuring the wedding attire fits, generally keeping everyone sane. I found the rings, but Luna and I still need to get them sized. Mostly we can handle everything, but there will be the odd job.’
‘Okay,’ Ben said.
‘I’ll keep Rose busy, but you’re going to have to stop Luna from looking for her too.
’
‘I can keep my fiancée occupied.’ Marco winked.
‘And if you change your mind about the romance…’ He waggled his eyebrows again.
‘Not going to happen,’ Ben insisted.
He had Rose Loveheart’s measure, and he wasn’t going to let her get within a mile of his body or heart.
Marco grinned. ‘I’ve known you for a long time, amico , and in the words of Shakespeare, I think you doth protest a little too much… ’