Chapter 12
12
BEN
Ben knocked on Rose’s door again, trying not to wake Aurora who was sleeping a few rooms away.
The dawn sun’s orange light glowed from the hallway window, warming his face, and he scrubbed a hand across his forehead, trying to help himself to wake up.
It was almost five a.m. and he hadn’t got to bed until after midnight.
Rose had retired earlier – although she hadn’t told him she was going to bed.
She’d been avoiding him after the huge, noisy meal, probably because Elena and Francesca had taken to following them both around – seemingly intent on getting them to dance together, or photographing them whenever they got close.
Also, Aurora had been threatening Rose and Luna with a tarot card reading, which Rose had made clear she didn’t want.
Ben hadn’t known Rose long, but it was obvious she wasn’t keen on being the centre of attention – and hated making her private life so public.
Despite that, the engagement party had been raucous and fun, and Ben had found himself seeking Rose out on a number of occasions.
Even the advances of a couple of the female guests – friends of the Marinos – hadn’t tempted him, which was unusual, and he wasn’t sure what to make of that.
Perhaps it was simply the lingering memories of his own engagement party with Sophia which had been held in her parents’ old house, just a mile from here?
He knocked on Rose’s door again, trying to practise what he was going to say in his mind.
Marco had cornered him in his room just after he’d gone to bed, eliciting a promise that Ben had a bad feeling about.
But he was in Tuscany to support his friend, and he wasn’t going to back out now.
‘What?’ Rose asked as she opened the door, and Ben felt something in his chest wake up and flip over.
She wore the red silk pyjamas she’d brought in Francesca’s shop.
When Ben had seen them on the hanger, he’d thought they were too big.
But the material skimmed her body, giving away the curve of her waist and hips, and the vibrant colour added a flush to her pale skin.
He swallowed a wave of unwelcome lust as her forehead crunched.
‘Why are you here?’ she asked, glancing into the hallway, looking confused.
‘Is something wrong?’
‘No. Well, yes.’ He sighed.
‘Isabella is insisting that someone goes to pick up a wedding gift for Luna and Marco, and he asked if we could do it. The Marinos want to placate her, so she doesn’t do anything to spoil the wedding.
’
‘Like me you mean?’ Rose asked, looking annoyed.
Ben huffed. ‘Not exactly. She is…old…and it’s important to everyone that she’s happy about the marriage.
She can be…difficult.
’
Rose jerked her chin.
‘Right.’ She sighed.
‘And we need to pick up this wedding gift now?’ she asked incredulously as her tired expression morphed into one of disbelief and she looked back at the clock by her bed.
‘Ben, it’s five a.m.’
‘I know.’ He pulled a face.
‘She was very insistent that it was picked up today.’
‘Why?’ She challenged.
‘I said the same thing to Marco. Isabella’s superstitious.
It’s a Wednesday and that’s important, apparently,’ Ben explained truthfully.
‘It’s got something to do with harnessing the best luck.
’ His friend had used the word ‘magic’, but Ben wasn’t going to tell that to Rose.
He wanted her company, although he wasn’t sure why.
‘Marco explained it to me,’ he said.
‘But I was too tired to take much of it in.’ He swiped a hand across his face and squeezed the bridge of his nose.
‘He asked if we’d do it for him as a special favour.
’
‘If it’s so important, why can’t he do it?
’ Rose narrowed her eyes.
Ben pulled a face. ‘Marco and Luna have to have their ring fingers sized this morning. If they don’t, there will be no rings.
’
He watched the thoughts flicker across Rose’s face and wondered if she was processing what the implications of that might be.
Would she refuse to come with him in an attempt to sabotage the rings and the nuptials?
He felt his breath catch in his throat as he waited for her response, expecting to be disappointed in her; hoping he wouldn’t be.
Which made little sense.
‘Fine. But why do I need to go?’ she asked eventually.
‘It’s complicated.’ When she stared him down, Ben let out a long breath.
‘The gift needs two people – a man and a woman – to transport it here.’ She opened her mouth to speak, and he held up a palm.
‘Again, blame superstition, not me. Isabella is convinced it’s important that we both do it.
To give it the most—’ He shut his eyes for a moment, trying to work out the best way to explain.
‘Potency.’
Rose sucked in a breath and motioned that Ben should step inside the bedroom.
He followed her tentatively, breathing in her perfume, which was fresh with strawberry notes.
Usually, he knew all the popular fragrances.
It was one of his party tricks – guessing what women were wearing, getting close enough to see the flutter of pulse at the base of their neck as he identified its name.
But he couldn’t seem to get his tongue to move from the roof of his mouth and his brain was barely functioning – which meant he had no chance of guessing the brand.
‘Are you okay?’ Rose asked, reading his confusion.
Ben swiped a hand across his brow.
‘It smells like strawberries,’ he murmured, feeling stupid.
‘In here, I like it.’ Now he sounded like an idiot.
Rose raised an eyebrow.
‘Thank you,’ she said, going to move the sheets over her bed as if she didn’t want him to see it unmade.
Then she turned and folded her arms. ‘What are we picking up exactly?’
Ben began to pace the room.
‘You’re not going to like it,’ he said.
He’d toyed with the idea of making something up but didn’t feel good about that.
If Rose found out he’d been lying again, she’d probably never forgive him.
Besides, she’d find out as soon as they reached their destination.
‘If I tell you, will you keep an open mind?’
She frowned at him.
‘I’m all about an open mind,’ she said flatly.
‘I’ve spent the last couple of days with Aurora and I’m still here.
’
‘True.’ He stopped pacing.
‘There’s a fertility symbol.
A statue that Isabella wants us to collect so she can give it to Luna and Marco for their wedding gift.
I know she’s not on board with the marriage, but she’s keen to have great grandchildren.
’
Rose snorted. ‘And her gift will somehow guarantee they have the bambini everyone’s clearly craving?
’ she asked dryly. ‘The Marinos do understand that Luna is a businesswoman, don’t they?
She may not want to have children yet.
She may not ever want them.
’
Ben winced. ‘No one is going to try to force Marco or Luna into doing anything they don’t want to do, but of course Marco is keen his family are happy.
Think of it as a placebo – a way to keep Isabella off their backs.
I know you’re not totally happy about the wedding, but if Luna wants to go ahead, we want it to go well.
’ He shrugged. ‘It’s not going to hurt and it’s kind of our duty.
’ He paused, aiming for maximum effect.
‘I am the best man – and you are the maid of honour. We’re all about helping things to run smoothly.
’
‘That’s a low blow,’ she muttered, but Ben could see lines etching their way across her forehead – guessed she was softening to the idea.
‘Okay, now I understand what we’re picking up and why we need to go today.
’ She blinked. ‘But why so early?’
‘It’s a long drive,’ he said, yawning and stretching as a wave of tiredness hit him.
‘About three hours each way and it’s going to get hot and the roads will be busy.
If we leave now, we should be back by mid-afternoon.
Which is important because you’ve got an appointment to help make bomboniere early this evening and you can’t miss that.
’
‘I can’t?’ Rose asked, her eyes widening.
‘What does it involve, exactly?’ She sounded suspicious.
‘Don’t worry, it’s nothing you can’t handle.
’ He smiled. ‘It’s an Italian tradition, making wedding favours.
I’m sure Luna will fill you in when you get the chance to speak.
’ If Marco allowed them to get within a mile of each other.
‘The women have a party planned.’
‘Luna didn’t mention it,’ Rose said, frowning.
Ben shrugged. Her constant doubts were becoming wearing.
The fact that she didn’t trust him was— He shook his head.
He shouldn’t care about that.
‘I don’t think she knew about it herself until late last night, and I’m not sure if you even had time to talk,’ he said.
‘Things are moving fast, there’s a lot for the family to organise and not much time.
’
Rose frowned. ‘Deborah. Luna’s mother still isn’t here,’ she said.
‘She’s not going to be able to be a part of any of this and I know she’d want to be.
’
Ben didn’t respond – what was he supposed to say?
But Rose looked disappointed, and he felt something knot in his chest. Why was her happiness suddenly so important to him?
‘Family matters to her,’ she added.
Ben nodded. ‘I understand that. It’s important to Marco too.
That’s why he wants his nonna to be happy.
At least about this.
’ Also, his friend hoped it might stop her from encouraging them to not get married.
The promise of a great-grandchild might placate the older woman.
Not that Marco had any particular plans in that direction, but he wanted the wedding to go ahead without any more negativity.
Rose sighed. ‘Fine,’ she muttered, looking annoyed.
‘And it’s a fair point.
I suppose I’m going to have to say yes.
’ She moved to the window and pushed open the shutters to reveal bright orange light from the early morning sun which bathed her, lighting up the red pyjamas and making Ben flex his fingers.
‘Does Isabella live there?’ She pointed to the two houses behind the swimming pool and Ben went to stand beside her so he could see where she was indicating.
He nodded, trying not to breathe in the scent of strawberries.
‘Do you know who lives in the other house?’ she asked.
‘Cesare Marino. Marco’s Nonno – his grandad.
’
‘I remember from the picture, and Aurora saw him in the garden yesterday. I think I saw him too, but he wasn’t at the party last night,’ she said.
Ben nodded. Usually, Cesare loved spending time with his family and was often the life and soul, but Marco had told Ben that he was lamenting the problems in his marriage and didn’t want to spoil the evening.
Also, he’d got absorbed by a particularly difficult crossword, which he’d been keen to solve.
‘I believe he didn’t want to cause a problem at the engagement party,’ Ben said.
Rose’s forehead pinched.
‘Cesare and Isabella are still married, but they live in different houses?’ She turned to gaze at the buildings again, and Ben could almost hear the click of her brain, knew exactly what she was going to ask next.
‘They’ve recently separated,’ he said, guessing it was best to tell her what he knew.
The Marinos didn’t want outsiders to know about the fallout, but Leonardo had said Rose was a part of the family now.
Also, after Isabella’s outburst last night, it was hardly going to be a surprise.
‘I’ll tell you the full story in the car—’ he promised.
‘If we leave now, we’ll be able to stop for coffee and pastries on the drive.
I know this place?—’
Rose frowned and cocked her head.
‘Are you sure this isn’t just a way of keeping me from Luna?
’
‘I’m sure.’ Ben pursed his lips.
‘Marco figures he can handle whatever you throw at him. He loves Luna and he’s got no intention of letting you talk her out of marrying him.
’
He didn’t add that his friend wouldn’t be averse to doing anything to protect his impending nuptials.
The fact that he’d asked Ben to seduce Rose had proven that.
But some things she didn’t need to know.
‘So, why’s this so important?
’ Rose asked. ‘Why has it all suddenly happened now?’
‘The family were spooked by Aurora’s reading,’ he told her.
‘ Nonna can be difficult. Especially at the moment. Everyone wants the wedding to go well. They don’t want anyone kicking off, refusing to go or getting upset.
If we get the statue and Nonna gives it to Marco and Luna, she might stop telling them they’re making a mistake.
It’s as simple as that.
It’s all about keeping the peace, making sure everything runs smoothly.
’
‘A statue isn’t going to help someone get pregnant,’ Rose said seriously.
‘Even if they wanted to, which they might not.’
Ben held up his palms. ‘I know that. But this isn’t about me, or you.
It’s about helping Marco – and Luna ,’ he drew out her name.
‘It’s about what they want.
Which is to get married with everyone’s blessing.
’
‘Not with mine.’ Rose sucked in a breath and her eyes flashed as she turned to him.
‘But fine. Why don’t you go and get the car ready while I get dressed and—’ Her eyes narrowed.
‘Make sure you pack your phone charger. I need to let Luna know where I’m going.
We were supposed to be speaking about the wedding this morning, I’ll have to cancel I suppose.
’ Her lips thinned. ‘But I’ll be rearranging our chat for later today.
’
Ben nodded. He had a feeling whatever Marco threw at Rose, she’d eventually have that conversation, present her rules and try to talk them both out of getting married so quickly.
He only hoped Marco’s fiancée wouldn’t back out, but he’d done all he could do for now.
‘Maybe pack that new bikini and a towel,’ he suggested as Rose opened the door and stood back.
‘We’ll pass some beautiful coastline on the journey.
It’s going to be hot and there are some pretty restaurants on the beach where we could stop for lunch.
’
‘Breakfast and lunch?’ Rose huffed.
‘This isn’t a date.’
‘We need to eat,’ Ben shot back, feeling a flutter of temper.
‘If it makes you feel any better, we can sit at separate tables,’ he said, trying to reinstate his teasing tone.
He shouldn’t be irritated by Rose’s lack of trust; he had to keep things light.
This wasn’t personal and he had no intention of letting it become so.
‘And I’m going to swim even if you don’t – you’re welcome to ogle me while I do.
’ With that, he walked through the door and shut it without waiting for Rose’s response.