Chapter 18
18
BEN
Marco was searching through shrubbery in the garden when Ben and Rose got back to the villa.
‘Did you find Coco?’ he asked eagerly, frowning when he saw she wasn’t with them.
‘I’m sorry,’ Ben said.
‘The good news is I don’t think she’s in the lake.
’
Aurora’s voice suddenly boomed in the darkness, as she shouted for the dog again, making Ben jump.
‘Everyone’s been walking through the garden and further afield,’ Marco said.
‘There’s no sign of Coco.
Luna’s beside herself.
’ He frowned. ‘She’s still threatening to call off the wedding.
I can’t believe she’d even say that.
’ He looked upset. ‘Over a dog too.’
‘I think it’s over more than that,’ Rose murmured.
‘I’ve known her a long time and when she’s anxious or worried, she lashes out.
’ She blinked. ‘We have to find Coco, then you both need to talk about what just happened. If you do, I’m sure you’ll be able to find a solution.
’ She patted Marco on the shoulder, but his friend still looked unhappy.
‘Where haven’t you looked?
’ Ben asked – because the fastest way to fix things was to find Coco.
His friend shrugged.
‘Cesare is searching around the main garden now. We haven’t checked all of the olive groves.
Luna checked around the cars.
The rest of us have scaled every inch of the rest of the garden.
But the dog’s small and could be hiding.
I wouldn’t put it past her.
’ His mouth pinched.
‘Aldo says she’s somewhere near liquid, remember!
’ Aurora reminded them from wherever she was searching in the garden.
‘Aren’t there red and white flowers near the swimming pool?
I’m searching there next.
’
‘What about the inside of the house?’ Ben pointed to the back of the villa where a set of patio doors hung open.
Coco could easily have sneaked in while they were searching for her.
Marco pulled a face.
‘We’ve been in and out of the house.
If Coco was in there, we’d surely know.
Someone would have seen her.
’
Rose glanced between them.
‘We’ll check again just to make sure.
’ She began to make her way towards the house as Marco stared after her.
‘Is this a trick?’ he asked suspiciously.
‘No. She wants to find Coco. We all do.’ His voice came out sharper than he’d intended.
A furrow appeared in Marco’s forehead as he stared at Ben.
‘You like her,’ he murmured.
‘It’s been a long time…
’
Ben’s stomach clenched.
‘She’s a good person.
There’s nothing more to it than that.
’ He was lying. The kiss in the car and its lingering effects had proved that.
Then again, did he really want to put himself out there again?
He was perfectly happy with his life as it was.
But as Ben followed Rose towards the villa, he had a bad feeling he was just kidding himself.
‘Coco!’ Rose shouted as she made her way through the front door.
Ben heard Luna yelling for the dog outside, could hear echoes from the rest of the Marino family as they continued to search.
‘She’s got to be somewhere,’ Rose muttered as she opened a door underneath the staircase before dodging a broom handle as it fell out.
Ben picked it up and placed it back inside, shutting the door.
‘I know the dog is precocious, but I don’t think even she can open closed doors by herself.
’
Rose jerked her chin before spinning around to stare at him, her blueberry eyes flashing.
‘But Coco can. The demon got into my larder last week. I was working with a client, and she’d eaten through half a packet of ginger biscuits before I realised.
’
Her mouth pinched, creating the perfect bow and something inside Ben’s chest fluttered.
He swallowed the feeling, suppressing a potent need to reach for her, to kiss her again.
He cleared his throat.
‘Then we need to check all the rooms in the villa.’ He marched down the corridor, opened the door and peered into the kitchen.
‘She’s not here…’
Rose nodded, then turned and walked hurriedly away.
‘Where does this lead?’ She opened the next door.
‘Coco?’ She sighed at the answering silence.
‘An office.’ She shut it again.
‘What now?’
‘The next door along leads to a wine cellar. It’s usually locked, though.
’
Rose strode to it, heels tapping on the tiles.
‘It’s unlocked. What if someone left it open accidentally?
If I was a terrified demon, I might decide to hide in here.
’ She walked inside without waiting and Ben glanced around before following.
‘Coco!’ Rose shouted in the distance and Ben heard a tentative bark.
‘She’s here!’
He let the door close behind him and ran down the steps to join her.
There was an internal door between the stairs and main cellar, and it swung shut as he joined Rose.
He’d been in the cellar before, choosing bottles of red and white wine when he’d been staying with Marco.
The rustic chandelier hanging overhead gave out a little light which meant he could see Rose kneeling at the end of the room rubbing Coco’s head while the dog made happy chirping sounds.
‘She must have been terrified because she’s not biting me.
It’s okay,’ Rose cooed.
‘It seems even demons are afraid of the dark. See, she’s being nice.
’ She looked around at the rows and rows of wine bottles laying in wooden racks covering most of the four walls.
There was a circular wooden table and four heavy wooden chairs in the centre of the room.
Ben had been down here many times choosing wine or testing bottles with his friend, so he wasn’t surprised to see someone had left out clean wine glasses and a corkscrew.
‘Liquid that’s red and white,’ Rose said.
‘Aurora was right.’
‘Let’s go and tell Marco and Luna that we’ve found Coco,’ Ben suggested, pointing to the door and encouraging Rose to go first. Now they were alone in this small space he was beginning to notice her again, and the chemistry he’d been attempting to ignore was making itself known.
He smelled strawberries and waved a hand hoping she’d lead.
He watched Rose stroke Coco one last time before rising and heading to the door.
The dog followed and Ben brought up the rear.
Rose grasped the handle making the door rattle.
‘It’s stuck,’ she said, jerking it up and down.
‘Is something wrong with it?’
‘Let me check.’ Ben moved closer, trying not to step on Coco who’d begun to scratch the wooden panelling.
‘I can’t hear a click.
’ He tried again. ‘I’ve got an awful feeling Marco told me the lock has been sticking.
’ He got his mobile out and dialled Marco, but it went to voicemail.
‘When you get this, please can you come and let us out of the wine cellar? The lock’s jammed, but the good news is we’ve found Coco.
’ Ben hung up. ‘Do you want to try Luna?’
The dog whined.
‘I can try.’ Rose called and left a message too before trying the handle again.
The door rattled but didn’t budge.
‘What do we do, sit and wait?’ Rose glanced at the table.
‘They could be ages.’
‘Even if no one picks up the messages, they’re bound to want more wine at some point,’ Ben said.
‘You’re right.’ Rose nodded, looking calmer.
‘Or Aldo will tell Aurora where we are,’ she joked.
‘Besides, everyone’s still looking for Coco.
’ The dog barked. ‘It’s only a matter of time before someone else decides to search the house.
’
The chandelier flashed, and the lights went off, leaving the room in darkness.
Coco growled and Rose let out a distressed hum just before they flashed back on again.
‘That happens sometimes. Why don’t we get comfortable?
We can have a glass of wine, wait it out.
’ He indicated the table and went to pull out a chair for Rose before going to study the wine on the racks.
‘Won’t it be the wrong temperature?
’
‘Probably, but the wine will still taste good.’ Ben pondered the racks.
‘How do you feel about red?’ He pulled out a bottle of Barolo and placed it on the table.
‘It’s my favourite.’
‘Mine too.’ Rose frowned and he wondered if it was because that meant they had something in common.
‘But won’t the Marinos mind?
’ She studied the label as Ben picked up the corkscrew.
‘If they were here, they’d insist we have a drink to pass the time.
’ He took the bottle from her and uncorked it before pouring a little of the liquid into both glasses, then picked his up and sniffed.
It smelled amazing. He sipped from his glass as he slid the other to Rose.
She frowned at it before nodding and taking a seat.
Ben watched her for a beat, then drew out the chair opposite.
‘It’s good!’ She frowned at the door.
Coco was lying beside it with her head on her paws.
‘I’ve never seen the demon so quiet.
It’s crazy, but I think I’d rather she was biting me.
’
‘I’m sure it won’t be long before your limbs are in danger again,’ Ben joked, watching Rose take another drink.
‘What’s taking them so long?
’ she grumbled.
‘There’s a lot of ground to cover and they won’t be thinking about looking for us yet.
’ Ben didn’t add that he thought it might be a while.
No one would be expecting the dog to be down here, and they were probably too busy to check their mobiles.
His eyes flicked to Rose; he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
He could see goosebumps on her skin; watched her rub her palms over her forearms. Dammit .
‘Are you cold?’ Ben looked down at his own clothes.
He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and jeans.
‘I’d offer to lend you something else to wear, but…
’
Rose gazed at him.
‘I think I’ve borrowed enough clothes for one holiday.
And I have to admit I think Aurora’s suit me better than yours would.
’ She gave him a half smile even as she shivered.
Then she picked up the wine glass and took another sip.
‘Besides, I’ve got this really excellent wine to keep me warm.
’ She finished the glass.
Almost the moment she put it back on the table, the lights went out.
Coco let out a distressed rumbling sound and Rose whimpered.
‘What’s happening?’ Her voice wobbled.
‘Give it a minute,’ Ben said.
After a few moments of silence, Rose whispered, ‘Are you sure they’ll come back on?
’
‘They always do,’ Ben said.
‘I’ve been coming here for eight years, and this has happened numerous times.
’
‘Should we put one of our mobile torches on?’ Rose whispered.
‘Although I’m only on about ten per cent.
’
Ben thought about his half-used battery.
‘Let’s leave it for a bit.
We might need light later.
No use in using all the power now.
’
They both fell silent again.
Ben could hear Coco fidgeting, could hear a soft chattering sound.
It took a minute before he realised Rose was shivering.
He shifted his chair around the table aiming to get closer to her, feeling his way in the darkness.
When their chairs collided, Rose yelped.
‘It’s me,’ Ben said.
‘I realise that. What I don’t understand is what you’re doing?
’ The words were delivered through a wave of chatters.
‘You’re cold,’ Ben said, feeling awkward.
‘So you think we should share body heat?’ Rose asked after a pause.
Ben was about to move, but then he heard the sound of her chair scraping against the floor and suddenly her arm was pressing into his.
Bare skin against bare skin.
Ben’s reaction was instantaneous, and he had to force himself to still.
Every cell of his body was suddenly tense, and all of him, from his head through to his fingertips and toes seemed to be topping a hundred degrees.
Rose shivered again and Ben could feel the stroke of goosebumps rising on her skin.
‘How long do you think we’re going to be down here?
’ She asked through a fresh bout of shivers.
‘It’s getting colder.
’ Beside the door, Coco let out a low growl of agreement.
‘You could hug the dog?’ he suggested, only half joking.
He’d offer to hug her, but if he touched her again, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop.
Rose cleared her throat.
‘I think I’ll take my chances with the hypothermia,’ she muttered.
‘I’m not sure if you noticed, but Coco doesn’t usually like me.
’
‘She’s a fool.’ Ben was surprised by the vehemence in his tone.
‘Not everyone does…’ Rose admitted.
‘Some have accused me of being too uptight.’
Ben frowned into the darkness.
‘Some, or one?’
Rose didn’t say anything for a moment.
‘It was an ex-boyfriend. Sometimes, I’m not sure that my parents are that keen on me either.
Then again, I think I’ve become more of a marriage guidance counsellor than a daughter.
’ She paused. ‘Not that either of them listen to me.’
‘I guess no one likes having their mistakes pointed out,’ he said.
Rose coughed awkwardly.
‘Well, I’ve made a career out of doing exactly that, perhaps that explains where I’ve been going wrong.
’
‘Have you done something wrong, though?’ Ben asked.
‘Or is it just everybody else?’ He grinned and hoped Rose could hear he was joking.
‘If it makes any difference, I like you,’ he added, wondering if revealing that had been a mistake.
Then again, wasn’t it obvious from the way he’d kissed her in the car?
Rose fell silent. ‘Don’t you say that to all the girls?
’
‘Not really,’ Ben murmured.
Her body relaxed against his.
‘Would you…I mean, would you put your arm around me please?’ She sounded tense.
‘Of course.’ He decided not to tease and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Rose was still shivering, so he tightened his grip.
‘You’re freezing.’ She tried to pull away.
‘Let me warm you.’
She didn’t move – but continued to tremble.
‘I don’t think the wine helped,’ she said as her teeth rattled more violently.
Ben wanted to wrap her in something, hated feeling so helpless.
‘Stand up,’ he said suddenly.
‘I’ve got an idea.’ He pulled his mobile from his pocket and switched on the torch, illuminating the room.
Roses eyes widened. ‘I thought we were preserving batteries?’
‘We’ll save yours.
’ What there was of it.
‘If only there was an app to create heat,’ she said wistfully.
‘There is, I suppose.’ He put on a random music track.
‘Do you like dancing?’ He stood and held out his hand.
‘Dancing?’ Rose looked horrified.
‘I thought you were going to try to pick the lock.’
Ben shook his head.
‘Can’t be done. We can however dance.
The movement will help warm us up.
’
Rose grimaced and, for a moment, he thought she was going to refuse.
Then she shrugged. ‘You know I once suggested dancing to a client as a way of fixing their relationship.’ She took his hand and stood, as the track changed, skipping to ‘Dancing Queen’ by Abba.
Rose’s lips tightened as Ben led her to the empty space beside the table.
A crease marred her forehead as he began to wriggle his body in time to the music, encouraging her to do the same.
She didn’t – but she did watch, making him feel self-conscious.
‘What happened?’ he asked, shaking his hips, hoping Rose would either join in or laugh.
She did neither, but there was something about her expression that made him wonder if she wanted to.
Rose’s lips pinched and the crease deepened.
‘She refused; said she’d feel too silly.
’ She paused. ‘The relationship broke up a few weeks later. She wanted to change but wasn’t willing to step out of her comfort zone, so she lost someone she cared about.
’ She winced. ‘I think there might be a lesson there for me. I get it – if I don’t want to be cold, I should dance.
’
Ben grinned. ‘Dance or hug the dog – it’s up to you.
I’ve no idea how long we’re going to be stuck down here.
’ He didn’t mention the other option, the one that involved the sharing of body heat.
Wasn’t sure he wanted to think about that himself – but his wretched brain wouldn’t let go of the idea.
Rose gave him an odd look, one that made him think she could read his mind – or perhaps she just had the same idea.
It was too dark to tell if she was blushing, but Ben suspected he might be.
She wriggled her arms suddenly, shaking her head even as she shifted from foot to foot, her pretty dress shimmering around her thighs.
‘If this is all a devious plot to get me to make a fool out of myself, I guess it’s working.
’ She rolled her eyes, then spun round in a small circle, her movements gaining traction even though it was obvious she was embarrassed.
Ben moved closer and spiralled his hands above his head, wobbling his torso.
He was warmer now and hoped Rose was too.
She giggled as she watched and he jiggled and writhed, delighted with the belly laugh she suddenly let out.
Then Rose slowly began to match his movements, twirling her arms around her head, spinning around – even as the track changed and ‘Pump up the Jam’ filled the cellar.
‘I can’t believe I’m doing this,’ she choked.
‘If my clients could see me now.’ Her feet faltered and Ben wondered if she was going to stop.
‘Perhaps they’d wonder if you’d made up a new set of rules?
’ Ben suggested, wriggling his hips again, hoping she’d join in.
‘What kind?’ She was still moving and Ben wanted to grab her hand.
To hold her.
‘The ones about living life to the fullest – leaving your doubts behind. The ones about having fun while you can, before it’s too late.
’ He gave in to his urge to touch her, reached out and linked their fingers, then put his arm in the air so he could spin her.
Rose laughed. ‘Smooth.’
‘I’m just practising my seduction technique for the wedding.
Isn’t it the best man’s job to seduce the maid of honour?
’ He spun her again and pressed their bodies together before stepping away, a little unnerved at the fire suddenly burning in his belly.
He swallowed, then ignored reason, and the scream in his head that was yelling at him to For God’s sake stop – and did it again.
‘You don’t need any practice, Ben,’ Rose said, a little out of breath as he tucked her close to his chest. It was dim in the room, but there was enough light from his phone to pick out the flush on her cheeks.
‘Does that mean it’s working?
’ he asked, his voice a little husky as he tugged her closer.
It caught him off-guard how much he wanted to kiss her.
But he had to fight it.
He wasn’t looking for this.
Didn’t want it – did he?
‘It’s working.’ Rose laughed, pulling away and moving under his arm in time to the music.
She stepped away and then pressed her body against his again.
He could feel her slim frame through the spectacular dress, tried not to imagine how it might look without it.
Did she know what she was doing to him?
‘I’m getting warmer.
’
‘So am I.’ His voice sounded strained, probably because he was positively boiling on the inside now.
The track changed again, and the beat slowed, and Ben’s wiggles morphed into something more sensual.
He expected Rose to retreat.
Surely, she had rules about slow dancing with a stranger?
He almost hoped she did.
Instead, her grip tightened as she slowed and guided herself closer until they were facing each other, swaying, still holding hands.
Then she looked up, straight into his eyes.
‘I’ve been thinking about my rules,’ she said uncertainly.
‘The ones about dancing?’ Ben asked.
He expected her to step away, to demand they stop the music and somehow try to open the cellar door.
Instead, she cocked her head still gazing at him intently.
‘I do have some: you should avoid touching each other or holding hands.’ She looked down at where theirs were still linked.
‘At least until you know each other properly. Dancing can be intimate; not everyone understands that.’ Had her voice grown gravelly, and what did that mean?
‘Sometimes, it’s better to avoid it.
There’s no telling where it might lead.
’
Ben stopped swaying and looked at her confused.
‘Do you want us to stop?’ He was disappointed, but it was probably for the best.
She shook her head.
‘No, I don’t.’ She pulled in a deep breath and let it out.
‘Do you think there’s such a thing as too many rules?
’
Ben searched for an answer as she began to dance again.
‘What do you mean?’ He was out of his depth, with no idea of what Rose wanted from him.
She continued to shimmy, and he mirrored her in time to the music.
Every time she jiggled an arm, foot or hip – even her mouth – he did the same.
It wasn’t intentional – it was more that his body was communicating with hers.
That the chemistry between them had given up waiting for either of them to make a move.
They’d simply been hijacked by their own impatient hormones.
‘I mean do they work, do we need them, or are they just a way of staying safe – of protecting ourselves from chaos and pain?’ She studied him, her blueberry eyes serious.
Ben shrugged. He didn’t know what she wanted him to say, so he danced and waited, trying not to second-guess her, knowing she’d explain.
Thinking – hoping – that he already knew what she was thinking.
Rose studied him and then hitched in a new breath.
‘The thing is, I don’t know either.
But I do want to know what you’re supposed to do if suddenly, instead of safety, it’s chaos you crave… ’