CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Flowers were bad luck before a performance.
But Sev knew she wasn’t superstitious, and so all through the morning and into the afternoon she desperately hoped for some.
She ached for more than his call this morning. She wanted Sev’s reassurance…for him to tell her she’d got this.
She’d laid out her dress, and was checking she had everything she needed for tonight, when her phone rang.
It was, though, the wrong Casadio…
‘Of course I understand.’ Juliet was touched that Dante had thought to call her when he was so worried for Susie and the baby. ‘Please give her my love.’
Yes, she was touched, and worried—she felt all of those things—but she felt so lonely as she sat on the bed in her old apartment.
She opened her bedside drawer, where she’d put her copy of the ledger, just to see his signature. That little piece of him…
But now, she read it properly—not the monetary sum…she dared to look at the date.
He’d paid this the morning he’d left.
And, thanks to Signor’s meticulous record-keeping, even the time was noted.
He must have gone there before he got the flowers for Rosa’s grave, or maybe the other way round…
It didn’t really matter who’d come first.
He’d been saying goodbye to Rosa.
And there was but one other realisation she could come to—at nine twenty-seven that same morning he’d been saying goodbye to her.
The floodgates opened then—horrible tears that she’d held back not just since he’d left, but since the morning of the service, when she’d realised fully that she was in love with him.
Maybe she wasn’t meant for love, Juliet thought, frantic with tears. Possibly it would have been better never to have met him than to be so raw and tender now, with her soul in agony.
She was gulping, crying more than she had at the age of twelve—because this hurt more than it had when she was little.
Really, she’d been alone since then.
And she’d got through it.
She was still here. Even if there was no one to see her…even if he was gone.
She was here .
She could do this alone—just as she always had.
And she was not quite alone.
She thought of Susie and Dante, who had such a wonderful reason not to be there tonight, and then ran a hand over the gorgeous violin that Sev had bought for her. It had felt like too much at the time, yet it felt like a comfort now.
Their time together had been wonderful, and beautiful, and everything she had ever wanted.
She would play tonight.
Enjoy tonight.
Pour all her troubles into her beautiful violin.
There was a knock on her door and Louanna came in with a glass of water. ‘I’m heading off. See you there?’
‘Yes.’
‘You’re okay?’
‘I am now.’
Right now she had the biggest performance of her life—and, yes, the show must go on.
She slid on her new underwear.
It was gorgeous, but a little more her —silky, but plain, with not a bow or a shred of lace.
Then she did a light make-up—mostly to cover her complexion, which was a little blotchy from crying. Almost as a warning to herself that her crying jag had to be over, she put a little mascara on, and some lipstick, and then pinned her hair back from her face, but left it loose down her back.
The dress was heavenly, and as she looked in the mirror Juliet felt like a real musician.
‘Come on,’ she said to her gorgeous violin—the one Sev had bought for her, though she decided not to think about that right now…not with mascara on. ‘You too,’ she said, and took her spare and most trusty back-up. ‘Just in case.’
Lucca was so beautiful as she walked to the concerto hall. It was the only place she knew where it was normal to walk in a velvet gown, carrying your instruments, and people smiled and wished her good luck with no real idea who she was. It was enough that she was on her way to make music in a town where it was revered.
* * *
Backstage was tiny and crowded—and the most exciting place on the planet.
This planet.
Mars was possibly her favourite other planet—but she wasn’t allowing her head to go there tonight.
And then it was time for the orchestra to file out, and she took her place. She could see the hall filling up, glanced up and saw the empty box, but then quickly looked away.
Soon the buzz of the audience was drowned out by the wonderful sound of an orchestra tuning up.
She was here. She had made it. Even if there was no one to see her.
Then the conductor entered to applause, and the orchestra were invited to stand and take their own applause. It was a gorgeous tradition—to look out to the people you would play for, to invite them to share in this night.
She tried not to look up again to where Susie and Dante would have been, but foolishly she did—and then she saw him. Yes, it was dark, and, yes, he looked a lot like his brother… But she would know him anywhere.
It was impossible. She’d spoken to him just a few hours ago. And, having tracked his plane that dreadful morning, she was quite an expert in flying times from Dubai.
But he was here.
Somehow.
And even if she couldn’t see him properly, she knew he was looking straight at her.
And then his head moved in that small nod of encouragement, and she wished to God she hadn’t worn mascara.
Or perhaps it was a blessing that she had, because it forced her to blink and snap out of the gentle spell he’d placed her under and take her seat.
* * *
Juliet was magnificent.
She didn’t look up at him once.
He could see her head moving as she gave in to the music, and while he didn’t like opera—or rather he didn’t love it—tonight he decided he did.
Of course he’d never tell Mimi. She’d sing him to death.
At the interval a fruit platter and some herbal tea were placed by a table at his side. Given this should have been Susie’s seat, Sev realised he was being served her order. Thankfully Dante had ordered whisky and dark chocolate.
The second act commenced, and even while eating chocolate-dipped strawberries he conceded that he might come to agree with the old luthier’s sign. Einstein, with a few modifications, might just be right. A velvet chair, and chocolate-dipped fruit, and a violin—so long as it was being played by Juliet.
He could watch her every night for the rest of his life.
In fact, he very much hoped that he would…
* * *
Be calm , Juliet told herself as she headed for the stage door. He’s here because of Dante .
Probably he felt sorry for her.
But she was delighted, and she couldn’t hide it when she stepped out. ‘You! I never imagined…’
‘You were incredible,’ He told her. ‘I can’t believe I might have missed it. What an opening night!’
One kiss , she told herself as he pulled her into his arms.
She was weak for his mouth. His kiss was so delicious she had to stop and put down her violins so she could focus on the sheer pleasure of it.
They were going to sleep together. She knew that as their tongues reunited and his hands roamed the black velvet. There was a desirous energy to their kiss, and his mouth was so insistent. Their necks craned to be closer, nearer. He was stroking one velvety breast…
This kiss was far from a greeting.
But if she slept with him then she’d have to start getting over him again.
‘I am not being your Lucca lover,’ she said, peeling back. ‘Any news?’
‘Loads,’ he told her. ‘Come on.’
They walked down the cobbled lanes, holding a violin case each and holding hands. She was wired, and happy, and simply refusing to let trouble spoil it. She licked her lips and his peppery scent was in her nostrils again.
‘Okay…’ she conceded as they headed for his house. ‘Just tonight.’
‘That was easy,’ he said, and they both started to laugh.
‘How on earth did you get here? You were in Dubai when I called.’
‘I spoke to Sheikh Mahir…explained the emergency.’
‘Was he okay about it?’
He made a wavering gesture with his hands. ‘Not at first… But he’s very much a family man, and he gave me a loan of his private jet to get here fast.’
‘Ghastly things!’ she teased. ‘But wonderful when your brother needs you and there’s a baby on the way!’
* * *
He gave her a very strange look.
‘Juliet, I didn’t fly back because of the baby.’
‘Of course you did!’ She laughed. ‘You and Dante can both deny it all you like, but you love each other really.’
‘I guess… But I’m not overly involved.’ He gave a short, incredulous laugh. ‘Juliet…’
But they were at the gates to the house—and, no, they were not having this discussion in the street.
‘Inside.’
* * *
He pushed the door open, and as Juliet walked into the entrance hall she felt her nose twitch with annoyance—because, yes, it had been styled.
It looked fabulous.
Dammit.
So did the lounge. The grey sofa was gone and there were two large navy silk ones, and beautiful rugs like those she might have mentioned. There was even a piano…
‘You liked my suggestions, then?’
‘I did.’
She almost wished she’d never seen the house come to life like this. Now she’d remember it for ever, stunning and gorgeous and with all the things she loved in it.
‘It’s perfect.’ She gave a slight sniff. ‘You didn’t waste much time.’
‘No. I got Helene on to it the day you moved out.’
‘The same day!’
‘I was actually relieved that you moved out…’
The chances of her being his Lucca lover tonight were rapidly diminishing, she thought, and she was about to tell him that.
‘We have a lot to discuss,’ he went on. ‘Maybe a few rows. This way you don’t get to storm off so easily.’
‘Why would I storm off?’
‘Hopefully I’ve negated any need to, because I’ve been in some serious talks with Mahir,’ he told her. ‘I knew I couldn’t ask you to come and live in Dubai.’
‘Live there!’ Her mouth gaped. ‘Sevandro, I haven’t even been.’
‘I’ve been asking you to come.’
‘For a few days!’
‘To see if you like it. Juliet, I knew I couldn’t ask you to give up your career, and I know you love it here…’
She was back in that audio booth again…or maybe it was Mars. Because she could hear his voice, and she was looking into silver-black eyes, but he was telling her about pulling back from billion-dollar contracts. Not pulling out. Just stepping back.
‘When did you decide all this?’ she asked.
‘On the Tarmac in Dubai.’
‘And you didn’t think to discuss it with me!’ Her mouth gaped. ‘Aren’t we supposed to be able to tell each other anything?’
‘We have our little amendment,’ he reminded her.
‘But I’ve been missing you. I was on the floor crying over you this afternoon.’
‘You still made the performance,’ he pointed out. ‘I didn’t want to mess up your preparations for the concertos , nor to discuss things with you till I at least had…’
‘A plan?’
‘I guess…’
She saw he was being very honest.
‘My life was not geared up for two, Juliet,’ he said. ‘There wasn’t anything to discuss until I’d sorted things out. How could I ask you to come to Dubai with the hours I work? And what if you wanted to live here…?’
She swallowed, realising what he meant.
Lucca was her home.
She’d built a life she loved here; her career was just taking off.
‘We could have spoken about it,’ she said.
‘We are going to talk about it,’ he affirmed. ‘I have no plane to catch, no alarm to set, and I have forty-eight hours.’
At first she laughed, because he spoke as if he had managed to carve out an entire month to focus on them. But then her laughter faded. She knew how big this was for him, and realised how much he respected her career—how he’d worked to bring the very best of himself to the negotiating table.
‘So, this plan…’ She was shaking a little. ‘Sevandro, I would live anywhere with you.’
‘I know that,’ he said, and then he led her to one of the gorgeous navy couches, where he sat down and then pulled her onto his knee. ‘And I knew if I was asking you to do that for me, then I had to be prepared to offer you the same.’ He looked right into her eyes. ‘I would live anywhere with you !’
Her breath hitched. ‘Even here?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘I can say that in all honesty now. Even here. I always chose not to examine my past, but with your help I have now, and I’m okay with things. I can live here—so long as it’s with you.’
‘You mean it?’
‘I more than mean it. This is your home, and I can’t wait to share it with you.’
‘What about Dante and…?’
‘We’re fine. I am so grateful to you for telling me. I know why you did it. Because it was better I heard it from someone who has my heart in mind.’
‘And I do.’
‘Dante called this morning. He was about to confess, but thanks to you he didn’t have to. I told him I already knew.’
He gave her a kiss that told her of his relief and gratitude.
‘Thanks to you, I didn’t say something I would later regret.’
‘That’s good.’
‘We all know everything now!’ he said. ‘Thanks to my little spiona .’
Sev, or Sevandro, was so many things. He said what no other ever could, and he went to places in her heart no one else could touch, and he turned the impossible into a smile.
‘I landed to the news that I’m an uncle. Dante and Susie have a little boy—Eduardo…’
Juliet felt as if she was spinning with happiness, and yet she sat still held in his arms.
‘I’m an uncle .’
He rolled his eyes, but she knew he was both pleased and proud.
‘And Mahir’s fine. The agreement I’ve been trying to broker is that I will hand over more to his son. It was all very tense, but then I told him about you…about the opera opening night, and nobody being there for you. He came with me to the airport and we talked a few things out.’ He pulled her to him. ‘Juliet, you were the emergency he lent me his jet for. Dante and Susie were meant to be there, but when I found out they couldn’t…’
‘Seeing you up there,’ she told him. ‘It meant everything. And I didn’t even know you loved me then.’
‘ I knew,’ he said. ‘I was getting things in order, while you did what you needed to.’
‘You know I love you.’
‘Of course—you were looking at wedding dresses the morning after you lost your virginity.’
‘I was not.’ She thought back, blushing all over again. ‘No, I was not.’
‘You soon will be.’
She gave an excited nod, and she thought this must be love because neither had to ask.
It was just happening!
‘We’ll get a ring later. This is to celebrate your first official first chair performance tonight.’
He took a little black box from his pocket, and she knew she really was being looked after.
The brooch was exquisite—a tiny silver violin, encrusted with diamonds. Her eyes were too blurry at first, but as she lifted it from the box she saw one dark stone…one little ruby for the bridge.
She knew it was from his mother’s ring.
‘I’ll treasure it for ever,’ she told him staring deep into his eyes.
‘As I shall treasure you.’
He would take the greatest care of her heart.