Chapter Two #3
And this is not the time or place to have such thoughts.
I turn up my professional persona.
“I have a few suggestions for you. Would you like to sit and discuss a possible itinerary for the next six days?”
“Sure,” Friend says. She looks at him and nods.
“Let’s find a seat then.” I guide them to the back, where the lobby meets the bar, and find us a window table. No one is around at this hour, so we can have privacy and a more casual conversation than if we sat at a desk. Again, I guess this is appreciated, given the nature of their request.
And of my suggestions, if I dare.
“So.” I interlace my fingers on the table over the folder with the material I spent the night preparing. “Am I still correct to assume you want to try everything that can be described as romantic?”
Daisy and Friend exchange a glance before her gaze lands on mine. “Yes,” she says, her fingers also interlaced but on her knee. She looks serious and determined, and something about that stance triggers a tingly feeling in my stomach.
I nod, swallowing hard. “Certo…” My brain is so overworked, it slips the all right in Italian. I sit straighter. “I have many options for you. But before I lay them out, I want to ask you a few questions so we can determine what will work best for the two of you.”
They nod. I’m opening the folder but then realize I don’t need to look at what’s in it. I keep my eyes on hers. Screw the professional questions. This is a unique situation.
One that requires a unique approach.
“Are you guys okay trusting me entirely?” I look from her to him, and as their foreheads start to wrinkle questioningly, I proceed, “What I mean is that I’d like to surprise you if I may. I want to plan everything out so that all you have to worry about is enjoying your time together.”
“I’m not sure I understand how that would work.” She examines me like one examines a curious insect. I stretch my smile to put her at ease.
“Here at the hotel, I’ll take care of your needs and surprise you with gifts and extras. I’ll separate the best table at the restaurant for your breakfast, for instance, and if you’d like anything that is not already in your room, you can call me, and I’ll arrange it for you.”
Friend nods, gripping his chin in concentration. Hangover is written all over his face. He looks so tired, I’m sure he’ll say yes to everything.
Daisy is the skeptical one. I look at the line between her brows with an urge to make it disappear and give way to her beautiful smile.
“Would you guys like a room upgrade?” I ask. “I could put you in the Luxury Suite.”
Friend snaps awake, suddenly interested in the conversation, but Daisy looks at him with wide eyes, then back at me. “Room upgrade?” she says, confused. “You mean Jeremy and I would sleep together in the same room?”
I look at Friend. Jeremy. His eyes dart around as he also processes the information. “What? I…don’t know. Do you—”
“No,” Daisy says, nervously putting her hair behind her ears. “We’re fine where we are, thanks.”
“It could have two twin beds if you’d like,” I say, as it’s my job to give them all the options.
But Daisy shakes her head. “It’s okay. We’re good. Right?”
Jeremy looks at her and nods. They’re not ready for that step, and for some reason, this washes my insides with relief.
Why? You want them to fall in love.
It’s too early, and that would ruin everything— it’s my excuse, and I refuse to question it.
“Regarding the itinerary,” I continue. “I would like to suggest you let me guide you around the city so I can personally show you the places I want you to visit.”
“What?” Her frown is back. “That is…” Too much , she doesn’t need to say. Of course, anyone as humble as her would think that.
But this is a five-star hotel, and I’m giving them five-star treatment.
“It’s not too much at Hotel Marchesi,” I say. “When we identify the guest’s wish, we do all we can to make it come true.”
She snorts. Not in a disdainful way. More like…disbelieving.
She doesn’t trust me.
I lean on the table to look at them both more closely. My eyes meet hers, and she doesn’t look away.
“You arrived yesterday, didn’t you?” I ask, and she nods, still very serious. “I bet you have already gotten lost.”
Instead of giving me a simple yes, she says, “Getting lost is part of the experience in Venice.”
I smile. “Indeed. But you’re here for a week. In the sunniest days of spring. Believe me when I say that getting lost will get old pretty fast.”
Jeremy chuckles. “I agree it can be frustrating.”
I point toward him in a gesture of “See?” and put my attention back on her.
“You will be struggling with your GPS and will give up finding many places because the time you’ll waste is valuable.
” I lean back a little to give them space.
I’m not imposing anything. All I’m doing is suggesting.
I need to keep that in mind. It’s their choice in the end.
“We would meet here every morning and leave together. I’d guide you to a couple of different places, and you could either come back with me to the hotel or stay out longer. ”
“So we’d use up your morning for six days?” She raises her eyebrows. “You could be guiding a big group instead, and we won’t even be paying you extra.”
“We pay him, then,” Jeremy says. She looks at him with an invisible question mark over her head.
“I think it will be great to have a guide. A local who knows the city and who can show us around and teach us a few things.” She keeps staring at him.
“Guided trips like that are always more interesting and productive than when you go out on your own, blindly figuring things out.”
Again, I point at him to illustrate he’s being reasonable.
“I can, for instance, show you the prettiest, calmest place to have a gondola ride.”
“Fine, I’m convinced,” Daisy says, still very sober. “But we pay you.”
“You don’t have to,” I say.
“We do,” she insists. “Or your boss will think we’re exploiting you.”
I smile.
“Or are you the boss?” Her eyes grow again, and the sweet expression makes my grin larger.
“Not yet. But I might if…”
“If you do this for us?” Her voice rises a few octaves as understanding brightens her face. “Oh God, that’s why, isn’t it?”
I can’t help but laugh a little, ignoring her question. “I want to do my best for you, okay?”
She nods, comprehending. “You’re taking on the fairy godmother challenge.” This time, I laugh louder. It’s a lovely way to put it. Lorenzo, the Fairy Godmother . “Two people in the hotel want to live out a fairy tale, and you must show you can provide the magical service.”
“We wave our wands all the time here, signorina ,” I say, still smiling. “It’s what makes us the best hotel in Venice.” Her forehead is smooth and relaxed now, and I keep smiling because, with the truth, I’ve earned her trust. “If you can’t give your guests what they want, how good are you?”
“I like this guy already,” Jeremy says, and I nod thankfully at him. “This is what I call top service. And ambition.” He leans back in his chair. “We’ll help you, man. We’ll help each other. A happy ending is all we need.”
Daisy smiles at that, and I smile too.
“Would you be ready for a walk right now?” I ask them, checking my watch. “Let me show you the secrets of Cannaregio.”