Relief passed across his face like a wave, smoothing and softening his features.
‘No. Actually, I slept in a dorm with three other women who’d been on a steady diet of beans all weekend – probably all their lives, actually.’
‘Were they not fragrant?’ Will grinned.
‘I was afraid to go to sleep in case I was carried off by carbon-monoxide poisoning.’
‘Serves you right for not coming home,’ Will said, stroking her hair. ‘You could have been here with me.’
‘I still wouldn’t have got any sleep, would I?’
‘Absolutely none.’ He kissed her again.
The magic was shattered by Kate’s stomach, which growled long and low.
‘Sorry!’ she mumbled, embarrassed. ‘I’m also weak with hunger. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.’
‘No wonder you dumped Brian. Come on.’ Will sat up. ‘I’ll take you out to lunch. I’m not going to make the mistake of forgetting to feed you.’
* * *
In a daze of love, Kate didn’t think about where they were going as they walked hand in hand through the winding, cobbled streets. However, she came to an abrupt awakening when Will stopped outside Paradise, an exclusive Michelin-starred restaurant. ‘We can’t go in there.’ She tugged at Will’s hand as he pulled open the door.
‘Why not? You’re hungry, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, but I’m not dressed.’
‘What do you call this?’ he said, pinching her top between his fingers.
‘You know what I mean! I’m not dressed for this place – and neither are you. I mean, look at us!’ She spread her arms to indicate their general dishevellment.
Though she had changed her clothes, she was still bleary-eyed from lack of sleep and feeling seedy. Will’s clothes looked asif he’d slept in them and, with his rapidly developing black eye, he resembled a low-life thug. ‘You look adorable,’ he said, bending to kiss her.
‘Besides, we don’t have a reservation,’ Kate protested. ‘I’m sure we’ll never get a table.’
‘It’s okay, they know me here,’ Will said, and pulled open the door before Kate could stop him. ‘Come on, the food here is fantastic.’
The tall, glamorous hostess greeted Will by name with a warm smile. Appearing not to notice his black eye or the walking haystack on his arm, she whisked them to a secluded table in an alcove. Kate pulled out the chair opposite Will’s, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the plush banquette beside him, their thighs touching.
Bubbling over with happiness, Kate thought how much she liked Will’s world. The tables were covered with thick white linen, the crystal glasses sparkled, the waiters bustled around noiselessly, catering to their every need – and the food was sublime.
‘Oh my God, this is amazing!’ Kate groaned, as she ate the best lobster ravioli she had ever tasted. ‘To think I began today eating quinoa porridge.’
‘Sssh, keep your voice down,’ Will said. ‘You don’t want to get us thrown out.’
She and Will sat practically entwined as they ate, barely able to keep their hands off each other. She made him laugh, telling him about how she had dumped Brian in the middle of his own sharing circle. Then Will filled her in on events in Tuscany.
‘Rory and Louise finally put us out of our misery,’ he said, ‘not to mention themselves.’
‘You mean?—?’
‘Yes, they got together. Not before time.’
‘Oh, that’s great!’ Kate was delighted. ‘They’re so obviously nuts about each other.’
‘Owen’s called off the campaign to keep Tessa in the celebrity jail. I think Rory wants her out now, so he can dump her. Louise isn’t happy about sneaking around behind her back.’
‘Oh, I can’t wait to see them! When are we going back to Tuscany?’
