‘You must come! It will be full of beautiful people like yourselves. Come. I’ll put your names on the guest list.’
Sandro glances over at me. ‘What do you think, Juno – you want to go?’
I’m so caught up in the moment I just nod, even though I’m not sure I’m really up for going out clubbing tonight, especially not dressed as I am. ‘Sure. That sounds fun,’ I say, not wanting to sound like a killjoy.
‘Great! Here’s the address,’ Giorgio says, handing Sandro a flyer. ‘See you there later.’ He gives me a slow wink, then slaps Sandro on the shoulder before striding away, back to a large party at a table on the other side of the room.
A murmur of conversation flows around the restaurant after he’s left, and I could swear everyone’s talking about us.
‘You okay?’ Sandro asks after we’ve taken a few mouthfuls of food.
‘I feel like everyone’s staring at us,’ I mutter under my breath, picking up my water glass and taking a sip.
He leans forward and smiles. ‘That’s because you’re so hot.’
I snort with mirth and the liquid I’ve just drunk comes out of my nose.
‘I didn’t mean you should cool yourself off by spraying water everywhere,’ Sandro teases.
I groan and put my head in my hands, peeking out at him from between my fingers. ‘Oh, God, I’m no good at this.’
‘At what?’
‘Being sophisticated.’
He waves a hand. ‘You’re doing just fine.’
‘It’s just not veryme.’
‘Why do you say that?’
I let out a low sigh. ‘I’m not like my sisters. They’ve always been great at projecting a confident public image. They can play the part. Not me.’ I shake my head sorrowfully. ‘They’re like fire and ice, though,’ I continue nervously when he doesn’t say anything, just looks at me with that piercing gaze of his. ‘Theyreallydon’t get on. I’m not entirely sure why. No one ever tells me anything of any consequence. They treat me like the baby of the family, even though I’m only two years younger than Maya. To be honest, where my family’s concerned, I think I’d rather not know what’s going on in their heads. I don’t really feel like I fit with the rest of them. When she was alive, my mum always said none of them could figure out where I came from.’
He reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. ‘I was sorry to hear she passed away.’
‘Yeah, thanks,’ I say, allowing the grief I still feel to this day to sink through my body. I let it sit there in my heart for a moment, acknowledging it but not letting it overwhelm me, before tucking it away again.
‘I was only thirteen when she died and my father just sort of checked out – not that he’s ever paid much attention to me – so April stepped into her role, though she’s not exactly the mothering type. She’s very brittle and can be quite cold sometimes – something which benefits her in the male-dominated business world she works in – but it makes me suspect she’s quite lonely in her love life. In fact, I don’t think she even really has one. I know she goes out on dates with men, and I’m sure she sleeps with some of them, but they never last. It’s like she’s built an emotional wall around herself, perhaps because she feels like she needs to be responsible for Maya and I, though she really doesn’t. Maya can definitely take care of herself and she really doesn’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.’
It must have sounded insincere because once again he reaches over and puts his hand on my arm. ‘Are you sure about that?’
I sigh, feeling the weight of my anxiety about how difficult I’ve found it letting people into my heart, then shrug that off too. I mustn’t dominate the conversation with my personal angst; it’s not fair on Sandro.
‘Yes. At least, I will be once you’ve taught me how to be a master seductress,’ I joke, picking up my fork again and finishing off my meal.
I feel him watching me as I eat but I don’t look at him again until I’ve put my fork down and wiped my mouth on my napkin.
‘You want to get out of here?’ he asks, nodding at my empty plate.
‘Yes,’ I say, liking the idea of having a break from the intensity of sitting opposite him. ‘Good idea. I could do with some fresh air.’
So after Sandro’s settled the bill, which he insists on paying, we take a walk across the square and look around the basilica, enjoying a few minutes of cool relief from the balmy evening air. I’m acutely aware of his presence, even when he’s on the other side of the building, and I find myself drawn back towards him after only a few minutes on my own gazing at the beautiful Renaissance art.
He’s a work of art all on his own.
‘So, do you still want to check out that club?’ Sandro asks as we exit the church into the now dark night-time air. I nod, recognising that I really should be making more of an effort to be the sort of party girl he’s used to being with.
‘Sure, it sounds like fun.’
