Page 20 of The Fall Affair

“Vuoi svuotare anche il mio secchio, capo?” You going to dump my bucket, too, boss?

“Fatti gli affari tuoi.” Mind your own business.

His smile widened. “Who’s da new girl?”

“She’s a woman, and she’s none of your concern.”

“What? Are you calling dibs on her?”

I walked away, shaking my head. “Dibs. On a woman.”

A little after noon, I noticed Allegra stretching out her back for the second time in five minutes, so I took that as a sign to call it a day. I normally worked until five, but stores closed early around here.

“You ready to get your tub?”

“Oh, sure.” She bent and lifted the nearly full basket at her feet. “Wow. This thing’s heavy. I had no idea.”

Tomasso leaned out into the row and smirked. I gave him the evil eye and took the basket from Allegra. “You survived working outdoors.”

“I know. I can’t believe it. I actually enjoyed myself, too.”

“Good.”

“Turns out fresh air doesn’t kill you after all.” She shrugged. “Who knew?”

“Are you ready to go to the store now?”

“I just need to run next door and wash up. I’ll pick you up when I’m done.”

I shook my head. “I will drive.”

Her brows knitted. “Why?”

“I saw da way you drive a stick, but also that little Fiat is too small to fit a bathtub.”

“We can leave the trunk open or tie it down or something.” She pointed at my Vespa. “What are we going to do, balance it on our heads on that thing?”

“I have a pickup truck in the garage. How do you think I haul grapes and equipment around?”

“Oh.”

I shook my head again. “I’ll be outside your house in fifteen minutes.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I jumped in the shower to wash the vineyard off, got dressed, and still had to wait ten minutes for Allegra. She came out in a white tank top and a pale blue flowy skirt, with her hair piled on top of her head in a big messy bun. I was glad I had sunglasses on because my gaze lingered on the delicate curve of her neck for a little too long.

Lupo was sitting next to me on the bench seat. He stood when he heard gravel crunching, and his excited tail swatted me as he watched Allegra walk toward the truck. “Yeah,” I grumbled. “No shit.”

She climbed in and scratched the top of his head. “Hey, buddy. I didn’t know you were coming, too.” Allegra looked over at me. “He followed you around the vineyard like a shadow today. Does he go everywhere with you?”

I shrugged. “He took your grandmother’s passing hard.”

“It was very kind of you to take him in.” Allegra covered her heart with her hand.

She thought I was being sweet, but I’d just answered her by talking to her cleavage. Thank God for sunglasses.

I cleared my throat. “You want a regular tub, yes? Something fiberglass or acrylic?”