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Knowing her, she’ll be beside herself with worry. I rummage through my handbag until I find my phone.
Damn, six missed calls. I hit the call button and press the phone to my ear.
Rhia answers on the first ring. “Where the hell are you?” she shrieks without greeting. “I’ve been worried sick. There’s no sign of you anywhere, and you’re not answering my calls. You better have a damn good explanation,” she rattles on without taking a break or a breath. “You know I have an active imagination and the scenarios…”
“I’m sorry,” I interrupt her, “I’ll explain later.”
“You don’t sound like yourself. What’s going on, El? Where are you?” Rhia asks, alarmed.
“Umm. There was an incident, but don’t worry, I’m okay,” I say. “I’m in the little café on the other side of street. It’s called…” I look questioningly at Gualtiero.
“Tre Fiamme,” he replies in a chilled tone.
“It’s called Tre Fiamme. I’ll meet you outside.” With that, I hang up.
Gualtiero is still crouched before me and has been watching me the entire time I was on the call. His face is unreadable and his eyes have turned hard.
“I have to go,” I stammer. “It was nice meeting you, Gualtiero,” I say, my good manners taking over. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Gualtiero doesn’t move out of the way when I try to get up. I swallow hard, my throat gone dry.
“Was that your boyfriend?” he asks calmly, but there’s an undertone to his voice I can’t quite place.
What?
I blink rapidly at him. Giving a quick shake of my head, I press my hands against my thighs to keep them still.
“Umm… No… That was my friend Rhia. We’re travelling together,” I reply, rubbing the back of my neck to ease the tension there. “I can’t go to dinner with you because I don’t want to abandon her and her sister.”
It’s a weak excuse and Zoe is more likely to desert us, but it’s all I can come up with. Why am I explaining myself to him, anyway?
Something that looks a lot like relief flickers over Gualtiero’s face before he reins it in, resuming his passive expression.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was jealous, but that can’t be right. Now, I’m making things up in my mind. It’s high time to leave before I make an even bigger fool of myself.
He takes my hands in his, studying me. “Your hands are still shaking,” he observes.
Yes, that’s because you’re too close and keep touching me.
“I don’t want you to leave yet. I think you’re still in shock.” He rises to his feet and says in a tone that brooks no opposition, “Stay here. I’ll get your friend.”
I open my mouth to protest, but before I can utter a word, he heads to the door and leaves the room.
Dammit, I wanted to use Rhia as an excuse to escape. Now what?!
I pace the room restlessly, trying to make sense of what just happened.
Why am I staying here? I should just go. Someone tried to run Gualtiero over and it didn’t look like an accident. Am I even safe anywhere near him?
What have I gotten myself into?
I sit down, tapping my fingers against my leg, my mind racing yet not forming one coherent thought.
Frustrated, I stand up again, letting out a long sigh and resume pacing.
I need to calm down.
I try sitting down again. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes, but all that does is bring up images of hazel-brown, warm eyes staring back at me.
