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He scoffs. “I bet she told you I always try to get rid of the brown ones.”
Diva barks as if agreeing.
When he’s packed everything into the caddy, including Mrs. Paoli’s tomatoes, I pay and leave with a quick greeting. It’s getting late. I better get home before Heidi or my husband decides to visit.
Corinne pays me for the service and asks if I can do another grocery run next week. We agree on the same day around the same time. Diva’s tongue is dragging on the ground from the long walk. After returning her home, I rush back up the mountain.
As the house comes into view, my spirits sink. Fabien is leaning on a snazzy sports car parked in the road.
“Sabella,” he says, straightening when I approach.
Shit. How do I explain my absence?
“Oh, hi,” I say, out of breath from the speed-walking. “I hope you haven’t waited too long.”
“A while.” He frowns. “Where have you been?”
“Just out for a walk, getting some fresh air.”
His brow smooths out as a look of understanding comes over his features. “Suffering from cabin fever already, my poor darling?”
“Something like that.” Changing the subject quickly, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
“Not happy to see me?” he teases.
“Of course I am. I just didn’t expect to see you so soon again.”
“Angelo sent me to deliver a dress.” He wags his eyebrows. “Apparently someone needs to look gorgeous this weekend.” He opens the back door of the car. A clothes bag lies flat over the seats. Taking it out, he says, “I did my best to transport the gown without getting a crease in the skirt.”
“Oh.” I reach for the bag. “Thank you.”
He holds the bag in the air. “Hands off, darling. This isn’t a common knock and drop delivery. I have to make sure it fits properly. Adjustments may be necessary.” He continues with a wink. “Plus, I left an excellent bottle of red in the wine fridge. We may as well pull the cork.”
My smile is genuine. “Then we better not let it go to waste.”
I use my new key to let us in through the front door. The television is on. My pulse spikes. That’s strange. What’s that smell? Popcorn?
“Make yourself at home,” I say, trying to keep my voice normal as I remove my coat. “You know where to find the wine.”
While he goes through to the kitchen, I hold my breath as I round the sofa. The throw from the backrest lies cast aside on the seat, and a half-eaten bowl of popcorn stands on the floor. A movie is playing with the sound turned down.
I can only guess who broke into the house. The cold air coming through an open lounge window tells me how he got in. The windows open with a sliding system. He must’ve forced it open. Shall I mention something to Fabien? What if he tells my husband? I don’t want Angelo to go on a child hunt, but this can’t go on. We need to find out who the poor little boy sneaking into the house is so that we can help him.
Fabien speaks behind me, making me jump. “Toy Story? My God. How old is that?”
I pick up the remote and switch off the television. “It’s one of my favorites.”
For some reason, I’m hesitant to tell him the truth. I want to break the news to Angelo myself. I need to make sure he won’t scare or harm the child.
“Hmm.” Fabien grins. “Movies and popcorn are one of my favorite activities too.” Waltzing ahead of me with the clothes bag in his hands, he takes the stairs with bouncy steps. “I poured the wine. Grab the glasses while I lay out the dress. I can promise you, when Angelo sees you in this creation, he won’t be able to keep his eyes off you. Or his hands, for that matter.”
Chapter
Fourteen
Angelo
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