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‘You used to live on plastic sandwiches before you met me,’ he reminded her in an amused voice, and she laughed.
‘Maybe I did. But you’ve given me a taste for pasta. Gio, what is going on?’ They’d arrived at the small airport and everything seemed to be happening around her.
Before she could catch her breath and form any more questions, she was standing on the runway, at the foot of a set of steps that led into the body of an aircraft.
‘Go on. We don’t want to miss our slot.’ Gio walked up behind her, carrying two cases and she stared at them.
‘What are those?’
‘Our luggage.’
‘I don’t have any luggage. I was just coming out for a sandwich.’ She brushed the hair out of her eyes, frustrated by the lack of answers she was receiving to her questions. ‘Gio, what is going on?’
‘I’m taking you to my favourite place to eat.’
‘That’s this evening. It’s only one o’clock in the afternoon.’ She watched as a man appeared behind them and took the cases onto the plane. ‘Who’s he? What’s he doing with those?’
‘He’s putting them on the plane.’ Gio took her arm. ‘We’re leaving at one o’clock because it takes a long time to get there, and we’re going by plane because it’s the best way to reach Sicily.’
‘Sicily?’ Her voice skidded and squeaked. ‘You’re taking me to Sicily?’
‘You’ll love it.’
Had he gone totally mad? ‘I’m sure I’ll love it and maybe I’ll go there one day, but not on a Thursday afternoon when I have a well-woman clinic and a late surgery!’ She looked over her shoulder, ready to make a dash back to the car, but he closed a hand over her arm and urged her onto the steps.
‘Forget work, tesoro. It’s all taken care of. David and Trisha are taking over for five days.’
‘David?’ With him so close behind her, she was forced to climb two more steps. ‘What’s he got to do with this? He’s in London.’
‘Not any more. He’s currently back in your surgery, preparing for your well-woman clinic.’ He brushed her hair away from her face and dropped a gentle kiss on her mouth. ‘When did you last have a holiday, Alice?’
‘I haven’t felt the need for a holiday. I like my life.’ She took another step upwards, her expression exasperated. ‘Or, rather, I liked my life the way it was before everyone started interfering!’
He urged her up another step. ‘I’ll do you a deal—if, after this weekend, you want to go back to your old life, I’ll let you. No arguments.’
‘But I can’t just—’
He nudged her forwards. ‘Yes, you can.’
‘You’re kidnapping me in broad daylight!’
‘That’s right. I am.’ His broad shoulders blocked her exit and she made a frustrated sound in her throat and turned and stomped up the remaining steps.
This was totally ridiculous!
It was—
She stopped dead, her eyes widening as she saw the cabin. It was unlike any plane she’d ever seen before. Two soft creamy leather sofas faced each other across a richly carpeted aisle. A table covered in crisply laundered linen was laid for lunch, the silver cutlery glinting in the light.
Her mouth dropped.
‘This isn’t a plane. It’s a living room.’ Glancing over her shoulder, she realised that she’d been so distracted by the fact he was planning to take her away, she hadn’t been paying attention. ‘We didn’t come through the airport the normal way.’
‘This is a private plane.’ He pushed her forward and nodded to the uniformed flight attendant who was smiling and waiting for them to board.
‘Private plane?’ Not knowing what else to do, she walked towards the sofas, feeling bemused and more than a little faint. ‘Whose private plane?’
He sat down next to her. ‘My brother, Marco, has made quite a success of his olive oil business.’ Gio’s tone was smooth as he leaned across to fasten her seat belt before placing another kiss on her cheek. ‘It has certain compensations for the rest of his family. And now, tesoro, relax and prepare to be spoiled.’
