‘Well, of course it’s your choice,’ Gina said, hoping her tone conveyed how much she wanted him to say yes. ‘But it would certainly grease the wheels. Lucia would be happy, Brad would be happy … I’d be happy,’ she added, looking up at him beseechingly.
‘Would you?’ His dark eyes searched hers.
‘Well, it would mean I’d get to keep my job.’ Gina forced a laugh, trying to keep it light-hearted. ‘And I wouldn’t have Lucia de Santis on my case any longer.’
‘But why me?’ he asked. ‘What does she want?’
‘Like I said, I think she wants to talk about the movie – she mentioned that she’d discussed it with Brad.’ Gina paused, before deciding to continue. ‘And I think you made a great impression on her at the opera.’
Edoardo laughed humourlessly, looking at Marco with a disdainful expression. ‘La Leonessa could have any man in the world, and she wants my brother-in-law …’
‘It would all be strictly above board, of course. She understands that you’re … not available. I’ve explained that I’m not a matchmaking service,’ Gina added quickly. It wouldn’t do her reputation – or the hotel’s – any good to be seen procuring dates for their guests.
Marco mulled it over as he finished his coffee, then sighed. ‘All right, if it helps,’ he said eventually.
Gina breathed an inner sigh of relief, but an undercurrent of anxiety still lurked in her stomach. At least Lucia would be off her case for now.
‘But in return,’ Marco continued, ‘you owe me dinner.’
‘OK. Sure. Fine.’ She would have agreed to anything right now. ‘How about L’Ombra?’ she suggested, and was gratified to see a grin spread across Marco’s face, his eyes lighting up. Once again, Gina felt a frisson between them, and felt sure she wasn’t imagining it.
‘Sounds good,’ he said casually.
Edoardo was looking from one to the other, his eyes narrowed, his expression suspicious. ‘Marco, didn’t we have some questions for Gina about using the hotel for the stunt? We said we’d need to discuss some issues …’
‘We did,’ Marco agreed uncertainly.
‘Issues?’ Gina frowned, looking at Marco for an explanation.
‘Just a few health-and-safety points we wanted to clarify. Brad had some questions about access and timings that we weren’t able to answer, but you—’
‘Gina, how about I take you for dinner,’ Edoardo cut in, ‘and we can talk it over?’
‘I …’ Gina, already feeling on the back foot after her clash with Lucia, wasn’t quick enough to parry.
‘C’mon Gina, what do you say?’ Edoardo pushed.
Gina glanced briefly at Marco, but he didn’t meet her eyes. She was unsure what Edoardo was suggesting. Was it a work meeting, or something more?
‘Sure,’ Gina said, swallowing her reservations. Brad Redford was a White Palace guest, and if the dinner was to discuss how she could assist him, then how could she turn it down?
‘Great. I’m more fun than this stuffed shirt.’ Edoardo laughed and clapped his hand roughly on his brother-in-law’s back, before sitting back in his chair, looking like the cat who’d got the cream.
‘Mamma mia! Che bella che sei!’ Vittoria exclaimed, as Gina walked out of her bedroom and into their shared lounge.
‘What, this?’ Gina glanced down at her outfit. She was wearing a plain black dress with cap sleeves and a high neck, but its dowdiness only served to highlight her figure and fine features. Her hair was slicked back with a light dusting of make-up, and her only jewellery was a pair of diamond ear studs; Gina was still mourning the loss of her grandmother’s bracelet which had disappeared at Carnevale. ‘It’s only because you’re used to seeing me in work clothes.’
‘No, this is more than that! What’s going on? Do you have a date?’ Vittoria pounced excitedly. ‘You’ll break Leo’s heart.’
Gina rolled her eyes. ‘No. I hope that’s not what’s happening, anyway.’
‘Tell me everything!’ Vittoria’s eyes were dancing. She threw down the book she was reading and spun round on the sofa to give Gina her undivided attention.
‘I’m meeting one of the guys from Elicotteri Conti, to discuss what they need for the shoot.’
‘Ooh, is it the handsome one? The tall one, with the dark blond hair?’
‘No, it’s …’ Gina tried to think of a better phrase but failed. ‘The other one.’
‘Oh.’ Vittoria pulled a face which made it clear what she thought. ‘But you must like him though, even a little bit, or you wouldn’t have agreed to go.’
‘We need to discuss the movie, and he suggested we go to Harry’s Bar.’
‘Harry’s Bar? Then I’d say he definitely likes you.’
‘Cazzo,’ Gina swore. ‘Vittoria, what have I done? I should have said no and told him we’d discuss it at the hotel, in a formal meeting. Do you think I’ve given him the wrong impression?’
Vittoria shrugged. ‘How do I know? But are you quite sure you don’t like him?’
Gina thought about it. ‘I don’t really know him.’
‘Then why not give him a chance? You never know what might blossom. You need to discuss business anyway, and this way you get a nice meal out of it. Get him to order a bottle of vintage champagne!’
Gina laughed at Vittoria’s brazenness. In reality, there were many reasons she didn’t want to go on a date – if that’s what it was – with Edoardo. Reasons that she could never share with Vittoria.
Besides, it sounded ridiculous, but Gina couldn’t stop thinking about the man she’d met at Carnivale. It was absurd; she didn’t even know his name, and she had no idea what he looked like. She could walk right past him in the piazza and not even know it. But there’d been something between them, she was sure of it. She remembered how her body had tingled with excitement as he’d wrapped his cape around her in such a gallant fashion. How she’d almost swooned when he’d quoted Casanova at her. How he’d stood up to the three threatening men and scared them off, as though he wasn’t afraid of anything.
Gina had been preoccupied since then, thinking about the roof terrace where they’d spent a little time together, trying to remember how they’d reached it and wondering whether she could ever find it again. She found herself daydreaming that she’d managed to track it down, and when she got there he would be waiting for her. Neither of them would need to say a word, and he’d sweep her into his arms before—
