Page 80 of An Italian Wedding Adventure

‘I won’t risk being on the via ferrata above thirty degrees with that group,’ he said defensively.

‘I know. Safety first.’ She breathed out through her nose. ‘Is it the wedding that’s bothering you?’

His response was barely half a shrug. She shouldn’t have expected anything more. This was Andreas, after all. The anomaly had been the past two days. She was still surprised he’d admitted changing his plans to fit in the wedding.

‘How’s it all going?’

She blinked at the unexpected question. ‘If you’re asking about the arrangements, they’re all fairly straightforward. The advantage of this wedding adventure idea is the necessity for simplicity. No need to set up chairs, no chance the bower will blow over in the wind, no last-minute delays when Grandma misses her bus. It’s like an Agatha Christie wedding: all the guests are already gathered in a single hotel and all we have to do is marry the right ones.’

She snorted a laugh at her own joke, but Andreas just glanced at her doubtfully.

‘I know, you and Kira have the difficult job of keeping everyone safe.’

‘It won’t be a problem. The worst that will happen is that someone will get lost because they’re not paying attention and miss the ceremony. Once they’re on the via ferrata, at least they’re stuck where they are.’

‘So we can make sure we marry the right ones,’ she joked again.

He still didn’t laugh. ‘You’re marrying them.’

‘That’s right, while you stand to the side with a box of tissues to mop up your tears.’ She’d expected him to at least react to her teasing, but his expression only tightened further so she changed the subject. ‘Roman was a little disappointed you aren’t intending to come to the reception.’

‘I would have thought he’d appreciate saving the money.’

‘I’m pretty sure he’d think it was worth it for the great Andreas Hinterdorfer to attend his wedding.’

The sound Andreas made, between a scoff and a snort, was pained. ‘He’s well aware I’m not “the great” anything.’

Sophie peered at him. ‘Did something happen?’

‘No,’ he insisted too quickly. ‘Butyouknow I’m not so great in real life.’

She considered his words, thinking back to when he’d walked into the meeting room at Great Heart and effortlessly turned her life upside down again. ‘I suppose people can’t be good at everything and you’ve chosen what you want to succeed at.’

His quick glance was dark with meaning. ‘And what I’ve chosen to forego.’

‘Yes, exactly.’ Her voice lost strength. He was thinking about them again. She didn’t want to go there yet. She only had two more nights to pretend and tomorrow, she’d be so tired, she’d barely notice her last night in his bed.

‘Did you really…?’ He trailed off.

‘Are you going to actually finish your question? Be brave,’ she prompted him with a dry look.

‘Did you really break up with Rory because of me?’

That was not what she’d expected him to say. Her heart stuttered. ‘Andreas, do we have to?—?’

‘I’ve been wanting to ask since Monday. I keep thinking about it.’

‘Why? What difference does it make?’

‘I don’t know,’ he snapped. ‘When did you separate? How many years was it, after I… turned you down?’

‘Five,’ she answered peevishly. ‘But don’t worry. It’snotyour fault.’ She didn’t want him digging into her motives right now, when she was walking a tightrope of her own feelings. She’d loved him – she might still love him – but it would never be enough.

‘Did you get together with Rory because of me? Because I hurt you?’

Oh God, she hoped not. ‘I’m not that much of an idiot.’

‘I’m not suggesting you are,’ he said. ‘It’s just that things between us are different from how I thought back then. I’m trying to understand what it all means – the fact that you would have come to the airport if you’d got the message. That maybe you still thought about me years later.’

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