Page 39 of Livia in Rome
I spin around, blinking in surprise, to find Giulio lounging in the hammock. ‘Wait – have you been there this whole time, just letting me knock like an idiot?’
‘It’s my hammock...where else would I be?’ His legs are so long he can push off the balustrade with his feet to make it sway.
‘Yours?’ I point to the railing dividing the terraces. ‘But it’s on Nina’s side.’ As soon as I say the words, they sound ridiculous even to my own ears. I can’timagine Nina relaxing there...or anywhere. Ever.
Giulio sits up, balancing easily, and I envy his irritatingly effortless grace. ‘It’s sunnier here in spring,’ he explains. ‘By summer, though, it’s cooler on my side.’ The corner of his mouth hitches up as he adds, ‘I was going to move it back, but this annoying girl showed up. She was so...stressata, I figured she needed it more than I did.’
I plant my hands on my hips in mock outrage, but I’m working hard to hide my own smile. He’s teasing me...and if he’s teasing me, he can’t be angry. My relief is...is...
Telling?Inner Isla supplies in a dry voice.
‘Did it ever occur to you,’ I counter, ‘thatyouwere the one stressing this poor girl out?’
‘Me? I’m too much of agentiluomoto ever do that.’ His grin is bright in the darkness, but it’s definitely not gentlemanly. Especially when he shifts and pats the spot beside him. ‘Look...I’m even willing to share.’
I hesitate for a second. Inner Isla snorts.You share so much already – the bar, Nina’s troubles, her favourite Roman hotspots. Go right ahead. I would.
I sing a little tra-la-la in my head to drown her out and attempt to sit back into the hammock, smooth and Giulio-style...but it shifts and rocks beneath me.I shoot a suspiciously blank-faced Giulio an accusing glare. ‘You’re doing that on purpose!’
I grab hold as it lurches sideways, my arms windmilling, my legs flailing for balance.
And then Giulio’s arms wrap around me, pulling me to him. Steadying us both.
We are close.
Awkwardly close.
Closer than on the Vespa. And this time, we’re face to face – our breath mingling in the few centimetres separating my mouth from his. And I seem to have developed an extra sense – one that is purely for him.
‘Comfy, Scotland?’
Hardly. The whisper of his words sends goose-bumps up my spine and,ommioddio, I don’t think I’ve ever feltlesscomfortable in my life. My heart is pounding in my chest, my throat...even in my fingertips.
He watches with an amused smirk and I scramble for something to say. Anything at all.
‘I’m sorry I told Ma.’
Agh! No! Not that!
Giulio looks up at the dark haze of the sky. ‘It had to come out sooner or later.’
‘I suppose.’
‘And maybe your mum will have some other ideaswe can use along with the Vespa.’
My hand hovers over his forearm, not daring to touch him. ‘You heard Signora Pedretti. She said not to do any deals with Bertolli...that he can’t be trusted.’
Giulio’s big brown cow eyes are serious for once. ‘I could never enjoy it again. Not if Nina loses the bar just because I wanted to keep it. I know you think she’s not my family...’
I cringe at the memory and dip my chin, not realizing there’s so little space I’ve practically buried my face in his chest. I jerk my head up again and take a deep breath. ‘Look, I’m sorry I said that. I get it now. I was...jealous. I’ve been away for so long and...I felt like you were taking my place.’
Oddly, I’m more relieved than embarrassed by my confession. Today is a day for truths.
Giulio’s soft laugh stirs the frizzy strands of hair around my face. ‘And I thought you would take mine.’
I blink. ‘Me, take Golden Boy Giulio’s place? That’s ridiculous!’
He fake-scowls at the nickname. ‘Davvero?Is it? Because I was worried she’d be so happy to finally have heractualgranddaughter here, she wouldn’t need me any more.’
