Page 27 of Tour Wars
It was a fine line to walk, but she’d make it work.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Asense of lazy contentment overtook Emilia as she set her plate to the side. After a delicious meal and multiple glasses of wine, she was more relaxed than she’d been all day. Dinner had far exceeded her expectations. They’d started with antipasti—a selection of olives, marinated red peppers, artichoke hearts, cured meats, and cheeses, along with delicious slices of bruschetta topped with tomatoes, zucchini, and pancetta. Their first course, or primo, had been a savory bowl of spaghetti alla carbonara. For the secondo, they’d enjoyed a sublime dish of beef braised in red wine with caramelized pear. Upon taking her first bite, Emilia had groaned out of sheer, hedonistic pleasure.
Even if she’d been living in Italy for almost four months, she rarely got to indulge in food of this quality. Due to her limited budget, her typical dinner usually consisted of a salad or a bowl of cheap pasta.
After the waitstaff had cleared their plates, their server reappeared to announce the dessert course, or dolce. “Our final dish will be a creamy panna cotta, a traditional Italian custard, topped with fresh raspberries and blackberries. Would everyone like to partake?”
All the hands went up at their table except those of Sylvie and her three elderly friends, whom Emilia had secretly nicknamed “the Golden Girls.”
Luca favored them with an indulgent smile. “Come now, ladies. How can you pass up this classic Italian dessert?”
“I’ve already eaten far too much,” Sylvie said. “Not to mention all the wine I’ve had. That’s a lot of calories.”
“Are you worried about your girlish figures?” Luca asked. “Trust me, you all look so lovely that one little dessert won’t make a difference.”
One of Sylvie’s friends giggled. “You’re such a flatterer.”
“I’m only stating the truth.” He placed a hand over his chest. “Do I look like the type to feed you a line?”
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt.” The woman addressed their server. “I’d like to try the panna cotta as well.” Her friends followed suit.
Luca raised his wineglass. “That’s the spirit. What is life without a few indulgences, eh?”
Emilia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He’d been like this all night, working his charms on everyone at their table. He’d joked with their server in Italian, ordered a few extra bottles of wine, and amused the group with his travel anecdotes. All of which suited Emilia just fine since she was grateful not to be the sole focus of his attention. At the start of dinner, he’d asked her a few questions about the tour but had changed course after Sylvie inquired about his recent trip to Switzerland.
The dessert was heavenly—the creamy, sweet panna cotta contrasting with the slight tartness of the blackberries. Emilia licked the excess off her spoon. “Mmm. This is so good.”
“Have you been enjoying the meal?” Luca asked. “You’ve been so quiet.”
Whose fault is that?He’d pretty much dominated the conversation at her end of the table. “I’ve been focusing on the food. It’s not often I get to enjoy an elaborate meal like this.”
“Such a shame. A woman like you deserves to be wined and dined in the finest restaurants in Italy.”
Just stop.Fortunately, one of the guests diverted him with a question about skiing in the Alps.
After dessert, espresso, and another half hour of small talk, Emilia was reaching the limits of her sociability. When TJ stood to address the group, she shot him a look of gratitude.
“Wasn’t that a marvelous dinner?” he said. “I don’t know about all of you, but if I ate another morsel, I wouldn’t be able to keep my pants buttoned. By now, you’re probably ready to call it a night. If you’d like to follow me, we’ll head back to the hotel.”
Perfect. Emilia set her cloth napkin on the table beside her, but before she could stand up, Luca placed his hand on her arm. “Wait. Please.”
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“I owe you an apology. I was hoping we’d have more time to talk, but I was in constant demand. I had no idea those women would find my travel stories so amusing.”
Sure you did. That was exactly what you wanted. “It’s fine. You were a delightful host.”
“Even so, I’d like to make it up to you. Stay and share a drink with me.”
Hell, no.She wanted to retreat to her room, change into her pajamas, and zone out with an hour of mindless TV. Not spend another hour entertaining a man whose compliments made her squirm with discomfort.
She gave him an apologetic smile, hoping to convey the proper amount of regret. “Thank you for the offer, but TJ and I need to escort the guests back to the hotel. Even if it’s only a few blocks away, I wouldn’t feel right letting them wander on their own.”
“I’m certain TJ can take care of them. As you said, it’s a short walk.”
As if summoned by the sound of his name, TJ appeared at Emilia’s side. “Ready to go, Em? Some of our guests are looking mighty sleepy.”
