Karen Aldous - Under a Tuscan Sky

He’d said it sliding a hand across the table and catching her wrist, his eyes brimming with lust as his fingers squeezed hers.

Usually Olivia would have snubbed such an unoriginal and corny comment about her work, but the way Alberto had relayed the inspiration behind his work and the ethos involving students was admirable. What he said was true. Plus, his touch was electric. She’d watched his glasses slide down his nose, his eyes instantly rousing her.

She would have fallen into his arms that very second, spellbound by lust. How she’d managed to keep her hands to herself when his lips found hers, she’d never know. Instantly her body responded like never before. Like her, however, Alberto had managed to restrain himself, and pulled away, leaving her panting for more.

It took her another glass of wine to recover, so after resting on his chest, watching the sun inch behind the distant hills, he’d driven her safely back to the villa and left her aching for his body all night.

***

Shifting heavy bedroom furniture and rugs to sweep underneath was becoming tiring. There were so many bedrooms, but it had to be done, as did the mopping of the floors and polishing of copious amounts of antique cabinets and ornaments. At least they could be packed away straight away after the viewings were over, she thought. Each room was smelling as fresh and as inviting as she could manage with dust removed from every nook and cranny, even the ceilings.

By the evening, she was physically exhausted but satisfied and every room had been reinvigorated. She hankered after the tasty pasta she’d eaten the day before. After closing up the well-aired rooms, she headed downstairs to the kitchen and reached for the dried pasta in the cupboard. Inspired by her time with Alberto, who was now probably tinkering with some new energy theory, she was reminded of the explosion of herbs in her mouth at the restaurant, along with the warmth of the afternoon sun.

She missed Alberto already and couldn’t wait for their next date. Whilst boiling the pasta she created a sauce with chopped tomatoes and a handful of fresh basil and thyme from the tub outside. The aroma was delicious, making her mouth salivate and the memory of Alberto surge to her mind – to the moment he’d first brushed his lips on hers before moving to the seat beside her and, gently, lifting her chin and placing his mouth on hers again. Their first kiss.

At once her heart skipped at the recollection. Every nerve inside her had jostled before fusing to a monstrous heat and melting her body like liquid metal. A sensation alien to her. She regained her breath, and stirred the sweet-smelling tomato sauce. Alberto had scorched a part of her that she never knew existed and it had certainly left her body screaming for more.

Cupping her hands on her cheeks, as if covering her blushes, she recalled his parting attempt. As Alberto had stopped the car outside the villa, he turned his head to her, his eyes hungry, just like her own, but then, regaining control he averted them and gripped the steering wheel as if to tame his urge. The creases in the corners of his eyes had dropped. They both knew kissing would be highly dangerous.

Instead, he drew in his breath, stroked her wrist, and said, ‘I would love to see you again. Tuesday? I could pick you up at seven and take you into Florence.’

Biting her lip to curb a yell of extreme joy, she nodded, surreptitiously monitoring every minute flinch between them. ‘That would be lovely. Yes, I’ll look forward to it.’

They’d restrained their blatant hunger, possibly both subconsciously saving it for the right place. Olivia failed to understand how she’d managed. As he’d kissed the top of her forehead and said goodnight, he’d let her smoulder briefly in his arms.

***

Olivia woke Monday morning to the sound of the doorbell. With muscles refusing to cooperate from her cleaning binge the previous day, she tried to lift herself out of bed and took a few moments to stretch out before hobbling in her pyjamas to the front door. It sounded again as she unbolted the top and bottom.

‘All right, I’m here.’ She turned the lock and drew back the door, her eyes meeting with a pleasing plate of croissants along with a smile from a friendly face. ‘Gabriella, how thoughtful. Come on in.’

‘I cannot stop now. I have guests in the dining room but I would like us to sit and talk soon,’ Gabriella said, her eyebrows squeezing together. She stepped towards Olivia, lifting the plate slightly. ‘I thought you might want something fresh and filling this morning as you have people coming to look at house.’

Olivia took the neatly arranged croissants and raised them to her nose. The buttery essence wafting up her nostrils was heavenly and instantly reminded her of Nonna. ‘Mmm, delicious, thank you. Oh, but what a shame you can’t join me.’ She peered at Gabriella eagerly, hoping she would change her mind.

‘Always business – it will be quieter later today once the guests leave. Maybe we have time to talk then.’

‘I know. You are so devoted. Oh, but before you go, do you know where the key to Nonna’s wedding chest is? I’ve kept an eye out as I’ve been cleaning, but can’t find it.’

Gabriella shrugged, then pinched her chin, peering up as though inspecting the ceiling. ‘Now I did see that in Elena’s office I’m sure. But that was a long time ago. I’m sorry. I don’t know where it is now.’

Twisting her lips at the lost hope, Olivia gave a wave with her free hand. ‘No. Don’t worry. I’ll look there. I’m sure it will turn up. I’m thinking of having it restored, so I was going to empty it out, although I am curious as to what she kept in it.’

‘I’m sorry, I don’t know. I will see you later.’ Gabriella gave a little wave and scuttled away.

‘Yes and thank you.’

Catching sight of herself in the mirror as she walked back into the hall, Olivia let out a yawn. Should she shower first or tuck into the beckoning croissants?

‘Oh, definitely croissants first. I need energy,’ she told herself knowing it wasn’t just the physical cleaning that had expended her energy.

Chapter 6

Signor Ricci, the estate agent, arrived at her door before Olivia got back to the kitchen to sweep the crumbs away.

‘I’ve had a walk around the grounds and the accommodation, so now the villa,’ he told her as he clambered in through the door with a large digital camera fixed with flash in one hand and a briefcase in the other. ‘The sun won’t last today, so I’ve taken some outside shots first and hope it stays bright enough for the internal. The pictures will look better with the natural light in the rooms.’

‘Yes, please, feel free to have a wander,’ she said, grateful she had managed to shower.

He put down his case on the hall tiles and wriggled out of a rain jacket one-handed. ‘Signor St. James is running a little bit late. He got held up at the market, he says.’

‘No problem. I’ll put some coffee on.’ Olivia hung his jacket on a hook in the hall, and glanced at a large belly protruding from his beige suit. He swept a hand over a stripy-grey head, wiping beads of sweat.

‘Thank you,’ he said as he lifted his camera and pointed to Nonna’s sitting room. ‘I’ll start in here.’

She nodded and returned to the kitchen, leaving the flustered man to it. She added fresh water to the coffee percolator, arranging three cups and saucers on a tray. Pausing, she grabbed another, in the likely event Signor St. James was viewing with someone else. Signor Ricci hadn’t mentioned a wife or partner, but it was better to be prepared – at least in some way, because she didn’t feel it where the house was concerned.

She only hoped Signor St. James didn’t have too many questions, as she didn’t feel equipped to answer them. If only she had thought to make a list of some obvious ones and had asked Gabriella – or she could have tried to contact her mother. If only she had taken more interest over the years. Having only yesterday discovered files with Nonna’s bills and papers relating to the house, she hadn’t had a chance to even glance at them, let alone read them.