Modern Romance July 2015 Books 5-8. Louise Fuller

you going to shower?’

      ‘There’s no time for that.’

      ‘Luka, please...’

      ‘Do I smell?’ He came over and lifted his arm and she simply refused to breathe him in. ‘No, I showered this morning. You get me in the raw...’

      She wanted him clean and sterile—she didn’t want his heady scent.

      ‘See?’ Luka smiled at her pale face. ‘It’s a good game. Well, it is for me. I keep forgetting you don’t like all that business...’ He did up his shirt and Sophie chose to get out.

      ‘I’m going to help my father get ready.’

      ‘No need.’ His eyes did not leave her alone for a minute. ‘I brought a nurse back with me. Another one will take her place at midnight. They come with the best references and I have done the necessary checks.’

      ‘I take care of my father.’

      ‘Of course you do,’ Luka said. ‘But as a daughter, not a nurse. I was thinking today that if I had a child, not that I ever will, but if I did I would not want them looking after me in that way. Enjoy him as your father now.’

      ‘I can’t afford a nurse.’ Her words were shrill, her admission reluctantly dragged through strained lips, but Luka didn’t even blink.

      ‘You know,’ he drawled, ‘they’re the first honest words to come out of your mouth. We need to head out there. Matteo and Shandy will be here soon, I believe they’re getting engaged in a few weeks...’

      ‘Shandy?’ Sophie said, resentment prickling for Bella, for her heart would break when she found out that Matteo was about to get engaged. ‘What sort of a name is that? Is he bringing a horse?’

      ‘Oh...’ Luka gave a low laugh. ‘She’s back.’

      ‘Who?’

      ‘The real Sophie,’ Luka answered. ‘I keep glimpsing her but then you tuck her away. Bring her out, Sophie. Don’t worry, I can handle her.’

      The real Sophie took the elevator with him up to the rooftop garden.

      Her father was there, thanks to the nurse.

      And so too were Matteo and Shandy.

      ‘You’ve done well,’ Luka said.

      Sophie had. The garden twinkled with lights, the string quartet was softly playing and the waiters were waiting to pounce.

      ‘It’s been so long,’ Sophie said, and kissed Matteo’s cheek.

      ‘Just not quite long enough,’ Matteo said, and Sophie jerked her head back.

      He hated her too, only she didn’t understand why.

      ‘This is Shandy.’ Matteo introduced the glossy blonde and Sophie looked at her. With her long legs and slightly protruding teeth, she actually did slightly resemble a horse.

      ‘Shandy.’ Sophie kissed her on both cheeks too and met Luka’s eyes.

      She would behave, Sophie swore.

      The food was delicious.

      Porcini mushrooms with black truffle pappardelle, the sauce thick and creamy and mopped up with bread rich with herbs and olives, but, Paulo mused, ‘It cannot beat Sicilian panne...’

      ‘Nothing beats Sicilian,’ Sophie said.

      She meant it for Bella, for her friend, she meant it to remind Matteo of the woman who was not here tonight, yet it was Luka’s eyes she met as she said it.

      ‘No.’ She put her hand over the wine glass as the waiter went to pour.

      ‘Enjoy yourself.’ Luka smiled. ‘I am.’

      He liked the real Sophie; he liked watching her attempt to rein herself in as he invited her to come out.

      Both were, both knew, playing the most dangerous of games.

      Dessert was pure heaven—thick cassata that was as rich and as liqueur-laced as it had been more than a decade ago when he had denied her that kiss.

      And then tiny cannellonis, the ricotta tart with lemon, refreshing to the tongue.

      ‘Limoncello.’ Paulo smiled as he sipped the drink of home, and then he stood on frail legs as Sophie sat.

      ‘Tonight makes up for many things,’ Paulo said. ‘Tonight I sit with old friends and new...’ He raised a glass to Shandy, and Luka and Matteo did the same.

      The glass felt like lead to Sophie but she raised hers too.

      Then she had to listen to her father say how right she and Luka were. That they were simply meant for each other.

      ‘Luka was twelve when his mother died. I remember Sophie crying that night for his pain.’ She had forgotten that. Deliberately. To escape the pain, she had avoided their past and now her father walked them both through it.

      For appearances’ sake Luka’s hand was over hers but it was hot and dry and there was no caress from him as her father exposed the love that was lost.

      ‘When we had a party for Luka moving to London, I remember Sophie coming down the stairs. She had put tissues in her bra. She wanted Luka to notice her...

      ‘“In time,’ I told her. But she was fourteen and impatient and did not want to listen to me,’ He looked at Sophie. ‘Listen to me now. You and Luka’s time is now. Don’t ever waste it.’

      Then it was Luka’s turn to speak.

      He cleared his throat and thanked their few guests. Out of the corner of her eye Sophie could see that her father was fading. Smiling but fading, and she was so grateful to Luka to have given him this night.

      ‘Paulo, we are so happy to celebrate this night with you. I am very blessed. Some might say that I have a charmed life...’ He looked at Sophie and with a smile that did not reach his eyes he painted her heart black. ‘That is because of you, Sophie...’ He offered her his hand and Sophie stood. ‘I know you have your ring, but I wanted something to mark this night.’

      She opened a box and there was a fine bracelet and she read the inscription:

      ‘Per sempre insieme.’

      Together for ever.

      She wanted to hurl it over the balcony and to the street or throw it across the floor, but instead she handed it to her father, who was putting on his glasses to read what had been written.

      ‘We should go soon,’ Matteo said to Shandy.

      ‘Why?’ Sophie challenged. ‘When we’re having so much fun?’

      ‘You could stay here,’ Luka offered, but Matteo shook his head. ‘It is good to check the hotel out...’

      ‘Where are you staying?’ Paulo asked.

      ‘Fiscella,’ Matteo answered, and Sophie shivered and hoped that Bella wasn’t working there tomorrow. ‘Luka and I are thinking of buying it,’ he explained to Paulo. ‘It is a nice old hotel but it needs a lot of refurbishment. I want to see for myself a few things.’

      ‘Doesn’t Bella work there?’ Paulo asked, and Sophie tensed, especially when she felt the scrutiny of Luka’s gaze.

      ‘She does.’

      ‘Doing what?’ Matteo asked.

      ‘She’s a chambermaid,’ Paulo answered. ‘Isn’t she, Sophie?’

      ‘Well, I guess it gives her access to a richer clientele.’ Matteo’s response was surly and, taking Shandy by the hand, he led her to the floor to dance.

      ‘I thought you would wear your mother’s earrings tonight,’ Paulo said. ‘You wanted them for your