‘We won’t have to resort to that. Women love you. I saw the new waitress earlier.’ Marco waggled his eyebrows. ‘Perhaps you could distract Rose with a?—’
‘Romance?’ Ben snorted, shaking his head. ‘Are you asking me to seduce the maid of honour?’ He wasn’t serious, but that didn’t stop his idiot body from reacting favourably to the idea.
‘Of course not.’ Marco shrugged. ‘But it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve tempted someone. She’s beautiful, serious and opinionated – exactly your type.’ His dark brown eyes were lively.
‘I don’t have a type anymore.’ Ben stared into his drink. ‘I’m happy to spend time with Rose, but I’m not going to have a fling with her,’ he said firmly. ‘Firstly, she wouldn’t be interested.’ Coco let out a chirpy bark from where she was curled up on his knee, and he wondered if the dog was agreeing or warning him off.
‘Secondly, it’s not the right thing to do. I’m not looking for a fake date. It all sounds great on paper, but people –’ Probably him, ‘– might get hurt.’
Thirdly, Ben liked Rose, and he’d sworn off getting involved with anyone he knew he could develop real feelings for. Still, the thought appealed – and for a nanosecond, he considered it before dismissing the idea.
Marco sagged. ‘Okay, I understand, my friend. I don’t want you to do anything untoward. I just thought I saw a spark between the two of you when you arrived.’ He nodded. ‘But will you agree to keep her busy and away from Luna, at least until she has a chance to get to know me and my family?’
‘I can try,’ Ben said. ‘But we should be practical. Rose is going to get suspicious if she’s forced to spend all her time with me. Perhaps Elena, Leonardo, Cesare, Isabella, even Aurora, might be able to keep her occupied sometimes?’
Marco nodded, looking a little less stressed. ‘I spoke to Mama and Papa after you called last night. Nonno and Nonna I will speak to later, if I can get them in the same room.’
‘Are they still fighting?’
‘Yes.’ Marco looked unhappy. ‘Nonna keeps trying to talk me out of getting married.’ His frown disappeared momentarily. ‘On second thoughts, perhaps we should keep her away from Rose too.’
‘Tell me how I can help,’ Ben asked, squeezing his friend’s shoulder.
‘Could you two run some errands together, give me more time with Luna? Surely Rose can’t disagree with that?’
Ben thought about spending more time with her, and he tried to read his mixed feelings as interest prickled his senses. ‘It could work.’ He nodded. ‘But –’ He frowned. ‘– I need your family to understand that Rose is on Luna’s side. She isn’t some terrible stranger trying to mess up your wedding.’
Marco gave him a curious look. ‘You are worried about how my family see her?’
Ben shrugged, trying not to show how much he’d grown to like the woman. ‘She’s not the bad guy here. She’s wrong about you, but that doesn’t make her the enemy.’
He’d seen the odd flash of vulnerability since they’d met, and he didn’t want her to somehow get hurt. She might be misguided, but Ben could tell she was coming from a good place. His parents had never pulled him into their marital squabbles. A lifetime of that could skew the way you saw love. It would definitely make you wary.
‘You like her.’ Marco’s eyes sparkled and he suddenly grinned. ‘Then I don’t understand what’s so wrong with my original plan.’
‘I like Coco, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to date the dog,’ Ben said dryly. Irritated, because a part of him did like Marco’s idea. Flustered, he picked up his coffee. ‘Tell me about these errands,’ he snapped, sipping so much that it burnt his mouth. It was strong and he’d probably be tossing and turning all night, but at least it was helping to sober him up. Not that he’d drunk much, but he still felt a little lightheaded.And that had nothing to do with Rose.
Marco waved a hand. ‘Mama has a list of jobs. Choosing the food and wine is now done, but making the party favours, ensuring the wedding attire fits, generally keeping everyone sane. I found the rings, but Luna and I still need to get them sized. Mostly we can handle everything, but there will be the odd job.’
‘Okay,’ Ben said. ‘I’ll keep Rose busy, but you’re going to have to stop Luna from looking for her too.’
‘I can keep my fiancée occupied.’ Marco winked. ‘And if you change your mind about the romance…’ He waggled his eyebrows again.
‘Not going to happen,’ Ben insisted. He had Rose Loveheart’s measure, and he wasn’t going to let her get within a mile of his body or heart.
Marco grinned. ‘I’ve known you for a long time,amico, and in the words of Shakespeare, I think you doth protest a little too much…’
9
ROSE
Rose stared out of the window of the Citroën as Ben steered them down a windy, gravelly road, following Luna and Marco who was driving a yellow Alfa Romeo. She blinked, feeling weary. The tour of the restaurant kitchen had been fascinating, but the chef had insisted on getting them to try even more food and wine – and her stomach was stretched to its limit. For the first time since Aurora had loaned Rose one of her dresses, she was grateful it was so loose.
In the back of the car, Aurora muttered something about her own clothes shrinking, as Coco barked at a flock of birds.
‘And there it is,’ Aurora said suddenly in a hushed tone as a stunning, earth-coloured stone building appeared over the horizon. The house was flanked by a backdrop of rolling green hills and a cloudless blue sky which offset the terracotta barrel-tiled roof.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Rose whispered, opening the passenger window as they headed through a set of wrought-iron gates. She breathed in the scent of lemon and cypress trees, and the cool spray from a goddess-shaped fountain as they passed.
