“You didn’t need to, but thank you. What can I get you to drink?”
“Oh, whatever you have open. Don’t go to any trouble.”
“Harleigh,” he asks sternly, but not in an uncomfortable way. “What wouldyoulike?”
I feel my cheeks doing their signature party piece. “Erm, a white wine would be nice if you have it, but if not…”
He cuts me off by lifting my chin. “I have everything, but if I didn’t, I would have sent Lucca to get some. It’s the least he could do since I’m feeding his arse.”
We both laugh and I follow Giovani into his house. “Don’t you need to keep an eye on what’s cooking?”
“It will be okay for a few minutes.”
We enter his large kitchen from the patio area. Lucca is chopping and dicing some salad ingredients. He looks comfortable.
“Ignore Gordon Ramsay over there. He’s a crabit arse when he’s in the kitchen.”
I giggle at Giovani as Lucca continues to slice and dice. He doesn’t even acknowledge us in his space. Giovani hands me over a wine glass and pops the cork on the bottle.
“Would you like some ice?”
“Oh, yes, please. It feels hotter than the Sahara Desert right now.”
“You’ll get used to it. Give it a few days and you’ll love the hot weather. You’ll never want to leave and return to boring Scottish weather.”
“Oh, I’m already there. I could get used to the easy, carefree lifestyle.”
I follow Giovani back outside and he pulls over a chair to the grill. “Have a seat. Take the weight off, relax, and have some fun.”
You can tell that Giovani and Lucca are used to being in the hospitality trade. They’re always so friendly and happy to entertain people. I’m just glad my brother found the right hotel, because my trip would have been very different without this pair of brothers keeping me entertained.
It’s crazy, because just a few days ago, the thought of being around strange men terrified me. Yet, here I am, living life and enjoying it. There is just something about Lucca and Giovani that makes me relaxed. The apprehension of my past is still knocking in the background, but with them, I can keep it in the background. I won’t let it put a dampener on the first friendship I’ve made in years.
“I’ve probably told you this a dozen times, but you have a beautiful home.”
Giovani takes a drink of his beer. “Thank you. I love it here. I wish I could live here all year round, but it isn’t really practical once the season ends. It’s like a ghost town come November.”
“It’s hard to picture that, but I guess it’s like all the tourist areas, huh?”
“It gives me time to visit family and explore other areas of the world that interest me. You like to travel?”
I nod. “I do. Or I did. This is my first real holiday in a few years. I’m going to make it my mission to visit different places again. I get enough holidays to do so.”
“Favourite place so far?”
“Oh…” I think carefully, because I’ve enjoyed a few places. “Italy, I think. Or Paris. I loved both of those places.”
“My parents will love you for saying Italy.”
“Nothing beats Italian food, wine, hospitality, and countryside. It’s breath-taking.”
“I’m sweating like a whore in a brothel. That kitchen is sweltering,” says Lucca as he approaches the table, placing plates down.
I can’t stop laughing. He has a way with words and doesn’t care what people think about him. Maybe that’s why I like him so much.
“Ignore my brother. He’s a nightmare.” Giovani laughs and shakes his head. “Come and stand at the grill. You’ll know what it’s like to be hot and sweaty.”
“Nah, you’ve got that, bro. I don’t want to steel your crown.”
