When the teenager raised her voice back, Ginny shrank into her seat.
From the cool glances Gianfranco and Loretta gave her, she felt sure she was the topic of their discussion. “Um, what did you both just say?” she asked, when Loretta stopped talking and folded her arms.
The teenager puckered her lips. “Gianfranco is worried that Papà will blame him for giving me a job when he finds out I’ve been working at Castello. I reminded him I’m earning money and gaining valuable work experience. I told himyouthink I should revealeverythingto Papà.”
Gianfranco cast Ginny a chastening glare and made a claw with his hand. “Nico will gowild,” he said.
Ginny slumped and a chill rippled down her backbone. She opened her mouth to defend herself but Loretta wrenched open the minibus door and jumped out.
The others reluctantly followed her.
A light came on in the kitchen and Nico walked out into the courtyard with Biscotti trotting at his side. The hotel owner’s body language was relaxed until he saw his daughter’s straggly hair and crumpled dress. “What has happened?” he asked, his brow furrowing. “Why are your clothes damp?”
Curtis stepped forward, taking charge. “We went for a little wade,” he said. “Not my best idea...”
A bead of sweat bobbled on Nico’s chin. “You went in the sea? At night?” he asked. “And Loretta, too?”
Curtis lowered his eyes and nodded.
Loretta placed a hand on Nico’s arm. “I am fine, Papà. The sea was...um, unpredictable and we all got wet.”
“Allof you?”
“Curtis was a hero tonight. He saved Ginny from the water,” Loretta said.
Ginny felt her face flush up to the roots of her hair. Nico bored his eyes into hers, making her squirm.
“You were in the sea, too?” he demanded.
She gave an apologetic nod.
Nico stared at everyone’s crinkled clothes and glowered. “You wereallsupposed to look after my daughter. It’s her birthday and I trusted you.”
“We’re all okay,” Loretta said, reaching out for him. “There is nothing to worry about.”
Gianfranco got out of the minibus and Nico immediately strode toward him. “What do you know about all this?”
Gianfranco’s eyes darted, unsure what his friend was referring to. “I thought I was helping out you and Loretta with money...”
“What?” Nico’s forehead creased even more. “What do you mean bymoney?”
Gianfranco rubbed the back of his neck. “Um, Loretta’s job at my hotel,” he said. “I was trying to help her out.”
Loretta glared at him and expelled a huff. “We were talking about swimming in the sea,” she said. “Notmy job.”
“Oh.” Gianfranco melded his lips shut. “Sorry.”
Nico’s eyes flashed as he glared at them all in turn. “There is a lot of explaining to do here. We will all speak in the morning,” he said. “Loretta, go to bed.”
“But Papà!”
“Inside,now,” he snapped. “And do not think you are going to Castello Bella Vista for your birthday. It is canceled.”
Loretta’s face fell. She opened her mouth to speak then thought better of it. She ran toward the hotel with a sob.
Gianfranco stepped forward with his palms upturned. “Nico,amico mio. It is not her fault. I should have told you about—”
“Stop.” Nico pressed a hand flat against Gianfranco’s chest and turned to face his guests. “I do not want to speak toanyof you.” He scowled. “I don’t even know if I want you to stay in my hotel any longer.”
