Gilly thought about it. ‘This is a very nice town. Lovely shops, lovely places to eat—’ She guessed he was showing her his home before asking if she’d like to move in with him. It was terribly early days. While she was completely sure of William, she wasn’t sure she was ready to throw up her life to be with him. It made her very twitchy.
He laughed, aware she wasn’t answering his question.
‘What are you going to have to eat?’ she asked.
‘I usually have whatever Franco tells me is best. It saves me having to decide.’
‘I’m not good at decision-making either,’ said Gilly, ‘if it doesn’t particularly matter.’
‘But if it does matter?’
‘I’m usually OK on those.’
Franco came up. ‘So, what can I get you?’
‘What’s the special?’ asked William.
‘Asparagus with a little pasta,’ said Franco.
‘That sounds delicious,’ said Gilly.
‘We’ll have two of those then.’ He looked at Gilly. ‘A glass of wine?’
‘Yes, please,’ said Gilly. Wine would help.
‘A glass of wine for my friend, sparkling water for me,’ said William.
‘It’s the first asparagus I’ve had this year,’ said Gilly when they had been served. ‘And I’ve never thought of having it with pasta.’
‘I suppose it comes naturally to an Italian, to put pasta with things.’
It was completely delicious.
‘You are so lucky living near here!’ said Gilly enthusiastically. It was always a safe thing to say.
‘I am,’ said William, ‘but it has its downsides.’
‘Really?’
‘Not that near the gliding club, for example.’
‘Oh,’ said Gilly. ‘Have you been gliding lately?’ She tried to think if he’d had the opportunity to go gliding but, in spite of the wine and the lovely food, she was still a little on edge and couldn’t remember his schedule. ‘And could I go again?’
‘Of course! Any time! We must make a date for it.’ He smiled warmly at her. ‘I have to say, you are the first girlfriend I’ve had who has wanted to go gliding.’
‘Have you had a lot of girlfriends?’ Gilly felt this was an opportunity to find out about William’s past without appearing nosy.
‘A few since my wife died. None of them remotely serious.’ He put his hand on hers and looked into her eyes.
Before she could respond Franco came over. ‘Can I get you dessert? Coffee? Peppermint tea?’
William looked at his watch. ‘I think maybe we’d better have coffee at my house, if you don’t mind, Gilly?’
‘Not at all,’ said Gilly; she was keen to see it, and to find out if William had invited her here for more than just a look at the place where he lived. She turned to Franco. ‘But another time I’d love to try your desserts. That pasta was amazing.’
‘A woman who eats desserts,’ said Franco with a satisfied nod. ‘Excellent.’
William’s flat was just across the road. ‘I own the whole property but as you see, the bottom part is currently an antique shop.’ He opened the door and ushered Gilly in.
