Chapter One
Gabi
Gabi’s right leg was heavy as hell in its ugly protective boot and the tops of her crutches dug uncomfortably into the soft hollow of her underarms. But at least she was on her own two feet. That in itself was a win after two months, flat on her back, in hospital. She eyed the two suitcases being unloaded from the back of the taxi and only then began to think maybe she should have phoned first. But her cousin was expecting her, and she was only a day ahead of schedule after all. Surely Isabella would love the surprise?
‘In there, is it, miss?’ The taxi driver nodded towards the doorway of Tutto Mio, Isabella’s Italian restaurant. Gabi nodded and he lifted a large, leather, monogrammed case in each hand with a grunt.
‘You don’t need to. . .’ Gabi started to say but then she sighed in defeat and thanked him instead. He did need to, apparently. Orsomeoneneeded to help her for approximately the next three months and Isabella had insisted that person would be her.
Isabella was the first person Gabi rang after the accident on the film set where she was working as a stuntwoman. It had been a great gig, the highlight of her career to date, a modern-day Western with plenty of action. She’d phoned from the hospital bed with her leg in traction, and described the shot that had gone wrong in detail gruesome enough to make Isabella groan. A horse-riding scene where the horse had spooked and bolted, throwing Gabi from the saddle and dragging her by her foot in the stirrup until everything went black. She woke in hospital the following day after surgery and with her leg suspended in the air by a series of pulleys.
Isabella had instructed her to come home as soon as she was allowed to fly and told her that she could move in with her for as long as was necessary. Gabi had been only too happy to accept. But the recovery was slow, and she’d spent all of February and most of March confined to bed, unable to move and all alone in Australia, counting down the days until she was released. She’d been so keen to get to Isabella and to Honeybridge that when she was discharged a day earlier than planned, she didn’t hesitate in booking a last-minute ticket, and here she was.
Gabi hadn’t seen Isabella in the five months since she had opened Tutto Mio and fallen head over heels in love with Etienne, the guy who owned the restaurant across the square, and she didn’t want to wait any longer. It had already been too long, and she knew Isabella would understand. She swung along behind the driver on her crutches, glad of all the upper-body strength she had through training for her job in the past. Using crutches was certainly not for the weak.
The taxi driver opened the door and heaved the cases across the threshold and onto the restaurant floor. He straightened his back with a moan. She didn’t think they’d been that heavy. But they were pretty full. She needed to have every base covered when she went on location for a shoot. Although this one of course had been cut short. Her contract had been ‘broken’ along with her leg. Naturally she had a very nice pay-off– being a stuntwoman had some perks. The fact that her leg was pinned in two places was not one of them.
She surveyed the room. The restaurant was almost empty, a couple lingering over coffees in a corner, a lone diner reading as he ate. All the other tables were already made up for the evening sitting. It was homely, wooden floors and rugs, hand-painted pictures on the walls, bright ceramic pots filled with herbs on the windowsills. A waitress, tidying the condiments tray, looked up and spotted her.
‘Hi,’ she said, taking a step towards her. ‘I’m afraid the kitchen’s closed. . .’
‘I’m looking for Isabella actually,’ Gabi said. ‘I’m her cousin, Gabi.’
‘Oh, wow! I heard you were coming!’ The waitress smiled. ‘I think she’s in the kitchen. . .’ She moved towards the door and Gabi gestured to stop her.
‘Can I go in?’ she whispered. ‘I wanted to surprise her.’
The waitress shrugged and nodded, and Gabi grinned her thanks. The taxi driver coughed behind her to remind her of his presence. Gabi propped her crutch under her arm, freed her hand and pulled her phone from her pocket to tap and pay.
‘Thanks again,’ she said, adding a tip as he rubbed his back once more for emphasis. He saluted her and left, past the waitress who was now busy updating the specials board. Gabi felt excitement building as she quietly opened the kitchen door. Isabella was going to be blown away. She couldn’t wait to see the look on her cousin’s face.
It wasn’t quite the greeting Gabi was expecting when she caught Isabella straddling Etienne’s thigh as he leaned back against the stainless-steel draining board. Fully clothed they might be, but not for long by the looks of it. Isabella’s eyes were shut and her mouth open as Etienne’s arms pulled her closer and his lips ravished her neck. Gabi stopped dead. The couple were oblivious, locked in a moment so intense that Gabi felt her own cheeks blush. This was most definitely not the entrance she had planned. She tried to back up, desperate to get out, but forgetting her crutches and boot, she stumbled. She reached out a hand to save herself and knocked a pan from the counter with a clang that echoed around the walls.
Isabella and Etienne sprang apart, dazed and pink-cheeked. Isabella’s hair had escaped its messy bun and tendrils hung around her face. Etienne had a smear of lip gloss across his mouth.
‘Surprise. . .’ Gabi said awkwardly. It took a full second for Isabella to focus properly on her cousin. Then, finally, she sprang into action.
‘Gabi!’ She flew across the room, arms outstretched. ‘I thought you were coming tomorrow?’ She wrapped gentle arms around Gabi and smothered her cheeks with kisses. All the things Gabi didn’t know she had been hoping for. She closed her eyes for a second and leaned in, surprised to feel tears pricking her eyes. It had been a long, lonely few months, and it was so good to see her cousin.
Etienne stepped in next and kissed her on both cheeks.
‘Sorry to interrupt,’ Gabi stammered, still embarrassed, but Isabella and Etienne just flashed each other an appreciative look and laughed.
‘Come, sit,’ Isabella said, leading her back into the restaurant and pulling a chair out at one of the tables.
‘Easier said than done,’ Gabi said. ‘I’ll need two chairs; I have to keep my foot elevated as much as possible.’ She sat on the nearest and lifted her leg with her hands to rest straight out in front of her, foot propped on the facing chair. Isabella pulled out the one next to her.
‘Drinks?’ Etienne asked. ‘Wine? Or. . .’
‘Coffee,’ the women said simultaneously, which made them both smile. Etienne changed direction from bar to kitchen and Gabi watched Isabella drop her eyes to his bum as he left.
‘Sorry about that,’ Gabi whispered.
‘No worries.’ Isabella laughed. ‘It’s our fault. I just can’t keep my hands off him!’
‘Looked like the feeling was mutual,’ Gabi said, marvelling at the soft glow of Isabella’s face. She’d never seen her like this before. Isabella shook herself and turned her attention back to Gabi.
‘What did the studio say?’ Isabella asked. ‘How’s it all been left?’
