There was a short white dress with blue borders along the hem, sleeves, and neckline…
A long, flowing, mint green dress that bared her arms, perfect for the beach…
And a black dress with a plunging neckline and a slit up all the way up her thigh.
MADONN.
If I’d thought she was gorgeous in an apron and black pants, well – I hadn’t seenanything.
“You like?” Lucia asked teasingly.
“Uh… yes,” I said, my mouth dry. “Very much.”
Then I looked over at Bianca. “I mean – beautiful dresses,Signora.”
All the women laughed as though at some private joke I didn’t understand.
“What are you doing in here, though?” I asked.
“Just chilling a bit,” Lucia said.
“We bonded over the last couple of days,” Bianca explained, “so now we’re hanging out.”
I looked over at Mei-ling and asked in English, “You can understand what they’re saying?”
She smiled and answered in stilted Italian with a heavy British accent. “I’ve been studying online. And Roberto has been practicing with me in the evenings.”
“Not bad,” I answered in Italian, impressed.
“Thank you.”
“Well,” I said, not wanting to stop looking at Emilia, but also wanting to keep my promise, “I can go back and wait for you in the dress shop – ”
“No can do, Gorgeous George,” Lucia said. “Emilia needs a big, strong man to walk her home.”
“What?!” I asked, slightly panicked. “Um, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea – ”
“It’s fine,” Emilia said as she stood up.
I stared at her. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” Emilia smiled impishly. “They vouched for you.”
I looked over at Lucia, who gave me an exaggerated wink.
Oh god.
“But Adriano – ” I protested.
“Vincenzo is staying,” Bianca said as she pointed over at my fellow foot soldier.
“But – ”
“You can come back to the shop after you get Emilia home safe.”
“…okay…”
“Bye, everyone!” Emilia said as she waved.
