‘Thank you. Please close the door behind you,’ Luca instructed.
When they were alone, she spoke. ‘You didn’t want him to see it?’
‘I don’t want anyone to see it,’ he replied. ‘This sapphire is priceless to me, just as it was to my grandfather, and everyone in this industry knows that. I won’t be disclosing its existence until it’s under lock and key.’
‘Providing I let you keep it?’ Georgia asked.
She wished her words weren’t quite so abrupt as soon as she’d said them, but Luca seemed unfazed. Instead, he smiled at her across the table, and she reached for the coffee cup for something to do, taking a quick sip and wishing she hadn’t, as she immediately burned her tongue.
‘How about we take an early lunch, so you can tell me all about your connection to the sapphire, and I can tell you all about mine?’
‘What about the pastries?’ Georgia asked, as her stomach rumbled.
‘Take them as a treat for later,’ he said. ‘But I must ask you, may I please put the sapphire in my safe? I can have an agreement drawn up in minutes that confirms your ownership of the sapphire, and it will simply state that you are entrusting it into our care for inspection.’
Georgia nodded. ‘Of course. I have to confess I’m suddenly quite nervous about carrying something so valuable in my bag.’
Luca touched her hand as he stood, taking her by surprise. She glanced up and into his pale blue eyes.
‘Thank you for coming here. In time, I hope you will understand how much this sapphire means to me.’
Georgia just nodded, not sure what to say.
‘If you’re comfortable leaving your luggage here as well, I’ll ensure that no one else has access to the room,’ he said. ‘You will join me for lunch, won’t you?’
Georgia found herself nodding again as Luca whisked out of the room to get the paperwork, hearing him call to someone that they were to make him a booking for two at Café du Centre. But all she could think, as a wry smile caught her lips, was that Sam had been right.
Perhaps packing the little black dress hadn’t been such a bad idea after all. She only hoped that his obvious lack of a wedding ring was indicative of him not being married, because she was finding herself very much looking forward to lunch.
They took a taxi through town to the restaurant, and Luca pointed out landmarks and architectural buildings ofsignificance along the way, which made the journey pass quickly. She was acutely aware of him beside her in the back seat, although he’d been nothing other than a perfect gentleman, opening the door for her and positioning himself far enough away that they weren’t in danger of bumping knees.
They were there within minutes, and she waited as he paid the driver before she opened her door and stepped out onto the pavement.
‘This is one of my favourite places to come,’ he told her. ‘Café du Centre is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. My grandfather came here in the 1930s when they first opened, then my father after him and then me.’
‘You truly didn’t need to take me out to lunch,’ she said. ‘I would have been more than happy with the pastries.’
Luca arched a brow. ‘Clearly you couldn’t hear your stomach rumbling then, because it was telling me that pastries simply weren’t going to be enough.’
She laughed and followed his lead as they walked down the cobbled street, seeing the white awnings up ahead with the name of the restaurant emblazoned in black lettering.
‘Would you like to sit outside? It’s such a nice day,’ Luca said.
‘Of course.’
Georgia stepped in front of him as he gestured for her to walk ahead, his hand brushing her lower back and sending an unfamiliar tingle down her spine.
He spoke to a waiter in German, and she stood and waited as they conversed before being ushered to a table for two. She looked around as she took her seat, admiring the old building the restaurant was housed in, loving the way so many people could be accommodated outside. Tables with white cloths and matching white awnings stretched as far as the eye could see around them, and she could only imagine how popular it must be.
‘It’ll be ridiculously busy soon, but for now we can enjoy the quiet,’ he said.
‘It’s gorgeous. I can already tell I’ll like it.’
Luca took the drinks menu and turned it over, looking up at her. ‘Wine? Or is it too early in the day?’
She went to decline, but then changed her mind. ‘Why not? If you’re having one, I’d love to. It’s not every day that I’m in Geneva for lunch.’
Luca waved their waiter over and ordered, before settling into his seat and training his gaze on her. ‘I have to say that I’m surprised you were able to travel here at such short notice.’
