‘I was meaning was it long enough to see Geneva?’ she said softly.
‘It’s not long enough for that, either,’ Luca said, passing her the champagne as it arrived. ‘I was hoping that I might be the one to show you around. I’ve organised a few days off work if you can change your travel plans?’
‘Of course,’ she said, taking a sip, the bubbles tickling her nose as she swallowed them. ‘What exactly do you have in mind?’
‘Well,’ he said, leaning forward a little, his arm braced on the bar. ‘I was thinking we could start with dinner out tonight, somewhere nice on the lake, and tomorrow I want to take you on a helicopter ride over the city. It’s the best way to see the sights.’
Georgia immediately felt uncomfortable, a bead of sweat breaking out across her top lip at the mention of helicopters. Luca must have noticed her reaction, the way she held her glasstoo tight, because he reached out and took it from her, replacing the glass with his hand.
‘I can see that wasn’t a good idea.’
She looked up at him, wishing she didn’t react so viscerally to even thinking about being in a helicopter. ‘I’m, ah, I’m just not good in the air. Even commercial flights, it’s just?—’
‘You don’t have to explain, I recall yesterday you saying you didn’t enjoy the flight,’ he said, softly, still holding her hand. ‘I don’t know what I was thinking anyway, it would bemuchmore enjoyable to visit the museum. And if you prefer cycling, we could hire bicycles and visit a winery.’
Georgia laughed. ‘Could we not just drive there?’
Luca laughed along with her, releasing her hand and passing her the champagne again. ‘That’s an even better idea,’ he said, and she appreciated how quickly he’d made light of her reaction. Laughing with Luca felt better than good; it feltgreat. ‘I don’t know why I didn’t suggest that in the first place.’
‘I’m sorry, about before, I just?—’
‘No need to explain,’ he said. ‘I will do anything to keep that gorgeous smile on your face. And if that means not mentioning helicopters ever again?’ Luca placed his hand over his heart. ‘I have already removed the word from my vocabulary.’
She sipped her champagne as he reached for his, realising that the only person who she’d ever been so herself around was Sam.
‘I should have asked already, but you don’t have a, ah, significant other back in London?’ Luca asked.
‘I do not,’ she replied, trying very hard not to choke on her champagne. ‘And you?’Please say no. Please say no.
‘I wouldn’t be sitting in a bar with a beautiful brunette if I did,’ he teased. ‘I don’t think there would be a wife anywhere in Switzerland who’d allow it.’
Warmth spread through her at the compliment, but it also left her completely speechless.
‘Do you have plans for dinner, Georgia?’
‘I was intending on asking the concierge for recommendations on where to dine tonight.’
‘Alone?’ Luca asked. ‘I thought since you were dressed like that…’
‘Alone,’ she confirmed.
‘Well, we can’t have that. Would you like to join me? I have a reservation at Tosca.’
‘You were that certain I would say yes to joining you?’
‘Well, I intended on telling you how incredible their Italian food is, and that we had many things to discuss about the sapphire.’ He grinned. ‘In case you were wondering, both of those things are true.’
‘So, it would be a business dinner? To discuss the sapphire?’
Luca stood and held out his arm. ‘Of course. Strictly professional.’
Georgia looped her hand through his arm, feeling as if she had stepped back in time, holding on to the arm of a devilishly handsome man as they strolled through the hotel lobby on their way to dinner. She was under no illusions that their dinner was strictly business, but she loved that he was willing to pretend it was.
‘You’re going to love the restaurant,’ Luca said, as the concierge opened the door for them. ‘It’s on the Rue de la Mairie, and their pheasant ravioli is like nothing you’ve ever tasted before.’
She had no idea where that was, and she’d certainly never eaten pheasant ravioli, but somehow with Luca’s French accent, everything sounded incredible.
After dinner, Georgia strolled beside Luca. She’d never imagined how pretty it would be walking by the lake, especially at night.
