Now, as he and Massimo passed through the open door to the familiar hot and beery atmosphere, Leo saw that Bar Rita’s clientele were now mainly thirty-somethings. The dim space was narrow at the front, where the bar ran along one wall, then widened, crowded with tables. Though uncommon in Italy, right at the back stood a pool table, two cues rolled against the cushion. It had been part of the attraction of Bar Rita, when they were young. It didn’t look as if it had received any maintenance since then.
Before they could even buy a beer, Massimo peered around a group of laughing men and called, ‘Ciao, Jade,’ and waved.
And there she was, in a yellow patterned sundress with three slender straps on each bare shoulder. Massimo kissed her cheeks. Leo had just secured a table so missed the cheek-kissing because Jade was already introducing her two female companions.
‘Erin and Rosalie – Massimo and Leo.’ Then to the women, ‘The Sartoris are the family friends I told you about. Gran and their mum, Sheenagh, who’s also Scottish, were besties, and Sheenagh and Ferdinando bought Villa Panorama from Gran.’
While Massimo fetched drinks and ordered aperitivi for the table, Leo watched Jade’s sisters edge into the booth. Rosalie was almost as tall as Jade, with an open, friendly face, her fair hair tucked behind her ears. Her clothes looked as if they came from markets or vintage shops, and her tattoos were delicate and pretty. Erin was tiny, with shining hair. If she’d worn her label on the outside of her denim minidress, he didn’t think it would bear the name of a chain store. Her long fingernails were turquoise, with patterns on the smallest. Living with Isabella had taught him that they’d probably cost sixty pounds at a salon.
Both sisters seemed friendly. Erin waited for Massimo to return with a tray of drinks and then asked about Villa Panorama. It hadconversation openerall over it – general, non-contentious and not about herself.
Leo listened as Massimo talked about the hotel. When his gaze slid to Jade, he saw she was wearing a similar smile-and-listen expression, her hair curling over her bare shoulders. It brought back memories he didn’t know what to do with, so he looked away and noticed that though Rosalie and Erin seemed to be paying attention to Massimo, each shot regular glances at Jade. Leo tried to read their eyes. Was that wariness he saw there?
Perhaps deciding that it was time to change the subject from what, to him, was shop talk, Massimo said suddenly, ‘The police are chasing Leo.’
Across the chipped table, Jade arched her eyebrows. ‘Really?’
‘Notreally,’ Leo answered. ‘Cars were stolen from the Black Falcon and Isabella’s father kindly suggested me as an employee who might bear a grudge.’
Jade rippled into laughter – something he hadn’t heard much since he’d been home. ‘Employee?’ she repeated. After a couple of gulps of cold Poretti beer, she laughed again.
Leo gave a sad headshake, then explained for the benefit of Erin and Rosalie. ‘I was a partner.’ Then he grinned at Jade, enjoying the small interaction. ‘I do bear a grudge, but I was a thousand miles away when the incident happened... though the police officer did say she had a good mind to interview me to get an expenses-paid trip to Como.’
‘Ah, young and female,’ Jade said.
‘Made no difference. I didn’t mastermind the theft of cars from the Black Falcon’s car park,’ he answered good-naturedly.
‘Glad to hear it.’ Jade ran her fingertips up and down her beer bottle. The nails were short and unpainted, probably because she worked in a kitchen, but Leo found his eyes following the movement of her hand.
A stubbly man, his balding head sweating in the close atmosphere of the bar, arrived with a tray of aperitivi. Pancetta, mortadella and green-grained gorgonzola, cup-sized dishes of penne pasta, a basket of bread, and tomatoes with basil, all set out appetisingly on individual boards.
Erin’s eyes widened at the mini feast. ‘I thought an aperitivo was a drink before dinner.’ She indicated her glass of sparkling orange Aperol spritz.
The server was trying to find room on the table for the last board and Leo moved his glass. ‘It can be. Or light food to brighten your appetite for dinner.’
‘It can replace dinner altogether if you keep at it.’ Jade took a chunk of bread. ‘Or replace happy hour or bottomless brunch, or whatever you fancy.’
‘It’s a nice way to wind down after the day,’ Massimo added. ‘I’ll probably snack again with my wife, Sofi, later, when she comes home from her friend’s house.’
Leo stifled a grin at Massimo exhibiting his I’m-definitely-not-available card, as if Jade’s sisters had been making moves on him. Maybe it was second nature to him when in the company of single ladies. Certainly, after everyone had tucked into the contents of the small blue bowls, another drink had been drunk and napkins lay crumpled on the table, Massimo clapped Leo on the shoulder, hugged Jade, and told Erin and Rosalie it had been nice to meet them. ‘Sofi’s home now.Ciao, ciao.’
Leo watched him weave through the busy bar before vanishing into the street. He hadn’t really bargained for being cast off this early in the evening. Glancing around, he saw the pool table still empty. He cocked a brow at it and then at Jade.
She made a face. ‘I haven’t played for a wee while.’
Erin laughed, tossing back her super-glossy hair. ‘I love the west Scotland accent you’ve learnt from Gran.’
‘Come on,’ Leo urged, because Jade had met Erin’s comment with a tiny pucker between her brows. ‘I’ll go easy on you.’
Over her Poretti, Jade regarded him narrowly. ‘I’ll bet you’ve been playing in England.’
‘Constantly, just so I could beat you,’ he said solemnly, though he hadn’t had a game for a couple of years. There hadn’t been much time for frivolous activities. But now he was unwinding and could enjoy a simple pleasure.
‘Go on, Jade,’ said Rosalie. ‘We’ll get more drinks.’
Jade shrugged, then led the way to the faded, scratched table. ‘Not exactly well maintained,’ Leo grumbled as he posted twoone-euro coins into the slot so that the coloured balls spun and clattered out of the chute. He racked them. ‘You break.’
Jade crooked an eyebrow as she spun her cue tip on the chalk on the end of the table. ‘We toss.’
