Cole is smiling, his pearly white teeth, dazzling. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too…”
“Sara,” I offer, almost choking on my own name. Did I die on the boat? Is that what is happening right now? Because I find it hard to believe I am in THE COLE DEVANEY’Shouse. The ultimate action movie superstar. “I’m sorry, I’m actually not sure how to process this,” I say to Gus.
“This is just perfect,” Gus jokes. “You know Cole, but you didn’t know who I was.”
“That’s not true. I knew you were famous. I just couldn’t pinpoint why. Or how.”
Cole laughs, the familiar deep sound has me screaming inwardly. Surreal.
“This is brilliant,” he says. “You guys didn’t know each other before a few days ago? Honestly, I thought you were a couple. You look so good together.”
It’s my turn to scoff. Gus says, “Thank you. I know.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Funny.”
He grins.
“Well, as lovely as it is to greet you both, especially you Sara, I’m up early tomorrow for filming so I should already be asleep, but mi casa es su casa, and all that. My housekeeper, Aline, will be here in the morning. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. You’re in the guest room… er, rooms?” He frowns, clearly confused by our dynamic. Not helped by me still gripping onto Gus’s actually very nice arm.
It pains me, but I let go and clear my throat.
I can feel Gus’s eyes scanning my expression for clues, so I keep it purposefully neutral. “Yes. Rooms.”
Cole glances at Gus before correcting himself and nodding. “Come on then. I’ll show you to your rooms.”
*
It’s just as well we had our own space for the night because as soon as my head hits the insanely luxurious pillow, my next conscious thought is that I can hear quiet tapping onthe door; tapping which is closely followed by Gus’s voice.
“Sara?”
I make some kind of undecipherable grunt.
“I’ve made coffee. Would you like it in there or are you coming down? No pressure but, it’s already nine a.m. Just thought you’d like to know.”
I groan again.
“Sorry?” he asks, laughter in his voice. “I didn’t get that. You sounded like a strangled grizzly bear.”
“Coffee!” I croak. “Here!”
The door opens. I am not presentable, so I pull the sheets back over my face and mutter a thank you. I hear his footsteps retreating after a mug has been carefully placed beside me, but the door doesn’t close.
“Thank you but go away.”
He properly chuckles. “I checked the schedule, by the way. The yacht docks tomorrow at ten. But today it’s out having a splendid time in the Med. I’ve made crêpes for breakfast. Yours are staying warm in the oven and there’s fresh fruit in the fridge. Cole’s housekeeper is called Aline, in case you forgot, and she’s literally wonderful.” He claps his hands together. “Rise and shine, sunshine. We need to make a plan to conquer Rome today.”
“You don’t conquer Rome. Rome conquers you.” My voice comes through muffled.
“Come on. Up ye get.”
I fidget under the duvet. I need a wee. My breath stinks. “Let me drink my coffee and then I’ll start using my brain.”
“Fine. I’ll be in the gym.”
When I’m awake, showered and dressed, I venture out into Cole’s massive, modern villa. The front half of thebuilding dates back to the 1500s, though it’s been beautifully restored, whereas the newer, more modern section at the back of the villa is all sleek lines, with large windows that let in long, warm shadows. I tried looking up how much it sold for online before I eventually drifted off but only came across a similar place on the same street that sold for nine million euros last summer. And that one is smaller. I’m convinced this is all a dream.
The gym takes me a solid ten minutes to find because it’s in the basement along with a twenty-metre pool.
