‘Would you like to dance?’ Tony asked, as the music turned slow and sultry.
I nodded silently, bewitched by this surreal moment, and Tony took my hand. Blake gave me one last filthy look and stormed off, closely escorted by Chiara, as we made our way to the dance floor. People hushed around us, parting to let us through.
‘What’s going on?’ I asked, as he put his arms around me and pulled me in close, just as he’d done the night of the Vendemmia party. My heart was racing.What was happening?
‘I told you I worked in film,’ he said.
‘Well, yes, you did, but what the hell as?’ I looked at the people dancing near us, their eyes darting away as they pretended not to look at Tony.
‘I’m a director.’ He dropped the words out as if it was no big deal.
‘Not just any old director, from the way people are behaving.’
Tony shrugged, modestly. ‘I’ve done a few things you might have heard of. I’m one of the international jury chairs at the festival this year, which is why I had to rush off last week.’
He had the same expression on his face as when Marco Colombo had dropped out that he was the curator of the Uffizi. Who the hell was this guy?
‘Me and Gem go way back, so I knew she wasn’t working onMoonmenwhen you mentioned it. I made a few calls and got the lowdown on what had happened. On what Blake had been saying about you.’
‘You knew, but you didn’t tell me?’
Tony twirled us around, strong but gentle as he moved. It felt good to be back in his arms.
‘I thought if you knew, you’d go straight back to London, and I didn’t want you to. It was selfish, I know.’
‘But then you left anyway without saying goodbye?’
‘I was only supposed to be gone for one night. I’m on the organising committee for the festival and they wanted me on site. It took much longer than I’d thought it would.’
‘Paolo said you were in Verona?’
‘Yes and no. Some of the crew from my most recent film were staying there, so I got the train over to see them on the way.’
‘I tried to call, and sent you messages?’ I said, feeling like an obsessed fan.
‘I know. And Holly gave me your letter. I’ve been desperate to speak to you, but I thought it would be better to wait and explain everything face to face. I started to message you yesterday, then decided a WhatsApp message wasn’t the grand romantic gesture I was looking for.’
‘I thought you were ghosting me,’ I said. ‘That you weren’t interested.’
‘Nothing could be further from the truth.’ He pulled me in closer and we swayed to the beat.
‘I did think it was strange not to hear from you. After… everything.’
‘Everything – as opposed toanything,’ he said, with a smile.
I laughed. It felt like a lifetime ago that I’d accused him of gatecrashing my yoga class.
‘Your film was just so beautiful. I thought there might be something in it. Something between us.’
‘There is. The film was for you, Abi. I did it for you.’
‘For me?’ I faltered. Melting as I looked into his eyes. ‘Really?’
‘I’m so sorry everything got so confused. I switched my Italian SIM out for my work phone while I was with the team, and by the time I got back to Paolo’s, you’d gone. Although obviously I knew where to, as I had your letter. And I kinda knew you were coming here anyway...’
‘Because you got me the gig with Gem.’
‘I strongly recommended you for it, yes,’ he said, with a smile. ‘I didn’t realise Blake would be here – I should have checked. It can’t have been fun seeing him again.’
