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Marco jumped to his feet and Lucia did the same, hurrying over to him, pressing herself against his chest as though for protection. ‘Those damn paparazzi follow me everywhere,’ she cried, tossing her head dramatically.

Marco’s heart was thumping. He didn’t know what was going on, but he didn’t like it; he had the feeling he’d been set up.

The manager moved leisurely to pull down the shutters. ‘I’m so sorry, Signora de Santis,’ he said.

‘Is there another way out?’ Marco demanded, as he looked towards the door and saw photographers crowding the entrance.

‘Follow me,’ the manager said. ‘I’ll take you through the kitchens.’

‘Thank you,’ Marco said gratefully.

He and Lucia emerged into a narrow alley at the back of the building, which was mercifully free from photographers.

‘What now?’ Marco asked, looking around him as though expecting to be ambushed at any moment.

‘I have a boat waiting, follow me.’

Lucia rounded the corner to a narrow canal, where a sleek boat was waiting. As soon as he saw her, the driver started the engine. What had been going on here? Marco had the uncomfortable realization that he was being used. Had Gina known about this?

Marco helped Lucia on board then turned to walk away.

‘Aren’t you coming?’ Lucia asked, looking displeased that he wasn’t going to accompany her.

‘No. I’d rather walk.’ Marco shook his head. ‘I’ve had enough excitement for one evening. Goodnight, Lucia,’ he said, smiling wryly as he strode off into the darkness. He heard the soft chug of Lucia’s boat as it motored into the night, but he didn’t look up.

Chapter 22

THE LIONESS AND THE PANTHER!

LA LEONESSA SINKS HER CLAWS INTO A NEW MAN!

ARE LUCIA AND BRAD THE WORLD’S HOTTEST COUPLE?

‘Oh, shit,’ swore Gina, as she took in the frenzy of headlines, all awash with grainy photos of Lucia and Marco, taken through the window of La Sirena. She stared at the spread on her office desk with a growing sense of anger and unease. It was the second day in a row that the newspapers had brought bad news for Gina, and she couldn’t help but notice that all the trouble had started after Lucia de Santis’s arrival, as though she were a bad omen.

Gina’s BlackBerry began to ring. She saw the name on the screen and braced herself. ‘Hey, Marco.’

‘Hey Gina. Quick question. Do you know why I’m all over the front pages of the world’s tabloids this morning?’

Gina could hear the anger in his voice. ‘I’m so sorry, Marco. This was never supposed to happen—’

‘Wasn’t it?’ Marco cut her off, sounding angrier than she’d ever heard him. Gina understood – his wife was likely furious that he was in the papers with another woman, and Daniela would be confused and upset, probably teased by her classmates. ‘The restaurant was surrounded. Someone had clearly tipped off the press,’ Marco continued.

‘It wasn’t me, I can assure you. I’m just as surprised as you are. Lucia played me too, Marco.’

Marco sighed, and was silent for a moment. ‘OK,’ he said finally, now more resigned than angry. ‘If you tell me you weren’t involved, then I believe you. Lucia pulled this whole stunt when I arrived, making sure we were sitting at the window table. I thought she was just living up to her reputation and behaving like a diva. But what advantage is it to her to have a photo of us in the papers?’

‘She’s in every publication this morning. That’s a pretty big incentive.’

‘But it’s not like she needs the publicity. And why drag me into it?’

Gina remembered Marco’s words to her the other night – I’m a background guy. She knew he would hate this. She felt bad for him, and didn’t want him to be mad at her, but at the same time Gina was grateful that he’d agreed to the dinner. Lucia would be happy, and off her back for now.

‘Because in a certain light, with a poor-quality picture taken through a smoky window, you do look a tiny bit like Brad Redford,’ Gina said, a teasing note in her voice, and was gratified to hear Marco laugh lightly. ‘She’s got blanket publicity, and everyone has now linked her to Brad, who is the hottest guy in Hollywood right now. The papers think you are Brad.’

She heard Marco sigh resignedly at the other end of the line. ‘Look, Brad’s on an early morning shoot, but I’m coming in to meet him later when he’s done,’ Marco said, his tone softening. ‘I’ll talk to you then, OK?’

‘Sure. See you later. And Marco?’