Page 11 of A Summer of New Beginnings
‘Damn bloody right it is.’ He grinned.‘It’s the first thing I like to check.’
She shook her head but couldn’t help giggling. ‘Incorrigible, Marco, that’s what you are.’ She turned back to the mirror. ‘Anyway, this outfit, yes or no?’
‘Hells yes. Bloody go and wow him with your curves and remind him why he loves you.’ She paused at his words. The ‘L’ word hadn’t really been mentioned, even though she knewshefelt it. She forceda laugh. ‘Yes… Yes, I’ll do just that.’
He huffed. ‘You almost convinced me there, Zara Bear.’
She shrugged. ‘Do you think hedoeslove me?’
His brow crumpled and he didn’t speak right away. ‘What’s not to love?’
She turned to face him as her stomach knotted. ‘You didn’t exactly answer my question.’
Marco climbed off the bed and walked towards her with what she felt was a very fake grin onhis face. He placed a hand on each shoulder. ‘Zara, stop overthinking. I don’t know what’s got into you. What’s with all this insecurity? He adores you, it’s so obvious.’
‘Then why hasn’t he told me he loves me? It’s been a year.’
He shook his head. ‘Take it from me, darling, men are arseholes. Most of them don’t know how to order a coffee, let alone express an emotion. Give him time. Or dumphis arse. I’ll support you either way.’ He grinned.
She slapped his arm playfully. ‘Hey!’ She was stopped from saying anything further as the doorbell rang. ‘Shit! It’s seven-thirty already?’
‘It would appear so. Want me to give him the big-brother talk?’
Zara slapped his arm again. ‘You’ll do no such thing. Now go to your room, Marco Bianchi!’
‘You’re such a mean cow,’ he informed her witha smile as he left her room.
Trying to push down her doubts, Zara took a deep breath and opened the door. Josh stood there looking absolutely gorgeous in a blue shirt and dark blue jeans. A wide, sexy smile spread across his face. ‘Wow. You look amazing.’
She felt a flush of warmth rise from her chest to her cheeks. ‘Thanks. So do you.’
He held out his arm for her to link hers with. ‘Come on,then, gorgeous, let’s go and paint old Peckham town crimson, shall we?’
She shouted goodbye to Marco and hurriedly closed the door behind her before he could appear to make any inappropriate comments.
*
The evening was going well and Zara had relaxed greatly by her third drink. Josh seemed to be back to his normal self, making her laugh.
He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her, which wasvery reassuring. ‘I must say you look totally different in that outfit than the ones I had you wearing yesterday. Although, both looks are equally sexy.’
She tucked her hair behind her ear, suddenly very self-aware. ‘I’d hardly call walking gear sexy, Josh, you weirdo.’
‘Oh, I don’t know. I think you’re the kind of woman who’d make a tea towel look sexy.’
She almost choked on her drink. ‘Well,if I wasjustwearing a tea towel—’
He leaned forward enthusiastically. ‘We could always get one and try it out,’ he said with that silly eyebrow wiggle.
She laughed. She really had been worrying over nothing. ‘You have a way with words, that’s for sure.’
He laughed heartily and grabbed his jacket, hastily placing it over his lap. ‘Ahem… yes… okay, as we’re in a public place let’s have a changeof subject whilst I try to stop imagining the tea-towel scenario. Although I don’t really want to, if I’m honest. Okay, shut up, Josh!’ He took a deep breath and Zara tried to stop the fit of giggles that threatened to erupt, even though it felt good to laugh.
Finally he seemed calm again. ‘So, are you getting excited about your trip yet? How long is it now?’ he asked with a knowing grin.
Shescrunched her nose. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be ready. It’s around three weeks until I go, which is three weeks too soon.’
He cringed and hissed in through his teeth. ‘You’re still not happy about it, then?’
