Page 23 of Under A Sicilian Sky
‘Meh, maybe it’s just me.’ He shrugged. ‘Like I said, music is more my bag.’
Eager to change the subject, she asked, ‘So are your wife and kids here with you?’
He shook his head and for a moment seemed a little sad. ‘No, I have neither. You’d think at thirty-eight I’d have both, but I guess the store and caring for my folks has taken all my time.’
‘Oh, come on, you have plenty of time if that’s what you want from life.’
He smiled. ‘Got to meet the right woman first.’
Oh god, this is getting a little too deep. She cleared her throat. ‘So, who is your favourite band? And if you say Led Zeppelin, I may have to leave.’
He grinned and shook his head. ‘You dare to dis Led Zep, huh? Wow. Brave woman.’
‘Yeah, well, when you’ve grown up with a dad who’s obsessed with Jimmy Page, their music gets a little old, if you know what I mean.’
He tilted his head, eyeing her with apparent intrigue. ‘Okay then, who doyoulike?’ he asked, folding his arms across his chest.
She raised her eyebrows. ‘I asked first.’ She giggled and took another sip of the dark liquid.
‘Okay, so I love Motown. Stevie Wonder especially. In my opinion, he’s the greatest singer songwriter to have ever lived. But I love most genres, to be honest. I just love music. Not too keen on jazz though.’
She was quite impressed. ‘Yes! I love Stevie Wonder too. My favourite song has to be “Superstition”. It’s got such a good dance groove. And the lyrics are quite apt just now.’
There was that head tilt again. ‘How so?’
Realising she’d said too much, she waved a dismissive hand. ‘Ugh, long laborious story for another time maybe. Ooh, I also love “I Believe”. It was on the soundtrack to my favourite John Cusack movie and I’ve adored it ever since.’
His smile widened and his eyes twinkled, even though the day was dull and drizzly. ‘Wow, a woman after my own heart. I’m not much of a cinema buff, butHigh Fidelityis one of my all-time favourites too. Probably because it’s mainly about music. I had to admit to having you pegged as more of a rock ballads type. You know, Whitesnake, Kiss, Bon Jovi. Maybe it’s the hair.’
She laughed and flicked her hair over her shoulder. ‘Yeah, Paul Stanley, eat your heart out. Seriously though, I love most music too. Although, actually, I’m not too keen on screechy heavy metal and the builder who’s working on the house I’m staying in plays it way too loud. He sings too. Loudly.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘Jeez, that must drive you crazy. Can’t you tell him to pipe down?’
She pursed her lips. ‘Not really. He works for the owner.’
‘Shame. Look, why don’t I go and put on some Stevie? There are speakers mounted in the exterior walls.’
Ruby was impressed. ‘Your parents must have been very modern.’
He cleared his throat. ‘Nah, I only installed them when I inherited the place.’ He disappeared inside and a few moments later the opening bars to ‘Superstition’ began to play. As Ruby sat back and listened to the song’s lyrics, a particular line grabbed her. She sincerely hoped thegood thingsweren’t only in her past.
11
Ruby heard a commotion outside of Clark’s gates and she glanced at her phone screen. What was supposed to have been a brief walk had turned into four hours of sitting under the covered terrace, drinking coffee as the rain poured down outside. They had talked about music, TV shows, books and whatever other subjects Ruby could mindfully address without fear of highlighting who she was.
She saw Jacopo run by, talking on his mobile phone. Nero jumped from her lap and began to bark excitedly and she gasped. ‘Shit.’
Clark glanced over his shoulder. ‘What? Is everything okay?’
‘Oh… erm… yes, fine, sorry. I just realised what the time is. I should really be going.’
He nodded and she thought she saw a flash of disappointment. ‘Look, Rebecca, I know we’ve only just met, but I’ve really enjoyed this afternoon and I’d love to do it again sometime. Like you, I’m here alone and if you’re going to be here a while it’d be nice to have someone to talk to.’ He shrugged and lowered his head as if he was expecting her to shoot him down.
‘That would be lovely, Clark. Perhaps you could give me your number?’
He beamed at her. ‘Absolutely.’ He reeled off the digits and Ruby added the details into her phone.
She stood and gathered up Nero’s lead. ‘Right, I really must dash. Thanks for the coffee and chat. It’s been lovely.’ She jogged out of the garden and up the road towards the house in the pouring rain with Nero. By the time she reached the gate, she was soaked to the skin and freezing cold. Luca was pacing back and forth just inside the gate.Shit, both of them are here.He looked up and as soon as he set his eyes on her, they widened, and he dashed for the button to open the gate.
