Page 31 of Under A Sicilian Sky
He disappeared again and she sipped at her water, letting the icy liquid calm the raging fire of anxiety that had begun to fill her veins. Was this a gigantic mistake that she would soon regret? Could someone be watching her here or was it all a little far-fetched to the point of it being a movie plot? Oh, the irony.
Clark appeared once more from the back of the property with a black, 250cc bike and two silver helmets, one of which he handed to her.
A realisation struck her. ‘Oh dammit, I only have my phone, not my purse.’
He grinned as he pulled his helmet down over his ears. ‘My treat.’
He was so lovely, his texts had kept her going and she was grateful to have met such a friendly guy. Not to mention handsome – not drop-dead, panty-melting gorgeous, but nice-looking. Perhaps he could change her view of the male species after all. ‘That’s very kind of you.’
Once seated behind him on the bike, she wrapped her arms around his waist, and they set off for the small, coastal city she had been driven through on her arrival. The journey wasn’t long and took them through small hamlets nestled into the slopes of what she guessed could’ve once been a volcano. The greens of the vegetation and the golden tones of the stone buildings they passed were incredibly vibrant and the sky overhead was cloudless and azure blue. The rush of air, as they travelled at speed, was chilly against her skin and on occasions took her breath away, but the ride was exhilarating. Freeing. She could feel the toned muscles of Clark’s stomach beneath her hands and several thoughts entered her head that she dismissed immediately.No romance, she reminded herself.
Ever the gentleman, Clark checked several times that she was okay and when he eventually pulled to a stop down a narrow side street, he helped her off the bike. They walked along the cobbles until they opened out into a paved square where an imposing, stone, Norman-style cathedral stood guard at one end atop a flight of stone steps.
‘This is the Piazza del Duomo,’ Clark said with a flourish of his hands. ‘It took over a hundred years to build the cathedral. Can you imagine starting to build something that wouldn’t be finished in your own lifetime?’ It was a rhetorical question, and he shook his head in awe. ‘Talk about a labour of love.’
‘It’s such a beautiful place,’ Ruby said with a sigh as she soaked up the buzz of the afternoon atmosphere, in awe of her stunning surroundings. The lilt of Italian speaking voices and music floated through the air, along with the clink of cutlery and wine glasses, and the sweet scent of the fresh flowers that adorned every table. It felt so wonderful to be out in thereal worldand exploring a brand-new place. She closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled, committing everything to memory.
‘It sure is. Now there’s a little market at the other side of the square, do you want to look there first?’
Excitement washed over her, and goosebumps rose on her skin. ‘Ooh, yes please!’
The walls of the buildings created a little microclimate and the sun warmed Ruby’s skin as they wandered over to the stalls. All at once, she was hit by myriad aromas and sights. People were filling wicker baskets with produce and chatting to the vendors, and the sound of laughter warmed her heart. Fresh fruit and vegetables filled one stall; the biggest oranges Ruby had ever seen. She picked one up and inhaled the aromatic, citrus fragrance which made her mouth water.
Clark took the fruit from her and picked up another. ‘Due per favore,’ he told the stallholder and handed over some cash. Once they were paid for, he told Ruby, ‘These are for you. I’ll put them in my backpack.’
‘Thank you, that’s so kind.’
They passed stalls selling fresh fish, bread, local artwork and clothing. Clark stopped at a stall selling brightly coloured summer scarves. He picked up a violet-coloured one with a vivid flower print and wrapped it around her neck. ‘Perfect,’ he told her as he handed the money over to the stallholder. Ruby gasped. ‘Oh, no, no, honestly you don’t need to—’
‘I insist. Now, come on, I believe I promised you the best Pasta alla Norma you’d ever tasted.’ He took her hand and led her towards a pretty restaurant with tables set outside. Red cloths wafted lightly under cream-coloured umbrellas and Clark pulled out a chair for her.
‘Actually, I don’t have anything to compare it to. I’ve never actually tried Pasta alla Norma,’ she admitted with a giggle. A lightness had washed over her, a sense of freedom and serenity had replaced the anxiety she had been feeling.
‘Well, I can assure you, you’re in for a treat.’ A waiter approached the table and Clark spoke. ‘Ciao. Potrei ordinare due paste alla norma e una bottiglia di pinot grigiot, per favore?’
The waiter jotted the order on his pad and, with a smile and a nod, walked away.
Ruby was silently impressed with his accent and his knowledge of the language. What was it about a handsome man with language skills that attracted her so much?
She glanced around nervously but was relieved to find that no one was paying the slightest bit of attention to her; apart from Clark whose gaze was fixed on her. He opened his mouth but closed it and shook his head.
She eyed him inquisitively. ‘What? You looked like you were going to say something.’
He smiled and rubbed at his chin. ‘I was going to ask you about yourself, but in light of your recent admission, I don’t suppose there’s anything you can tell me.’
The waiter returned with a jug of water, two glasses, a pot of olives and a jar of breadsticks.
Guilt niggled at her insides and Ruby picked up a breadstick. ‘I love flowers, my favourites are red roses, clichéd but true. I love music… ah, but I already told you that.’ She tapped her chin, trying to filter out truths that she could set free without consequence. ‘I love to dance. I studied it as a child and then when I was older too.’ She refrained from mentioning her performing arts studies for fear of giving away too much. ‘It was my first love, before… Anyway, it was all a long time ago now.’ She giggled and her face warmed a little.
Clark folded his arms across his chest. He nodded a little too conspiratorially for Ruby’s liking. ‘Okay, noted.’
Clark imparted a little more about his life and his record store. When he talked about things he was passionate about his face lit up, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and Ruby felt a little sad that they hadn’t met under different circumstances. What he knew of her was a mixture of truth and fabrication, and she knew that most people would shy away from someone who hadn’t been truthful from the start.
The waiter delivered their food and, after Clark had tasted the wine, he poured two generous glasses. Clark beckoned the waiter and whispered something to him before he left.
‘You must have built up some good friendships over here in the years you’ve been coming,’ Ruby said as she took her first mouthful of food.
Clark blushed a little. ‘Oh… no, not really. We’re quite a private family… well, we were. And now I’m more concerned with relaxing when I come over.’ He shrugged. ‘Anyway, what do you think?’ He gestured towards her plate.
