Second Chances in Chianti (Escape to Tuscany Book 2) T.A. Williams (early reader books .txt) 📖

join her. As the ground underfoot was still soaked, she led them along the drive, out of the gate and up the road, just as she had done the previous day. It was a quarter past eight and there was, of course, the possibility she might once again see the old Land Rover and its driver but, seeing as she was surrounded by the others, she knew all she would be able to do would be to wave. Still, that was probably for the best.

As they jogged up the hill, Alice deliberately hung back alongside Carrie, so as not to end up being monopolised by Richie, and the two men gradually opened up a lead. Carrie was evidently fit and they were able to carry on a conversation as they climbed. Although it started off harmlessly enough, as they were nearing the top it became a bit awkward.

‘Alice, you and Richie used to date, didn’t you?’

‘On-screen I’ve forgotten how many times – ever since series two, but each time the writers fixed it so one of the characters – usually Polly – screwed it up. Off-screen we were together on and off for three months or so and then we managed to screw that up, too – all by ourselves.’

‘Why did you and Richie break up?’

Alice knew very little about Carrie, except that she apparently worked in public relations, and there was no way she was going to reveal the struggle Richie had had with his demons back then, so she took refuge in a cliché. ‘Fundamental incompatibility, I’m afraid.’

‘You didn’t get on?’

‘Maybe we were overexposed to each other – you know, what with working together as well.’

‘And would you think about taking him back?’

Alice glanced across at her. ‘What makes you ask that? We broke up five years ago. This week’s the first time I’ve seen him since then.’

‘It’s just that he’s pretty clearly still in love with you.’

‘He’s what?’ Alice had to stop and take a couple of deep breaths. ‘What on earth gave you that idea?’

‘He did. He almost said as much. He’s always talking about you.’

‘Well, I can assure you that nothing’s ever going to happen between us, and that’s that.’

As she spoke, she realised she really meant it. With the arrival of a new day had come the conviction that she needed to get Richie on his own and spell out to him in words of one syllable that they were definitively not getting back together again. She would not, however, tell him that the reason for her refusal wasn’t necessarily her current boyfriend, but the way she had been affected by a different man she had only just met.

‘You mean that?’ Carrie didn’t sound convinced.

Alice nodded, as the certainty that she was doing the right thing crystallised inside her. ‘Totally. Yes, I went out with him for a few months a long time ago but that’s as far as it went – and as far as it’ll ever go.’ She caught Carrie’s eye. ‘Whatever he might say or think, it’s all over between us.’

‘Because of David?’

‘Yes, of course, because of David.’ She was conscious she had maybe answered a bit too hastily.

‘And if David wasn’t in the equation?’

‘Why shouldn’t he be?’ Alice shot her a sharp look. ‘Has he said something?’

‘No, nothing. I was just wondering, that’s all.’

At that moment they heard the sound of a vehicle coming down the road towards them and Alice glanced up the hill. Sure enough, it was the Land Rover and, once again, there was a big black shape in the passenger seat. As it came closer, her heart gave another involuntary leap and, as she saw the vehicle slow and then stop alongside her, she was powerless to prevent a beaming smile from spreading across her face. Today she found herself standing beside the driver’s door, rather than on the dog’s side of the car. She was looking directly down at Matt, who was wearing shorts, and she couldn’t miss the fact that she liked what she saw. Restraining a feeling of impropriety, she stepped forward.

‘Good morning, Matt.’

As the dog recognised who it was, he leapt across from the passenger seat to give her an enthusiastic greeting. Unfortunately, this resulted in fifty or sixty pounds of canine bone and muscle landing in his master’s lap, and this must have been in a particularly sensitive spot. The Englishman gave a cry of agony and doubled up, banging his forehead against the steering wheel as he did so. The dog, bewildered by this unusual reaction from his master, set about licking his face to soothe the pain and it was all the two girls could do not to burst out laughing. It took almost a minute before Matt recovered the power of speech.

‘Guinness, you little…!’ Benny would no doubt have been able to help him with a few choice expletives, but Matt controlled himself and gingerly persuaded the dog to return to the passenger seat. As he did so, he looked up at Alice and made a plea. ‘Do you think you could maybe move round to the other side of the car before my dog makes another attempt to emasculate me?’

Alice and Carrie did as instructed and were duly given a warm welcome by Guinness while his master surreptitiously massaged himself. As he did so, Alice caught his eye and did her best to keep her composure for a few moments but, finally, the floodgates burst and she exploded into fits of laughter. She saw him blush and then he, too, started laughing. Beside her, Carrie was in hysterics, while Guinness, seriously concerned at this extraordinary behaviour by these three humans, started whining uncertainly. He nudged his master with his nose while his big brown eyes gazed up with deep concern. Alice could see that with a smile on his face – even though his eyes were still watering – Matt looked even more handsome and, in spite of her best intentions, her heart fluttered yet again.

‘I can