Because of You: A BRAND NEW utterly heartwarming romance of second-chances by TURNER KATY

Author:TURNER, KATY
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books romances, rom-coms and sagas
Published: 2024-09-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Paolo drove his Fiat 500 up the lane, listening to it grizzle loudly as he changed gear. He had bought it as a nod to his Italian heritage, and because his nonna complained loudly about other cars and he didn’t want to give her a heart attack by arguing about it. He was its third owner, and it made suspicious clunking sounds as he flew in and out of potholes down the drive to Glenalmond.

He parked up and walked around the side of the castle, then up the steps to a sprawling terrace round the back of the building, a nineteenth-century addition with a stone balustrade and flower-filled urns. Beyond it the lawn sloped down to the river, and Paolo could hear the faint but calming babble of water.

‘Drinks on the terrace, on a Monday night?’ he asked, spotting Hamish and Skye sitting on a bench beneath a large window. ‘And spritzes?’ They were wrapped in blankets, holding huge cocktail glasses containing neon orange liquid, snuggled up together. Skye was absent-mindedly unknotting Hamish’s hair with her free hand. ‘Or is that iron bru?’

‘Definitely not. It’s aperitivo hour,’ said Skye with a grin. ‘On the terrace.’

‘Crumbs,’ Paolo said. ‘A small one, please. Only I’m driving.’

Hamish reached down to a tray on the floor, and picked up a glass, pouring in a couple of inches of drink.

He got up, and moved over to Paolo, and passed it to him.

‘I’m not sure about these,’ he whispered. ‘But Skye seemed keen. And I wanted to keep her happy.’

Paolo’s stomach dropped a few inches, suspicions returning with force. ‘You did?’

‘Aye. She’s had a rough time of it of late, so we’re trying to enjoy ourselves. Your idea, this, wasn’t it, Skye?’

Skye got up. She was wearing a floaty seventies’ dress, and silver clogs, a mohair blanket around her shoulders. It was a look as glamorous as the negroni in Hamish’s hand. She moved over and put an arm around Hamish’s shoulder. ‘Hamish was keen for a whisky, but I had a real craving for something sunny.’

Hamish nodded in confirmation. ‘You know me. This fancy stuff isn’t my usual bag.’

Paolo smiled. He would be equally happy with a negroni or a whisky, or anything else, if only he could drink it alone with Hamish. ‘Sometimes you’ve got to go with the flow.’

Never was a more true word spoken. He lifted his glass.

‘Cheers,’ said Skye.

They clanked their glasses together.

‘Salute,’ said Hamish.

Paolo smiled at his terrible Italian accent.

‘How’s life as the admin assistant?’ he asked.

He didn’t want to think about the time Skye and Hamish were spending together. He’d prefer to hear about their time apart.

‘Fantastic. So far I’ve spent half of it on the welcome desk, and troubleshooting. And I did all the filing. It was overflowing like a waterfall out of the in-tray,’ she said, taking a sip of her drink.

‘Aye. She’s been a marvel. If I could keep you around for longer than the next two weeks, I would,’ Hamish said, running a hand through his unruly hair.

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