Emerald Coast by Anita Hughes

Author:Anita Hughes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Chapter Nine

LILY STROLLED ALONG THE piazzetta and inhaled the scent of coffee and hyacinths. It was mid-morning, and the sun glinted on the harbor. Lily had never seen that shade of blue. The water was like one of Louisa’s watercolor activity books, but the only colors were turquoise and magenta, mixed with gold.

She and Ricky had had a wonderful time the night before, drinking champagne and dancing. She’d forgotten what it was like to hold hands in the moonlight. The harbor had been lit up like a thousand fireflies, and pearl-colored yachts swayed against the shore. When they kissed in front of the hotel, her heart expanded and she felt light and happy.

Ricky was handsome and charismatic and they had so much in common. He had a niece Louisa’s age, and he knew all about Hello Kitty. And Ricky wanted to learn everything about Lily: her favorite foods and books and movies.

Lily entered a market and picked up a basket. They were going to drive to Porto Rotondo and have a picnic. It was the prettiest stretch of beach on the Emerald Coast, and the sea was almost transparent. Afterward, they would have a romantic dinner at S’Astore Ristorante tucked high in the hills.

She selected pane carasau and dried beef and a packet of ricotta cheese. She added a bag of figs and walked to the cash register. The clerk rang up her purchases, but she couldn’t find her wallet.

“Are you looking for this?” a male voice asked.

She turned around and saw Oliver holding her leather wallet. His hair was freshly washed, and he wore khakis and loafers.

“What are you doing here, Oliver?” she demanded. “And where did you find my wallet?”

“You left it next to the almonds.” He pointed to a barrel of nuts. “I was going to say something, but you were engrossed in your shopping.”

“I must have taken it out when I looked for my list.” She grabbed the wallet. “This can’t be a coincidence. I haven’t seen anyone in Porto Cervo this often except Enzo, my butler.”

“I saw you leave the hotel.” He shuffled his feet. “I came to apologize.”

“To apologize?” Lily looked up.

“For the scene last night at the Yacht Club,” he began. “I was only trying to help.”

“You didn’t have to do anything. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“Last Thanksgiving, you ate a slice of pumpkin pie with cinnamon at Louisa’s class party,” he reminded her. “You couldn’t stop itching for days.”

“You embarrassed me.” Lily shuddered. “The Yacht Club is the most exclusive restaurant in Porto Cervo.”

“Angela thought I did the right thing,” he said and stopped. “Apparently, she’s quite a fan of yours.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“I’d rather not discuss it here.” He pointed at shoppers standing at the cash register. “Why don’t you pay, and I’ll wait outside?”

Ricky was meeting her in an hour, and she needed to pick up a sponge cake at the pasticceria. But it had been kind of Oliver to stop her from eating the tiramisu.

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