You Had Me at Merlot: Part 2 Read Free

Vicky, the Bristolian girls, dressed in
     the most enormous sunglasses and neon butt-cheek-baring shorts.
    ‘Morning,’ Laurie called to them.
    ‘All right?’ one of them called back. ‘Where are all the men this morning, eh?’
    ‘Can’t handle their drink, I guess,’ I quipped, which totally must have cemented me as the ‘cool older girl’ in their eyes.
    But, actually, by the time we all congregated outside the front door ready for the vineyard tour the men were looking sharp
     and dapper, a lot more beauty-slept than quite a few of us women. We greeted one another with polite hellos and a few lingering
     looks, and my stomach flip-flopped about while I waited for Donna to join us. Which she did, at the last minute. She gave
     me a curt nod, but didn’t make eye contact with anyone else.
    I heard Annette, the woman in the pink dress who’d been all over Marco the night before, stage-whisper to one of the others,
     ‘There’s the crazy one,’ and I winced. It wasn’t often Donna was the target of someone’s snide comment. Perhaps the odd ‘slave-driver’,
     but never something belittling. It didn’t seem right.
    Sebastian and Sofia appeared, full of smiles and charm, and went around to every guest wishing them a good morning and checking
     that they had slept well. Sofia was watching everyone carefully, no doubt making guesses as to who would make a good pairing
     with whom.
    When they reached Laurie and I, Sebastian had a huge, know-it-all grin on his face. ‘There’s my son’s favourite girl, Bella!’
    Sofia thwacked him. ‘You take your nose out. Let them come together naturally.’
    ‘You’re one to talk; you started this whole company. Looking forward to seeing Jamie at work today, Bella?’
    I laughed. ‘I can’t wait; he’s all I can think about.’
    ‘Talking about me again, honey?’ said George, appearing out of nowhere as usual.
    Sofia moved on behind me and I heard her ask Donna in hushed tones if everything was satisfactory.
    Donna answered quietly, ‘Yes, thank you. I’m sorry if I damaged your door at all last night, I wasn’t quite myself. My flight
     was horrible and—’
    Sofia shushed her. ‘No need for an apology, as long as we can make the rest of your stay just wonderful.’
    If Donna was in a better mood maybe I could relax, stop standing up poker-straight like I was about to give a presentation.
    The perfect reason for me to loosen my stance then rounded the corner with Jamie – the big brown bear of a dog, who took off
     and bounded straight over to me and Laurie, tongue out and begging for a hug.
    Laurie and I wrapped ourselves around the dog and he shuffled from paw to paw, unsure who to squash into the most, while we
     sunk our hands into his fur and pressed our faces into his ears. A shadow fell over us, and I squinted up to see Jamie beaming.
    ‘
Ciao!
You two aren’t afraid of dogs, then. Is anyone else?’ he asked, turning to address the group. They shook their heads, George
     looking positively attention-deprived. ‘This is Enzo.’
    ‘He’s cool,’ I cried, not even minding that his thick fur was like a fleece blanket on my legs in this weather. ‘What is he?’
    ‘He’s a Leonberger. And a menace to society. Enzo, leave these ladies alone.’ Enzo obliged and went back over to wag his tail
     next to Jamie, probably causing a tidal wave somewhere in the world. ‘
Buongiorno
everybody, how did you all sleep in your first night at Bella Notte?’
    ‘It was amazing,’ drooled one of the Bristolians, the one in the pink shorts. I think she was Jane. She stared at Jamie so
     hard he gulped and had to look away.
    ‘
Fantastico
. Are we all wearing comfortable shoes and ready for the walking tour?’ Most were in smart leather loafers, high heels or
     sparkly flip-flops, but no one disagreed with Jamie so off we went. I was in the sparkly flip-flop club, but in this heat
     I wasn’t about to put trainers on, even if it would save a few scratched