had been unbearable.
‘No, I am sorry,’ he interrupted, his face more serious now. ‘I appreciate your honesty, more than you will ever know. I ’ll admit I wondered what kind of a boss would give away his assistant so easily and on such short notice. Now I know what it all meant. It doesn’t change the fact you should keep distracting me, if you want Pete happy. You do want him to be happy, don’t you?’ His shrew gaze rested on her face for a second. Something in his eyes left her breathless.
‘I f you’re still interested, then yes, I’d gladly see some more of the city.’ She nodded, awkward in her sudden self-awareness. ‘Like the catacombs, for example. I’ve always wanted to see them.’
‘Then we should, definitely .’ His smile warmed her like a ray of sunshine, pulling her into a private little universe that had only the two of them and left the rest of the world far away. ‘There is plenty to chose from, really. And what’s really good, there are no long lines. When I went to see the catacombs in Paris, people were camping for four hours just to get inside. Here it’s much more casual, I believe.’
‘Don’t think I forgot my offer , though.’ She smiled at him and pointed at one of the many cafes. Little tables with cheerful tablecloths and white chairs lined most of the sidewalk. ‘The tartufo offer still stands, sir.’
‘Good !’ He seemed to be in an even better mood than before. ‘I could do with a sugar boost for sure. Something tells me it will be a long day, and I am planning to make the best of it. Sometimes the unexpected is even better than the best laid plans, Melanie.’
Six
‘It’s cold in here.’ She shivered as they looked around, her face illuminated by the yellow, flickering torchlight. Jon had to admit whoever ran this place knew how to impress the tourists, himself included. They were just finishing their tour in the Catacombe di Priscilla , the chilly, damp air sneaking under their light clothes and freezing them to the bone. Luckily, there was a shop at the beginning of the tour selling shawls. The pretty, colorful wraps made absolute sense. Melanie had purchased one featuring small blue, yellow, and white flowers woven into a sage green background. She tightened it around her shoulders, trying to get warmer.
The guide dron ed on, pointing at yet another fresco on the low, darkened wall of the tunnel. The eyes of the rest of the group, including Melanie’s, followed him, obediently taking in the blurry image from the third century. Jon didn’t. He preferred to look at her, and the semi-darkness and her preoccupation made watching her without being noticed very easy. She shivered again, and suddenly he was at her side, his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer, his lips on her ear.
‘What do you say we sneak ahead and leave this sorry place? We’ve seen enough graves for one day.’
He didn’t really want to see any of them to start with. Death took on a completely different meaning once one had to face it in real life. He remembered his friends and acquaintances both in Iraq and all the other places he’d worked over the years. Seeing real people suffer and die had taught him not to seek out the unavoidable. It would find him sooner or later anyway.
‘Good idea .’ She nodded, her hair brushing his lips as her head moved. She smelled like spring. He inhaled deeper the intoxicating floral mixture. Fresh and promising. He thought back to her confession. There were only two options he could consider. Either she really meant everything she said or she was brilliantly skilled, which made her a serious opponent.
‘There is a park right out here,’ he spoke again, enjoying the sensation of having her close. Too much so, to be honest. But he needed to hurry. He hasn’t forgotten the plan for today. Getting closer was essential if he was to achieve what Bernard expected from him. Get her to invite you back to her hotel room, Jon . He
‘No, I am sorry,’ he interrupted, his face more serious now. ‘I appreciate your honesty, more than you will ever know. I ’ll admit I wondered what kind of a boss would give away his assistant so easily and on such short notice. Now I know what it all meant. It doesn’t change the fact you should keep distracting me, if you want Pete happy. You do want him to be happy, don’t you?’ His shrew gaze rested on her face for a second. Something in his eyes left her breathless.
‘I f you’re still interested, then yes, I’d gladly see some more of the city.’ She nodded, awkward in her sudden self-awareness. ‘Like the catacombs, for example. I’ve always wanted to see them.’
‘Then we should, definitely .’ His smile warmed her like a ray of sunshine, pulling her into a private little universe that had only the two of them and left the rest of the world far away. ‘There is plenty to chose from, really. And what’s really good, there are no long lines. When I went to see the catacombs in Paris, people were camping for four hours just to get inside. Here it’s much more casual, I believe.’
‘Don’t think I forgot my offer , though.’ She smiled at him and pointed at one of the many cafes. Little tables with cheerful tablecloths and white chairs lined most of the sidewalk. ‘The tartufo offer still stands, sir.’
‘Good !’ He seemed to be in an even better mood than before. ‘I could do with a sugar boost for sure. Something tells me it will be a long day, and I am planning to make the best of it. Sometimes the unexpected is even better than the best laid plans, Melanie.’
Six
‘It’s cold in here.’ She shivered as they looked around, her face illuminated by the yellow, flickering torchlight. Jon had to admit whoever ran this place knew how to impress the tourists, himself included. They were just finishing their tour in the Catacombe di Priscilla , the chilly, damp air sneaking under their light clothes and freezing them to the bone. Luckily, there was a shop at the beginning of the tour selling shawls. The pretty, colorful wraps made absolute sense. Melanie had purchased one featuring small blue, yellow, and white flowers woven into a sage green background. She tightened it around her shoulders, trying to get warmer.
The guide dron ed on, pointing at yet another fresco on the low, darkened wall of the tunnel. The eyes of the rest of the group, including Melanie’s, followed him, obediently taking in the blurry image from the third century. Jon didn’t. He preferred to look at her, and the semi-darkness and her preoccupation made watching her without being noticed very easy. She shivered again, and suddenly he was at her side, his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer, his lips on her ear.
‘What do you say we sneak ahead and leave this sorry place? We’ve seen enough graves for one day.’
He didn’t really want to see any of them to start with. Death took on a completely different meaning once one had to face it in real life. He remembered his friends and acquaintances both in Iraq and all the other places he’d worked over the years. Seeing real people suffer and die had taught him not to seek out the unavoidable. It would find him sooner or later anyway.
‘Good idea .’ She nodded, her hair brushing his lips as her head moved. She smelled like spring. He inhaled deeper the intoxicating floral mixture. Fresh and promising. He thought back to her confession. There were only two options he could consider. Either she really meant everything she said or she was brilliantly skilled, which made her a serious opponent.
‘There is a park right out here,’ he spoke again, enjoying the sensation of having her close. Too much so, to be honest. But he needed to hurry. He hasn’t forgotten the plan for today. Getting closer was essential if he was to achieve what Bernard expected from him. Get her to invite you back to her hotel room, Jon . He
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