Page 46 of Winter

The roads were clear of snow now, most of it piled at the roadside, and he found his rhythm as he ran towards the town. He wanted his head clear to think, to try and gain some clarity on what he was feeling. But, almost automatically, he found himself outside the Sakura, cursing himself for being so weak.

However, when he went inside, Inca was nowhere to be seen. “Hey.” Scarlett smiled at him as she appeared from the kitchen. “Haven’t seen you here much.”

Raffaelo, never one for socializing, thought about turning around, but he didn’t want to be rude to Inca’s friend. He half-smiled at her. “I have heard good things about your tea.”

Scarlett grinned; obviously, his ruse hadn’t worked. “She’s not here. She decided to go to the city after dropping Tommaso off at the airport.”

Raffaelo had a denial on his tongue, but then shrugged. “Okay.”

“But stay anyway. I’ll make you some tea –our house blend. “

“Okay.”Say something more than okay, idiot.“Thank you.”

The tea was light and refreshing. Scarlett was studying him. “You are very different to your brother.”

Raffaelo shrugged. He heard that a lot. “Tommaso is better at talking to people than I. I find myself … how do you say it? Tongue twisted?”

Scarlett hid a grin. “Tongue-tied.”

“Yes. Tongue-tied. I feel I haven’t anything to say that other people will want to hear.”

Scarlett nodded slowly. “I’m sure they will. Inca likes you a lot, you know.”

“She does?”

“Of course.” Scarlett lowered her voice. “She told me about the night she sleepwalked, you know. Thank you for finding her in time.”

Raffaelo felt a little awkward. “Just a coincidence.” He didn’t know what else to say to the young woman. She went to serve a customer and he finished his tea, calling his thanks to Scarlett before leaving. He wondered when Inca would be back from the city. Maybe he should ask Diane to cook something for their dinner that night.

Or maybe he should eat alone and stay away from temptation. He ran back home and showered, and, as he was dressing, he heard a light knock on his door.

Inca was outside, and she smiled at him. “Just wanted to tell you I’m back.”

She was adorably flushed from the cold outside. Raffaelo tucked his T-shirt in for the need of something to do with his hands. “Good.”

“Listen. I have to go into the city again tomorrow to go to my lawyers. They called today and asked me to go in. So I wondered if you were free to go have our day out?”

God, she was lovely, that hair tumbling over her shoulders, the flush of pink on her honey-colored skin …

Stop it. She’s not yours …

“Of course. I look forward to it.”

She smiled, and Raffaelo wanted to take her in his arms so badly that it hurt. “Listen,” he said. “I already ate today, so you’ll be alone for supper. I hope that’s okay?”

“No problem. I ate in the city. I’ll see you in the morning?”

“Good night, Inca.”

“Night, Raff.”

He closed his bedroom door. It was the first time she had called him Raff, and he loved the sound of his name in her mouth.

You’re obsessing.

No. Stop it. She belongs to Tommaso. She wants Tommaso. It can never be.

Tomorrow they would have a good day as friends.