Chapter 26

26

“Thank you, Tessa and Mark, for joining me on a delicious day touring one of my favorite cities in the world,” Javier said.

“We should be thanking you,” Tessa said. “So much fun!”

“I say we do this again someday soon,” Mark said.

“I’m going to hold you to that!” Javier said. He turned his smiling face to the camera. “And thanks to all of you for watching another episode of Food Coma . Don’t forget to go out and see Storm’s Eye ! Until next time, this is Javier Coma.”

With a signal from the off-camera assistant director, the gondolier pushed the boat holding Javier, Tessa, and Mark into the middle of the canal. The trio waved at the camera and then talked with one another as if they were heading off on another adventure.

Once the director determined they had enough video, he shouted, “Cut. That’s a wrap!”

The gondolier guided the boat back to the walkway, and a crew member helped everyone climb ashore.

“Thanks again,” Javier said to Tessa and Mark. “That was a blast.”

“I wasn’t lying about doing it again,” Mark said.

“And I wasn’t lying about holding you to it.” Javier gave each of them a hug. “Best of luck with the film. I’m sure it will do great.”

The producer and director came over and shared their thanks.

As they were saying goodbye, a motorboat pulled in behind the gondola, with Lizzie in back.

“Ready to go?” she said.

By the time they reached the hotel, it was almost seven p.m.

“I don’t suppose either of you are up for dinner,” Lizzie said after they’d stepped off the boat.

Tessa put a hand on her stomach. “I doubt I’ll be eating again until we’re back in the States.”

“Not sure I’ll hold out that long,” Mark said, “but I’m definitely done eating for today.”

Tessa’s phone buzzed with a text. “Peter, Hattie, Adriene, and Stacy are in the bar. Do you want to join them?”

“A drink I can do,” Mark said.

“Me, too,” Lizzie said.

They entered the hotel and took the elevator up to the rooftop bar.

Peter spotted them as they entered and waved them to their table overlooking the canal. A waiter appeared as soon as they sat and took their drink orders.

Once he left, Adriene asked, “How was the shoot?”

“Forget about the shoot,” Hattie said. “I want to know about the food.”

Tessa and Mark traded off describing their day. Tessa was in the middle of recounting the tiramisu they’d had at Pasticceria Tonolo when a familiar figure walked up to their table.

“My Storm’s Eye friends!” Bianca Barone said, beaming. “So good to see you again.”

“Bianca, what a surprise,” Tessa said. “I didn’t know you were coming to Venice.”

“I had a few days free, and Billy mentioned you’d be here. So, I thought, why not see you all again before you leave my wonderful country.” She looked around. “Is Billy not with you?”

“Visiting with friends, I think. Not sure when he’s due back.”

Bianca looked at Stacy. “You are his assistant, yes? I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name.”

“Stacy. And I am.” Stacy looked as if she’d been hoping not to be pulled into the conversation.

“Ah, yes, Stacy. Do you know when he’ll be back?”

Stacy tried very hard not to look at Mark as she said, “Sorry, he didn’t say. Late, I think.”

“I’m sure he will come back if he knows I’m here. Can you contact him?”

“Sure. I’ll, um, I’ll send him a message.” She pulled out her phone and began composing a text.

“Are you here alone?” Peter asked Bianca.

“I am.”

“Then, please, join us.” He retrieved a chair for her from an empty table. “Mark, can you move over a bit?”

Mark glanced at him, and Peter gave him a wink that Bianca couldn’t see.

“Of course,” Mark said, then created room.

As Bianca sat, she took her first good look at Mark. “You are Mark Weldon.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“We missed you in Rome. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to watch several clips from your new movie. You are very talented.” She smiled coyly and pressed her arm against his for a moment.

“Thank you.”

“I am so sorry,” she said. “I should have introduced myself.”

“No need. I’ve seen several of your films.”

“You have? And?”

“And you are very talented, too.”

She leaned into him again, the contact lasting longer than the last time. “Which movie is your favorite?”

“I liked them all, but if I had to choose one, I’d say Marcella .”

She placed a hand on her chest. “This is my favorite, too.”

“It’s a classic,” Peter said. “That opening shot, just wow.”

“Would you believe we did that in only three takes?” Bianca said.

“You’re kidding?”

The sun went down and the light of the city began reflecting off the canal as the group talked.

Finally, Lizzie yawned and said, “I hate to be the killjoy, but we have to leave for the airport at seven a.m., so I’m going to get some sleep.”

“I could use some shut-eye, too,” Mark said.

The rest of the Centurion group echoed the sentiments and chairs started moving away from the table.

“But it’s still so early,” Bianca said.

“My apologies,” Mark said. “It was a long day, and I’m still a bit jet-lagged.”

“But, Mark,” Lizzie said, “didn’t you say earlier that—”

“Lizzie, there’s something I wanted to ask you about the schedule,” Stacy said as she grabbed Lizzie’s hand and started leading her away.

Bianca gave Mark her best puppy-dog eyes. “Is there nothing I can say to convince you to stay up a little longer?”

“I wish there were, but if I don’t leave now, I’ll fall asleep right here at the table.”

“I suppose it cannot be helped.” She sighed. “If you change your mind, you can always call my room.”

“You’re staying here?” Tessa asked.

Bianca smiled and kept her eyes on Mark as she said, “Room six twenty-three.”

The group exited the bar together, and Lizzie, Adriene, and Stacy grabbed the first elevator down.

Before the doors could close, Bianca put out a hand to keep them open and said to Stacy, “Still no word from Billy?”

Stacy made a show of checking her phone. “Sorry, no.”

“Tell him his loss.”

“I’m sure he’ll feel the same.”

Bianca removed her hand, and the elevator left. When the next one arrived, the rest of them entered the car.

They reached Bianca’s floor first. Mark held the door open while she hugged Tessa, Peter, and Hattie, and kissed their cheeks.

Peter took over door duties when she said her goodbyes to Mark. For him, the kisses were more corner of the mouth than cheek. Before she pulled away, she whispered in his ear, “Remember, six twenty-three.”

“How could I forget?”

As soon as the doors closed, Tessa, Peter, and Hattie stifled laughs.

“Not a word out of any of you,” Mark said.

“Can I just ask a question?” Peter said.

“No.”

“Please?”

Mark grimaced. “If you must.”

“Have you ever had to compete with yourself for a woman?”

“If you were paying attention, she was coming on to me , not the other way around. So I was not competing with anyone.”

“I wonder what would have happened if you’d given in,” Tessa said. “When the two of you were alone, do you think she’d realized that you and Billy are—”

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened.

“And with that, I will be taking no further questions,” Mark said and marched out.