Free An Apartment in Venice by Marlene Hill

pulled her into a backward hug, but she whirled around to give him a kiss and whispered to him. Giulia looked away but heard a rumbly chuckle from Marc. That sounded like marital bliss. She had to admit, it looked appealing. Then she noticed Chuck eyeing the couple with what seemed to be a deeper longing. She turned to stare into the fire and sipped her wine. She felt side-swiped. Her emotions were all over the place. Even though she tended to believe Chuck’s unexpected arrival was accidental, she needed time to compose herself.
    * * *
    What a beauty she is in that girlie yellow dress showing her smooth shoulders. But damn. Does she think I’m stalking her? A couple of times I did happen to pass her building about the time I thought her class would let out. Maybe she’d seen me. And , yes, I was in the cafeteria a few times when I thought she’d be there, but only once did I stop by to say a few words. Something stupid no doubt.
    He took a seat facing her from the other side of the coffee table and blurted, “Giulia, I hope you don’t think I’ve been stalking you. I admit I’ve been in the same place as you a time or two, but this was not my doing.”
    “Unless Marc is a consummate liar, I’ve figured that out. But,” she allowed herself a small smile, “your spying skills could use some work.”
    “Was I that obvious?”
    “Probably not. Maybe my anti-stalking skills are working overtime.”
    “My God, has someone else been following you?”
    She nodded. “Last week when I delivered a package for my grandfather, someone skulked behind me, but I lost him.”
    He hadn’t missed her smug smile and wondered if she enjoyed a touch of danger, but he said, “What’d he look like? Have you seen him since?”
    Before Giulia could answer, Marc and Marlowe joined them and the conversation took a different turn.
    * * *
    The affectionate bantering between Marc and Marlowe helped lighten Giulia’s mood, and when the lasagna’s aroma rose from her plate, she realized how little she’d eaten all day. She tucked in like an Oregon lumberjack and devoured the huge serving. When Marc brought the large baking dish to the table offering seconds, Giulia took more. She wasn’t alone in her appreciation of the savory dish, everyone around the table made satisfied humming sounds. She felt embarrassed when she couldn’t finish until she noticed Marlowe had taken too much, too. Giulia hopped up to help clear plates while Marc began working his magic with the salad.
    Marlowe brought chilled salad bowls from the fridge and Marc cracked a fresh egg over greens already mixed with crushed garlic in a large bowl. A quick toss and with a squeeze of a large lemon half in his huge hand, he dribbled the juice all around. He tossed the greens again with a flourish, scooped them into the four cold bowls, and they all dived in to enjoy its tangy freshness after the rich, cheesy lasagna.
    “Fantastic meal. Marc, you can twist my arm any time,” Chuck said wiping his mouth with a napkin.
    Giulia watched the napkin slide across his full lips like a soft kiss and felt her insides clench. She couldn’t pull her eyes away. When he turned toward her, she grabbed her glass. After a swallow, she also thanked their hosts. “I haven’t enjoyed a meal this much since I’ve been in Italy—too much going on I guess.”
    “That brings to mind that creep Oliver Ogle,” Marlowe said. “I’ve decided to take the initiative and be the bait. How shall we set him up?”
    A furrow creased Marc’s forehead and his mouth flattened into a hard line. “Is that the only way to get the cowardly wimp to leave?”
    “Wimps can be dangerous,” Chuck said. “Marlowe, I don’t like the idea of using you—or any other woman—as bait. We don’t know what he’s capable of.” He took a sip of wine and looked at Giulia, silently willing her to tell her story.
    “Marc, you may not know yet what happened in Oliver’s office,” Giulia said and related the