Free Sicilian Dreams by J. P. Kennedy Page B

herself growing very annoyed all over again.
    ‘Hello, earth to Marco, have you had a humor bypass this morning, or are you really as up yourself as you sound?’ She added. Marco looked momentarily confused. Maybe he doesn’t have access to an urban dictionary she thought. Good. She had to have some advantages over him.
    ‘You think I am filled with my own importance? That I am a pompous ass?’ he said evenly, his green eyes blazing. No translation needed I guess thought Cassie.
    ‘Hm’ she said, her lips pursing thoughtfully, ‘well not really the last part but certainly the first part, although ‘pompous ass’ is really good’ she said, grinning at him. Suddenly his arms were around her waist and he pulled her close, her face looking down into hers.
    ‘Ah, Cassandra, you feel so good’ he said soaking her front with his dripping torso.
    ‘Let me go Marco, you’re making me all wet’ yelled Cassie, but he hugged her tighter.
    ‘Oh look, your tee shirt is all wet and what do we have here?’ he said peering down at her nipples, which were stiff with attention and straining through the damp cloth. ‘Pompous ass or not you certainly seem to like me’ he added softly, his lips closing over hers sensuously. Cassie’s closed her eyes and seemed to relax into his embrace but then she put her hands on his shoulders and shoved him away, delighted to see the surprise on his face.
    ‘Tit for tat, excuse the pun’ she said, ‘I have had quite enough of your shenanigans this morning.’ Guido came back out into the yard, his car keys in hand. He said something rapidly in Italian to Marco, and then, pausing, said to Cassie ‘Signorina, would you like to me to drive you to your villa on my way? Marco needs to hose down the horses and will be some time.’ He smiled and winked at her.
    ‘Who is the boss around here,’ said Marco, with mock severity, his arms raised out wide.
    ‘Thank you Guido, that’s very kind, I wouldn’t like to keep Marco from his chores.’ said Cassie, laughing and walking with Guido to his truck.
    Round two to me she thought as they rumbled off down the road, Cassie turning to wave to Marco, who looked a more than a little peeved standing barefoot in his sodden jodhpurs in the stable yard, two hungry and thirsty horses by his side.
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Guido dropped Cassie off at the villa and drove away with a toot and a wave. It had been hard to hear anything over the trucks noisy engine so they had driven the short distance in companionable silence and Cassie was glad of this. She didn’t know how much Guido had seen of she and Marco together at the stable and she really didn’t want to know either.
    Walking through the open French doors into the villa she heard laughter and followed the noise out to the pool. Liz and Kat had lined up three of the loungers side by side and were sunbathing, books and fizzy water bottles by their sides.
    ‘Morning gorgeous, how did it go?’ said Liz, taking off her huge sunhat and squinting at Cassie.
    ‘Hi Cass, how’s the head?’ said Kat. She had her hair wrapped up in a pink flowery turban, which seemed to match her bikini. Bright pink lipstick and huge sunglasses completed the look.
    ‘Buon giorno ladies’ said Cassie trying to imitate Marco’s voice and failing badly. ‘Feeling a lot better now thanks’ she added, ‘although I thought my head was going to fall off when I woke up this morning.’
    ‘Ditto’ said Kat, ‘it’s your fault for bringing out the limoncello Cassie. That stuff is poison.’
    ‘As I recall Kat’ said Cassie laughing, ‘it was when you started dancing to Abba and yelled ‘keep it coming’ that I brought out the damned limoncello. We had finished the wine remember?’
    ‘I only ever dance to Abba when I am tipsy’ qualified Kat.
    ‘So, give us all the gory details,’ said Liz, returning to her prone position. She was wearing a strapless black one piece that hugged her curves.
    ‘Well’ said Cassie,