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excitement of being close to Nico kept her in a permanent state of agitation, which grew as she got ready to go out and explore for the first time. She might see him, she hoped from a distance to begin with, so she could feast her eyes and prepare for their meeting without complication.
    Like everyone else at the office she had wondered about Nico’s private life. He didn’t have a wife, so, did he have a mistress? Surely, there was someone? What did Nico Fierezza do to amuse himself when he wasn’t courting danger, or at work? Carrie had always felt uncomfortable when she had heard her colleagues discussing him. It had made her feel protective towards him. She had wanted to tell them to leave him alone, but that would have given away her true feelings. She knew why they were fascinated. Nico’s restlessness made women want to tie him down. He pursued danger and they pursued him. Nico lived his life on the edge, and they wanted to be part of it. By not putting himself in the way of gossip he had only succeeded in making himself more talked about, more desired. He gave the impression of a man searching for something just outside his reach. Women knew this and it made him irresistible; it made them long to be his final destination.
    She paused to search the street as she left the hotel. Searching for Nico had become a reflex action…And one she had to snap out of, Carrie told herself firmly. But soon her mood lifted. It was hard not to smile when the weather was so beautiful and the people were so friendly. She had barely taken a dozen steps before someone greeted her with a smile.
    That was what living in a warm country did for you, Carrie reflected. People came out of their shell as if they wanted you to share in their good fortune at living in such a lovely country. And Niroli was beautiful. She could understand that Nico might want to stay here for ever, though her heart squeezed tight at the thought of it. She had to remind herself that her priority now was a change of clothes. Her budget was tight, but she could afford a simple summer dress and a pair of sandals.
    The winding streets lined with boutiques invited investigation and, as Carrie turned onto one offering tempting views of the harbour, she imagined what it might have been like to have discovered it with Nico. Steeply banked steps lined with iron handrails led down to the sea, and she could picture them running hand in hand…Nico steadying her and both of them laughing beneath the strings of brightly coloured washing…
    But that was just a foolish fantasy, and exploring had to wait for another day. She had to buy something cool to wear, or she would melt.
    She stepped out of the sunlight into the fridge-like temperature of a small boutique. A bell rang deep in the interior of the shop and she could hear a woman talking in an imperious voice somewhere out of sight.
    Everyone would be attending to her, Carrie reasoned, taking care not to touch any of the expensive clothes. She realised she must have strayed into one of the most exclusive designer boutiques on the island, and didn’t need to look at the price tags to know there was nothing here she could afford. But she could hardly walk out. The best thing was to wait and ask one of the assistants for directions to the nearest high street store.
    Carrie pressed back, making herself invisible as a customer appeared in a flurry of self-importance. The older woman was tall and svelte, and a group of young women rushed in her wake, each of them carrying an elaborate evening gown cloaked in a transparent protective cover. A sleek black limousine swept up to the kerb right on cue, and a chauffeur in full uniform leapt out. Opening the rear door with a flourish, he bowed low as he waited for his elegant passenger to step inside. Once settled, the woman dismissed him with a flick of her wrist.
    Carrie was fascinated and, as the limousine swept away and the street fell silent again, she knew