You Had Me at Merlot: Part 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

maybe too desperate. I don’t feel a click yet, but it’ll come, I’m
     sure. It’s only the third day. It’ll come.’ I wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince, her or me, but either way I sensed
     the conversation was over and we went back into a peaceful lull.
    A while later, as my eyelids were drooping and the page of my John Grisham was becoming blurred, Laurie let out a snort and
     sat bolt upright. ‘Well, sunshine and wine are having a wild old time reminding me I’m getting old – I think I need to head
     in for another nap.’
    We dragged ourselves up, stretched and gathered our belongings.
    ‘See you downstairs tonight though – good luck!’ said Laurie with a yawn.
    ‘What’s tonight?’
    ‘It’s the lucky-dip date. We all have to show up at eight and the first person you see, you have dinner with. They’re setting
     up little tables for two outside on the terrace, I saw Sebastian and Sofia getting it ready earlier on.’
    Urgh, who would I have to make small talk with? It was sure as hell not going to be George this time.
    Clearly I am also ancient, because when we got back to our rooms I went straight to sleep, feeling utterly crumpled and in
     need of a wash when I woke up at seven. Stepping out of the shower, my stomach growled. I didn’t care who I had to sit next
     to at dinner, I just wanted to eat. Unless it was George, but then I’d probably be put off my food anyway.
    As I was debating whether it would be considered rude to not bother dressing up for my lucky-dip dinner date, and instead
     wear some combination of pyjamas and no bra, I noticed a note had been slipped under the door.
    Dear All,
    The chef is running a little late, please come down at 8.30 instead.
    Grazie,
    You Had Me at Merlot xx
    The beast in my belly roared with anger and I scoffed half a pack of Smints that were in my handbag.
    Eventually, at eight twenty, I couldn’t wait any more and decided it was close enough. I put on my bra (sigh) with a T-shirt
     and jeans (compromise) and scooted downstairs, out the door and round to the terrace.
    Even an unromantic cynic like me could see this was perfect for an evening of romance. The terrace had been transformed with
     a dozen bistro tables, beneath hanging stained-glass lanterns. On the tables were red and white checked cloths and tall glasses
     filled with breadsticks, while low accordion music played out of who-knows-where, giving the ambience of a real little Italian
     nook restaurant.
    The only thing that ruined it for me, and it was a tiny thing, was that everybody else was already paired up and seemed to
     be tucking into platters of antipasti.
    ‘There you are,’ cried Sofia, running up to me and weaving me by the arm through the tables. ‘Elle, I’m sorry about this,
     but only one other person turned up late as well, so here is your date.’ She stood asideand pulled out a chair, and of course –
of course
– there was George’s face grinning up at me like the cat who’d got the cream.
    ‘Baby, baby, this is just meant to be! And I like that you didn’t dress up, playing hard to get, making me work to see your
     body.’
    ‘I don’t understand,’ I said to Sofia. ‘I’m not late. The note said to come down at eight thirty.’
    ‘The note?’
    I turned to George. ‘Did you get a note? Saying the chef was running behind and we should come down later?’
    ‘Sure did.’
    Sofia wrung her hands. ‘But Sebastian is your chef tonight, and he is always here. I’m sorry, I don’t—’
    ‘Did you
write
the note?’ I butted in and glared at George.
    ‘Guilty of a lotta things, but not this, baby. Though I’d like to shake the hand of the man who did.’
    And the penny dropped. I’d like to shake the neck of the man who did.
    ‘I don’t even use Viagra, I don’t need to. Now, I think we both know that’s a lie, but if role-playing is what you’re into
     I can play the virile younger man. You wait and see, baby.’
    And people wondered why