The Collector
Page 95

“I’m in Florence. That is a celebration.”
But he ordered champagne, a pitcher of orange juice for mimosas. She couldn’t argue with his choice—especially when Julie wandered out, sleepy-eyed, and said, “Mmmm.”
It was good, Lila realized, sharing a little celebratory breakfast with friends. She’d been alone in Cincinnati for the first, alone in London for the second.
“It’s nice.” She passed Luke a bakery basket. “I’ve never been to Italy with friends. It’s very nice.”
“This friend is dragging you out to the shops in . . . one hour,” Julie decided. “Then I’m going to check out some of the street artists, see if there’s anyone I can make rich and famous. We can meet you back here or wherever you like,” she told Luke.
“We can keep it loose. I’m going to play tourist.” He gave Ash a meaningful look. “I’m hiring Ash as my personal guide. Free day, right?”
“Yeah.”
One day, Ash thought. They could all take one day. Tomorrow, there would be questions, digging, and a renewed focus. But they deserved one day of normal.
And if his friend wanted to spend it finding a ring so he could leap into marriage again, he’d be the springboard.
“Why don’t we meet up again about four?” he suggested. “Have a drink, figure out what’s next?”
“Where?”
“I know a place. I’ll text you.”
Three hours later, Lila sat glassy-eyed staring down at the impressive pile of what she now thought of as shoe candy. Heels, flats, sandals, in every color imaginable. The scent of leather seduced her senses.
“I can’t. I have to stop.”
“No, you don’t.” Julie spoke firmly as she studied the mile-high pumps in electric blue with glittery silver heels. “I can build an outfit around these. What do you think? They’re like feet jewelry.”
“I can’t even see them. I’ve gone shoe blind.”
“I’m having them, and the yellow sandals—like daffodils. And the flat sandals—these, with the pretty weaving. Now.”
She sat again, picked up one of the red sandals Lila had tried on before going shoe blind. “You need these.”
“I don’t need them. I don’t need all this. Julie, I have two bags of stuff! I bought a leather jacket. What was I thinking?”
“That you’re in Florence—and where better to buy leather? That it looks amazing on you. And that you just finished your third book.”
“Essentially finished.”
“You’re having these sandals.” Julie waved one seductively in front of Lila’s face. “If you don’t buy them, I’m buying them for you.”
“No, you’re not.”
“You can’t stop me. Red shoes are classic, and they’re fun, and as pretty as these are, they’re going to wear like iron. You’ll have them for years.”
“That’s true.” Weakening, Lila thought, she was weakening. “I know better than to go shopping with you. Where am I going to keep all this stuff? I bought a white dress, and that little white jacket—nothing’s less practical than white.”
“Which both also look amazing on you, and the dress will be perfect for tomorrow. With these.” She held up another shoe—strappy heeled sandals in spring-leaf green.
Lila covered her face with her hands, then peeked out between spread fingers. “They’re so pretty.”
“A woman who doesn’t buy shoes on a trip to Florence isn’t a real woman.”
“Hey!”
“And you can leave anything you want at my place, you know that. Actually, I’m seriously thinking of looking for a bigger place.”
“What? Why?”
“I really think we’ll need more room after I ask Luke to marry me.”
“Holy crap!” Stunned, Lila stood straight up, gaped, then dropped straight down again. “Are you serious?”
“I woke up this morning, looked over at him, and I knew this is what I want.” Smile dreamy, Julie laid a hand on her heart. “He’s what I’ve always wanted. I want him there, every morning—and I want to be there for him. So I’m going to ask him. I’m not even nervous, because if he says no I’ll just push him into traffic.”
“He won’t say no. Julie.” She reached over, grabbed Julie in a hard, swaying hug. “This is so great. You have to let me help plan the wedding. You know how good I am at planning.”
“I do, and I will. I want a wedding this time—I might even wear white.”
“You absolutely will wear white,” Lila decreed. “You absolutely will.”
“Then I absolutely will. It doesn’t have to be a big and crazy wedding, but it has to be real.”
“Flowers and music, and people dabbing their eyes.”
“All of that this time. No running off to a justice of the peace. I’m going to stand up with him in front of family and friends—with my best friend as my maid of honor—and make promises with him. This time, we’ll keep them.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
“I haven’t asked him yet, but I guess it’s like essentially finishing your book.” Beaming, she leaned over, gave Lila a smacking kiss on the cheek. “We’re buying the shoes.”
“We’re buying the shoes.”
Now she had three bags, Lila thought as they left the shop. She’d sworn she’d only buy the practical essentials, good-value replacements for what she’d culled out.
Lied to myself, she admitted, but damn, she felt really good about it.
“How are you going to ask him?” she demanded. “When? Where? I need all the details before we meet them for drinks.”
“Tonight. I don’t want to wait.”
“On the terrace, at sunset.” Lila only had to close her eyes to see it. “Sunset in Florence. Trust me, I know how to set a scene.”
“Sunset.” Now Julie sighed. “It sounds pretty perfect.”
“It will be. I’ll make sure Ash and I are out of the way. You’ll have some wine—wear something fabulous, then as the sun sinks down, the sky over the city goes red and gold and gorgeous, you’ll ask him. Then you have to immediately come tell us so we can all toast you—then go out to Lanzo’s cousin’s trattoria and celebrate.”