And all talking stopped.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  IT WAS FUNNY how some parts of her life seemed to move in slow motion, and others at breakneck speed.

  After the perfect night in Arturo’s bed, there hadn’t been time for the chat they both knew they needed to have. Their flight was that day, and after she’d gone back to her own rooms to pack and had breakfast it was time to leave.

  Cara, Dante and Arturo’s mother had been gracious. If they’d noticed anything, or the change in sleeping arrangements, they were too polite to mention it.

  From the moment they’d taken off from the airport, Darcy had found herself overtaken with tiredness and had slept most of the flight home. Arturo had wakened her with a smile, whilst she’d been leaning against him as the plane moved to descend.

  He dropped her home with a kiss on the lips but made no indication he wanted to come in.

  She wasn’t quite sure what to tell either Fizz or Libby. So she messaged both with a few photos to say the wedding was wonderful, but not giving any indication of what had happened between her and Arturo. She knew she should have a conversation with one or both of them about how unexpectedly triggering she’d found the wedding, and the host of other emotions that had swept over her. But she just couldn’t go there.

  Instead, she focused on the bucket list. Because that was what had got her here.

  The first two tasks had led to her attending the wedding. It had led to her facing up to part of the reason she’d built walls around herself, and also prompted her to examine why she hadn’t felt able to start another relationship where she could invest herself totally.

  Could Laura really have imagined any of this happening? Or had the message from Laura just given her the push to look at herself and the world around her in a different way?

  She stared at number three on the list.

  Make a lifetime commitment to something or someone.

  She could remember the look on Arturo’s face when she’d mentioned this one, and the fleeting glance had made her think that maybe—just maybe—he might have feelings developing for her, the way she had for him.

  But Darcy didn’t want to push. She didn’t want Arturo to feel as if she was angling for more than he was willing to give. Their increased closeness gave her hope, but she wasn’t naïve enough to think any further than that.

  Instead, she needed to focus on herself. Making a commitment for the last few years had been tough on her—even though she hadn’t recognised it at the time.

  Signing her various work contracts had made her edgy. Signing for a mortgage on this beautiful property had actually made her feel quite sick, even though she loved it and the further renovations had worked out perfectly.

  Now—a further commitment. What could that mean for her?

  But there, at the back of her mind, was something. Something that had been nagging away at her, drifting into her head when she watched mindless TV, read a book that didn’t completely capture her attention, or was just in that little spot between almost sleep and total sleep.

  Could she really do something like this? She opened the browser on her computer—because the page had been bookmarked. Then she picked up the phone and dialled.

  * * *

  Arturo was furious with himself. He’d made contact again with the business associate who had been trying to warn him off an artefact. The bottom line was it had been stolen. And even though the current owners hadn’t been the guilty party, they were still reluctant to relinquish their prize.

  Arturo had been involved in many of these ‘debates’ over the years. Some people would prefer things were kept in dark cellars or basements than be allowed to be admired or enjoyed in a museum. Even when families didn’t know they actually owned something, then discovered it through the gift of inheritance, they were still strangely reluctant to give up something that wasn’t theirs to have. People had strange ideas about ownership. They had even stranger ideas about provenance.

  He’d had a breakneck trip to Berlin. Then another to Sicily. He’d then received a phone call with a more explicit threat. And his mind had focused more completely than ever.

  But Darcy had messaged and asked him if he would go somewhere today. She hadn’t said where, but his response had been immediate. He would follow her just about anywhere these days, and he really, really wanted to sit down and talk to her.

  As he pulled up outside her house, he noticed there was a different car parked outside. This one was a large four-by-four. Did she have another visitor?

  She opened her door as he exited the car and gave him a broad smile. ‘Like my new wheels? We’ll have to take mine, as yours won’t suit.’

  He glanced at his low-slung sports car. There were a number of places it might not suit, so he smiled and climbed into the passenger seat of her new car.

  ‘Mystery,’ he said slowly. ‘I think I like it, but where are we going?’

  She gave him a smile, then took a slow breath. ‘Since you’ve helped me with the first two things on my bucket list, I thought I’d invite you along to help with the third.’

  His stomach squirmed. The commitment one. More or less what he wanted to talk to her about. He just didn’t know where this one was going to go. But he had to be absolutely upfront with her before he could expect her to know whether she would consider a relationship with him.

  ‘Where are we going?’ he asked, not sure what the answer would be.

  ‘Just watch and wait,’ she said then tapped his leg. ‘I think you’ll be surprised.’

  As they started along the road, he decided it was time to tackle the situation that had been on his mind since the wedding. Truthfully, it had probably been even longer than that.

  ‘Do we have time to stop somewhere for coffee, or an early lunch? Just to have a chance to talk.’

  She shot him a sideways glance. ‘No,’ she said, and it seemed like an honest answer, which made him wonder if she was avoiding the topic of any kind of relationship between them. ‘I’ve got a set time I need to be at the...this place.’

  He frowned and she gave him a soft smile. ‘Be patient. I’m a bit nervous about this one.’

  He shot her a glance and she quickly added, ‘I’m quite indecisive sometimes.’

  ‘You are? Can’t say I’ve noticed that about you,’ he mentioned. ‘But I have to warn you, I can be...what’s that word Scots people use...crabbit, if I haven’t had coffee.’

  She laughed. ‘Me too. But I promise we’re going to endorphin city right now. Just be patient.’

  Fifteen minutes later they pulled up in front of the last place he would have expected. ‘Ready?’ she asked.

  ‘Not at all,’ he said as they climbed out of the car.

  The rescue centre was immaculate, and they were met at the reception desk by a woman named Jen, who shook Darcy’s hand warmly.

  ‘Hi Darcy. As you know from the email I sent, everything went very well with the home check. Probably because you’d already put a lot of safeguards in place. Now, it’s time for me to find you the perfect match.’ She held up one hand. ‘But don’t be disappointed if you don’t find someone today. Sometimes it takes a few visits to find the perfect match.’

  She looked over at Arturo, and Darcy quickly said, ‘Jen, this is my friend Arturo. I’m hoping he’ll help me choose.’

  The noise of some dogs barking was clearly heard from the reception area, and they were led through the back to a whole row of inside kennels for the dogs in the rescue centre. Jen took them over to the nearest to show them a label. ‘So, each dog has some information available. Their name, age, breed if we know it, and some key facts about what kind of home would be best for them. It mentions if they can be housed with other dogs or cats, if children can be in the home. It also mentions any special conditions required for the dog, or any known issues. We are scrupulously honest because we want to find the perfect home for them all. One of the worst things we can do is send a dog to a potential home then have them returned because the new owner had unrealistic expectations.’

  Darcy nodded solemnly. ‘I understand.’ She took a deep breath, but she couldn’t help but smile. ‘I’m ready.’

  Jen gave a nod. ‘Take your time. If you want to spend some time with a particular dog, let me know and I’ll open the kennel and take you through to our meeting room.’ She gave a final serious smile. ‘Come and find me when you’re ready.’ Then she walked down to an office and left them to it.

  ‘You’re adopting a dog?’ Arturo was still a bit stunned.

  ‘I’m adopting a dog,’ she repeated, her smile widening. ‘I’ve had my home assessment. I’ve talked to the farmer next door, and he’s repaired the hole in his fence. I’ve bought some basics, and the rest I’ll get once I know for sure who picks me.’

  ‘Who picks you?’

  She licked her lips nervously. ‘Apparently, my friends who already have dogs have told me that really, they pick you, instead of you picking them.’

  ‘I’m going to pretend that makes sense,’ said Arturo.

  They started to walk along the row of kennels. Some of the dogs were inquisitive and came to meet them. Some of the dogs ignored them. Some barked or yapped. A few growled. But Darcy stopped at every kennel, read the card and bent down to see the dog.

  After a few minutes, Arturo seemed to warm up, and got down to look at the dogs too. ‘How long have you been considering this?’ he asked. There was tension in the way he asked the question.

  ‘Since we met that woman on the beach. It just made sense to me.’

  They’d finished the length of the room and walked back down the other side. Some of the dogs were puppies, full of life and energy, others were clearly a bit older and more relaxed. She was glad of the identity cards since some of the breeds were unfamiliar to her.

  ‘So, what size of dog do you want?’ asked Arturo. ‘Have you decided that much?’ He was down on his knees, a Yorkshire terrier licking his fingers through the bars.

  She laughed. ‘I don’t really have a preference. My house and land are big enough for any size of dog.’

  She kept wandering along, stopping to talk to every dog, but eventually standing up and stretching her back.

  Arturo came up beside her. ‘No one pick you yet?’

  She pressed her lips together and thought for a few moments. ‘No, but I have an idea.’

  She walked along to Jen’s open office and stood in the doorway. Jen stood up, keys on her belt ready. ‘Is there someone you’d like to meet?’

  Darcy took a breath. ‘Actually, I want you to help me. Show me the dog that no one else wants—the one that no one considers.’

  Jen gave her a strange look, then bent her head. She was clearly thinking about something. After a few moments, she looked straight at Darcy, her eyes deadly serious.

  She cleared her throat. ‘I have an older dog. An absolute beauty. She’s a former service dog.’

  Arturo frowned. ‘She sounds wonderful. Why does no one want her?’

  Jen gave them both a nod to follow her and started down another corridor. ‘Ruby is older. She’s a red Lab. Labradors can be prone to joint problems. She has hip dysplasia. She had one hip replacement a few years ago, but is considered a risk for further anaesthetic.’ Jen sighed and turned to face them both. It was clear she wanted to lay her cards on the table. ‘Most people don’t want to adopt a dog later in life, with complex health and care needs. She’ll be impossible to insure, and her hydrotherapy costs eight hundred pounds a month alone. Your average person just doesn’t have the finances to cover that.’

  ‘I do.’ The words were out of Darcy’s mouth straight away. She looked at the expression on Jen’s face, and Arturo’s, and put her hand on her chest. ‘No, honestly, I do. I work in cybersecurity. I’ve done well over the last few years. I can pay the expenses that will be needed. If Ruby likes me, of course.’

  Jen seemed relieved. ‘Okay,’ she said and took them around a corner, where a red Labrador retriever lay on a comfortable bed. She had soft eyes and an adorable face. ‘Hey Ruby,’ said Jen, kneeling down beside her.

  Ruby got to her feet. It wasn’t quite a struggle. But it was clear she didn’t weight bear evenly on all four paws. She still seemed good-natured and happy to be around people.

  Darcy sat down next to her and talked to her. ‘Hello Ruby. I’m here to see you today. You are the most handsome girl. What a beautiful colour. Everybody must just love you.’ She rubbed Ruby’s head, ears, and then started clapping her body as Ruby seemed to regard her carefully.

  ‘So, you said Ruby was a service dog—what does that mean?’ asked Arturo. ‘Was she a guide dog?’

  Jen shook her head, as she too clapped Ruby. ‘No, nothing so simple. Ruby was trained to alert her owner to oncoming epileptic seizures. She was very good at her job. She would sense something and pull her owner’s sleeve, letting her know to get down on the ground. Ruby would stay with her when she seized, watching over her and alerting assistance if required.’

  ‘So, what happened?’ Darcy asked.

  Jen sighed. ‘Her owner went to an event where the organisers didn’t understand what a service dog was. They wouldn’t let her enter. The owner went in, went to the toilet, had a seizure in the toilet area and fell and hit her head. Apparently, Ruby was going crazy outside and the staff called the police. They didn’t even realise something had happened to the owner until the police entered to speak to her. Ruby was crying and whining. Her owner unfortunately died, and by then Ruby was too old to be matched as a service dog. She came to us instead, where we quickly realised she had joint issues. She’s our longest resident. Three years.’

  ‘Three years!’ said Darcy, shocked that this beautiful dog hadn’t managed to be rehomed. Ruby had lain down now and put her head on Darcy’s lap. She was looking up at her with big brown eyes. Darcy leaned over and kissed her.

  ‘Is this what it means when a dog chooses you?’ Arturo said softly, his face only inches away from hers.

  ‘How old is she?’ asked Darcy, since there was no immediate card for Ruby.

  ‘She’s ten,’ said Jen. ‘The average age of a Labrador is around twelve.’

  Darcy nodded. Jen had known exactly what she was asking. Darcy bent down and put her face next to Ruby’s. ‘Ruby,’ she said in a soft voice, ‘how would you like to spend the rest of your days with me?’

  * * *

  Something held Arturo’s heart firmly and clamped hard. Those words. They touched him in a way that he was certain they shouldn’t.

  His head was spinning. After their connection at the wedding, Darcy had looked at her bucket list and decided her commitment was to...a dog.

  While at heart he knew it was a good and kind gesture, he had to ask himself why the commitment hadn’t been to him. To them. Being here today was compounding exactly how he felt about her. He’d asked to speak to her, and she’d made an excuse. Rightly, he should have tried to talk to her over the last few days, but work had been hectic.

  Work had also been clarifying. He’d made a decision, one he wanted to sit down and talk to Darcy about. Had he got things all wrong? Had their closeness at the wedding not meant anything at all?

  Maybe he was misjudging things completely. In his head, he’d been considering things. If they had a real chance at a relationship, he’d wondered if Darcy would think about moving to Italy. He knew that would be a huge step, but since she was just about to adopt a dog that step would be off the cards for the next few years.

  He didn’t want to have that conversation here. But it was clear when she’d been planning her future she’d not been considering leaving Scotland.

  Things moved quickly. Darcy signed paperwork and took a note of particular things for Ruby, like her hydrotherapy appointments, her treatment plan and medication, what food suited her and what her normal routine was. Darcy was enthusiastic about every part of this.

  Jen gave her a lead and collar for Ruby, then bent down herself to pat and kiss the dog. It was clear she was very fond of Ruby. ‘You take her for four hours today as a trial, bring her back, and we’ll do the same thing a few times this week, until we make sure she’s settled and happy.’

  Darcy nodded. ‘Absolutely. I’ll do everything I need to do.’

  ‘If all goes well, in around ten days, Ruby will be yours.’

  Darcy couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.

  She pulled out some things that were already stowed in the boot of the car, including a harness and dog seat belt and a comfortable blanket for Ruby to settle on for the journey home.

  As they waved and drove away, she turned in an unexpected direction. ‘Where are we going?’ asked Arturo.

  ‘A few places,’ said Darcy. ‘We’re going to take her down to the beach for a few minutes. Apparently, she used to love going to the beach. Then we need to stop at a pet store to pick up her food, and although I have a bed I think I need a bigger one. Then—’ she gave him a big smile ‘—we’ll go to the drive-through and pick up some coffee for us and a pup cup for Ruby.’

  ‘A pup cup?’

  ‘What? I’ve seen people do it online. Let’s see if Ruby likes them.’

  Arturo hated himself for feeling agitated by a dog. He glanced over his shoulder. She was a beauty, and he needed to get his thoughts into some kind of perspective. A dog. Something he’d never even thought about.

  ‘Is Ruby going to be the most spoiled dog in the universe?’

  ‘She’s in her golden years,’ said Darcy firmly. ‘She deserves to be the happiest I can make her.’

  An hour later, Ruby had paddled in the shallow waves with a little bounce in her step, they’d picked up her food and new bed, and she had shown them just how much she loved a pup cup.

  ‘I never had a dog,’ said Arturo, looking over his shoulder into the back seat. ‘She seems very good.’