A New Dawn Ch. 04

"'What do you mean, hoped?' I began to get that feeling that things weren't quite as I had interpreted them again.

"'Frederico told Giuseppe what you had done in Florence. Poor Gio, he cannot keep anything to himself, so he told me, thinking I would say no. But you see, Don Aitello has been coming around here, suggesting that we are not running this bar well, that other people could get more money and so pay him more. He has a part interest in the bar, like many places on the island. So I thought if he met you and you flirted with him, maybe he would leave us alone. I did not think it would involve me also, but it was good fun. Now, Don Aitello will never close us down. So thank you.'

"'Oh, you're welcome.' I was again a little put out that a situation I thought I had controlled had been partly manufactured without my knowing it. But it wasn't as if she had intended for it to go as far as it had, or that I hadn't enjoyed it.

"'As a favour I can get you a job on the island of Paros, working in a hotel. My cousin runs the bar there.'

"'That would be nice, thank you.' She picked up the phone, had a brief conversation, and then scribbled down a name of a hotel and her cousin on a piece of paper.

"'It is in the resort of Pisso Livadi' she said handing me the paper. Then she looked down and continued to work on the books. It was clear our conversation was at an end.

"And I left the next day. Giuseppe was unloading a delivery, so gave me a quick goodbye and Maria was not even at the bar, so I left quietly and made my way across the Italy and then to the Aegean. It was a rather subdued farewell considering what I had experienced there."

Phillip could tell from her manner that Dawn was tired now and did not expect further progress that night. He touched Lisa on the arm. She jumped slightly. Nodding towards Dawn he said quietly, "she's tired. We'll continue tomorrow. Is that okay?"

"Yes, fine." Lisa seemed keen to leave also. They all kissed quickly and gathered by the door.

"Remember Lisa, one item of clothing only tomorrow."

Lisa nodded nervously, "okay. Thanks Dawn, that was a fantastic story."

"I bet you're sorry Steve isn't at home now, having got yourself all worked up."

Lisa giggled, "Oh, I'm sure I can find someway of relieving it."

When they had closed the door Phillip gave Dawn's shoulders a massage. "Tomorrow will be fun I think."

"Mmm," she purred, rubbing her head against his hands. "But for now, sleep."