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

with your potential love.’
    Without thinking I turned to beam at Jamie, only realising what I was doing at the last minute and trying to turn it into
     a communal grin, which meant I was smiling like a lovesick fool at Bridget.
    I sat by the window with Laurie, but as Jamie boarded she leapt up and ran to the back of the bus, leaving the seat free for
     him. He relaxed down next to me, only us knowing we were on a sort-of date. And with that the bus set off for Florence, full
     of singletons ready to up their game in a medieval city famed for its sensual sculptures and fleshy paintings.
    There was a school-trip feel to the journey as we sped down the hill and through the countryside towards Florence. Even Donna
     seemed to be lightening up a bit. ‘Jamie, do you have any horror stories about past guests? Any as bad as George?’
    ‘As bad, or as sinfully good?’ George wisecracked.
    Jamie shook his head. ‘No, no, I will not speak badly of past guests.’ A shadow passed over his face, then left as quickly
     as it had come. ‘They’ve all been
magnifico
.’ There was a groan and he laughed, turning back to me and ducking down in his seat. ‘I will tell you one story, though,
     because you’re my favourite.’
    A warm wave flooded my insides. I couldn’t help but feel elated when he confided in me – it felt like I was the only one in
     his world. I snuggled further down in my seat, our heads so close I could feel his grape-scented breath tickle my eyelids
     as he talked.
    ‘Last year there was this woman, and she was head-over-heels for this very shy guy. She was a – do you know what I mean if
     I say a “Stifler’s Mom” type?’
    I guffawed. ‘Yes, and I love that you do.’
    ‘She tried every trick in the book to get this poor guy to fall in love with her, and on one of the last nights she went out
     to the vineyard in the middle of the night, took off all her clothes and lay among the vines, her body decorated with carefully
     placed bunches of grapes. I think she was trying to recreate a Renaissance painting or something.’
    ‘Well that’s just totally insane.’ I turned a little pink thinking of my bath that morning.
    ‘I know. She’d asked him to come and meet her out there, but he was so drunk he’d passed out in the kitchen long before she’d
     even removed her bra. And she was pretty sloshy too. After waiting a while she fell into a deep snooze. It was Enzo who found
     her, because he always goes to investigate a noise and she was snoring pretty loudly. By the time I arrived he’d eaten half
     of the grapes right off her.’
    ‘Maybe she thought it was her man, and he’d come after all.’
    ‘Maybe.’
    It felt strangely intimate, curled up together on this seat, talking about midnight nudes and eating grapes off bodies. My
     mouth was a little dry. ‘What did you do?’
    ‘I gave her a blanket and walked her back to her room, and that’s where I left her. But – I’m not sure how – the following
     morning both her and her man were in there together.’
    ‘A happy ending, then.’
    ‘Indeed. It was a waste of grapes, but Enzo had never been happier.’
    We chattered for the rest of the journey, and it was as easy as talking with someone I’d known for years, if you ignored the
     butterflies that fluttered up every single time we made eye contact. By the time the bus rolled into Florence I was ready
     for a little fresh air.
    ‘Here we are,’ Jamie said to everyone. ‘Florence is beautiful, and there’s a lot to see and do, so make sure you pack in as
     much as you can. I suggest you start just there at the tourist information office.’ He held his hand out to me and helped
     me off the bus.
    ‘Where are you two going first?’ asked Donna.
    ‘We’re going to see the Duomo di Firenze, the cathedral of Florence,’ said Jamie, though I knew he was wishing he didn’t have
     to tell them.
    ‘Is that the bloody great one with the whopping orange roof?’ asked