My Italian Doctor

Chapter Six

Aurora had asked me to organise the warehouse and put a better system in place to keep track of inventory. Aurora was great at so many things relating to the business, but organisation skills were not one of them. The whole business needed organising, she was so chaotic. I was dying to get my hands on her office. In the meantime, the warehouse would be a start.

It was a big job, and I didn't even bother stopping for lunch. I still hadn't heard from George and the idea that his comments had been a brush-off was squarely in the front of my mind. The work was the only thing that stopped me from completely obsessing about it all. I didn't even know why I was so bothered. I barely knew the man. I knew it was my own fault. I had been way more forward than I normally would have been, and it had clearly scared him off.

I had gotten a couple of the men helping me out with the moving of crates. They certainly weren't the lightest things in the world to be lugging around. I felt bad for them both because I knew I was being unfair to them. I seemed to be snapping at everyone and I was working them both too hard. Despite knowing I was doing it, I couldn't seem to stop.

I hadn't even seen Aurora come into the warehouse until she started talking in the loud, exaggerated way she always did. "Antonio, Jay, head off for lunch, please." She waited for them to be out of earshot before continuing, but she was giving me a look that told me she was unimpressed. "What has got into you today?"

"Nothing, alright. I'm just doing the job you asked me to do."

"Em, I love you. You know I do. But don't think for a second I will let you speak to me the same way you have been speaking to everyone else. Knock it off and talk to me."

"I told you it's nothing." She opened one of the crates with ease and pulled out a bottle of chardonnay, and reached for two glasses. One thing was for sure, you were never far from a glass of wine on a vineyard. "You do realise you have just messed all my numbers up?"

"You mean my numbers? Some things are more important." She passed me a glass and sank down onto one of the sealed crates. "Sit!" I obeyed. I had little choice. In reality, she was my boss in that scenario. I took a deep swig of the wine and hadn't realised how deep until I ran out. As I lowered the glass from my lips, she refilled it again. "Seriously, what has got into you?"

"I don't know." I shrugged and yet again felt like a stroppy teen.

"So, it's to do with the doctor?" I looked away from her and focused on the wall. I knew I had a scowl on my face, but I felt like I had no control over anything anymore. "Stop being so petulant, will you? Have you not heard from him since last night?" As usual, she hit the nail on the head instantly. I didn't say a word, but anything other than denying her claim was an admittance.

"I'm sure he will call. He's probably busy at work." I knew logically that it was a likely reason for his silence, but it didn't make me feel any better. I couldn't understand why I was behaving like one of those women. The possessive, obsessive ones. That wasn't who I was.

"It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"I already told you, there's nothing wrong."

"Right well, in that case, you can pick this up tomorrow." She used her hands in a sweeping motion to indicate the warehouse. "I could do without you putting my men in an early grave and there are only a couple of hours left of the day, anyway."

I didn't say anything, just walked off. I knew I was being a complete b***h, but I didn't even care at that point. If I couldn't work, then there was no point in sticking around. I would need to find another way to entertain myself and take my mind off any thoughts of stupid men.

I decided since I was apparently so difficult to be around that I would head into the fields and try to find some solace in the silence. I ambled through the vines. If I had been in England, I would have been running my hands over them, as I did with hedge rows back home. I could hardly do that. It would likely damage the vines and Pops would not be impressed with me. It was strange so much in Italy was different, yet the same all at the same time. Everything since I had got there just seemed so confusing.

Luca's family had embraced me as one of them instantly. That would never happen in England. We were much too reserved. The outright shows of affection were a lot, too. Even George when we met, I couldn't imagine an English doctor being like that. They

probably wouldn't have even noticed I was upset. It wasn't like they didn't care. It was just busier in England, but at the same time, it wasn't. Everyone in England rushed around at full speed. In Italy, even when people were working hard, they seemed relaxed and calm.

When my phone buzzed, I snatched it from my pocket, half expecting it to be Aurora, wondering where I was. It wasn't, it was George. I should have been relieved to hear from him, but that vanished the second I unlocked my phone.

George: I'm so sorry about last night.

I didn't even know what I was supposed to reply to that. I wasn't even sure what he was sorry about. Somehow I knew it wasn't just because his gentlemanly persona had slipped.

Emily: What exactly are you sorry for?

George: It never should have happened, any of it. It was a mistake.

Emily: Thanks.

George: I didn't mean it like that. Things are complicated for me. I never should have even asked you to dinner. It was completely my fault. I'm sorry, I just don't know what got into me.

Emily: You and me both.

George: I don't understand.

Emily: I was hardly myself last night. Just forget about it. It's not a big deal. Let's just forget all about it. As far as I'm concerned, it never happened.

George: It's not that simple though.

Emily: How is it not that simple? You said it was a mistake, so just forget all about it, about me.

I was so angry with myself. I had completely fallen for his charms and his apparently gentlemanly disguise, but he was a jerk just like every other man I had the misfortune of meeting in the past. I couldn't believe I had been so stupid to fall for it. I had known the night before that he was giving me the brush-off. I should have trusted my instincts.

I could feel the rage bubbling up inside, and I hated the fact that I couldn't go and talk to Rylie about it all. For the first time, I felt completely alone. Before I had Rylie, I had my mum to talk to. My insignificant problems were something I couldn't take to either of them. I launched my phone across the field and regretted it as soon as I had. I heard it rebound off the little stone wall at

the edge of the field and knew it would be beyond repair.

I stormed over and inspected the damage and my temper seemed to rise even higher. I sulked back up to the warehouse. At least there I could sit and have a drink in peace. Everyone would be long gone by the time I got there.

I headed straight for the crate Aurora had opened earlier and collected the open bottle and one of the glasses before heading up to her office. Sinking down onto the couch and making myself right at home. I wasn't even a big drinker, which was why the wine seemed to go to my head so easily. Maybe if I hadn't partaken on the night we went for dinner, I wouldn't have been quite so wild in the car.

I was on my fourth glass when I heard a car pass the office window. It was odd, the family would be getting ready to sit down for the evening meal. All the workers would have been long gone. When I saw George's car heading towards the house, I cursed. I cursed, before running down the steps, only stumbling on a couple of them and darting out of the door. I ran towards the house and knew I had next to no chance of getting there before he got there.

Just when I was giving up hope, he braked hard and I couldn't help but be relieved. The last thing I needed was more questions about the two of us. I couldn't even understand why he was there. He was the one that considered it all a mistake. I tried to stop running, but in the process; I tripped over my own feet and face planted the dirt.

I rolled onto my back and couldn't contain the laughter. I really had reached the depths of deplorable. The whole thing was laughable. I was laughable. My giggles only increased when I opened my eyes to see him standing over me.

"What on earth happened to you?"

"I wanted a lie-down, obviously." More laughter erupted, and he looked so seriously at me.

"Are you drunk?"

"Nope, not quite. If you hadn't turned up, I might have gotten there." He seemed to haul me off the floor effortlessly and started to head in the direction of the house. "No, not the house. I'm hiding out in the office." He automatically turned and went in the opposite direction. I just hoped no one saw him carrying me around like some helpless woman.