Holiday in Venice

Holiday in Venice

Rosemary Phillips

Also by Rosemary Phillips

Hollow Hearts

Through the Clouds

October 1940

Tristan

Deception

HOLIDAY IN VENICE

A Rosemary Phillips Book

Published by arrangement with the author at Smashwords

All rights reserved.

Copyright @ 2010 by Rosemary Phillips

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

For information/book orders

BG Publishing

2304-1122 Gilford St.

Vancouver, BC Canada V6G 2P5

604-602-9516

rosemaryphillips@shaw.ca

www.RosemaryPhillipsStories.com

ISBN: 978-0-9813726-5-5

PRINTED IN CANADA

BG Publishing

Smashwords Edition

All possible care has been given for the general accuracy of the events in this story. The characters are fictional but based upon stories of the war and the people who fought in it.

Rosemary Phillips wishes to express her appreciation to the many people who have helped to make this book possible.

For Angela and David, who took me to Venice.

Chapter One

Striding out of the airport Daniel Finley followed the signs to the water taxi. As his plane had approached Venice ready for landing, he remembered a conversation he had overheard a few years ago among a group of journalists waiting for transportation to a war zone. One chap, who always had opinions, stated that the way one first glimpsed a city was the way you always remembered it. 'Take Venice,' he had told his captive audience, 'to arrive any other way than across the lagoon in water taxi is a mistake. For a city built on water, with no cars allowed in it, a boat is the only way.'

Having taken the journalist’s advice, he settled in for the water taxi's twenty-minute trip across the lagoon. Daniel could see the city looking rather misty and picturesque in the distance. He was the only passenger in the fast motorboat and he found his thoughts sliding back to once again analyzing the crazy whim that had had led him to this place, a place that was already giving him a feeling of tranquility and hope.

He had known when he’d agreed to Phil Cowan’s proposal to take his place on a holiday that the idea was madness. As enticing as a holiday at the San Clemente Palace was, even an island retreat at an ancient monastery converted into a luxurious hotel was of dubious appeal under these circumstances. Phil had accepted an invitation from a woman he had met online to join her for one month-long holiday in Venice. She had offered Phil $50,000 for his time, and Phil, desperate to cover his gambling debts, had initially accepted. Amazingly, Phil had subsequently met this woman face to face twice before common sense kicked it and he realized he couldn’t go through with it. But he also couldn't confess to this woman, so Phil's solution was to rope Daniel into the mess.

There’s no way, Phil. She must be a nut. I know I’m at loose ends but that blow to my head in the accident didn’t affect my powers of reasoning. Phil didn’t respond, instead he put a photograph down in front of Daniel.

Daniel saw a lovely woman. Not young, but with bright blue eyes that looked directly at you and lips that were smiling a wistful smile that reminded him, appropriately enough, of the Mona Lisa.

If she looks like this, Phil, why aren’t you going?

Jan wasn’t thrilled by my get-rich scheme. Not even for 50,000. She implied if I wanted to spend a month away from her with another woman, I wasn’t husband material. I had to make a choice. And now I feel terrible. Natalie Shaw left yesterday for Venice expecting me to follow her tomorrow. Take my place, Daniel. Please. I hate to let her down. She’s a good person and a lovely lady.

Really, Phil, you haven’t changed since first I met you. Leap first, then think, Phil grinned at his friend.

You have three months sick leave, and no ties to keep you here, so why not take a trip to Venice? At Phil’s words, Daniel had picked up the photograph again and studied it carefully. She was very lovely. A small voice in his head was asking, ‘Why not just go and meet her? You don’t need to stay.’ That was two days ago and here he was on the lagoon and already even from this distance seeing an interesting skyline of church spires bridges and pastel-coloured buildings.

Signor? The boatman spoke, pointing at Daniel’s camera bag. Would you like me to show you some of the interesting places on the way to the hotel? The Grande Canal, the palazzos? Good for pictures.

Yes, but you will have to go slowly if I’m to take photographs. The boatman nodded and cut the speed. Still not ready to meet Natalie, Daniel was glad of the excuse to delay his arrival. There was no doubt there was a lot to enjoy even if his stay in Venice proved to be short. He took one of his cameras out of the bag. He was pleased with the image he saw in his viewfinder. The slight mist gave an evocative effect to the skyline. His creative instincts were stirred by the unique surroundings. His hands took over and he was content to frame and reframe, trying to capture the gentle beauty and magic of Venice, so different from the raw environments his work put him in.

On dry land Natalie Shaw was pacing up and down the lobby of her large and luxurious hotel suite feeling more anxious as every minute passed. Phil Cowan should have arrived at least an hour ago. What could have happened to him? She had phoned down to the concierge to check that the flight from New York had arrived on time. All her fears about this venture surfaced again as she waited. She could see Fiona's, her best friend, concerned face and hear her parting words at the airport. Don’t do it, Natalie. Don’t go! This is not the right way to go about finding a partner. You don’t know this man at all. He’s probably just after the fifty thousand dollars.

Surely she hadn’t been that mistaken in Phil. He had seemed a kind and gentle person and genuinely interested in visiting Venice with her. Perhaps she shouldn’t have added the incentive of money, but she had plenty and she had got the feeling Phil hadn’t. Certainly it had clinched the deal.

Never before in her whole life had she been so reckless and impulsive. But from that morning two months previously when she opened the sports page and was riveted by a picture of her ex-husband holding a small baby and underneath the caption, Pro golfer Tony Shaw with newborn son, she knew something had to change. Tears had sprung to her eyes; she was overwhelmed by a wave of regret. She had let her career and her dream of becoming partner at Smith, Tremayne, and Smith get ahead of everything else life had to offer. Now at forty-eight it was too late for her to have a child, but not too late to find love.

The house phone rang interrupting her reverie, Thank you. Please ask him to come up. Phil was here at last. As Natalie hung up the phone she glanced in the large mirror that dominated one wall of the elaborately furnished living room of her suite. Satisfied that she had made a good choice in wearing the blue linen dress—it really did match her eyes—she tried to breathe and arrange a calm expression on her face. She was interrupted by a brisk knock at the door.

Opening it, Natalie gasped, Who are you? I was expecting Phil Cowan.

Do you think I could come in? Taking a look at the tall, dark-haired man who stood there with a half smile on a face that had two recent scars on his forehead, Natalie hesitated and kept her hand on the door handle.

I don’t bite, and I can explain how I come to be here. My name, by the way, is Daniel Finley. His voice was musical with a touch of Irish brogue. Stepping back, Natalie gestured him into the room. She sat down on one end of the large golden leather sofa.

Taking a quick look around, Daniel sat down on a chair beside a desk with a laptop computer sitting on it.

Now, Mr. Finley, I think you had better start explaining. Natalie had her best courtroom manner in the tone of her voice.

Daniel smiled, There is no doubt about your occupation. I feel I’m on the witness stand. So you want to know why I’m here and not the philandering Phil. The answer is quite simple, his fiancé wouldn’t let him jaunt to Europe, not even for fifty thousand dollars.

But he assured me he had no ties what so ever, Natalie was shocked and at the same time, unsure of what to do this man who sat there looking quietly amused and very comfortable in the opulent surroundings.

Fifty thousand is a lot of money. People do lie when such amount is involved. Why on earth does anyone as attractive as you have to buy a lover?

Natalie found his direct look unsettling. I see you believe in blunt speaking. Mr. Finley. If I ask you some questions will you answer them truthfully?

To the best of my ability. Fire away.

Did Phil tell you what I want to do?

"He told me you had taken a sabbatical from your law firm, and that you wanted to spend a while in Venice with him, you paying all the expenses. And a cheque for fifty thousand at the end of it. Which seems to be to be excessive under the circumstances. It’s not as if you are old or unattractive.

Thank you for your opinion of me. In spite of feeling annoyed at his superior attitude, Natalie was pleased that he didn’t find her old. She suspected she was only a bit older than he was.

He also told me he had answered an inquiry on the Internet. You were taking a risk, weren’t you?

I didn’t think so. I’m not a bad judge of character, I met and liked Phil.

And now all you’ve got is me or a lonely holiday. His eyes seemed to be smiling at her predicament; she knew he was enjoying this conversation.

As I said before, you do have a way with words. Are you always this outspoken? Will you tell me something about yourself, if you are going to take Phil’s place? First off, do you have a wife? Or a fiancé? I never did ask Phil that.

That was quite an oversight as it turns out. But to answer, I no longer have a wife. Or a girlfriend.

So we don’t have to worry about that then. What is your occupation, Mr. Finley, and how did you get the scars on your face? Natalie had seen a shadow cross his eyes when she had asked about his wife and wondered what the story was behind it.

I’m a photo journalist. I’m on three month's sick leave. A jeep I was traveling on in Afghanistan was blown up. Hence my scars. I’m sure I’m perfectly fit but the powers that be refuse to allow me back yet.

You certainly look fit to me. How does Phil come into the story?

Knowing I was on sick leave. Phil called me and told me about this, ah, predicament. I decided to come in his place, mostly out of curiosity. I wanted to find out what kind of a person you were. It all seemed to be a crazy idea. Now it’s up to you.

Daniel sat very still and watched Natalie. She was well worth looking at. Much more attractive than the picture that had captured his imagination. It hadn’t really done her justice. The bright blue of her eyes, the golden hair no doubt helped by her hairdresser, but the shade of ripening corn, a very good figure and good legs.

Natalie was unsure. Should she take a chance on the charming man who appeared outwardly so very sure of himself? She wondered how much of it was bravado.

Sensing her uncertainty, and realizing he wanted to stay a while, Daniel pulled a paper out of his blazer pocket.

Phil gave me the contract you had drawn up, your legal touch no doubt. I think it can still be valid, if the names are changed. Am I right? Being a lawyer you must know. That is if you decide to accept me in Phil's place. Daniel passed Natalie the paper.

Putting her reading glasses on, she reviewed it. Have you read this contract, Mr. Finley?

Yes, I just said so. But I do think it should have a clause for terminating the agreement, if one party wants out.

You seem to know something about law. You’re right. It should have an amendment especially as we hardly know each other. The business office downstairs has a printer. I’ll go down and do it now. Natalie knew she was going to enjoy getting to know Daniel Finley better. Every time he spoke he surprised her.

My father was a lawyer. Bits rubbed off. But surely tomorrow will be soon enough you don’t need to go straight away.

I’d rather get it over with.

Am I to send down and get them to bring my luggage up then? Or shall I go down and get them to find me a room on another floor until we know each other better.

No, I can see no reason for you not to use the second bedroom. This is either going to work or it’s not. We might as well get started on becoming friends, so send down for your things.

Daniel picked up the phone and within minutes the luggage arrived. Natalie showed the bellboy where to put it. Daniel quickly tipped the bellboy before Natalie got the chance.

This will be your bedroom. Mine is across the hall. If you would like to unpack I’ll go downstairs and write the amendment. Is that all the luggage you’ve got?

I always make a point of traveling light. You weren’t expecting me to bring a dinner jacket, were you? Phil never mentioned clothes.

No, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. See you later. Natalie wasn’t sure why, but she was glad to leave the bedroom, Daniel Finley had a disturbing effect on her usually carefully controlled feelings.