Then he looked up and caught her gazing at him. It was too late now to pretend that she wasn't studying him. He didn't seem fazed, though. Perhaps he was used to women's admiring glances.
His grin seemed to confirm it. He had a wide mouth, which gave the biggest smile she had ever seen. It was blazing, glorious, lusty with life. And he aimed it straight at her.
Then he winked. And Justine gasped.
Dulcie was right. They did wink more intensely, a blatant invitation that said, "Come on in."
And suddenly she didn't know what to do.
Chapter Two
The boatman's expression and the whole attitude of his athletic body was an invitation to the party of life, and for a moment Justine was stunned. She turned to Dulcie to see if she had noticed the bold boatman, but her friend was busy helping Guido load their bags into the motorboat.
Stop dithering, she told herself. You enjoy a good party.
She pulled herself together and winked back.
His returning smile said, Message received and understood, which irked her slightly. She, herself, wasn't quite sure that she understood.
But she wouldn't be seeing him again, and perhaps that was just as well. He was just a little too sure of himself.
They were almost ready to go. Justine settled herself in the back of the boat and Guido started the motor.
The sudden churning of the water made the barge rock, knocking the stranger off balance and overboard. Immediately he climbed back aboard, pushing the soaking hair back from his eyes, visibly cursing, but unhurt. Justine had a last glimpse of him, covered in water, shining in the sun.
Then she was speeding across the lagoon, looking about her in breathless wonder as Venice came into view.