Page 86 of The Roman Holiday Rule

She waggles her eyebrows. “Home teamdisadvantage.”

“No such thing.”

Her boss marches over, looking panicked. “Romeo Bergamo’s new watercolor paintings never arrived from the Venice museum where they’ve been on exhibition the last three months. He is one of our anchor artists, one of the biggest draws. What are we going to do?”

Lexington taps thoughtfully on her chin for a minute. “But he’s here, right? I have an idea. Festivalgoers love participation, to see and understand the creative process up close. I know how eager alot of us are to watch the pottery demonstration. So what if we ask Bergamo to give a live demonstration?”

“Have him paint a watercolor scene while everyone watches? Where? Outside? In the museum?”

“I’m not sure where. Maybe we can ask him what he prefers? But I think the art lovers would enjoy watching him create in real time.”

“Brilliant. I’ll figure out the details. Good work, Lexi.”

“Also, we need to move Roberto from tech forSix Characters in Search of an Authorto setting up for the Orpheus Band, since they open at two and the play isn’t until four o’clock.”

“I’ll have a volunteer walk him over to the Piazza Navona now.” She spins on her heels and speed-walks away.

Lexington turns back to me with an apologetic smile. “Three of our tech wizards bonded during the reception, ate out together last night, and got collectively sick, so we’re short on staff.”

I squeeze her hand and release it. This is a big day for her. “I’m sure it’s been crazy all morning. I know I’m early. Does that mess up your schedule?”

She toys with the lira on her necklace chain. “No, it helps, actually. By the way, the photos are printed and on their way over to the other museum and the voting station’s all set up. I hope you can handle losing, because this time, I’ve really found the heart of Italy.”

So have I.

She steps back, widening our tiny, private world, and for the first time I notice a woman standing off to the side, watching me. It’s a little creepy.

“Mark, this is my best friend and co-worker, Julie. She surprised me and flew in on Wednesday.”

I clear my throat. “Nice to meet you. Welcome to Rome.” She’s the polar opposite of Lexington, at least in appearance, with her flashy clothes, short, styled hair, and lots—lots—of jewelry.

“Thrilledto meet you,” she says, emphasizing the word as we shake hands and smiling in a way I don’t quite understand. “So, tell me, Mark, where do you see yourself in five years?”

Lexington shoots me an apologetic look. “Julie, can we skip the inquisition?”

“Um, this is literally in my job description as a best friend. Did you not read the contract?”

Lexington chuckles. “From middle school? I thought that was a joke.”

“I never joke about overstepping my boundaries.” Julie raises her eyebrows at me, clearly expecting a real answer.

I shove my hands in my pockets. It seems like I’m going to have to win her over, somehow. “Probably still working as an architect.”

“Family?”

My eyes flick to Lexington for a split-second, remembering the feel of her lips on mine. This feels like a trick question. “Depends.”

“On what?” Julie glances between Lexington and me. This woman has some chutzpah.

But Lexington spins her around by the shoulders. “See youlater.Take over for me here, please.”She pushes her toward the sea of volunteers in striped Festival T-shirts, then turns back to me, brushing off her hands like she’s just disposed of excess crumbs. “Sorry. Julie has no problem diving right into things.”

“Did I pass the test?”

She presses her lips together, as if afraid to spill a secret, and glances at Julie entering the fray across the busy room. “I think you passed the minute she saw me on Wednesday afternoon.”

Interview with the Gallos day. “After we cleared up that misunderstanding about Katie.”

She nods and peeks up at me with a tiny grin she can’t quite hide and I’m lost all over again.