Antonio was fascinated by Isabel's razor-sharp knives from Japan. He made 'kia' sounds like a karate expert as he sliced the tomatoes and added them to the pan. there were some unexpected ingredients, things Tess would never dream of putting in tomato sauce- whole star anise, a vanilla bean split down the middle, a sprinkling of sugar, a sprig of thyme and bay leaves from the herb garden.

I like the organza tiebacks. They're pretty and ethereal.""Lovely. I think those are the ones.""Me, too. And hey, can we invent a signature cocktail for the wedding, using honey?""I'm working on one made with honey syrup, apple juice and calvados. Garnished with an apple slice, of course.

Returning to the buffet, she helped herself to another piece of focaccia bread, the top glistening with a sheen of olive oil and sprinkled with big crystals of salt, fronds of rosemary and tiny curls of thinly sliced garlic. She tasted the bread and made a sound of pleasure that would have embarrassed her if anyone had heard."It's even better with this Cabernet." Dominic Rossi stood there with two full glasses of red wine.Tess felt her face heat with a blush. Okay, so he'd heard.

Time for lunch. Take me somewhere good. Somewhere Italian."She chose Vine, one of the cafes on the main plaza, and ordered a burrata and squash blossom pizza. The fluffy soft cheese, drizzled with fruity olive oil, paired beautifully with the crisp blossoms and homemade crust. Eaten with chilled elderflower soda, it was exactly what she'd been craving.