In Over Her Head by Elsie Russell - Parnasse.com

green woodpecker hard at work on a nearby trunk. Penny set up her
minidisc machine on the balcony ledge and pressed record.
In the oddly shaped space between the spiral staircase and her
room, she ran a bath in the narrow tin tub. She loved the sound of the
water when it first hit the empty metal and thundered out like a gong,
then slowly got muffled as the water level rose and there was only the
echoing splash of the water and the clean smell of the limestone and
soap.
Penny slipped on her outfit, checked the machine, and although
the mayhem continued outside, she wound up the microphone wires
and took in a few lung fulls of the brisk air before returning inside. Just
then, the French doors to Alessandro's rooms opened and he stepped
out on his balcony in a sweater and jeans, and except for his stitched
and bandaged face, he looked almost like a regular guy. His hair was
still wet and steam rose up from his head as he leaned on the balustrade
and smiled at her.
"The little devils woke you, eh?. After breakfast, we go for a
walk in the garden? It is a warm and sunny day."
"Wow, that sounds great. How's the damage?"
"Better, I can think of things besides pain. I think we have
breakfast here in the library. My mother is out at the coiffeur. The
security guys are such a nuisance, I dono why mama insisted on them.
Antoine is big and has a gun for squirrels."
Penny didn't mention the Beretta in the bag with the loot, but
Max had almost certainly made off with it.
The room was lined floor to ceiling with books: old brown
leather, fat shiny art books, pale cream French paperbacks and glossy
bright Italian ones. On the table by the window was a tray with
steaming pots of coffee and tea, and honey, jam, croissants, and two
covered dishes.
She poured tea and buttered her croissant. Under the silver
dome was an omelet, with a slice of orange and mint leaves to the side.
Although his face was still a big bandaged bruise his mood was
definitely upbeat and Penny wondered briefly if this relocation wasn't a
veiled seduction tactic, not that he was in any shape for that. He must
know. She had behaved like a total idiot in the salon. She felt his eyes
on her now. This was not happening. Get a grip, Penny. She looked up,
but he was quite innocently pouring coffee in his cup. No, under all
that yellow and blue his face was red as the jam.
She took a fork full of omelet, and looked out at the birds
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