He saw her from fifty yards away. She was a splash of crimson against the pale limestone of the balustrade. Clara always wore red when she wanted to be found, and never when she wanted to be caught. As he approached, the scent of her perfume—something heavy with jasmine and sea salt—hit him before she even turned around.
Below is a story inspired by the moody essence of that image. 349.jpg
Clara finally turned, her dark glasses reflecting the shimmering water. She reached out, her gloved hand resting briefly on his sleeve. It was a gesture that looked like affection to anyone watching from the hotels across the street, but Julian felt the tremor in her fingers. She wasn't just resting her hand; she was holding on. "They know about the 349," she said. He saw her from fifty yards away