An Aria in Venice: A Musical Interlude Novel by Kasonndra Leigh Read Free Book Online Page A

skin is made out of fire really confuses me.
And what’s with the flush in his face? I know he’s not blushing. I blink
several times to make sure I’m not seeing things. I mean, I know the golden
Gucci two piece I’m wearing gives J-Lo a run for her lack of a cover up, but
still, this should be just the kind of thing he loves.
    “The
girl with an ocean inside her eyes,” he finally says, and right away, I feel
like we’re back in familiar territory … one where the puppy uses his play on
words to attract the kitty cat’s natural ability to be too curious. A
flirtatious look crosses over the cautious one I just saw on his face, and he
flashes one of those perfect smiles that highlight his dimples. Oh my! He has
the hottest dimples and he knows I’m checking him out. I can tell by the way he
not so innocently runs that tongue ring across his top lip as he smiles at me
with his eyes. Distraction time. With a man like this one, you don’t ever let
him know how much he affects you, and I’m failing at this thing.
     Okay,
here we go. “I didn’t know you came here to swim.” Duh! I want to jump
in the pool, hit my head, and get this over with. Of course I wouldn’t know. I
haven’t exactly been watching out for hot designers who wear cropped muscle
tanks paired with silky black swimming trunks, and have the words La Dolce
Vita tattooed across their torso. I cannot believe what I’m seeing. I’m not
sure if he even struck me as the ink type, what with his pretty boy looks,
perfect hair, and all. The scroll work surrounding the words forms a design
that disappears underneath the half shirt he’s wearing, something I’d expect to
find only on the body of a man like Luca. However, I can’t help wondering what
the rest of his tattoo looks like.
    His
smile widens. “A friend suggested this gig. She says it’s a good place to
unwind.”
    “Oh,
I see. So is she joining you?” I ask, wondering if I look as transparent
as the way that question sounded.
    “No. She would be Erin Angelo, the other designer who’ll be working with me
on your brother’s line,” he explains, waiting for my response. I don’t fail to
catch the way he emphasizes that he’s working for my family; that should curb
my curiosity right away. Instead, the desire to reach my goal, the fire that I
know can only lead to trouble, blazes stronger inside me.
    “Good.
I’m just getting started. Could use a swimming partner since mine is leaving in
a little bit,” I lie, speaking loud enough for Lis to overhear and hopefully
support me in this plan. Luckily, my best friend doesn’t disappoint. We do
these kind of hook up moves for each other all the time. Of course, she usually
gets the guy while I get to be escorted back to our apartment by Sir Belikov.
    Coming
to stand beside me, Lis reaches out her hand to Luca and says, “The name’s Lis
Rollins. I love your work! Your designs are so unique. They ooze sex.” Okay,
she’s overdoing it, but I appreciate the effort. Luca glances back and forth
between the two of us and smiles. “If you will excuse me, signorinas.”
    I
stare after him for the longest time, trying to decide why the man I’ve heard
so much about as a player has decided to dismiss me. “Something’s not right,” I
murmur to Lis, but my eyes are glued to Luca, who has struck up a conversation
with a leggy blonde.
    “I’m
guessing you’re riding home with Nikolai today?” Lis asks, ripping me away from
my perusal of Luca’s body, the broad chest and his sculpted shoulders. I’m not
the least bit surprised to see words, or rather a phrase, tattooed down his
V-line. The curiosity stings and I intend to find out what the scroll designs
mean before Nikolai arrives to pick me up tonight.
    The
blonde girl throws her head back and laughs, tossing her hair and showing Luca
all that makes a woman possess power over a man. At least, that’s what Alek
tells me anyway.
    “Go
on without me, Lis. Got a little something to take