An Inconvenient Love (Crimson Romance) by Alexia Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

opportunity to remind her.
    The couple approached and she shook hands with the elderly man. He looked about a hundred years old, but his handshake was firm, and he had a sparkle in his eye as he smiled at her. His wife was delightfully round, and rather than shaking Sophia’s outstretched hand, Maria enveloped her in a hug, kissing her on both cheeks while whispering something in Italian that she couldn’t understand. At least it sounded welcoming.
    Luca’s mobile phone rang. He silenced it, then turned to Sophia with an apologetic smile. “Sorry to cut short the tour, but I have a deal closing this afternoon. I have to make a few phone calls now, if you will excuse me. Feel free to wander around. Do you want something to eat before dinner? Maria will be happy to make you a snack.”
    “Perhaps a slice of cake and a coffee?”
    Luca translated her request and Maria bustled over to the counter to cut a slice of cake. “Unfortunately, neither of them speak any English. But I’m sure you’ll find a way to communicate. Dinner will be at 8:00 p.m . I’ll see you in the front room then?”
    “Okay,” Sophia replied. She took a deep breath to ease the pressure in her chest. Well, he’d warned her that business was his first priority. She might as well get used to it.
    Luca kissed her briefly on the cheek before turning on his heel and leaving the room. She smiled at the elderly couple and took a seat at the table. Because she was unable to communicate with her companions, silence loomed long and large in the beautiful kitchen. Their faces were kindly as they sat with her, but she could sense their curiosity. It wasn’t every day their boss went out in the morning and returned with a bride.
    Sophia finished the delicious lemon cake and coffee in record time. She needed a few minutes alone to process the day’s events. With a stammered, “
Grazie
,” she left the room.
    She might as well explore. Maybe she should leave a trail of shiny pebbles to find her way back. Wandering back to the base of the stairs, she heard Luca’s deep voice in the room to the left. She poked her head around the door and discovered a massive office with one wall completely covered in bookshelves. A huge oak desk was piled with papers and an array of three monitors. Luca stood looking out the window, his back to the door, a phone held to his ear.
    “Chet, I apologize that I did not return your call earlier. I was in London concluding some business there … Three weeks? Excellent. I will make arrangements for us to visit the properties I mentioned to you. Have you received the letter of intent? … Good, as soon as you return a signed copy, I will forward you the details … ”
    Sophia retreated and returned to the entryway. Her stomach roiled and for a second she thought she might lose the lemon cake she’d just enjoyed. Their marriage was a business transaction to Luca. The late night phone calls, the flowers, the beautiful wedding dress he’d sent had been the sweetener to seal the deal. She’d started to believe that maybe he cared for her. Now she knew better. She was only another piece in his property portfolio.
    Her suitcase sat beside the front door. She lugged it up the stairs as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Luca. A house this big had to have a variety of bedrooms. She was going to choose hers. If Luca wanted her in his bed, he’d have to make an appointment.
    She left her case at the top of the stairs and started opening doors. The first room she tried was obviously the master. A huge, four-poster king-sized bed dominated the room. She quickly closed the door and strode toward the other end of the hallway. There were several smaller bedrooms, decorated in pale shades of blue, green and pink. She was a bit like Goldilocks, searching for the room that was just right.
    At the end of the corridor, she opened a door to a bright room decorated in hues of yellow. A large, shiny brass bed with a white chenille bedspread