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

sat against the opposite wall. Sophia looked around the room in appreciation. It was bigger than her whole flat in London. Double doors led out onto a balcony. On the other side of the room, another door was open, through which she could see a large tub and shower enclosure. This was it. She retrieved her suitcase from the top of the stairs and then unpacked her few belongings.
    It was only six o’clock, so she stepped out onto the balcony. The house was so cold, the air-conditioning set on high, it was wonderful to move into the warm, spring evening. The scents of thousands of blossoms wafted up, surrounding her.
    Leaning on the deck railing, she checked out the gardens. The flower beds were immaculate, well-loved by Vittore, no doubt. The house and grounds were more than she ever imagined. She couldn’t help feeling, however, that something was missing. It was more than just badly chosen furniture and a lack of personal touches. The villa lacked the very essence of what it took to make a house a home. The word love came to mind, but she pushed it aside. She’d deal with the décor later. For now she had to work out how she was going to tell Luca he wasn’t getting any tonight.
    As she washed and changed for dinner she caught sight of her scars in the mirror, a reminder of her past. It was the invisible scars of feeling worthless and helpless that still plagued her, although she hid them as she did her visible marks. But every once in a while they’d surface, and she’d be a frightened girl unsure of her place in the world. So until she was certain Luca saw her as a person, not a thing, she would sleep alone.
    At five minutes to eight, Sophia stepped into the front sitting room. She’d changed into a green dress that echoed the color of her eyes. Her hair was still up from the wedding, and by reapplying her lipstick and refreshing her makeup, she felt she made a presentable picture.
    The room was empty so she wandered over to the front window. Luca’s car sat in the drive like an exclamation point to the luxury of the house. Seven years ago, when she’d run from her parents’ home, she’d lived on the streets, often sleeping behind a dumpster. This new start would bring no such discomfort. Still, she felt more out of place now than she had as a homeless teen.
    The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she turned to find Luca watching her. He stared at her for a moment more, and when his gaze fixed on her hands, she realized she’d been pleating the fabric between her fingers.
    “
Buona sera, bellissima
. Would you like a drink?” He walked over to the drinks tray set on the sideboard. He hadn’t changed out of his suit but had removed his tie and undone a couple of buttons on his shirt. He looked sexy and powerful, and she had to clear her throat before she could speak.
    “Um, no thank you. Perhaps I’ll have a glass of wine with dinner.” She was already dizzy enough with him near.
    “Relax,
cara
. I am not going to eat you.” His lips said the words but the heat in his eyes as they roved over her body belied his statement. Warmth flushed through her, settling in her lower abdomen, and for a moment she rethought her plan of having her own bedroom.
    Maria entered the dining room and placed a large platter on the table. She opened the glass doors into the sitting room and said something in Italian to Luca before leaving.
    “Dinner is ready,” Luca translated. “Shall we eat?” Already his hand had found its way to the small of her back and was steering her toward the table through the open doors. He pulled out her chair and waited for her to be seated before sitting at the head of the table. Maria returned and placed a tureen on the table and quietly said something to Luca as she left the room.
    “Please, help yourself,” he said as he removed the cover from the platter. The first tray contained an assortment of cold meats, pickled artichokes, olives, and breads while the tureen held