Baby Mine by Tressie Lockwood Read Free Book Online Page A

considered her
health and gave the order for the tea and crackers. What was he
trying to do, make her stay? Temptation to do just that bowled her
over like an ocean wave.
    “ Thank you. That’s
all for now.”
    The maid left the room, and Jada
sat on the side of the bed consuming her treat. Whacked out hormones
stirred her emotions, but she refused to be swayed by them. Not yet,
but keeping the smile off her face while she showered and dressed
proved tough.
    Renzo stood at the bottom of the
stairs when she reached them and Jada paused, taking in the sight of
him. He spoke with his brother, and once again, the similarity
between the two men struck her. Both looked amazing in their dark
suits, and she imagined they were worth a small fortune, more than
she’d ever considered spending on clothing. Sure she loved her
pair of Jimmy Choo heels, but they were special, and she’d
sacrificed a lot to get them.
    When she reached the midway point
down the stairs, Ettore glanced up and smiled at her. She didn’t
believe he liked her all that much. “Good morning, Jada. Sleep
well?”
    “ Very, thanks. Good
morning, yourself.”
    Renzo took her hand when she
reached him and drew her in close. In front of his brother, he kissed
her lips, and she stiffened, but Renzo didn’t let go. “As
soon as I can arrange a meeting, I’ll let you know, Ettore.
Accorsi owns an extensive four-star restaurant chain across America
and more in Europe, not to mention his other holdings. We cannot
afford to let this opportunity pass us by. This account will be a
profitable one and definitely something you can lead.”
    Ettore frowned. “Surely
that’s something one of the managers can take point on.”
    “ One could, but you will do
it.”
    Jada gazed from one of the men to
the other and felt the tension between them. Something told her
Ettore didn’t appreciate Renzo pulling rank, and Renzo wasn’t
going for what she’d noticed already as the lazy rich boy
attitude from Ettore. They faced off against each other, and she
would have no part of it. She tugged free of Renzo’s hold and
turned in time to spot their uncle headed in her direction. She
swallowed a groan. Even if there could be something long term between
her and Renzo, Gianni Mariani made her want to catch the next plane
back home just to avoid his evil.
    Gianni stopped a few steps from
the three of them. “I need to talk to you, Renzo.”
    “ That’s my cue. I’m
going to take care of some business of my own.” She stepped
around Gianni, but he reached out a hand to catch her arm. The grip
was tighter than necessary, and she glared at him. “Three
seconds.”
    His face reddened, and he dropped
his hand to his side. “I need to speak with both of you. This has to do with her, Renzo, if we can talk in your
office?”
    She rolled her eyes and followed
the two men into Renzo’s office. Glancing over her shoulder,
she saw that Ettore escaped out the front door, and she wished she
could join him. Unfortunately, Renzo guided her as if she were a
delicate flower to the couch against one wall and made sure of her
comfort before he took the seat behind his desk.
    “ What’s this about,
Uncle?”
    Gianni’s gaze swung from
Renzo to her and back again. He flipped his suit jacket back and
stuffed two fingers from each hand into his pockets. Jada smirked.
She assumed that said he meant business.
    “ You are not the only man
she was seeing in Venice,” Gianni announced.
    Silence reigned.
    “ Excuse me?” A vein
stood out on Renzo’s forehead.
    Jada longed for a glass of water
as her mouth had become the Sahara. She stared at Gianni, marveling
at the man’s gall, but then, he wasn’t lying. Not yet
anyway. When she turned her gaze to Renzo, it was to find him
watching her with a frown marring his handsome face. She flushed,
knowing he must have determined there was truth in his uncle’s
words. Still she remained silent.
    The triumph in Gianni’s
stance from her reaction was