Her Sicilian Arrangement by Hannah-Lee Hitchman Read Free Book Online Page A

of how loudly she had actually done the act. What next? She
thought. Why did his mother have to be a school teacher? She was
trying to get over her insecurities but how could she do that if
every second that passed by, there was something that reminded her
of those heartrending memories? But could she really get over her
vulnerabilities if she did not at least face them? “I am sorry…is
there something in what I said?” He sat upwards and examined her
closely.
    “ Never mind. Sorry…my mind is just not here!” she chuckled
oddly and pointed at her temple. “Workaholic!”
    “Hmmn,” he murmured and then rung for the waiter. The man
appeared almost instantly with a tray. “ Grazie , Francesco.”
    “Prego, Signor ,” he replied with a courteous nod of his head and then looked
at Meagan. “Signora…” She nodded at him and he smiled. He then
glanced mysteriously at Marco, who returned a hysterical shrug.
“ Questo qui…una
belleza !” he
murmured to Marco.
    She
looked at both of them curiously and then saw Marco smile, saying,
“ Moltissimo! ”
    And
Francesco chuckled, clearing the table and then leaving the room
again. Marco stood at that moment and then walked over to the phone
again.
    “ I’m
not stupid…I know you were talking about me,” she snapped at him,
jumping to her feet as well.
    “Sí . Francesco
was simply…expressing his opinion on your beauty.”
    “ Beauty?” she queried as if she thought he was
lying.
    “ Yes…you act surprised. Why so?”
    “ Where will my room be?” she only said after a long
silence.
    “Down the hall… The first door on the right.”
    “Thank you.” And she left the living-dining room; walking
stiffly and chin high, looking like a proud peacock. Marcos eyes
followed her fondly until she exited and then averted them to the
number pad on the phone. He dialed his brother’s number, pulled in
a deep breath and then placed the phone to his ear as it rang
once…twice—
    “ Felípe…,” he greeted his older brother’s voice, in Italian, as
soon as he heard it.
    “ Marco? Where are you?”
    “ I
have some business to care of on my yacht.”
    “ Business?”
    “ Yes. It is very important.”
    “ If
you say so then I am sure it is.”
    Marco swallowed lowly and then sighed. “How is
mother?”
    “ Mother is the usual…cheerful. We are at the family house…she
keeps asking for you but I don’t know what to tell her. We haven’t
seen you in months. She’s very worried especially after the
allegations brought against you.”
    “ I
know…I just want some time to myself. And María?”
    “ She
looks as beautiful as ever. She is here too…but her little rascal
loves to bite!” he chuckled.
    Marco laughed. “That is all good to hear.” He then closed his
eyes for a couple seconds and continued. “And how is
father?”
    “He
is recovering well from his stroke. In fact, he asked for you only
last evening.” Now that surprised Marco more than anything else. He
and Torre Mussolini had never gotten along since he had reached his
twenty-second birthday and had decided to refuse the family
business of running the vineyards. Torre hadn’t spoken to him since
then and Marco had kept himself at a distance to avoid any form of
contention.
    “ You
are being untruthful, Felípe.”
    “ I
assure you, I am not. Why don’t you come by the family house?
Everyone is already here anyway…”
    “ I’m
not sure I can,” he remarked, turning to look in the direction of
Meagan’s room.
    “ Do
it for mother, at least.”
    Marco sighed and then ran his fingers through his proficiently
styled hair. “Alright. I will see if I can be there by the next
break of day.”
    “Splendid! We shall see you then.” Marco sighed and then hung
up. He could not believe that he had just agreed to go back to
their family house…to face a father that had hated him for nine
years. He was a man who was grown well to honour his parents no
matter what. And that is why he had