My Masters' Nightmare Season 1, Episode 10 Stalked by Marita A. Hansen Read Free Book Online Page B

pants.”
    “ Mom ,” I hissed.
    “ Well, he is, and I don’t like the way he looks at
you.”
    “ How does he look at me?”
    “ With far too much interest.”
    I sat
up. “You think he’s interested in me?”
    “ He’s too old for you, Sophia, so don’t get any ideas, and you
would be a fool to get involved with an engaged man.”
    I shrank
back down in my seat, hating Frano’s fiancé. My gaze moved to Frano
as he paid the cashier. He turned and headed for us with his
brother.
    Frano held his hand out, indicating to Alberto. “Have you met
my brother, Signora Salvi?” he asked my mother.
    She shook Alberto’s extended hand. “ Sì , it’s nice to see you again,
Alberto.” She glanced at Frano. “I often see him at church with
your father. How come you don’t go?”
    “ I’m not particularly religious,” Frano answered, adding
another reason to the long list of why my mother didn’t like him.
She was a God-fearing woman, one who was highly critical of people
who didn’t bow down to the church.
    “ But, I hope you will still be getting married in the church,”
she said.
    His face
soured. “I will get married wherever I’m told. It’s an arranged
marriage, so it means nothing to me.”
    Her face
dropped. “You shouldn’t speak that way, marriage is
sacred.”
    “ It is when you are given the choice of who you want to
marry.” His eyes moved to me, freezing me in place. “Don’t you
agree, Sophia?”
    I
nodded.
    “ Sophia,” my mother snapped. “All marriages are
sacred.”
    I turned
my gaze to her. “But it’s not fair that he’s being made to marry
someone he doesn’t love.”
    “ Life isn’t fair,” she replied. She turned her annoyed gaze to
Alberto. “And how about you, Alberto? Have you got a special
someone that you would like to marry?”
    “ Sì , but it cannot work out.” Looking
upset, he brought his cake to his lips.
    “ Why’s that?” she asked.
    “ The person doesn’t like me.”
    “ What’s not to like about you? You’re a polite young man who
helped settle down your father when he wanted to attack my husband
over that horrid dispute. You are a fine son and a fine
businessman.”
    Alberto
sat up straight, a smile gracing his ugly face. I looked over at
Frano, who was staring down at his coffee. My mother’s words were a
slap in his face with the way she was being so nice to Alberto, yet
rude to him. I tapped his foot to make him look at me. He raised
his gaze with a question in his eyes. I mouthed, ‘Sorry” getting a
smile in reward. I smiled back. He tapped my foot, doing what I had
done to him, making my smile widen. I placed my foot on his and
pushed down, making him laugh.
    My
mother’s eyes shot to him. “What’s so funny?” she asked.
    “ Sophia pulled a funny face at me,” Frano said, moving his
foot out from under mine. A second later he ran it up my leg, but
without his shoe. I gasped, stunned at what he was doing. He
grinned at me, a mischievous twinkle in his eye telling me he was
enjoying my reaction.
    My
mother’s gaze shot to me, making me want to disappear. I could tell
she knew something was up, which wasn’t hard to guess considering I
was shaking from Frano’s touch.
    I jumped
up. “I need to go to the ladies,” I said, taking off out of the
café. I entered the restroom and went straight to a basin, praying
that my mother wasn’t going to lose her temper with
Frano.
    I
splashed water on my face, and looked in the mirror, seeing a plain
girl with red-brown hair. But Frano had touched me like a lover
would, which meant he must find me attractive. I leaned down and
ran a hand up my leg where his foot had brushed against my skin, my
body aching for so much more.
    The door
pushed open, catching my attention. My eyes widened at the sight of
Christo Donatelli. I went to scream, but he rushed me, clamping a
hand over my mouth. He shoved me into a bathroom stall and closed
the door behind us.
    He leaned his face down to mine, his