The Costarella Conquest by Emma Darcy Read Free Book Online Page A

down and glared at the curiosity in his eyes. ‘How many brownie points did you get for telling my father we were meeting for dinner tonight?’
    â€˜Ah!’ He made a rueful grimace. ‘I didn’t offer the information, Laura. He asked me directly if I was seeing you again. Did you want me to lie about it?’
    She was unappeased. ‘I bet you knew he wouldask. That’s why you called me when you did. Before you left work yesterday.’
    He cocked his head on one side, the dark brown eyes challenging her stance on this issue. ‘I thought you were determined on not having your father rule your life.’
    â€˜He doesn’t.’
    â€˜He’s influencing your attitude towards me right now.’
    â€˜Because you told him.’
    He shook his head. ‘You should make decisions for yourself, Laura, regardless of what anyone else knows or says. You made yours yesterday. Why let him change what you want? You’ve brought him here with you instead of moving to your own beat.’
    She frowned, realising she had let her father ruin all her pleasure in anticipating this date. Although how could she be excited over being used?
    â€˜What about you? Are you here for me or for him?’ she asked, watching for any shiftiness in his eyes.
    He grinned a wickedly sexy grin. ‘When I was watching you walk to this table, I can assure you I was not thinking of your father.’
    Heat bloomed in her cheeks at the provocative statement. She lifted her chin, defying the desire he wanted her to share. ‘I decided to flaunt what you weren’t going to get.’
    â€˜Decisions, decisions,’ he mocked, gesturing an appeal. ‘Can we leave your father out of them for therest of this evening? Just enjoy all there is to enjoy just between ourselves?’
    He was very appealing.
    The man had everything—looks, intelligence, the sexiest eyes in the world, and he was undermining her prejudice at a rate of knots. Nevertheless, she couldn’t quite set aside an ulterior motive for this date with her. On the other hand, why shouldn’t she take pleasure in being with him, move her father to the sidelines, denying him any power to influence the play between her and Jake? After all, she was the one with the power to decide how far she would get involved with this man.
    She gave him a hard look of warning. ‘As long as it’s kept between ourselves, I’m happy to take a more positive attitude towards you.’
    â€˜And I’m happy to be your secret lover,’ he replied, his eyes dancing with unholy teasing.
    Her heart performed a somersault. ‘I didn’t say anything about becoming lovers.’
    â€˜Just assuring you that private moments will be kept private.’ He opened up his menu. ‘Let’s salivate over what’s on offer together. Did you see that the hottest dishes are printed in red?’
    He was the hottest dish.
    Laura dragged her mind off visualising him as her lover and reopened her menu. ‘I prefer spicy to hot, hot,’ she said, looking at the list of entrées.
    â€˜Okay. We cross out the red print ones.’
    â€˜You don’t have to. Choose whatever you like.’
    â€˜There’s so much to like, it will be better if we can share, don’t you think? Have a taste of each other’s choices? Broaden the experience?’
    Sharing the taste… Laura’s stomach curled. It sounded intimate. It was intimate. And suddenly she didn’t care about other agendas. She wanted this experience with him.
    â€˜Great idea!’ she said, and allowed herself to smile.
    His eyes twinkled with pleasure, completely dissipating the anger she had carried to this meeting.
    â€˜You’re incredibly beautiful when you smile,’ he remarked. ‘I hope I can make you smile all evening for the sheer pleasure of looking at you.’
    She laughed. ‘No chance! I’m going to be busy