An Inconvenient Love (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free PDF

position. “Love of children and love of a good man are two entirely different things. Still, it’s a big risk. What if he turns out to be an axe murderer, or even worse, lousy in bed?”
    Sophia’s tree pose collapsed as she burst into laughter. “Olivia, you have the most bizarre priorities.” She could always trust her friend to look at things from a different angle, especially when she was upside down.
    “That doesn’t answer whether he’s good in bed.” Olivia winked before resuming her concerned expression.
    “Well, I don’t have anyone to compare him to, do I? So it’s a moot point.”
    A mischievous grin split her friend’s face. “I think you should sample his wares, especially if he’s as delicious as you describe.”
    “What makes you think I didn’t?”
    This time Olivia crumpled onto her mat in laughter. “I know you, my friend. If you’d shagged him, you wouldn’t be so casually discussing his financial assets.”
    “He didn’t make any moves on me,” Sophia confessed. “After he walked me home, he just kissed me on the cheek and said goodnight.” For the first time in her life she’d felt protected. Someone cared enough to see her safely home. It was an intoxicating sensation.
    “He’s not gay, is he? Is this marriage an elaborate ruse to hide his homosexuality from his family?” The look of horror on Olivia’s face had Sophia laughing again.
    “He’s not gay. He was being a gentleman.” She ignored Olivia’s snort. “He told me up front he wants children, so there will be sex at some point in the marriage.” She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation, in public.
    “And what do you, my virginal friend, think of that?”
    “I, uh, I try not to,” she lied. Truth was she’d thought of little else, especially after each phone call from Luca over the past two weeks. Must be something about his voice, so intimate in her ear, that stirred the woman in her. “I plan to lie back and think of England.”
    “Sweetie, if you can think at all, then it’s no good,” Olivia replied. “Seriously, you know nothing about Luca’s life in Italy. What if he says he’s this important property developer, but he really lives in a bedsit and expects you to earn your keep?”
    “I looked him up on the Internet. Plus, my boss has known him a long time. Mr. Bodman said Luca is honorable, trustworthy, and considered a pillar of the Italian property development business.” In fact, Mr. Bodman had waxed lyrical on Luca’s virtues for some time.
    Olivia put her hand on Sophia’s again. “So you’re really getting married on Thursday?”
    “Yes, the sixteen-day waiting period will be up then. Luca is coming over in the morning, and we’re flying to Milan in the afternoon. It’s just going to be a small registry office wedding followed by lunch. I’m hoping you’ll act as my witness?”
    “Of course I will. You know I’ll always be there for you. Is your family coming?”
    “You’re all the family I need.”
    “Sophia, you’re getting married. Don’t you think your parents have a right to know?”
    “No. They gave up their right to know what was happening in my life long ago.” She shifted on her mat.
    Olivia tilted her head to one side. “What about James? You still see your brother occasionally.”
    Sophia shook her head. “If I tell James, he’ll feel obligated to tell my parents or my sister. I’ve let him know I’m taking a job in Italy and will be sending him money to finish his college course. I’ll introduce the family to Luca when I think the time is right.” She crossed her arms over her chest and considered getting on the elliptical to work off the surge of adrenaline racing through her.
    Olivia opened her mouth but appeared to change her mind about what she was going to say. “Well, if you need another witness, Stuart is available. He lost his job again.”
    Sophia raised her eyebrows but didn’t make any further comment. Olivia’s boyfriends