An Inconvenient Love (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

invariably turned out to be losers, but she’d have to wait for her friend to come to that realization herself.
    “As long as he can spell his name, that’s all I need.”
    Olivia glanced at the clock on the gym wall. “I better go. I’ve got to be up early tomorrow and if I show up with bags under my eyes I’ll never hear the end of it. What time on Thursday? Unless you come to your senses in the meantime.”
    “I am being sensible, and nine o’clock at my flat.”
    Sophia hugged her friend tightly. They’d saved each other’s lives—no marriage would come between that bond. But she had to look to the future … and bury her past.
    • • •
    Thursday was bright and clear, and for once Sophia got out of bed even before her alarm went off, rather than hitting the snooze button two or three times. She was barely out of the shower when the buzzer to her flat sounded. It couldn’t be Olivia, as she had a key and would let herself in. A shiver raced up her spine at the thought it might be Luca, but he would be more than an hour early. She pulled on a short satin dressing gown—another second-hand store find like the dresses she wore to work—and hurried to answer the door.
    A courier stood on the step with two large boxes, a clipboard, and a smile spreading across his face, no doubt at the sight of her scantily clad body. After signing the delivery slip, she raced back upstairs to her flat and hastily opened the biggest box first.
    Inside was the most beautiful wedding gown she’d ever seen. It was Grecian in style, sleeveless with inch wide straps and a V at the front and back. There was a band of crystals just under the bust, then it fell in soft waves of ivory silk to the floor. At the bottom of the box was a pair of silver, strappy sandals with three-inch heels. The second box contained a fabulous bouquet of red roses, which filled the room with a lovely scent.
    As she was holding the dress up to herself, remarking on the perfect fit, Olivia opened the door and stepped through.
    “Wow, that dress is exquisite! Where on earth did you get the money for that?”
    “Luca sent it, along with a wedding bouquet. Isn’t it fabulous?”
    “With a dress like that, if you don’t marry him, I will.” Olivia teasingly pulled the dress out of her hands and held it up to herself.
    “If you wear it, you’ll need a police escort,” Sophia replied, pointing out her friend’s more ample assets.
    “Come on. Let’s doll you up. Luca will hardly recognize you when he arrives.”
    “As we’ve only seen each other three times, he may not recognize me anyway,” she said wryly. She sat down on a cardboard box so Olivia could brush out her hair and put it up.
    “Does that mean I could knock you out and take your place, and he wouldn’t notice?”
    She looked at Olivia in the mirror. As her closest friend and better than family, Sophia would deny her nothing. Except the man who was soon to be her husband. Luca was her best chance at a better life and she had to seize it.
    A large roller suitcase and a small carry-on bag stood by the door. A few cardboard boxes were stacked in a corner. Sophia’s shelves were bare of the little knick-knacks that had made the small flat home. “The rent is paid up to the end of the month, and I told the landlord that you would take the boxes away,” she said.
    “So this is really it. You’re going and not coming back.” Olivia’s voice caught on the last word.
    “Please, Olivia. No tears today. Today is for celebration. It’s a new start.”
    “Let’s get you gorgeous for your new start, then.” Olivia wiped her hand across her cheek, then set to work.
    She swept Sophia’s hair up in a loose twist, with curls at her temples and along her nape, and one long curl nestled in the back V of her dress, making it look like it had come loose in a passionate embrace. Sophia generally wore very little makeup—a dusting of eye shadow and a bit of mascara—but Olivia made her eyes seem