Best Laid Plans Read Online Free PDF Page A

cocktail?”
    “That’s not what I asked.”
    “I’d have a cocktail first, if I were you.”
    With a sigh, she picked something that looked fruity and was probably more lethal than anything else. As soon as their order was taken, Francesca started again.
    “Was it on a bus? Did I fall over in a gym? Did you fall over in a gym? Was I roasted at a comedy gig? Did I throw popcorn at you in the cinema?”
    “You do that? On a regular basis? That’s how you generally meet people?”
    She shrugged. “More sociable that way.” Her eyes suddenly narrowed on him with a thought. “Are you a police officer?”
    Luca wondered if he’d visibly paled. “No. Why?”
    “Then maybe you saw it in the paper.”
    “What?”
    Francesca accepted her tall pink-coloured glass and stirred it aimlessly with her straw. “My ex-boyfriend tried to have me convicted for smashing a glass bowl over his head...”
    Of course I’m in love with a woman who has a violent temper. Why wouldn’t history repeat itself?
    “...only seven stitches and in my defence, he was going to hit me again, so...” She paused and took her bottom lip into her mouth. “It’s best you know now.”
    “You defended yourself and you think I’m going to leave?” he asked. “Did any of that glass hit you in the head?”
    She gawped at him for a moment before bursting out laughing. It was the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard. “It, er,” she swallowed a giggle, “it tends to send normal men running screaming into the night. They think I’m going to emasculate them.”
    “With a glass bowl,” he added. “What makes you think I’m not normal?”
    “You’re still here, aren’t you?”
    “I am. That would be because I have no intention of laying a finger on you in anger.”
    He felt her gaze on him. “I’m not into BDSM. Not like that anyway. I don’t like blood. Just in case you thought the hitting with the glass bowl was a regular thing. I used to own some pretty dodgy things, but before professionals started digging around, it was best I got rid. Jesus, lord, what the hell is in this drink?”
    “Truth serum apparently,” Luca drawled, taking the cocktail from her, placing his lips exactly where her lipstick had left an earthy rose stain to take a drink. For a moment, he had the briefest vision of her leaving the same rosy stain on his cock. He sipped a little faster than intended to calm himself. It was a girly drink. Too much fruit and sugar…oh, and the alcohol punched him in the back of the throat. “Vodka. And a lot of it.”
    “Unintentional drunk,” Francesca said brightly. “You can add that to your list when you name this as the disastrous date of all disastrous dates.”
    “Francesca, I’m going to ask you this only one time. Stop it. You know exactly what I’m talking about,” he talked over her when she parted her lips to protest. “I think you are beautiful and sharp and your sense of humour is more than fucked up. If no one else finds that attractive, that’s all the better for me. It’s saving lives.”
    She shook her head. “I’m serious—where did you come from? Where have you been hiding? I could’ve done with that pep talk last year.”
    Her little outburst gave him free reign to take her hand in his and squeeze gently. “Hiding in a kitchen. Perfecting cooking sud vide .” Trying not to go mad. “Can we eat now? I’m starving. I feel food is a good idea.”
    “I tend to be more sensible after food,” she replied, rubbing her thumb over his fingers.
    “I doubt that, nice try though.” The smile she sent him was a reward that could never be given any financial value.
    “Do you want to talk about normal stuff then?”
    “How will we talk about you then?”
    “Oh ho, comedian in the house! You won’t find it so funny when we’re talking about what TV show you’re most likely to end up on.”
    “Easy, BBC News.”
    She nodded. “Same.”
    He lifted her hand and gave it a lingering kiss. “Best