Dirty Little Secrets Read Online Free PDF

just the faintest flecks of grey in his inky black hair, but his gaze remained the same. Hungry. Hungry for her even after all these years.
    “Are you sure that would be appropriate?” Ava asked with false politeness.
    “Ava. You’re Joseph’s widow. What could possibly be wrong with a hug between in-laws?”
    She raised a brow at him. There was no desire in her to be anywhere near her brother-in-law, much less touch him.
    Just give him the hug, Ava. Don’t let him feel like he can intimidate you. You’re not the same scared little girl he met so long ago.
    Slowly, Ava rose. Taking her time, she smoothed down the skirt of her dress before walking around her desk to where her brother-in-law stood. His hungry gaze devoured her.
    Angelo opened his arms and she moved into them. His arms closed around her, holding her much closer than she liked. She could feel the bulge of his erection pressing against her. Ava’s hands barely touched his back as they hugged. She fought her gag reflex as she felt his nose brush her neck.
    “You smell so good.”
    “Thank you,” Ava said, quickly stepping out of his embrace.
    He raised a brow, before his eyes moved up and down her body.
    “After all these years, you’re still a looker. Hottest piece of ass Joseph ever had.”
    The dormant knot of tension in Ava’s neck flared to life. She resisted the urge to reach up and massage her neck.
    “That’s how you refer to your brother’s widow? A hot piece of ass?” Ava asked.
    She turned her back on Angelo and walked back to her desk, trying her best to get her emotions under control. Angelo Martelli got under her skin. He always had and she was pretty sure he always would.
    “You know I didn’t mean anything by that. Take it as a compliment.”
    “I can assure you that there are more flattering terms you could have used to compliment me, but what can I expect? After all you’re just an old-school Italian. You don’t know any better.”
    Sitting down, Ava crossed her legs, a genuine smile on her face. A small frown turned down the corners of Angelo’s face. She’d hit a nerve. Good. He sat down in the chair in front of her desk. From the way he tugged on the collar of his suit, she was sure that facing him as an equal and not just as simply a woman was something he wasn’t used to and certainly didn’t appreciate. Too damn bad.
    “Please forgive my ignorance. Things were a lot different in my day. The things we said. The things we did.”
    “I’m sure. So tell me what brings you by? This is your first time at my office, isn’t it?”
    “Yeah, it is. I’m glad I came. Joseph talked so much about it. How proud he was of you for starting your own business. A real powerhouse broad, he called you.”
    “I’ll always be grateful to him for allowing me to run my business. I don’t think most men in this life would’ve approved.”
    “You’d be right about that. In past times a woman belonged in the bedroom or the kitchen, but never outside the home and certainly not owning a business. It was unheard of.”
    “Well thank God for modern times. So you’re here because…”
    “Do I need an excuse to stop by and check in on my sister-in-law? Joseph is barely in his grave… I wanted to see how you and Maia are getting along.”
    “Maia and I are well. Thanks for asking.”
    “That’s good. I was wondering how Maia was adjusting with her father being gone.”
    “She’s doing better than can be expected, but Maia’s resilient. She reminds me so much of her father. Speaking of Joseph, I’m glad you stopped by. There’s something I need to ask you.”
    “Sure. I’m all ears.”
    Do you really want Angelo in your business? The answer to that was a firm no. But she needed answers or at least to know what she was dealing with. And she was sure that Angelo knew where all the bodies were buried so to speak.
    “Did Joseph have a son?”
    The question hung in the air between them. Angelo’s fingers formed a steeple over