Falling for Italy Read Online Free PDF Page B

playing with dolls and pink teddy bears like our neighbors’ little girls, etcetera…”
    He burst out laughing, running a hand over his face.
    “Wow! That was…precise. I gather people often wonder about your career choice. Why is that?”
    “I ask myself that every time. I guess most people still believe the lil’ women should be trained to be perfect housewives, raise kiddies and bake cookies all their lives.”
    “You don’t agree?”
    “Hell, no! Do you?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement and defiance.
    “No way. I’m a modern man, Sonia.”
    “Modern enough to fear marriage and children?” she scorned playfully.
    “Correction—rational enough to…cautiously avoid that sort of thing. At least for now. I don’t have anything against it by principle. Just haven’t felt the need as yet.”
    He waited a beat and asked, “Have you?”
    She thought it over for a while, chewing slowly the last doughnut.
    “No, not seriously. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able or ready to be a good mother. As for marriage, the routine of it scares me. I’m not a party girl, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to wake up next to the same man every day, forever. That’s the word that scares me. Forever. I wouldn’t want to do anything forever. Take motherhood for instance, if it doesn’t work, how the hell can you undo it? You have to stick all your life with someone you don’t know if you want or like.”
    “Interesting point of view. I guess I’ve never thought of it like this. I used to be a party boy.” He grinned sheepishly. “But lately I’ve settled down some, bought a house, adopted a dog…”
    She looked at him dubiously. “Wow. Looks like you’re all prepared for the next step in this domesticity thing. I got a plant,” she put in brightly. “I nearly killed it, but it’s still green. Maybe I’ll get a puppy. I really love animals. And my job isn’t so time demanding as it used to be.”
    “A plant,” he repeated grimly. “I suppose now’s the time to encourage you and say that’s a good start.”
    She laughed out loud until tears almost came into her eyes. When she could speak again, she told him, “God, I haven’t had so much fun in…I can’t even remember. You’re a fun guy, Giovanni. I like you.”
    He smiled insinuatingly.
    “I like you too. Very much.”
    He slid his hand across the table to touch hers. When she didn’t protest, he slowly linked his fingers with hers. This apparently innocent touch had shivers of pleasure and lust rippling through her, as she stood lost in the dark depths of his eyes.
    “Linda and Gerard are having a party tomorrow,” he said in a low, evocative voice. “An extravagant thing—a masquerade party. I’d really like for you to come.”
    She felt as though in a trance, but at his words she blinked.
    “A masquerade party? In this century?”
    His teeth flashed in a quick smile.
    “I told you it was a bit extravagant. I like the idea though.”
    She thought it over for a moment, and a feline smile spread across her face.
    “I like it too. I’d love to come. I’ve never been to this sort of thing in my life.”
    “Neither have I. Should be interesting. It’s a modern sort of thing, not with historical costumes or stuff like that. Give me your address so I can pick you up. The party starts at eight.”
    “Forget it,” she said. “I won’t have you driving around London all day to find me, just so you’d end up lost and miss the party. You give me your sister’s address. I’ll drive myself there.”
    His brow creased.
    “No way. I’m a gentleman, Sonia, and a gentleman collects his date right from her door. Besides, the party isn’t at Linda’s house. They’ve rented a restaurant or club.”
    “Impressive! But the bottom line stays. You’ll still be a gentleman if I come alone. No arguments. Or don’t you want me to come?”
    His eyelids seemed lazily heavy, but the enticing sparkle in his eyes was very much