The American Contessa Read Online Free PDF Page B

her with a look of “do you think
I’m stupid?” and Gaby was compelled to answer.
    “I
guess, just a case of instant dislike on first sight,” she shrugged, hoping
that was explanation enough.   “The guy
just rubbed me the wrong way.”
    “Well,”
Carmina sighed. “You certainly put Luca in his place.”  
    “Water
off a duck’s back if you ask me. I just hope to avoid him from now on.”   Hardly a possibility if she wanted to get
back in the Villa; but she’d work out the logistics later.
    Carmina
laughed. “Oh Gaby,” she smiled. “If we’re to be friends, avoiding Luca is
easier said than done.”
    “Huh?”
    “You
see,” Carmina answered. “Luca is my brother.”

CHAPTER
FIVE

    Another
sleepless night!   Gaby could hear the
clock on the mantel of the marble fireplace tick away the hours.   After leaving the Villa, she and Carmina
decided against going dancing at a nightclub and instead had gone to a local
bar for an espresso.
    They
had talked and laughed for three straight hours and found themselves fast
friends.   Could she really take the
necklace now?   The thought of carrying
out her Grandfather’s scheme was getting harder and harder to stomach now that
she personally knew the individuals involved.   But the reality of the financial obligations waiting for her back in the
States weighed heavily on her mind.
    Her
thoughts wandered to the disagreeable Count Luca Manetti. How could he and
Carmina be brother and sister? They were so different.   Carmina was the epitome of kindness and
likeability.   Luca Manetti was … well, he
was nothing if not a complete jackass.  
    Avoiding
him was going to be a difficult.   Firstly, he was Carmina’s brother.   And secondly, her admittance into the Villa depended on her getting
close to the family.   The thought of
getting close to the Count was unnerving, to say the least.   Luckily, he disliked her intensely and the
feeling was immeasurably and decidedly mutual.
    What
was with all the men she was meeting?   First David Whittaker, and now the Count.    The old adage that beauty is only skin deep
came to mind when thinking of them.   She
didn’t expect perfection in anyone, but they were so far from it, it was
disheartening.
    Gaby
turned over in bed and punched her pillow.   She was getting in way too deep.   She needed to concentrate on getting the necklace and getting the hell
out of Italy as quickly as possible.   Although she genuinely liked Carmina, she mustn’t lose sight of why
she’d come to Florence.

CHAPTER
SIX

    Luca
tapped his finely manicured fingers on the table.   Anna Maria was droning on and on excitedly
about the start of fashion week in Milano.  
    Perusing
the menu and tuning her out, Luca thought how differently the evening before
could have ended, had the American been more disposed to his charm.  
    Luca
closed his eyes and frowned.   His pants
grew tight at the image of Gabriella in his bed.   He imagined her voice crying his name over
and over as he made her writhe in a frenzy.   Her anger excited and stimulated him and she was unquestionably a
challenge worth undertaking.    To be
sure, he had no idea why she seemed to despise him with such intensity, but the
thought of all that energy and fire ignited his craving for her as no other
woman had ever done.  
    He
looked over at Anna Maria.   Of course,
she didn’t deserve to be treated in such a manner.   She really was a spectacular looking woman
who could have any man she wanted.   Why
on earth she wanted him, he had no idea?  
    Anna
Maria knew damn well that she was asking for more than he could give
emotionally.    So he really should feel
no remorse on his end.   But he’d used her
body the previous evening without thinking how she may have misconstrued
it.   What she had interpreted last night
as unrestrained passion on his part, was merely the result of the frustration
and desire for who he had really wanted.   He had pounded her soft