The Billionaire's Island Romance (The Romero Brothers, Book 3.5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

throat.

 
    *     *     *

 
    Arianna wasn’t prepared for the scene in
the hotel lobby. Her sandals made a soft sound as she hurried across the marble
floors of the grand lobby. Her father was at the front desk arguing with one of
the clerks.
    “Dad, what’s wrong?” Arianna asked,
breathless, as she approached the desk clerk.
    “Nothing. Nothing. I just wanted to know
why your mother was given the wrong lunch tray. She hates seafood.”
    Arianna’s heart sank. She felt her heart
crushing in her chest. Christian stood by her. She felt as if she could melt
into his arms. She needed support. “But, Dad, it has nothing to do with the
front desk clerk.”
    “It has everything to do with her.” Her old
man turned to her. His lips were pinched. “Your mother is allergic to
shellfish.” He was clearly distressed over the situation.
    “I know,” she said quietly.
    “So why did she get shellfish? Are they
trying to kill her?”
    “Dad, I’m sure it was a simple, honest
mistake. I will take care of it, okay? I’ll speak with the head chef. Louise,
is Frank in charge today?” Arianna turned to the desk clerk.
    “Yes, ma’am. Should I call him?”
    “No. I will speak with him later. I’ll go
to the kitchen myself.”
    Louise smiled slightly and nodded. “Yes,
ma’am.”
    “Oh, hello there. Christian, right?” Mr.
Duponte turned to Christian, extending his hand.
    “Yes, sir. We meet again.”
    “Yes, we do. I’ve been asking Arianna here
about you. Her mother and I have been asking about you actually. You didn’t
even get a chance to meet my wife yet, did you?”
    “Not yet, sir. No.” Christian looked
uncomfortable for a moment. Arianna drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes
momentarily before opening them again. Christian had seen her father on several
occasions, briefly, but not her mother. In fact, her father had invited them to
dinner but that was when Arianna decided it was time to call it quits. She just
didn’t want Christian to know everything…yet.
    “Why don’t you join us now? For lunch. It’s,” Mr. Duponte said, glancing at his watch, “quarter
to twelve. We can have lunch early. We live on the second floor. We also have a
cottage over by the west side. It’s all part of the hotel, you know.”
    “I know,” Christian said with a warmth befalling his expression. It appeared that
Christian understood that her father was…a bit moody at times, even forgetful.
Christian seemed quite good about the situation. Arianna was ever so watchful,
especially of her father. She’d always been protective in regards to her
parents, but Christian seemed okay in dealing with her father’s severe mood
swings. Her dad was in his sixties. Her parents had her in their forties after years of trying. Her mother had just turned forty when Arianna
was born. It had been a miracle for her.
    “Listen, Dad. We can all get together some
other time. Not now.”
    “Aren’t you going to come and see if your mother’s
alright?”
    “Yes. I’ll be there soon. Did she eat any
of the fish?”
    “No. Thank God I was there.” He shook his
head, tears in his eyes.
    Arianna had to always keep in mind that her
father was elderly. He’d suffered with a bout of dementia at one point in his
life, but things got better after that. Then…her parents went on a trip to
Europe on some Mediterranean island. It all went down hill after that. Things
were never the same again.
    “Well, I’m going to go back to the room to
make sure she’s okay,” her father said.
    “Okay, Dad.”

 
    “Your father’s looking a little lost these
days. Everything okay, dear niece?” A tall, heavy-set man wearing a black
shirt, black shorts, and shades walked up to her. She hadn’t noticed that he
was sitting in the lobby when she went to see her dad. His face lacked empathy.
His voice was cold and bitter.
    Shivers ran down her spine and not the good
kind, either.
    “Uncle Ned,” she said in a low voice. “I
didn’t