The Roman's Woman (A Singular Obsession Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

simple wire-rimmed glasses were the most remarkable eyes—long midnight lashes framing irises the color of honey in sunlight. But his attractiveness wasn’t the most compelling thing about him. It was the way he looked at her, so earnestly, like she was the most interesting person in the world. That expression, coupled with his bright boyish smile, was completely disarming.
    Gio was nothing like she pictured. He was clean-cut and fresh looking, as if the heat didn’t affect him at all. In contrast, she was covered in a sheen her mother would have generously described as a “glow,” when in reality she was a sweaty mess.
    He was also a lot younger than she’d assumed. From Kelly’s description, she’d imagined a swarthy man in his forties or early fifties. But this man couldn’t have been more than mid-thirties, and he was almost fair for an Italian. With his wire-framed glasses, he looked more like a really attractive accountant, or someone she’d work with in the lab.
    Someone you would have a mad crush on.
    It was disconcerting, this instantaneous and visceral reaction to a stranger. Sternly chastising herself for her wayward thoughts, she tried to nip his flirting in the bud. He obviously tried to charm everyone—it was his bread and butter, after all. She couldn’t take this offer of dinner seriously. Although it was tempting…
    His gaze was direct, looking at her with obvious appreciation when in reality there was little for him to find attractive. She was wearing a loose t-shirt with boxy khaki shorts that disguised her big body as much as possible.
    She had learned long ago that wearing form-fitting clothes tended to attract the wrong kind of attention. Skinny women and a good number of men gave her a look when they caught an unencumbered view of her full bust and the exaggerated curves of her hips and ass.
    Sophia would never be a size six, and she was okay with that. Most of the time. But there were moments when she’d catch a sly whisper or sideways glance full of judgement, and she’d cringe with something close to shame. Which was stupid. She couldn’t help her body type. God knows she exercised and ate right. But no Pilates class or diet could diminish her curves, no matter how hard she tried.
    Kelly kept telling her that the Kardashians had made rear ends like her's popular, but she couldn’t bring herself to believe it. The unending criticism from her father, Jorge, about her weight coupled with her recent break up had ensured that. But Gio appeared to see through her camouflage, his appreciation obvious. It was a definite boost to her confidence after the way things ended with Richard. And she was supposed to get that survey form filled out.
    She reluctantly agreed to have a quick meal with him before her train, but he wouldn’t hear of it.
    “Florence is a quick ride away, and the meals at Tratto Stivale are unforgettable,” he said, insisting that he had nothing better to do than go to another city to have dinner with her.
    “I’m not sure how I feel about you going all the way to Florence just for dinner. And it would be just dinner,” she stressed, one brow raised for emphasis.
    Gio gave her another boyish grin. “Of course it would only be dinner. And I have family in Florence. It would be a good excuse to see my aunt. I have to speak to her, anyway,” he said, a shadow crossing his face for a moment before his expression cleared.
    Biting her lip, she stared at him indecisively for a minute. She couldn’t argue when he was going to visit family, could she?
    Gio put his forearms on the table and leaned forward. “After dinner, I’ll take you to the best gelato place in Florence, possibly all of Italy.”
    Huffing out a laugh, Sophia finally agreed.
    They left the cafe and headed for the train station, detouring briefly to pick up her suitcase. He didn’t do the same. He hadn’t seemed bothered by the idea of spending the night in another town without a change of clothes, which