Turn Towards the Sun Read Online Free PDF Page A

I like Italian.
    “I do.” I keep my dirty thoughts to myself. I try not to look at him, not wanting his sultry good looks to distract me.
    “Ava, that’s an Italian name, no?”
    “Yes. It was my grandmother’s name, on my mom’s side. She was from Italy.”
    “Oh?” He turns towards me. “What part?”
    “Calabria. In the South.”
    He stops walking. Crap, what did I say? He swings towards me and grabs my shoulders.
    “My family is from Calabria.” He grins like a five-year-old on Christmas day. I look away from his intense stare.
    He releases me. “Excuse me, Ava. I get excited when I think of Italy.”
    “No problem.”
    Wipe the stupid grin off your face Ava.
    “Come on, dinner.” We continue walking and reach the restaurant’s open-air patio. I look up and see its name, Milano. Hmm, no ego there.
    “Come Ava.” He ushers me through the door. At the front, a perky young brunette in a black dress greets us.
    “Enzo!” She squeals and throws her arms around his neck.
    She’s very friendly with him . Wonder if she’s been through this game with him.
    Jealous already Ava?
    “Ciao Silvia.” H e kisses her on both cheeks then pulls my arm towards him to introduce me.
    “This is Ava. Ava, Sylvia.”
    She smiles at me and grins. “Welcome to Milano Ava.” Did she just wink at me?
    I return her smile. “Pleased to meet you.”
    “Sylvia is my darling niece. My first. She’s s tarting her last year of college in August. I’m so proud of her.” Enzo softly pinches her cheek.
    Oh niece. Got it.
    Sylvia brushes his hand away. “Zio, you’re embarrassing me.” She giggles, obviously fond of her uncle.
    “Your table Enzo?” She asks.
    Enzo doesn’t reply and simply nods. Sylvia walks us towards a corner overlooking the massive courtyard. A waterfall gushes in the background, its tropical design could make one easily forget we are in the middle of a desert.
    Enzo holds out my chair for me. “Was the room to your liking Miss Bradshaw?”
    Why does he insist on calling me Miss Bradshaw? I find it very annoying. It seems like some sort of power play to me, and I don’t like it.
    “As I stated previously, I found it to be very nice Mr. Milano.”
    “I like the way my name sounds in your mouth Ava.”
    Is he flirting with me? As attractive as he is , I really don’t want him to think he can simply have his way with me in repayment. I should make it clear that’s not how this is going to play out.
    I watch how his body moves as he sits. He’s so hot though and I’m so lonely. Maybe just once, I could— No! I must stick to my plan.
    “I’d like to reimburse you for the room Enzo.”
    “Would you now? Well, it’s $395 a night plus tax.”
    Seriously? Four hundred bucks a night. I’m sure I went pale.
    He laughs. “Listen Ava, I do not expect nor would I accept repayment. I’m extending you this hospitality simply because I want to.” He leans across the table, close to my face. “I expect nothing in return. Relax and enjoy dinner.”
    I could think of a hundred adjectives for this man but dull isn’t one of them.
    A man wearing a chef’s jacket approaches our table. Enzo stands and hugs the man, briefly kissing him on both cheeks. Ah , so very Italian.
    “Ciao fratello. Come stai?” Enzo is speaking Italian. A little thrill courses through me. That is sexy.
    “Tutto bene, sto bene. Tu?”
    I’m grinning like an idiot, staring at them as they speak.
    “ Bene, bene. Ava, this is the chef and my brother , Paulo. Paulo, my new friend Ava.”
    Paolo extends his hand. “Pleased to meet you Ava.” He says, in even thicker accented English. Studying him, I see a resemblance but notice he is shorter and heavier set than Enzo. But he has the same sterling blue eyes and thick black hair. They continue their conversation in Italian for a moment. From what I can tell, they are discussing the menu. I watch Enzo’s hands move through the air as he speaks, his demeanor considerably softer and