Read Online An Inconvenient Love (Crimson Romance) by Alexia Adams - Free Book Online
Authors: Alexia Adams
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she checked her watch, surprised to discover it was already four o’clock. She managed to make her way back to the old church, but from there she had no idea which of the twisty streets led back to the house. Wandering down a few roads, she searched for something familiar. Her feet were sore and her mouth parched. Intending just a quick exploration of the village, she hadn’t thought to bring her purse, so she couldn’t even purchase a drink.
She went into a café and asked if anyone knew the way to Villa Castellioni, the name that she had seen printed on the outside of the gate to the house. Unfortunately, Sophia couldn’t understand the directions the proprietress gave her.
“Are you trying to find Villa Castellioni?” a deep male voice asked. She turned around to discover a tall, blonde man with sky-blue eyes.
“Yes, do you know it?” She was grateful to find someone who spoke English at least.
“Is it that beautiful, big house just outside the village that was renovated last year?”
“I guess so. I mean, I know it was renovated recently. I only came here yesterday, so I’m not familiar with all the houses in the area,” she replied.
“Jonathan Davis,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m fixing up a place not too far from that villa. If you want, I can give you a lift.”
“I am Sophia Stevens—I mean Sophia Castellioni,” she corrected herself. “Sorry, I was married yesterday. I’m still getting used to the name change.”
“Married yesterday and your husband has already let you wander off and get lost?”
“Luca had to go in to work.” Sophia defended her husband. She knew what she was getting into, kind of, when she married him. But she didn’t want others to think he’d abandoned her. If they had a real marriage … For that to ever happen, she had to get home first. Her feet throbbed, and she was so thirsty she didn’t think she could manage the walk back to the villa.
She stared at Jonathan’s face. Her instincts had never steered her wrong when she’d lived on the streets. The man in front of her displayed none of the signs of someone with malicious intent. And if he were a crazed, psychotic killer, at least she wouldn’t leave Luca heartbroken. He could probably pop back to London and pick up another woman. Aside from Olivia, she wouldn’t leave anyone behind. “I will take that lift, if you don’t mind.”
Jonathan led her to a dilapidated truck with a load of building supplies in the back. He negotiated the narrow, winding streets with ease, and soon they were pulling up to the gates of the house.
“Would you like to come in for a drink?” Sophia invited. It seemed rude to just leave after he’d rescued her.
“Sure. I’d love to see the renovation. I saw the villa in its original condition on the Internet when it was on the market. It sold before I moved to Italy.”
“Oh, how long have you lived here?”
“Almost seven months. The renovation on your place was almost complete by the time I arrived.”
“Well, the house itself is gorgeous. I’m not too sure about some of the furniture. It’s not really in keeping with the style of the property,” she commented. “In fact, when I was in the village I saw a beautiful sofa that would look brilliant in the front sitting room. It just needs to be reupholstered … ”
Luca stood on the front step, raking a hand through his hair. He stopped as Jonathan’s truck pulled up in front. His narrowed eyes searched the vehicle, and then her, as she jumped out of the passenger seat. He shoved both hands in his pockets, his face darkening as Jonathan got out, too.
As Sophia was about to introduce the two men, a tall, dark-haired woman came up behind Luca and put her arm through his. She was immaculately dressed in a gray, silk frock that hugged her luscious shape and ended mid-thigh, showing long, shapely legs.
“Hello, Luca,” Sophia struggled to keep her voice even. “I didn’t think you would be home yet.
She went into a café and asked if anyone knew the way to Villa Castellioni, the name that she had seen printed on the outside of the gate to the house. Unfortunately, Sophia couldn’t understand the directions the proprietress gave her.
“Are you trying to find Villa Castellioni?” a deep male voice asked. She turned around to discover a tall, blonde man with sky-blue eyes.
“Yes, do you know it?” She was grateful to find someone who spoke English at least.
“Is it that beautiful, big house just outside the village that was renovated last year?”
“I guess so. I mean, I know it was renovated recently. I only came here yesterday, so I’m not familiar with all the houses in the area,” she replied.
“Jonathan Davis,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m fixing up a place not too far from that villa. If you want, I can give you a lift.”
“I am Sophia Stevens—I mean Sophia Castellioni,” she corrected herself. “Sorry, I was married yesterday. I’m still getting used to the name change.”
“Married yesterday and your husband has already let you wander off and get lost?”
“Luca had to go in to work.” Sophia defended her husband. She knew what she was getting into, kind of, when she married him. But she didn’t want others to think he’d abandoned her. If they had a real marriage … For that to ever happen, she had to get home first. Her feet throbbed, and she was so thirsty she didn’t think she could manage the walk back to the villa.
She stared at Jonathan’s face. Her instincts had never steered her wrong when she’d lived on the streets. The man in front of her displayed none of the signs of someone with malicious intent. And if he were a crazed, psychotic killer, at least she wouldn’t leave Luca heartbroken. He could probably pop back to London and pick up another woman. Aside from Olivia, she wouldn’t leave anyone behind. “I will take that lift, if you don’t mind.”
Jonathan led her to a dilapidated truck with a load of building supplies in the back. He negotiated the narrow, winding streets with ease, and soon they were pulling up to the gates of the house.
“Would you like to come in for a drink?” Sophia invited. It seemed rude to just leave after he’d rescued her.
“Sure. I’d love to see the renovation. I saw the villa in its original condition on the Internet when it was on the market. It sold before I moved to Italy.”
“Oh, how long have you lived here?”
“Almost seven months. The renovation on your place was almost complete by the time I arrived.”
“Well, the house itself is gorgeous. I’m not too sure about some of the furniture. It’s not really in keeping with the style of the property,” she commented. “In fact, when I was in the village I saw a beautiful sofa that would look brilliant in the front sitting room. It just needs to be reupholstered … ”
Luca stood on the front step, raking a hand through his hair. He stopped as Jonathan’s truck pulled up in front. His narrowed eyes searched the vehicle, and then her, as she jumped out of the passenger seat. He shoved both hands in his pockets, his face darkening as Jonathan got out, too.
As Sophia was about to introduce the two men, a tall, dark-haired woman came up behind Luca and put her arm through his. She was immaculately dressed in a gray, silk frock that hugged her luscious shape and ended mid-thigh, showing long, shapely legs.
“Hello, Luca,” Sophia struggled to keep her voice even. “I didn’t think you would be home yet.
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