Read Online Back In The Italian's Bed by Annie West - Free Book Online Page A

his words. ‘I was used to sex and simple, undemanding companionship. I wasn’t used to
feelings
.’ He frowned, his gaze piercing. ‘I didn’t want to admit what you made me feel, or that you meant more to me than any woman ever had.’
    ‘You had a fine way of showing it.’ Jenna told herself she wouldn’t fall for his easy words, no matter how tempting.
    He nodded and ploughed his hand back through his glossy dark hair, leaving it in gorgeous disarray. ‘I’m ashamed of that, Jenna. When my sister asked if I was bringing you to the party, there was suddenly no escaping what you meant to me. How important you were to my happiness. It hit me out of the blue and it scared the hell out of me.’
    He spun on his foot and paced across the room and back. ‘I hadn’t let myself think about it before, and when I did my first reaction was to deny it.’
    Jenna swallowed hard, trying to take in his explanation. Was it possible?
    The idea of Fabrizio floundering and scared didn’t seem real.
    ‘You called me your mistress because you were scared of me?’ She folded her arms. ‘That doesn’t seem likely.’
    He shrugged, his hands spreading. ‘It was a knee-jerk reaction. I wasn’t ready to settle down with one woman for the rest of my life.’
    Jenna stared. ‘Settle down?’ Had she missed something? ‘You never mentioned that.’ She felt dazed, as if she’d walked into a foreign place where dreams, even outrageously improbable ones, could come true.
    His lips quirked up in a smile that did outrageous things to her insides. ‘I hadn’t got to that yet. But since you mention it, I want to share my life with you, Jenna. Permanently.’
    He stepped close and lifted his hand to feather a caress across her cheek. The tenderness of that gesture threatened to make her knees collapse.
    ‘Fabrizio!’ She couldn’t prevent the needy whisper and his smile widened.
    ‘Be mine, Jenna. Marry me.’
    ‘Marry you?’ Stunned, she stared up into an expression suddenly turned serious.
    ‘
Sì
. All these months apart have only proved what I was too cowardly to admit before, that I love you. I can’t live without you. I want you as my wife.’ His hand slid down her arm and meshed with hers. His grip was firm but somehow sustaining.
    It took a long time to find her voice. Even the touch of his hand didn’t feel quite real as she stared up at him. ‘You want me to marry you when you can’t even introduce me to your family?’ That still stung.
    As did the glimmer of humour in his eyes. ‘Ah, about that. You’ll meet them soon enough. My assistant booked accommodation for three people. My mother and sister will be here next week, after we’ve had time to sort ourselves out.’
    ‘They’re coming here?’ It was one shock piled on another. She shook her head, trying to absorb it all.
    ‘They want to meet you. They want to help plan the wedding.’
    Jenna drew herself up, frowning. Her emotions were all over the place, indignation vying for prominence with hope, fear and disbelief. ‘You were so sure I’d say yes that you told them we were marrying?’
    ‘No, my love.’ His hand squeezed hers and her heart tumbled over, making a mockery of her doubts. How wonderful that sounded.
My love
. ‘I told them how I felt and that I wasn’t sure if you’d have me. My mother, being my mother, was sure I’d convince you, and decided it was time to meet her future daughter-in-law. But my sister said she was coming so she could watch me squirm. She said she hoped you’d make me work for what I wanted.’
    ‘I like the sound of your sister.’ Right now she needed an ally. Fabrizio was turning her world on its head and she was scared to believe all this was real.
    He nodded, a hint of a smile in the grooves bracketing his mouth. ‘I’m afraid you two are going to get on far too well.’
    Slowly he drew her to him, and Jenna found herself in the circle of his arms. Suddenly her indignation bled away. In truth this was