Read Online Charmer's Death (Temptation in Florence Book 2) by Beate Boeker - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Beate Boeker
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had hoped to find another lead, anything to give him a better indication about Trevor Accanto, his business, his interests, possible motives for murder, but all he had found was the confirmation that Mr. Accanto had been a regular customer at Temptation . . . and that was something he could well have done without.
He finished the search by checking the bathroom, but it did not reveal any further secrets.
Chapter 4
Carlina pushed a strand of hair from her hot face as she handed yet another bag with the distinctive Temptation-Logo to a customer. What a successful day. And tonight, she would see Stefano. She smiled to herself and turned around, just to see him standing at the entrance to her tiny store.
For one frozen instant, she wondered if her wishful thinking had conjured up an illusion, then she knew he was here in person. Tall, his lean face serious, but his eyes . . . had she ever thought his eyes cool? They looked at her in a way that made her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman on this planet. Her throat dried out.
“ Carlina.”
“ Ciao.” She went toward him on legs that felt too wobbly to be her own. “Did I miss the time? We said eight, didn't we? At my house?” She checked her wrist watch. It was a quarter past seven, much later than she had thought, but not late enough to make him come and look for her at Temptation.
Now she stood directly in front of him, not knowing how to greet him. They had seen little of each other in the last weeks, but their phone calls had created an intimacy that suddenly made her shy. A little hesitant, she smiled up at him. For some reason, the small scar next to his mouth made him irresistible.
When he bent forward, her heart stopped, but he only greeted her as if she was a good friend, briefly touching her cheeks with his. He smelled of leather and soap, his cheeks cool and a bit scratchy. She suppressed the urge to throw her arms around his neck.
“ You're not too late.” His voice always held a faint ironic trace. “I'm early. I wanted to consult with you on something, and I thought it might be easier at Temptation, but I see that you're busy. Should I come back later?”
Carlina checked the room. The last customer was still in conversation with Ricciarda, but she could tell they would soon be done. “No. If you're willing to wait ten minutes, I can close the shop.”
“Sounds good.” Garini leaned against the cash register, his hands deep in the pockets of his black jeans. He looked out of place, surrounded by all the feminine underwear, and yet, so sexy she found it hard to look away. With an effort, Carlina turned her back on him and started to tidy up the store, her hands flying. It looked as if a herd of buffaloes had trampled through it, but it had been worth the trouble. Her sales had exceeded her highest expectations. If the last customer would buy one pair, she would end up with fifty-two pairs of nylons sold, a record she wanted to celebrate in style tonight, with Stefano, even if she felt as if some of the buffaloes had trampled across her as well.
“ I take it the nylon promotion did well?” Stefano's gaze rested on the golden display next to the cash register that looked like an ice-cream cone. It was usually filled to the rim with special offers, but today only one limp bra remained inside.
“ Very well.” Carlina could feel a triumphant smile stretching to her ears. “I'll tell you all about it later.” She didn't want to brag with customers within earshot.
Ricciarda came to the cash register with a curious look at Stefano. Wisps of hair had escaped her ponytail and her blouse looked crumpled, but she treated the customer in front of her with unchanging friendliness.
She's a treasure. Carlina gave her an encouraging smile. When the last customer had left, she closed the door and leaned against it with a happy sigh. “What a success!” She handed Ricciarda the whole bag of Copate biscuits which they had never had the time to
He finished the search by checking the bathroom, but it did not reveal any further secrets.
Chapter 4
Carlina pushed a strand of hair from her hot face as she handed yet another bag with the distinctive Temptation-Logo to a customer. What a successful day. And tonight, she would see Stefano. She smiled to herself and turned around, just to see him standing at the entrance to her tiny store.
For one frozen instant, she wondered if her wishful thinking had conjured up an illusion, then she knew he was here in person. Tall, his lean face serious, but his eyes . . . had she ever thought his eyes cool? They looked at her in a way that made her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman on this planet. Her throat dried out.
“ Carlina.”
“ Ciao.” She went toward him on legs that felt too wobbly to be her own. “Did I miss the time? We said eight, didn't we? At my house?” She checked her wrist watch. It was a quarter past seven, much later than she had thought, but not late enough to make him come and look for her at Temptation.
Now she stood directly in front of him, not knowing how to greet him. They had seen little of each other in the last weeks, but their phone calls had created an intimacy that suddenly made her shy. A little hesitant, she smiled up at him. For some reason, the small scar next to his mouth made him irresistible.
When he bent forward, her heart stopped, but he only greeted her as if she was a good friend, briefly touching her cheeks with his. He smelled of leather and soap, his cheeks cool and a bit scratchy. She suppressed the urge to throw her arms around his neck.
“ You're not too late.” His voice always held a faint ironic trace. “I'm early. I wanted to consult with you on something, and I thought it might be easier at Temptation, but I see that you're busy. Should I come back later?”
Carlina checked the room. The last customer was still in conversation with Ricciarda, but she could tell they would soon be done. “No. If you're willing to wait ten minutes, I can close the shop.”
“Sounds good.” Garini leaned against the cash register, his hands deep in the pockets of his black jeans. He looked out of place, surrounded by all the feminine underwear, and yet, so sexy she found it hard to look away. With an effort, Carlina turned her back on him and started to tidy up the store, her hands flying. It looked as if a herd of buffaloes had trampled through it, but it had been worth the trouble. Her sales had exceeded her highest expectations. If the last customer would buy one pair, she would end up with fifty-two pairs of nylons sold, a record she wanted to celebrate in style tonight, with Stefano, even if she felt as if some of the buffaloes had trampled across her as well.
“ I take it the nylon promotion did well?” Stefano's gaze rested on the golden display next to the cash register that looked like an ice-cream cone. It was usually filled to the rim with special offers, but today only one limp bra remained inside.
“ Very well.” Carlina could feel a triumphant smile stretching to her ears. “I'll tell you all about it later.” She didn't want to brag with customers within earshot.
Ricciarda came to the cash register with a curious look at Stefano. Wisps of hair had escaped her ponytail and her blouse looked crumpled, but she treated the customer in front of her with unchanging friendliness.
She's a treasure. Carlina gave her an encouraging smile. When the last customer had left, she closed the door and leaned against it with a happy sigh. “What a success!” She handed Ricciarda the whole bag of Copate biscuits which they had never had the time to
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