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Authors: Nora Roberts
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get her out before she lost whatever slim advantage she had. “Butit’s your kitchen—and it’ll be my kitchen—that’s my main concern right now. With the amount of money you’re paying me, you should be grateful I understand the priorities. I’ll have a tentative list of changes and new equipment you’ll have to order on Monday.”
“Fine. We’ll go to dinner Saturday.”
Summer paused at the door, turned and shook her head. “No.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight.”
It was rare that anyone ignored a statement she’d made. Rather than temper, Summer tried the patient tone she remembered from her governess. It was bound to infuriate. “Blake, I said no.”
If he was infuriated, he concealed it well. Blake merely smiled at her—as one might smile at a fussy child. Two, it seemed, could play the same game with equal skill. “Eight,” he repeated and sat on the corner of his desk. “We can even have tacos if you like.”
“You’re very stubborn.”
“Yes, I am.”
“So am I.”
“Yes, you are. I’ll see you Saturday.”
She had to put a lot of effort into the glare because she wanted to laugh. In the end, Summer found satisfaction by slamming the door, quite loudly.
Chapter Four
“I ncredible nerve,” Summer mumbled. She took another bite of her hot dog, scowled and swallowed. “The man has incredible nerve.”
“You shouldn’t let it affect your appetite, cara. ” Carlo patted her shoulder as they strolled along the sidewalk toward the proud, weathered bricks of Independence Hall.
Summer bit into the hot dog again. When she tossed her head, the sun caught at the ends of her hair and flicked them with gold. “Shut up, Carlo. He’s so arrogant. ” With her free hand, she gestured wildly while continuing to munch, almost vengefully, on the dog and bun. “Carlo, I don’t take orders from anyone, especially some tailored, polished, American executive with dictatorial tendencies and incredible blue eyes.”
Carlo lifted a brow at her description, then shot an approving look at a leggy blonde in a short pink skirt who passed them.“Of course not, mi amore ,” he said absently, craning his neck to follow the blonde’s progress down the street. “This Philadelphia of yours has the most fascinating tourist attractions, sì? ”
“I make my own decisions, run my own life,” Summer grumbled, jerking his arm when she saw where his attention had wandered. “I take requests, Franconi, not orders.”
“It’s always been so.” Carlo gave a last wistful look over his shoulder. Perhaps he could talk Summer into stopping somewhere, a park bench, an outdoor café, where he could get a more…complete view of Philadelphia’s attractions. “You must be tired of walking, love,” he began.
“I’m definitely not having dinner with him tonight.”
“That should teach him to push Summer Lyndon around.” The park, Carlo thought, might have the most interesting of possibilities.
She gave him a dangerous stare. “You’re amused because you’re a man.”
“ You’re amused,” Carlo corrected, grinning. “And interested.”
“I am not.”
“Oh, yes, cara mia, you are. Why don’t we sit so I can take in the…beauty and attractions of your adopted city? After all—” he tipped the brim of his hat at a strolling brunette in brief shorts “—I’m a tourist, sì? ”
She caught the gleam in his eyes, and the reason for it. After letting out a huff of breath, Summer turned a sharp right. “I’ll show you tourist attractions, amico. ”
“But Summer…” Carlo caught sight of a redhead in snug jeans walking a poodle. “The view from out here is very educational and uplifting.”
“I’ll lift you up,” she promised and ruthlessly dragged him inside. “The Second Continental Congress met here in 1775, when the building was known as the Pennsylvania State House.”
There was an echoing of feet, of voices. A group of school-children flocked by led by a prim,
“Fine. We’ll go to dinner Saturday.”
Summer paused at the door, turned and shook her head. “No.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight.”
It was rare that anyone ignored a statement she’d made. Rather than temper, Summer tried the patient tone she remembered from her governess. It was bound to infuriate. “Blake, I said no.”
If he was infuriated, he concealed it well. Blake merely smiled at her—as one might smile at a fussy child. Two, it seemed, could play the same game with equal skill. “Eight,” he repeated and sat on the corner of his desk. “We can even have tacos if you like.”
“You’re very stubborn.”
“Yes, I am.”
“So am I.”
“Yes, you are. I’ll see you Saturday.”
She had to put a lot of effort into the glare because she wanted to laugh. In the end, Summer found satisfaction by slamming the door, quite loudly.
Chapter Four
“I ncredible nerve,” Summer mumbled. She took another bite of her hot dog, scowled and swallowed. “The man has incredible nerve.”
“You shouldn’t let it affect your appetite, cara. ” Carlo patted her shoulder as they strolled along the sidewalk toward the proud, weathered bricks of Independence Hall.
Summer bit into the hot dog again. When she tossed her head, the sun caught at the ends of her hair and flicked them with gold. “Shut up, Carlo. He’s so arrogant. ” With her free hand, she gestured wildly while continuing to munch, almost vengefully, on the dog and bun. “Carlo, I don’t take orders from anyone, especially some tailored, polished, American executive with dictatorial tendencies and incredible blue eyes.”
Carlo lifted a brow at her description, then shot an approving look at a leggy blonde in a short pink skirt who passed them.“Of course not, mi amore ,” he said absently, craning his neck to follow the blonde’s progress down the street. “This Philadelphia of yours has the most fascinating tourist attractions, sì? ”
“I make my own decisions, run my own life,” Summer grumbled, jerking his arm when she saw where his attention had wandered. “I take requests, Franconi, not orders.”
“It’s always been so.” Carlo gave a last wistful look over his shoulder. Perhaps he could talk Summer into stopping somewhere, a park bench, an outdoor café, where he could get a more…complete view of Philadelphia’s attractions. “You must be tired of walking, love,” he began.
“I’m definitely not having dinner with him tonight.”
“That should teach him to push Summer Lyndon around.” The park, Carlo thought, might have the most interesting of possibilities.
She gave him a dangerous stare. “You’re amused because you’re a man.”
“ You’re amused,” Carlo corrected, grinning. “And interested.”
“I am not.”
“Oh, yes, cara mia, you are. Why don’t we sit so I can take in the…beauty and attractions of your adopted city? After all—” he tipped the brim of his hat at a strolling brunette in brief shorts “—I’m a tourist, sì? ”
She caught the gleam in his eyes, and the reason for it. After letting out a huff of breath, Summer turned a sharp right. “I’ll show you tourist attractions, amico. ”
“But Summer…” Carlo caught sight of a redhead in snug jeans walking a poodle. “The view from out here is very educational and uplifting.”
“I’ll lift you up,” she promised and ruthlessly dragged him inside. “The Second Continental Congress met here in 1775, when the building was known as the Pennsylvania State House.”
There was an echoing of feet, of voices. A group of school-children flocked by led by a prim,
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