Read Online The Italian Inheritance by Louise Rose-Innes - Free Book Online
Authors: Louise Rose-Innes
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she imagined and she was already down to the last of her budget. Anyway, she enjoyed listening to Rafael speak. His deep voice with that sexy Italian accent definitely did it for her. Amazingly she found herself gazing at his perfect bone structure under the rough exterior and thinking how under different circumstances...
But no, it wasn’t worth even going there. He wasn’t her type anyway. Gorgeous local Italian men were for holid ay flings and one-night-stands, not long lasting relationships. Right up her friend Lara’s alley , but sadly not Anna’s. She was after something more substantial. A husband, a provider, a father for he r children. S he wasn’t going to find that on a week - long reconnaissance mi ssion on the island of Capri - that was for sure.
So she concentrated on what he was saying, and mentally made a list of things to see, if she got the time, starting with the Grotta Azzurra - the Blue Grotto. Perhaps tomorrow, after their meeting...
After they’d finished a bottle of wine and talked some more about the Amalfi Coast and all the romantic towns situated along the coastline, Anna was determined that someday, when she had the money, she would come back and explore it properly. Rafael had aroused her interest and made it sound so exotic.
“That was lovely. I’m stuffed,” complained Anna once their plates had been cleared away and two cappuccino’s had been placed before them. Secretly she welcomed the coffee after all that wine. She was quite tipsy. In fact, so much so that she found herself gazing appreciatively at her dinner companion. He really was superbly put together. Right from the top o f his beautiful brown locks to the tips of his casual designer footwear .
Rafael caught her staring at him. “Do you like what you see?”
The brazen question caught her off-guard. She blinked. “Sorry, I didn’t realise I was staring. ” How embarr assing to be caught ogling. She gave a self-conscious laugh. “It’s the wine. I don’t usually stare so blatantly at men.”
Rafael laughed. “Don’t worry. I believe you.”
Something in his tone caused her to ask, “What’s that supposed to mean?” Did she appear so prim and proper that she wouldn’t dare look at a man if she liked him?
Rafael shrugged. “You don’t look like the type of girl who takes the initiative when it comes to men. You would rather wait for the man to approach you.”
At her look of astonishment he added, “Am I right?”
“No, you’re not right. I can take the initiative.” But when had she ever done that? Every boyfriend she’d had had asked her out.
“Oh, really?”
The bill came and Anna watched as he charged the meal to his credit card. Platinum Visa. This guy wouldn’t have a clue what it was like to struggle through life. He was so self-assured, with his Rolex and platinum credit card. She sat up straighter.
“Yes, really. I would quite happily take the initiative if I met someone who was worth the effort.” Except the problem was she never met anyone who was worth the effort. Well, she hadn’t yet, anyway.
“So , what would you do?” He stared intently into her eyes. “If you liked someon e, w hat would you do? How would you let them know? ”
Anna swallowed. Was he coming on to her? She felt her pulse rate quicken as she gazed back at him. Or was he trying to make her feel uncomfortable?
She didn’t know what think . The restaurant, the dinner, the light-hearted conversation . It was all so surreal . After the frustration of the last few days, and the hostility between them, Anna couldn’t reconcile this sudden change in attitude.
She took a deep breath. “I’ll let you know when it happens.”
His mouth curved into a smile and he gave a little nod. “You do t hat. ” There was an awkward pause. Rafael stood up . “Shall we go?”
They stepped out into the balmy night air. Anna couldn’t believe how warm it still was despite being nearly midnight. Time had flown. They’d
But no, it wasn’t worth even going there. He wasn’t her type anyway. Gorgeous local Italian men were for holid ay flings and one-night-stands, not long lasting relationships. Right up her friend Lara’s alley , but sadly not Anna’s. She was after something more substantial. A husband, a provider, a father for he r children. S he wasn’t going to find that on a week - long reconnaissance mi ssion on the island of Capri - that was for sure.
So she concentrated on what he was saying, and mentally made a list of things to see, if she got the time, starting with the Grotta Azzurra - the Blue Grotto. Perhaps tomorrow, after their meeting...
After they’d finished a bottle of wine and talked some more about the Amalfi Coast and all the romantic towns situated along the coastline, Anna was determined that someday, when she had the money, she would come back and explore it properly. Rafael had aroused her interest and made it sound so exotic.
“That was lovely. I’m stuffed,” complained Anna once their plates had been cleared away and two cappuccino’s had been placed before them. Secretly she welcomed the coffee after all that wine. She was quite tipsy. In fact, so much so that she found herself gazing appreciatively at her dinner companion. He really was superbly put together. Right from the top o f his beautiful brown locks to the tips of his casual designer footwear .
Rafael caught her staring at him. “Do you like what you see?”
The brazen question caught her off-guard. She blinked. “Sorry, I didn’t realise I was staring. ” How embarr assing to be caught ogling. She gave a self-conscious laugh. “It’s the wine. I don’t usually stare so blatantly at men.”
Rafael laughed. “Don’t worry. I believe you.”
Something in his tone caused her to ask, “What’s that supposed to mean?” Did she appear so prim and proper that she wouldn’t dare look at a man if she liked him?
Rafael shrugged. “You don’t look like the type of girl who takes the initiative when it comes to men. You would rather wait for the man to approach you.”
At her look of astonishment he added, “Am I right?”
“No, you’re not right. I can take the initiative.” But when had she ever done that? Every boyfriend she’d had had asked her out.
“Oh, really?”
The bill came and Anna watched as he charged the meal to his credit card. Platinum Visa. This guy wouldn’t have a clue what it was like to struggle through life. He was so self-assured, with his Rolex and platinum credit card. She sat up straighter.
“Yes, really. I would quite happily take the initiative if I met someone who was worth the effort.” Except the problem was she never met anyone who was worth the effort. Well, she hadn’t yet, anyway.
“So , what would you do?” He stared intently into her eyes. “If you liked someon e, w hat would you do? How would you let them know? ”
Anna swallowed. Was he coming on to her? She felt her pulse rate quicken as she gazed back at him. Or was he trying to make her feel uncomfortable?
She didn’t know what think . The restaurant, the dinner, the light-hearted conversation . It was all so surreal . After the frustration of the last few days, and the hostility between them, Anna couldn’t reconcile this sudden change in attitude.
She took a deep breath. “I’ll let you know when it happens.”
His mouth curved into a smile and he gave a little nod. “You do t hat. ” There was an awkward pause. Rafael stood up . “Shall we go?”
They stepped out into the balmy night air. Anna couldn’t believe how warm it still was despite being nearly midnight. Time had flown. They’d
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