Read Online The Italian's Blushing Gardener by Christina Hollis - Free Book Online Page A

put her on hold to see if the boss was taking calls. It gave Kira plenty of time to decide she had gone too far. She was being too emotional about this. Much as she hated to back down in any situation, where work was concerned she was a realist. She needed contracts. This one had the delightfully infuriating Stefano Albani at the other end, and that might make it more of a liability than a blessing. Autocratic behaviour was part of every billionaire’s job description, but this particular man had got right underher skin. She wanted to be known for the quality of her work, not for making a fool of herself over a man.
    Suddenly a voice purred in her ear.
    ‘Kira, it’s Stefano.’ The sound was so deliciously accented, those few words were enough to wipe all the arguments from her mind.
    ‘Hello,’ she said, unable to think of anything else.
    ‘You wanted to speak to me, Kira?’
    ‘Yes.’ Everything sensible and businesslike seemed to have been swept out of her head. She gave herself a mental shake. ‘Thank you for having your secretary ring me, but I’m working on a very important project,’ she snapped, hoping her brisk tone would put some distance between them again. ‘I can’t simply drop everything and rush to your side.’
    ‘I know. You’re a woman of spirit.’ The laughter in his voice was infuriatingly engaging. ‘Alphonse tells me you’re practically finished at his place,’ Stefano continued. ‘I’m going to be out of the country for a while, and I wanted to discuss your contract with you, face to face, before I leave. I thought this would be a good opportunity for both of us,’ he added.
    Kira needed this job. She was also desperate to see Stefano again. After all, it does make good business sense, she told herself. There couldn’t be any harm in a formal discussion. It would be like gazing at temptation through the window of a locked cake shop. Work would form an invisible shield between them, keeping her from disaster.
    ‘You could be right…’ She tried to sound grudging. ‘How do I find you?’
    She could hear his lack of surprise at her decision. ‘Don’t worry. I found you, don’t forget. A car will bearriving to collect you…’ There was a brief pause. Kira visualised him glancing at the designer watch clamped to his beautiful bronzed wrist as he added, ‘In exactly fifteen minutes.’
    And it was.
    As her chauffeur-driven limousine glided to a halt at the main entrance of Albani International, Kira looked up at the grand old building with a hint of anxiety. It was enormous, and a constant stream of people flowed in and out of the revolving glass doors. A commissionaire stepped forward to open the car door for her. Thanking him, Kira took a few moments to compose herself before walking into the reception area. She had worked in palaces, villas and condos, but this place had something extra—Stefano Albani. Taking a deep breath, she went in to meet him.
    To Kira’s relief, there was no hanging around. That would have shredded her nerves beyond repair. She had been desperate to see Stefano again from the moment he left her house. Now she realised dreams were one thing, but reality was terrifying. The moment he spoke, her insides would turn to jelly. Her instinctive reaction was to keep her head down and pretend she was invisible, but that wasn’t the way contracts were won. Instead, she lifted her chin, ready to meet his gaze with an equally bold stare. It took a huge effort.
    The man of her dreams was lounging back in a big black chair. His feet were on his desk. He was dictating into a voice recorder and although his eyes instantly locked onto hers he did not stop speaking into it as she walked towards his visitor’s chair.
    Stefano looked every bit as intimidating as sheremembered. Despite his casual attitude, he was dressed in a beautifully cut dark suit. The formality of classically designed business wear suited him so well it was hard not to stare. Kira gave in to the