Read Online The Italian's Secretary Bride by Kim Lawrence - Free Book Online

You’ve got a bit more colour in your face.’
    â€˜I’m fine. What was that?’
    â€˜A photographer.’
    â€˜Why was he taking our photo?’
    â€˜I would imagine that it was to go with the one of me carrying you out of the hotel he took.’
    â€˜Oh, my God!’ She angled a worried look at his profile. ‘Will it be in a newspaper?’ She hated the idea, but took comfort from the fact that at least there was very little chance of anyone she knew seeing it.
    â€˜Almost certainly.’
    â€˜I suppose you could explain to them that I was ill?’
    Luca slid her an incredulous look. ‘They’ll assume you were drunk.’
    On this occasion she couldn’t work up enough indignation to complain that he was talking to her as if she were a child.
    â€˜That’s the worst-case scenario…right?’
    â€˜No, them suggesting you were under the influence of illegal substances is the worst-case scenario.’
    Alice would have fallen had his arm not shot out to steady her. ‘But I wasn’t. I’d had just a few drinks…and I’ve never…I don’t do stuff like that.’
    â€˜You think the fact that it’s not true will stop them printing it? Dio mio , what planet have you been living on, cara ?’
    â€˜This is terrible. I’m so…so sorry. This is all my fault,’ she said, chewing fretfully on her lower lip.
    â€˜Don’t be stupid, it’s nobody’s fault. Unless you tipped him off that I’d be carrying a woman out of that particular hotel this evening?’
    â€˜Why would I do that?’
    His sensual mouth twisted as he recognised the genuine bewilderment in her wide blue eyes. ‘You’d be surprised,’ he returned cryptically. ‘It was just a lucky break for him. Don’t stress.’
    Easy for him to say, she thought. He was used to seeing his face plastered across newspapers.
    He led her across the street. ‘In case you were wondering, that was me being sympathetic and soothing.’ He smiled into her startled eyes and urged her forward. ‘Come on, it’s at the next intersection.’
    â€˜What is?’
    â€˜Where we’re heading.’
    â€˜Are we heading somewhere?’ Silly question. Luca didn’t aimlessly wander, he always had an aim and objective. And with his single-minded focus and determination he inevitably achieved it, she reflected.
    â€˜I didn’t get my dinner and you haven’t eaten for three weeks,’ he reminded her wryly. ‘I know this great little Italian.’
    â€˜I can’t let you buy me dinner,’ she protested immediately.
    â€˜Saying no to anything I suggest is like a reflex with you, isn’t it?’ The corners of Luca’s wide, mobile mouth lifted as he watched her open her mouth and close it again with a grimace. ‘And anyway,’ he added, ‘who says I’m buying?’
    Her lashes came down in a screen. ‘But that’s not what I meant…’
    â€˜I know,’ he cut back impatiently.
    A frown puckered her brow as she fretted. ‘If Roman finds out you’ve bought me dinner somewhere he’s going to think it’s really odd.’ He wouldn’t be the only one.
    â€˜And do you normally ask my brother’s permission before you go out on a date with someone?’
    â€˜Of course I don’t,’ she denied. Her frown deepened—surely he could see what she meant? ‘It’s just that it’s— you .’ She stopped abruptly, the colour rushing attractively to her cheeks. ‘Obviously I know this isn’t a date!’ she added, anxious to let him know that she wasn’t making any daft assumptions.
    â€˜Obviously,’ he echoed as dry as dust.
    She glanced up to see his expression was…well, actually he didn’t have an expression. Despite this absence of anything she couldn’t shake the feeling she had