Read Online The Truth About De Campo by Jennifer Hayward - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Hayward
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reason for you to meet with the chef and develop the pairings from the ground up.”
He plied her with questions as they drank their champagne. Lifted the bottle in question when she finished her half glass.
“No...thank you,” she murmured dryly. “But I am sold. On all of it.” She waved her hand at the vineyard and castello spread out in front of them in all its magnificence. “You must be so proud to be part of such history.”
He nodded. “I’m incredibly privileged to be a De Campo. Absolutely.”
She heard a hesitation in his voice. “But?”
He shrugged and looked down at the castello, sparkling like golden fire in the dying rays of the sun. “Being a De Campo can be a challenge.”
“Your father is difficult.” Which was putting Antonio De Campo’s legendary reputation mildly.
His mouth twisted. “He’s a titan. I’m sure you can relate.”
“Ah yes. I wonder what would happen if we put Antonio and Warren in the ring together? Who would win?”
His smile deepened. “I’d be fascinated to see.”
“Did you all choose the family business or was it expected of you?”
“There was no choice. We are De Campos.”
Sounded familiar. “Didn’t Riccardo race cars for a while?”
“Si.” He took a long swallow of his wine. “My father made it hell for him when he came back.”
“Why did he come back?”
“Antonio was ill. He wanted Riccardo to take the reins.”
She threw him a curious look. “What would you have been if you hadn’t been a De Campo then? If you could have chosen?”
He arched a dark brow at her. “Is this an attempt to peer into my psyche? Part of your partner personality analysis?”
She smiled. “Answer the question.”
“I would have been a concert pianist.”
Her jaw dropped. “Seriously?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I’m not half bad. I minored in music at Oxford.”
Those hands. Her gaze slid to their elegant length . She yanked it back with effort . Oh, no, you don’t, Quinn. Don’t you dare start getting fascinated .
“And you?” He waved a hand at her. “What would you have been if not a high-ranking executive?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I’ve never stopped to think about it. From the minute Warren saw me make scads of money with a lemonade stand, there was never any question of my path.”
His mouth tipped up at the corner. “How did Thea end up, of all things, a veterinarian?”
“She was hopeless with numbers. It was just never going to happen. Warren gave up.”
“And you filled the gap.” He slid her a sideways look. “You seem very different, you two.”
She lifted her shoulders. “I’m adopted. Not surprising.”
“How did my intelligence miss that? ”
“It’s not something we talk about publicly. Warren and Sile adopted me when I was less than a year old.”
“Do you know who your birth parents are?”
She nodded. “They live in Mississippi. They weren’t able to keep me.”
Something in her voice must have alerted him to the wealth of emotion beneath the surface. His gaze rested on her, but he didn’t push. “You and Thea seem close despite the differences.”
“We are.” She smiled. “Thea is the one who believes in fairy tales. I’m the cynic always waiting for the penny to drop. We balance each other out.”
“ Does the penny always drop?”
She stared down at the glowing castello . “Sometimes it does.”
He studied her for a long moment. “My brothers and I are very different too. But close as well. Riccardo likes to rule the world. Gabriele is obsessed with his wine.”
“And you?”
“I’m not sure I want a label. Care to give me one?”
Undeniably sexy. Broodily magnetic? There were just so many. She shook her head. Safer that way.
“Do you play the piano for others?”
“Not usually no.”
“Do you take requests to do so?”
“Are you asking?”
“Maybe.” Dammit, yes she was curious, so curious to see how those beautiful hands worked a piano.
It was
He plied her with questions as they drank their champagne. Lifted the bottle in question when she finished her half glass.
“No...thank you,” she murmured dryly. “But I am sold. On all of it.” She waved her hand at the vineyard and castello spread out in front of them in all its magnificence. “You must be so proud to be part of such history.”
He nodded. “I’m incredibly privileged to be a De Campo. Absolutely.”
She heard a hesitation in his voice. “But?”
He shrugged and looked down at the castello, sparkling like golden fire in the dying rays of the sun. “Being a De Campo can be a challenge.”
“Your father is difficult.” Which was putting Antonio De Campo’s legendary reputation mildly.
His mouth twisted. “He’s a titan. I’m sure you can relate.”
“Ah yes. I wonder what would happen if we put Antonio and Warren in the ring together? Who would win?”
His smile deepened. “I’d be fascinated to see.”
“Did you all choose the family business or was it expected of you?”
“There was no choice. We are De Campos.”
Sounded familiar. “Didn’t Riccardo race cars for a while?”
“Si.” He took a long swallow of his wine. “My father made it hell for him when he came back.”
“Why did he come back?”
“Antonio was ill. He wanted Riccardo to take the reins.”
She threw him a curious look. “What would you have been if you hadn’t been a De Campo then? If you could have chosen?”
He arched a dark brow at her. “Is this an attempt to peer into my psyche? Part of your partner personality analysis?”
She smiled. “Answer the question.”
“I would have been a concert pianist.”
Her jaw dropped. “Seriously?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I’m not half bad. I minored in music at Oxford.”
Those hands. Her gaze slid to their elegant length . She yanked it back with effort . Oh, no, you don’t, Quinn. Don’t you dare start getting fascinated .
“And you?” He waved a hand at her. “What would you have been if not a high-ranking executive?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I’ve never stopped to think about it. From the minute Warren saw me make scads of money with a lemonade stand, there was never any question of my path.”
His mouth tipped up at the corner. “How did Thea end up, of all things, a veterinarian?”
“She was hopeless with numbers. It was just never going to happen. Warren gave up.”
“And you filled the gap.” He slid her a sideways look. “You seem very different, you two.”
She lifted her shoulders. “I’m adopted. Not surprising.”
“How did my intelligence miss that? ”
“It’s not something we talk about publicly. Warren and Sile adopted me when I was less than a year old.”
“Do you know who your birth parents are?”
She nodded. “They live in Mississippi. They weren’t able to keep me.”
Something in her voice must have alerted him to the wealth of emotion beneath the surface. His gaze rested on her, but he didn’t push. “You and Thea seem close despite the differences.”
“We are.” She smiled. “Thea is the one who believes in fairy tales. I’m the cynic always waiting for the penny to drop. We balance each other out.”
“ Does the penny always drop?”
She stared down at the glowing castello . “Sometimes it does.”
He studied her for a long moment. “My brothers and I are very different too. But close as well. Riccardo likes to rule the world. Gabriele is obsessed with his wine.”
“And you?”
“I’m not sure I want a label. Care to give me one?”
Undeniably sexy. Broodily magnetic? There were just so many. She shook her head. Safer that way.
“Do you play the piano for others?”
“Not usually no.”
“Do you take requests to do so?”
“Are you asking?”
“Maybe.” Dammit, yes she was curious, so curious to see how those beautiful hands worked a piano.
It was
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