Read Online To Catch a Groom by Rebecca Winters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rebecca Winters
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last night’s man of mystery.”
“Life plays many tricks, does it not?”
“How did you know I would be aboard the Piccione ?”
“As soon as you told me you were coming to Vernazza, I asked a close friend of mine to keep an eye out for you. It must be fate that brought us together without my havingto lift a finger to find you. Especially when I distinctly heard you tell me goodbye through the hotel room door. That was cruel, bellissima. ”
Fate my foot!
She raised her chin to combat position. “You spend a lot of free time at the Splendido?”
“Actually I haven’t been there for over a year. If I hadn’t noticed you on the grounds, I would have left the premises and we would have been like ships that never passed in the night.”
“What if I hadn’t gone to the pool?”
“Then I would have made inquiries until I found you, wherever you were.”
Though she willed it otherwise, her heart ran away with her. “Are you always this persistent?”
“About something I want? Yes.”
Such an electrifying answer delivered in that deep tone, immobilized her. “You want me?”
“Si, signorina,” came his low velvety voice. “In every conceivable way.”
His stark honesty was so shocking, she couldn’t think, let alone breathe normally.
“But then you already know that, Greer, because you feel the same way about me,” he added.
“You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you, signore. ”
His black gaze studied her features relentlessly. “You would understand if you could see your eyes.”
“What about them?”
“You’ve heard the expression ‘mirrors of the soul’?”
“So you believe my soul has been speaking to yours?”
“Loud and clear from the moment I saw you watching me do laps in the pool.”
Greer couldn’t refute that statement. The second she’d laid eyes on him, she hadn’t been able to look away. “Doyou use this same approach with every female stranger who looks at you?”
“I’ve never said it to another woman in my life.” His voice throbbed the way it had done at the pool last night when he’d asked her to swim with him.
Greer threw her head back and laughed. “I bet every American woman you’ve spoken to like this has believed you.”
“American?”
“Yes. They say the Italian accent to the American ear is the most provocative sound in the world. I have to admit I find it pretty irresistible.”
Lines darkened his handsome face. “But you don’t believe me.”
“There isn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t want to. After all, you are every woman’s fantasy come true.”
“Even yours?”
“Especially mine.”
“Why is that?”
“My love affair with Italy began when I first found out I was part Italian.”
“You mean through Maria-Luigia’s husband.”
Greer kept her smile in place.
This man had known exactly who the Duchess of Colorno was, which meant he was playing dumb with her now on purpose.
Any serious student of European history, of Italian history in particular, knew the Duchess of Colorno had two husbands, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Count Von Reipperg.
She’d been on the verge of telling him she was talking about the granddaughter of Maria-Luigia who allegedly had an Italian lover. But she thought the better of it because this man was toying with her for a definite reason.
“What about your ancestry?” she asked, effectively changing the subject.
He cocked his head. “You didn’t answer my question. Tell me more about the Italian side of your family. You have me completely enchanted, Greer. I want to learn everything about you.”
Everything?
Beneath the ardency of his words she could tell he was driven by a curiosity separate from his desire for her. Of what real interest could Greer’s roots be to him?
She gave him the benefit of a full, unguarded smile. “I’m afraid I left little to the imagination when I joined you in the pool. You’ve already learned I can be impulsive, and that I love to swim.
“Isn’t it
“Life plays many tricks, does it not?”
“How did you know I would be aboard the Piccione ?”
“As soon as you told me you were coming to Vernazza, I asked a close friend of mine to keep an eye out for you. It must be fate that brought us together without my havingto lift a finger to find you. Especially when I distinctly heard you tell me goodbye through the hotel room door. That was cruel, bellissima. ”
Fate my foot!
She raised her chin to combat position. “You spend a lot of free time at the Splendido?”
“Actually I haven’t been there for over a year. If I hadn’t noticed you on the grounds, I would have left the premises and we would have been like ships that never passed in the night.”
“What if I hadn’t gone to the pool?”
“Then I would have made inquiries until I found you, wherever you were.”
Though she willed it otherwise, her heart ran away with her. “Are you always this persistent?”
“About something I want? Yes.”
Such an electrifying answer delivered in that deep tone, immobilized her. “You want me?”
“Si, signorina,” came his low velvety voice. “In every conceivable way.”
His stark honesty was so shocking, she couldn’t think, let alone breathe normally.
“But then you already know that, Greer, because you feel the same way about me,” he added.
“You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you, signore. ”
His black gaze studied her features relentlessly. “You would understand if you could see your eyes.”
“What about them?”
“You’ve heard the expression ‘mirrors of the soul’?”
“So you believe my soul has been speaking to yours?”
“Loud and clear from the moment I saw you watching me do laps in the pool.”
Greer couldn’t refute that statement. The second she’d laid eyes on him, she hadn’t been able to look away. “Doyou use this same approach with every female stranger who looks at you?”
“I’ve never said it to another woman in my life.” His voice throbbed the way it had done at the pool last night when he’d asked her to swim with him.
Greer threw her head back and laughed. “I bet every American woman you’ve spoken to like this has believed you.”
“American?”
“Yes. They say the Italian accent to the American ear is the most provocative sound in the world. I have to admit I find it pretty irresistible.”
Lines darkened his handsome face. “But you don’t believe me.”
“There isn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t want to. After all, you are every woman’s fantasy come true.”
“Even yours?”
“Especially mine.”
“Why is that?”
“My love affair with Italy began when I first found out I was part Italian.”
“You mean through Maria-Luigia’s husband.”
Greer kept her smile in place.
This man had known exactly who the Duchess of Colorno was, which meant he was playing dumb with her now on purpose.
Any serious student of European history, of Italian history in particular, knew the Duchess of Colorno had two husbands, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Count Von Reipperg.
She’d been on the verge of telling him she was talking about the granddaughter of Maria-Luigia who allegedly had an Italian lover. But she thought the better of it because this man was toying with her for a definite reason.
“What about your ancestry?” she asked, effectively changing the subject.
He cocked his head. “You didn’t answer my question. Tell me more about the Italian side of your family. You have me completely enchanted, Greer. I want to learn everything about you.”
Everything?
Beneath the ardency of his words she could tell he was driven by a curiosity separate from his desire for her. Of what real interest could Greer’s roots be to him?
She gave him the benefit of a full, unguarded smile. “I’m afraid I left little to the imagination when I joined you in the pool. You’ve already learned I can be impulsive, and that I love to swim.
“Isn’t it
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