Read Online Uncovering the Silveri Secret by Melanie Milburne - Free Book Online Page B

Fergus. They’ll boost his immune system.’
    ‘Thank you,’ Edoardo said. ‘How much do I owe you?’
    ‘Isn’t it me who owes you?’ Bella said with a pointed look. ‘He was my father’s dog, after all.’
    ‘You don’t owe me a thing, either of you,’ Rebecca said. ‘That’s just a sample pack in any case.’ She smiled up at Edoardo. ‘Want to walk me to my car?’
    His expression was as blank as a sheet of paper. ‘Sure.’
    ‘It was lovely to meet you, Bella,’ Rebecca said. ‘I hope you enjoy your stay.’
    ‘I will,’ Bella said with a smile that cracked her face.
    * * *
    ‘She’s in love with you,’ Bella said as soon as Edoardo came inside a few minutes later.
    He reached for a glass and filled it with water from the tap. ‘And you can tell that how, exactly?’ he asked.
    ‘She blushed as soon as you came into the room,’ she said.
    He turned from the sink to look at her. ‘Just because a woman blushes doesn’t mean she’s in love,’ he said. ‘Take you, for instance.’ He let his eyes run over her slowly but thoroughly. ‘I could make you blush within seconds. Does it mean you’re in love with me?’
    Bella jerked her chin back against her neck in disdain, her cheeks feeling like they had been too close to a fire. ‘I would never fall in love with someone like you.’
    ‘That’s very reassuring,’ he said with a mocking slant of his mouth.
    ‘Rebecca seems a very nice person,’ she said. ‘The least you could’ve done is said a proper hello to her.’
    ‘I don’t like impromptu visitors,’ he said. ‘If she wanted to see me, all she had to do was call me and arrange a time.’
    ‘Maybe she doesn’t like being called in the middle of the night to suit your needs.’
    He gave a loose shrug. ‘She’s not my type.’
    ‘No, because she’s got a brain between her ears,’ she shot back. ‘I can only imagine what your type is like: big boobs, toothpaste-commercial smile, long legs and no conversation. Am I close?’
    A half-smile kicked up the edges of his mouth. ‘Close enough,’ he said.
    ‘Have you dated her?’ she asked.
    ‘We had a drink a few weeks back,’ he said.
    ‘Have you slept with her?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Why not?’ she asked.
    He put the glass down on the counter. ‘What’s with all the questions?’ he asked. ‘Are you jealous?’
    ‘Of course I’m not jealous!’ Bella retorted. ‘I just think you could really hurt her if you don’t do the right thing by her.’
    ‘It’s not my problem.’
    ‘It is your problem,’ she said. ‘You should nip it in the bud before she gets too involved. You shouldn’t encourage her to just drop by if you’re not serious about her.’
    ‘I didn’t encourage her to drop by,’ he said. ‘I’ve given her no encouragement, full-stop.’
    Bella folded her arms across her chest. ‘She obviously thinks you have,’ she said.
    ‘Then she’s mistaken.’
    ‘Is she who you went to last night?’ she asked.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Who did you see?’
    He leaned back against the counter in an indolent fashion. ‘Are you sure you’re not jealous?’ he asked.
    She rolled her eyes. ‘How could I be?’ she asked. ‘I’m about to get engaged.’
    ‘It’s not official.’
    ‘It will be soon.’
    ‘There’s been nothing in the press about your relationship with your preacher boy,’ he said. ‘Not even a whisper.’
    ‘That’s because Julian doesn’t attract press attention,’ she said. ‘Anyway, I want to wait until he gets back from Bangladesh before we tell anyone anything. I’m going to meet his family and then we’re going to make a formal announcement.’
    ‘You’re assuming, of course, that I’ll agree to this match.’
    Bella unfolded her arms and clenched her fists. ‘You can’t prevent me from marrying the man I love.’
    His blue-green eyes challenged hers. ‘If you love him so much then why aren’t you over there with him?’ he asked.
    Bella floundered for a moment. ‘I...I have