Read Online VINA IN VENICE (THE 5 SISTERS) by Kimberley Reeves - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kimberley Reeves
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between him and his female compan ion , and he avoided it like the plague . Now it dawned on him that he only objected to that kind of intimacy because none of those women had been Vina. He liked how small and delicate her finely boned hand felt nestled inside his palm, and the way it subtly proclaimed Vina was his. H e also enjoyed the envious glances of other men when the Maître de showed them to their seats.
Travis had been grateful for Joe Marinelli’s personal assurance a table would always be made available to him, but he was even more grateful when they were escorted to a secluded spot with a fabulous view of the ocean. There was no doubt in his mind Joe had selected the best table in the restaurant for them . He wondered if his ex-chef had done it as an indication of how highly he regarded Travis, or if Joe had guessed how important this date with Vina was to him.
“ But of course I remember Miss Vina,” Joe had exclaimed when Travis called him the previous day. “ I see you with many beautiful young ladies, but this was one is special, si ?”
“ Sì, è molto special ,” Travis had replied. Yes, she is very special.
“Ah, Vina è l’amore della tua vita ?”
“ Si ,” he’d replied again.
Watching Vina devour the menu with her eyes, knowing she would order a real meal, brought a smile to his face. She had a healthy appetite, al though God only knew where she put it all , and Travis loved that he could share his appreciation of good food with her. She wouldn’t lay her napkin aside after two bites and proclaim to be full like the majority of the women he dated did.
Being with Vina made him realize how little enjoyment he’d gotten from those women, besides a few hours of decent sex and an occasional interesting conversation. It also made him realize he could never go back to that way of life. All he had to do was make her fall in love with him and see how good they would be together. Considering how quickly she’d shied away from kissing him, that might prove to be more difficult than he’d anticipated.
Vina looked up from the menu with a pitiful sigh. “Everything sounds so wonderful, I’m afraid to choose one for fear I’ll miss out on something even better. Maybe I should let you choose for me.”
“I have a better idea,” Travis set his menu down. “Why don’t we have Joe suggest what to order ?”
Vina’s eyes widened in mock horror. “ Sneak back to the kitchen and ask him, you mean? Have you lost your mind? Chef Joe will have you quartered and served up with the linguine if you interrupt him while he’s creating one of his masterpieces!”
“It would be futile to attempt tenderizing such a hard-nosed businessman,” a heavily accented voice said from behind her.
“You should have told me he was there,” she hissed under her breath before rising from her chair to give Joe a hug.
In his defense, Travis had been aiming to do just that when he said they should have Joe suggest something. He couldn’t honestly say he was sorry though. Embarrassed that Joe had overheard her comment, a warm rosy blush colored her cheeks, enhancing the perfection of her flawless skin . A wave of desire swept over him when he recalled how soft and silky it felt beneath his fingertips . The rest of her body would be just as soft , just as…
“Travis? Did you hear what I said? ”
Travis glanced up to find Vina and Joe eying him warily. “Sorry, my mind was wandering,” he said with a sheepish grin.
“I was saying that Joe suggests a glass of Riserva to start off with and Pantelleria with dessert.”
“Sounds great. You going to feed us anything with that wine, Joe?”
Joe’s chest puffed up. “Only the best for you and your bello inamorato .
Neither of them said a word as Joe rattled off the half dozen dishes or so he intended to serve them , but Travis could tell Vina was struggling to maintain a
Travis had been grateful for Joe Marinelli’s personal assurance a table would always be made available to him, but he was even more grateful when they were escorted to a secluded spot with a fabulous view of the ocean. There was no doubt in his mind Joe had selected the best table in the restaurant for them . He wondered if his ex-chef had done it as an indication of how highly he regarded Travis, or if Joe had guessed how important this date with Vina was to him.
“ But of course I remember Miss Vina,” Joe had exclaimed when Travis called him the previous day. “ I see you with many beautiful young ladies, but this was one is special, si ?”
“ Sì, è molto special ,” Travis had replied. Yes, she is very special.
“Ah, Vina è l’amore della tua vita ?”
“ Si ,” he’d replied again.
Watching Vina devour the menu with her eyes, knowing she would order a real meal, brought a smile to his face. She had a healthy appetite, al though God only knew where she put it all , and Travis loved that he could share his appreciation of good food with her. She wouldn’t lay her napkin aside after two bites and proclaim to be full like the majority of the women he dated did.
Being with Vina made him realize how little enjoyment he’d gotten from those women, besides a few hours of decent sex and an occasional interesting conversation. It also made him realize he could never go back to that way of life. All he had to do was make her fall in love with him and see how good they would be together. Considering how quickly she’d shied away from kissing him, that might prove to be more difficult than he’d anticipated.
Vina looked up from the menu with a pitiful sigh. “Everything sounds so wonderful, I’m afraid to choose one for fear I’ll miss out on something even better. Maybe I should let you choose for me.”
“I have a better idea,” Travis set his menu down. “Why don’t we have Joe suggest what to order ?”
Vina’s eyes widened in mock horror. “ Sneak back to the kitchen and ask him, you mean? Have you lost your mind? Chef Joe will have you quartered and served up with the linguine if you interrupt him while he’s creating one of his masterpieces!”
“It would be futile to attempt tenderizing such a hard-nosed businessman,” a heavily accented voice said from behind her.
“You should have told me he was there,” she hissed under her breath before rising from her chair to give Joe a hug.
In his defense, Travis had been aiming to do just that when he said they should have Joe suggest something. He couldn’t honestly say he was sorry though. Embarrassed that Joe had overheard her comment, a warm rosy blush colored her cheeks, enhancing the perfection of her flawless skin . A wave of desire swept over him when he recalled how soft and silky it felt beneath his fingertips . The rest of her body would be just as soft , just as…
“Travis? Did you hear what I said? ”
Travis glanced up to find Vina and Joe eying him warily. “Sorry, my mind was wandering,” he said with a sheepish grin.
“I was saying that Joe suggests a glass of Riserva to start off with and Pantelleria with dessert.”
“Sounds great. You going to feed us anything with that wine, Joe?”
Joe’s chest puffed up. “Only the best for you and your bello inamorato .
Neither of them said a word as Joe rattled off the half dozen dishes or so he intended to serve them , but Travis could tell Vina was struggling to maintain a
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