After rearranged the book display in the window for the third time that day, Phoebe left out a tearful sigh.
“Would you like a cup of coffee, Phoebs?” Stephen Finlay suggested.
It was raining cats and dogs outside and there wasn't a customer in the entire shop. Phoebe focused on her boss’s face, the kindly concern visible in his lined features, and forced a strained smile.
“That would be lovely, Stephen... thanks.”
Grateful that the older man would never dream of asking her questions about what happened, Phoebe stood behind the counter sipping her coffee and watching the rain stream down the window and the door.
She had been back home for two days, but what had happened in Italy haunted her more with ev
Her straight answer made dark colors score his hard cheekbones. His dense lashes swept down low over his stunning gaze and he breathed in deep, his tension as strong as her own.“Hai ragione… You're right… We have to talk this out first,” Lorenzo conceded with gritty reluctance. First? Phoebe spun away on legs that trembled, shattered that he could reduce her to such a level with just one smoldering glance.“I accused you without double-checking the facts,” he admitted without hesitation. “When my chief accountant called me with the bad news, I cut him short. I didn't want to discuss it any further. I'm afraid I just assumed that you had made that phone call from the airport. I was outraged.”“Whatever…” Phoebe conceded stiffly.“But this morning I learned t
During the following weeks, Phoebe told Stephen that she had finally made the decision to fix an appointment with the bank.“Why, Phoebe?” he asked. She smiled, thinking that her elderly employer was becoming very absent-minded.“So that I can apply for a loan to buy this bookstore back,” she reminded him gently. Stephen looked dismayed.“Maybe you shouldn’t do that just yet, Phoebe,” he urged. Confused by that reaction, she looked at him thoroughly. She didn’t understand his behavior. She told him over and over again that when he would decide to sell the business, she is going to buy it from him. Phoebe thought it was already a done deal.“I suppose I could cancel the
When Phoebe began to recover consciousness, she felt nauseous and dazed. Her lashes lifted slowly. Lorenzo was so close she could see little golden flecks in his eyes. They were in an elevator and he was carrying her. What was going on?“Lorenzo…”“What?” he demanded with unconcealed aggression, powerful arms tightening around her to keep her firmly wedged against his hard, muscular chest.“What… Why are you carrying me?” she mumbled heavily.“You fainted.” A frown indented her damp brow as she fought to regain her wits.“Don’t be silly… I don't faint! Let me down now!”“I've had it with this cleaning nonsense!” Lorenzo ground out, his jawline squaring. “These two jobs are too much for you!”“De Angelis..
“What do you mean?”“This news… about the… pregnancy,” she whispered and lowered her head smiling sadly. “Man, I just blow you away Lorenzo De Angelis.” “This is not at all how I would describe this situation…” Losing patience, Lorenzo closed a determined arm around her and urged Phoebe back indoors.“Come, you need to eat something.” Pulling free of him, Phoebe entered the room and sank down on a sofa.“I’m not hungry.” Lorenzo closed the wall of glass and tossed the remote aside. Then turned towards Phoebe and studied her carefully. His expressive mouth quirked.“I must admit that I’m accustomed to more experienced women who protect themselves from
Lying on her stomach, Phoebe watched Lorenzo recline back against the padded headboard. His brilliant blue eyes were looking around the room. She could feel his sudden distance like a cold chill in the air. He was talking in Italian, his darkly handsome features grave and taut. Phoebe frowned, anxiously wondering what the call was about. A couple of minutes later, Lorenzo cast the phone aside.“I need to take a shower, and then I have to work for a while,” he announced, his stunning eyes veiled, his jawline clenched. “Try to get some sleep, piccola.” When he got off the bed without another word, Phoebe felt like dying. Reality hit her again… Lorenzo remained still and watched her features.“What's wrong?” he asked.“Nothing that
His departure seemed so incredibly subtle that Phoebe couldn’t quite believe that Lorenzo had asked her to marry him and that she had agreed. Everything happened so damn fast. But when she was with him, the notion of time different than what she knew. In the space of an hour, Phoebe had learned that she was expecting a baby and she was going to get married. It was too much to take in all at once... Lorenzo wanted to marry her. Was this real or was she part of a fairytale? Was he feeling pressured to propose because of the pregnancy? Was he for real? Alright, so her father had been a creep, and on that basis, Phoebe had judged all males. But Lorenzo wasn’t like the other men... Not entirely, anyway. The moment she entered his life, he swept her off her feet. And made her fall head over heels in l
While waiting in the living room, absorbed in her thoughts, Phoebe heard Lorenzo entering the apartment. She listened while he was exchanging a few words with his manservant, no doubt learning that she was there, waiting patiently to see him. Having come over to his apartment the instant she finished work Phoebe had been awaiting his return for almost two hours. She decided to stay calm and not kill him in the first ten minutes. Just for the sake of the game, she wanted to hear his pathetic excuses. The more inconsistencies she recalled in Lorenzo's past behavior, the more she understood who he really was. Lorenzo strode into the living room, his lean, strong face grim, blue-icy eyes flat and unfathomable. He emanated stress and tension like a forcefield.“Hello, Lory! Did you have a good trip?
The next weeks that followed their fight and break-up had been pure hell for Phoebe. She functioned on automatic pilot. The hurt was crushing her heart, but the love she was feeling for him, the craving for his touch was getting stronger by the minute. In spite of her request to be left alone by him, Lorenzo called every day. On each occasion, she refused to speak to him. The truth was that she didn't trust herself yet, even on the phone. She was far too frail to confront him again. Finding out about Mia Grimaldi had devastated Phoebe with guilt, jealousy, and mortification. Discovering that Lorenzo trusted Mia infinitely more than he trusted her had literally torn Phoebe apart. Did he even appreciate how much he already cared about Mia? Was he contemplating marriage with Mia?