Free VITTORIO'S RUNAWAY BRIDE (The Vittorio Series) by Kimberley Reeves Page B

hadn’t.   It wasn’t his mother or sister Logan was talking to, but some woman named Alicia.  By the sound of it, the woman was upset with him for breaking off a date.   That same agonizing pain she’d felt when she saw Logan and his mistress leaving the hotel viciously ripped at her heart, and though her mind screamed at her to leave so she didn’t have to hear anymore, her legs stubbornly refused to move.
    “I know what I told you,” Logan said evenly, “but my circumstances have changed and I am no longer free to escort you to the ball.   I am sorry, but you will just have to find someone else to take you or attend by yourself.”   There was a moment of silence as he listened to Alicia’s pleading.   “No, I cannot stop by to discuss it, Alicia.  I am not even in town.   I have some business to finish up that may take a few more days…”
    “ Business, ” Shelby croaked.
    Logan whirled around to find a visibly shaken Shelby looking at him as if he was some sort of monster.  “I have to go,” he muttered into the phone before tossing it onto one of the chairs.   “ Cara , it is not…”
    “That’s all I am to you, business ?”
    He took a step towards her.   “That is not what I meant.   I just did not see any reason to involve her in my personal affairs.”
    “ Affairs ,” she bit out, “what an interesting choice of words.   It’s her , isn’t it?   Alicia is the blonde you’ve been seeing behind my back.”
    Logan drew in a sharp breath.   “How did you know she was a blonde?”
    Shelby’s face crumbled.   “So it’s true.  You admit that you’ve been having an affair with her.   Oh, Logan, how could you?   How could you come here pretending you wanted to save our marriage when you’re still involved with that woman?”
    “ Per l’amor del Dio ,” he said with a shake of his head.   “I admit to no such thing.   I merely asked how you knew she was blonde and from that you conclude I am carrying on an affair?”
    Shelby’s voice came out as little more than a squeak.   “I saw you with her.”
    Now Logan was really confused.   “I do not understand.   I took her once to Mancini’s a few weeks ago and to an art exhibit last month, are you saying you were at one of those places?”
    She stared at him in disbelief, the rolling pain inside her so acute she clutched at her stomach.   “You took her to our restaurant where people we know were sure to see you?”
    The pieces of the puzzle weren’t quite coming together and Shelby looked so distraught he was concerned she would make herself physically ill.   Logan went to her and led her to the sofa, insisting that they talk it out in spite of her protests that she was done talking and wanted him to leave.   He could see the tears pooling in her eyes and the way her chin quivered, and if he wasn’t so sure she’d fight him like a wildcat he would have taken her in his arms and held her there until that horrible look of desolation left her beautiful face.   Instead, he had to content himself with holding one small hand in his.
    “Now, we shall start from the beginning.   First of all, I am not having an affair with Alicia.”
    “I heard what you said on the phone, Logan.   You had plans to take her to a ball and you admitted yourself that you had been out with her before.”
    “As a friend ,” he said insistently, “nothing more.   Her husband is an old college friend and an important client that I acquired shortly before you left.   His business in Italy has kept him out of the country for over a month now and she asked me to accompany her to a few engagements she had already obligated herself to so she would not have to go alone.   Shelby, look at me,” he said softly.   When her green eyes lifted to his, Logan’s chest tightened.   “ Mio bello , do not look at me as if you do not believe a word I am saying.”
    “How can I believe you,” she cried, “I saw you with my own eyes.   I saw