Free Charmed by Emily Jane Trent Page A

unique to him. The whole family, Adrian included, moved their hands expressively when talking. Amazing to watch, it was fun; kind of like a sign language that accompanied their speech.
    Serena, standing next to the table, lifted her right hand, pointed her fingertips toward her mouth, and bending them back and forth a few times. Adrian took his seat at the table, and even Ella recognized the “let’s eat” signal, and sat when Adam pulled her chair out for her. The intimate family setting was nearly too much for Ella. Growing up, her family never ate together. Once in a while she’d had a meal with Kaiyla’s family, but even they weren’t as open, friendly, and talkative as Adam’s family.
    The table was laden with plenty of food, including sliced papaya, crusty bread with butter, fluffy scrambled eggs, and ham. Everyone poured cream in their coffee, just how Ella liked hers. The taste of the coffee was exquisite, and was like instant pep in a cup.
    “This is the best coffee I’ve ever had,” she announced.
    Fiorella grinned. “How do you like the eggs?”
    “Amazing, what do you put in them? There’s some flavor I don’t recognize.”
    “Ah, my secret recipe. I add coconut milk, makes them fluffy and tasty.”
    With Adam’s sister in charge of meals, there was no chance of having anything less than gourmet presentations. Ella had only arrived the day before, and already she was crazy about Brazilian food, especially the way Fiorella made it. Both Adrian and Adam ate heartily, refilling their plates a second time. At one point, Adrian tugged his right earlobe and said, “Delicious,” leaving Ella to wonder how pulling on your ear came to mean that the food tasted delicious.
    All through the meal, the family talked and laughed, their hands flying around, accenting their words. Ella watched in amazement, never venturing to say anything, a bit reserved around such energetic discussions. Adrian and Adam both spoke fluent English, but frequently fell into speaking in Italian, so Ella only understood what they were saying about half of the time. She enjoyed it nonetheless. Seeing Adam so animated and happy was a new experience. He was home with his family, and being himself.
    In the warm family circle, any danger seemed remote. The relaxed atmosphere made it difficult to conceive that Adam had some evil to deal with, yet she knew he did and resolved to make him tell her about it as soon as they were alone. The evening before hadn’t been the right time. She suppressed a grin, thinking of the night they’d spent together. She’d awakened more than once to Adam’s sensual caresses, and responded in kind.
    She choked on her coffee when the attention suddenly shifted to her.
    “So, you are with him,” Adrian said, more as statement than a question.
    Ella was caught off guard. “Um, yes. I came to visit.” Lame, but that was all that came to mind.
    Adrian gently tugged on the lower lid of his left eye and said, “Be careful.” Then he grinned.
    “Hey,” Adam said. “Don’t scare her. I’ve been on my best behavior.”
    “Yes, you…but what about—”
    Fiorella cut him off. “Okay, let’s clean up. Don’t you have a soccer game to go to?”
    “Oh, yes, foot-tee-bol,” Adrian said, standing and carrying his dishes to the sink. “Well, Ella, I will be seeing you again I’m sure.” He hugged Serena, Ella, and then Fiorella, before vanishing as quickly as he’d arrived.
    “Soccer, or football as Adrian calls it, is his true love,” Fiorella said, smiling at Ella. “I don’t know how it is in America, but in our country soccer is a childhood tradition, starting as soon as a boy can walk. Boys play in the streets and fields of every city and village, before school and after; sometimes even during.” Fiorella laughed. “It’s a hard mistress to compete with. They don’t discover women until later. Oh, sure, they love them. But soccer you cannot compete with. The fans here are the most