Free Come Away With Me (The Andrades) by Ruth Cardello Page A

his brothers with the idea of mending ties with them. I didn’t know until I met Gio that he was so angry with us. He said he wants nothing to do with us.”
    Nicole added drol ly, “Some people would have taken that as a sign to leave him alone, but Maddy can’t stand anyone being upset with her.”
    “It’s not that, Nicole. He doesn’t hate us. He’s hurting.” She looked across at Julia and said, “Sometimes the right woman can crack a man’s heart wide open and bring him back from a dark place.”
    Julia leaned back against the wall in surprise. “You think I’m that woman? I barely know him. You misunderstood what you saw.” The disappointment in Maddy’s eyes was so genuine that Julia felt for her, despite the odd situation. “Instead of trying to set him up with someone, maybe you should kidnap him .”
    “Did I totally misread what I saw?” Tears came to Maddy’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so emotional lately.” She laughed. “No wonder you think I’m crazy. Looking at the last hour through your eyes I can see why you’d be eager to get away from us. I just got so excited by the possibility. I can’t help thinking that if he falls in love with someone nice he’ll find his way back to us. When I saw the way he was looking down at you when I walked in, I thought . . . I don’t know what I was thinking. Are you sure there is nothing between you?”
    Against all common sense, Julia admitted, “He did ask me to go to the wedding.”
    Nicole exclaimed, “He did?”
    Maddy’s whole expression changed instantly and her smile returned. “I knew it. I knew he was into you.”
    “I turned him down.”
    Maddy clapped her hands together. “You are perfect.” She turned to Nicole, beaming. “Come on, admit it. She is.”
    Nicole looked Julia over again and said, “ It’s a long shot. Even if they fall in love it doesn’t mean you’ll reach him. Not every story has a happy ending, Maddy. What if this doesn’t work out and you end up making things worse?”
    Maddy threw up her hands in the air and walked over to Nicole. “When are you going to trust me? I never fail.”
    Seizing the opportunity Maddy presented by moving away from the door, Julia threw it open and bolted down the stairs. She didn’t stop until she was out the front entrance and a block away.
    She hunched over, hands on her thighs , and tried to catch her breath.
    New York, you are one strange city.
    You’re not scaring me off, but let’s be honest: You could use a little therapy.
    She stepped out into the street to hail a cab, then realized she didn’t have her purse with her and swore.
    Great.
    Just great.
    My money is in my purse. My cell phone. My keys.
    And I left it . . . yep, in Gio Andrade’s office.
    Only . . . she checked the street signs . . . fifteen blocks away.
    Just perfect.

     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    His breath caught in his throat when he heard someone enter the outer office. He stood, then sat, then stood again and crossed the room decisively. Their eyes met and held with a heat he no longer tried to deny. “You left your purse,” he said in a harsher tone than he’d intended.
    She looked flustered, windblown, and utterly irresistible. “I realized that about fifteen blocks from here.”
    He took a step toward her, then stopped. The desire to continue toward her and pull her into his arms was strong, but he didn’t want her to bolt again. “You could have called me. I would have sent a driver to pick you up.”
    She gave him a small, pained smile. “It’s okay, it gave me time to think. Plus, I don’t know your number. I don’t know you at all.”
    He moved closer but stopped when she stepped back. “I intend to change that.”
    She shook her head. “ No.” She looked around the room until she saw her purse, then crossed the room to pick it up. When she met his eyes again, a new emotion darkened her expression.
    He walked over and stood near her, so close their breath mingled and he could