Free The Italian's Secretary Bride by Kim Lawrence

feelings tonight, changed the subject. ‘I don’t expect your date was too pleased when you decided to wash up.’
    â€˜I didn’t have a date that night.’
    She picked up her fork. ‘That was lucky.’
    â€˜Actually you’re the first woman I’ve ever brought here,’ he revealed, before turning his attention to the neglected food before them. ‘Right,’ he urged. ‘Eat up. Paolo makes the best fritto misto di pesce in town and he’ll be offended if you don’t clear your plate.’
    As Alice began to fork the fried fish, which was every bit as delicious as Luca had contended, into her mouth her thoughts were otherwise engaged. No other woman …that was what he had said. Of course she’d be daft to read anything into that…all the same…

CHAPTER FIVE
    â€˜I’ M BEGINNING to feel a good deal of empathy for the animals in the zoo…’
    Luca, his expression perplexed, shook his head.
    â€˜At feeding time,’ Alice elucidated and he grinned.
    That grin totally transformed the classically severe cast of lean features, banishing the stony reticence she was used to, and lending it an attractive warmth.
    It was the most relaxed she had ever seen him, Alice realised. Her eyes flickered briefly to the discarded tie casually flung over the back of his chair and his elbows planted on the table. The steel had gone from his spine and the scorn from his expression as he slouched elegantly in his chair.
    This was Luca with the charm and vigour but minus the snootiness and sneers—in short a pretty irresistible proposition.
    â€˜I like watching you eat; most women pick at their food.’
    â€˜Whereas I fall on it and devour it like a ravening beast?’ she suggested, pushing aside the last portion on her plate with a regretful sigh. ‘I feel so special…or should that be freaky?’
    â€˜Settle for different,’ he suggested.
    Her shoulders lifted. ‘I can live with that,’ she agreed amicably.
    â€˜What about that last bit?’ he asked, pointing at the amount she had left on her plate.
    â€˜I’m not being polite. If I eat any more I’ll burst. Messy ,’ she said with a grimace.
    His mobile mouth quivered. ‘Paolo will be hurt,’ he contended.
    â€˜Fine, you eat it, then,’ she suggested with a laugh as she speared a piece of squid onto her fork and held it out to him.
    The smile died from his incongruously azure eyes as they collided with her own. In the space of a heartbeat the temperature soared by several degrees. She instantly responded to his abrupt change of mood and would have dropped the fork had his hand not come up to cover her own. Inside his fingers her hand was shaking as, without breaking contact with her wide eyes, he brought the fork up to his mouth.
    A tidal wave of blind, uncontrolled lust swallowed her up like some heavy downy duvet. She didn’t even try to fight it. Every cell in her body was tuned to him: his voice, his touch…the faint male scent that rose from his warm skin. He leaned across the table and she felt her skin prickle damply with heat.
    â€˜Delicious.’ His voice was as velvety smooth as the sauce that had covered their food and infinitely more wicked.
    Alice was mortified to recognise the low moan issued from her own throat. Luca heard and his eyes darkened dramatically; she felt his fingers spasm around her own.
    â€˜Alice.’ He swallowed, the muscles in his brown throat visibly spasming. ‘I think we both—’
    â€˜You enjoyed.’ Paolo, oblivious to the atmosphere, beamed at them both. ‘Now,’ he announced grandly, ‘you shall try my pesche ripiene al forno .’
    Luca’s hand withdrew. ‘Baked stuffed peaches,’ he explained for Alice’s benefit.
    â€˜Oh, I couldn’t. But they sound delicious,’ she added quickly when Paolo looked crestfallen. If Paolo wasn’t