‘I miss my country,’ the grizzled man said. ‘But I know my Elena could not move from her home, her family, this beautiful place, and so I have adapted. That is the power of love.’

His declaration brought a smile to her face even as she marvelled at them. A sudden pang of envy touched her for what this man and his wife had. Even as she knew it wasn’t for her. She did believe in the power of love and she’d seen how destructive that power could be. Seen her mother’s love for her father send her to the verge of brittle breakdown. Karen Casseveti’s whole life had been defined by her love to the exclusion of all else. Her fear of losing her husband had dictated her every move, even down to the decision to have a baby. And once she had Ava she had seen her as an asset in her quest. As Ava had grown up she had seen the fear in her mother’s perfectly made-up eyes as her gaze tracked her husband across a room.

A justified fear because she had known how precarious her position was. Known that James had loved his first family and yet that love too had been destroyed, defeated by the power of ambition and the lure of wealth. James had needed Lady Karen Hales’s money and connections to start Dolci and so he’d deserted his first wife and family.

So, yes, love was definitely a powerful force, but like any force it could cause pain.

The car glided to a stop and Ava blinked back to the present as she took in her surroundings. The whitewashed stone-walled building took picturesque to new levels of meaning. Iron balconies fronted the first floor and pretty trees lined the pavement outside.

Inside the rustic wood-panelled front door an elegant grey-haired woman bustled towards them, a welcoming smile on her face. ‘Buona sera, Liam. It is good to see you again.’

Liam stooped to kiss the woman on both cheeks. ‘You too, Elena. How are the children? How is the latest addition?’ He turned to Ava. ‘Elena welcomed her fourth grandchild into the world two months ago.’

Ava smiled and stepped forward. ‘Congratulations. I’m Ava.’

‘Welcome, Ava. And thank you. Arianna is gorgeous, my first granddaughter and she is beautiful. Now to business. I have prepared food, done the shopping and stocked the bar and freezer. The beds are made up. If there is anything you need, call me. Or Pierre.’ She smiled at Ava. ‘This is my number. Please feel free to contact me as well. I live nearby. I can come any time.’

‘Thank you, Elena. I’ll input that now.’

‘Then I will leave you to it. Unless you wish for me to wait and serve the food.’

‘No need.’ Liam paused and looked across at Ava. ‘Unless you would prefer it.’

For a craven moment she wanted to say yes, didn’t want to be left alone with Liam in this cosy, intimate setting to share a meal, just the two of them. Ridiculous. This was a working dinner and she and Liam had a lot of ground to cover and the whole point was for them to get comfortable around each other. Alone.

‘No, I’m good, and thank you, Elena. The food smells incredible.’

Now Elena beamed. ‘Thank you. I have made focaccia barese and orecchiette con cime di rapa. And a salad to accompany it. The dessert is my speciality—I will let that be a surprise. I will bring fresh breakfast pastries and bread in the morning.’

With that Elena left and Ava forced a smile to her face. ‘So,’ she said brightly. ‘If it’s OK with you I’ll freshen up and unpack and then we can reconvene our discussion.’

‘Sounds good.’ He pointed. ‘The kitchen is through there. I’ll meet you down here in half an hour.’

Thirty minutes of reprieve and she needed every single one.

CHAPTER SIX

LIAM GAVE THE pasta a quick stir and lifted the lid to check on the simmering pan that emitted a waft of herbs with a hint of garlic. Anticipation clashed again with guilt and he reminded himself again that this was not a date. It was a working dinner.

The kitchen door opened and he looked up and there it was again, that little kick to his gut when he saw Ava. She’d changed into black trousers and a tunic top, her hair now pulled up into a bun. A kind of smart-casual-cum-business look. Her face looked a little different and he frowned as he tried to pinpoint it—perhaps a different lipstick and something about her eyes. Maybe a touch more eye shadow.

In the same moment he realised he was staring he also clocked that so was she, that her amber eyes watched him with...appreciation.

‘Do I pass muster?’ she asked.

‘Yes. Do I?’ he countered.

‘Yes. Sorry to stare. There is just something great about a man at the kitchen stove. I know it’s considered normal nowadays but in my family it wasn’t.’

‘I’d love to say I cooked it but you know I didn’t. There is a bottle of wine in the fridge if you’d like a glass.’

‘Thank you. I would. But I’ll set the table first.’

‘Great. The cutlery is in that drawer.’

The drawer that was right next to him, in a kitchen space that could best be described as cosy. Now what? If he moved away too abruptly it would look awkward. If he stayed put things could get even more awkward. Jeez. He was behaving like an adolescent. The whole point of this was so that they could get more comfortable together. Yet he could feel his body tense, brace itself for impact as Ava came closer. He could smell the scent of soap, a hint of elusive light floral scent. And now she was closer still and his muscles ached with tension when he heard her sudden intake of breath and knew his proximity affected her. The reminder that this attraction was mutual ratcheted his pulse rate.

‘I...um... I...’ She stood stock-still and he could see her gaze flick over him. Her hand lifted as if she were going to place it on his chest and then she dropped it quickly, masked the movement into a reach across to the drawer. He tried to move away and inadvertently his hand brushed against hers, his fingers swept over her wrist and she made the smallest of noises.

Tags: Nina Milne Billionaire Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net