In Bed With Her Italian Boss (1 of 2 free samples)

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COPYRIGHT
In Bed With Her Italian Boss by Kate Hardy. Copyright 2007 by Kate Hardy.
All Rights Reserved. Sharing not permitted.

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IN BED WITH HER ITALIAN BOSS

Kate Hardy

For Jim—who has taught me much—with love.


CHAPTER ONE

SHE looked as if the world had ended, hunched over an empty coffee cup, staring out of the plate-glass window but not seeing anything.

Gio couldn’t leave her sitting there in such obvious misery. So even though he should’ve locked up ten minutes ago, he did exactly what his father would’ve done. He made a cappuccino and slid it on to the table in front of her. ‘Here,’ he said softly.

She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. ‘I... ’ She’d obviously been about to protest that she hadn’t ordered the coffee. But then she smiled ruefully and cupped both hands round the mug, clearly taking comfort from its warmth. ‘Thanks.’

‘No problem.’ He handed her a chocolate dipper. ‘You look as if you need this.’

‘I do,’ she admitted. ‘Thanks. I appreciate this.’ She rummaged in her handbag for her purse. ‘How much do I owe you?’

He waved a dismissive hand. ‘Nothing.’

She frowned. ‘Won’t you get into trouble with your boss?’

‘Doubt it.’ He smiled. ‘Anyway, you’re a regular, so call it a refill.’

Those beautiful blue eyes—the same blue as the sky on a summer evening, he saw, now that he was this close to her—narrowed slightly. ‘Regular?’

He shrugged. ‘On Wednesday mornings, you order a cappuccino and an almond croissant to go at ten past nine.’

The suspicion on her face morphed into nervousness. ‘How do you know that?’

Oh, lord. Obviously she thought he was some kind of weirdo—that he’d been watching her or stalking her. He shouldn’t have mentioned the time. ‘Work here long enough and you get to know the customers,’ he said lightly, hoping it reassured her. ‘I’m out of croissants or I would’ve brought you one—hence the chocolate.’ He spread his hands. ‘Because that’s what women need when things get tough, right? Or so my sisters always tell me.’

‘Right. And thank you.’ She looked very close to tears.

‘Want to talk about it?’

She looked around, as if suddenly realising she was the only customer. ‘Oh, lord. Sorry. I’m holding you up.’

‘Not at all. Though would you mind if I put up the closed sign and put the bolt on the door, so I don’t get a sudden rush and end up staying open a lot later than usual?’

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