THE ITALIAN DUKE’S WIFE by Пенни Джордан

Author:Пенни Джордан [Джордан, Пенни]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love_short
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4219-1
Publisher: First North American Publication Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Published: 2006-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

THERE could be far, far worse ways in which to spend

the next twelve months than exploring this wonderful

city, Jodie thought happily as she took her reluctant

leave of the Medici Palace and headed for the Piazza

Signoria.

She had the day to herself, Lorenzo having announced

earlier that he had some business to attend

to and would be gone until after lunch. Not that she

minded — not one little bit. It was just the sight of so

many couples strolling hand in hand that was making

her aware of not having his imperious, imposing presence

at her side, and nothing at all personal. How

could it be? She was determined not to let down her

emotional guard with any man ever again, and even

if she hadn’t been she would have to be a complete

fool to fall in love with a man like Lorenzo.

No, it was just the warmth of the summer sun and

the effect of Florence itself on her emotions that was

giving her that inner feeling of sadness. Of course if

Lorenzo had been with her he would have been able

to tell her much more about the city than any guidebook.

But determinedly she reminded herself firmly

of how the tension that had somehow crept into even

their most mundane conversational exchanges made

her feel on edge — as though somehow she was on a

constant adrenalin surge, her body waiting… For

what? For him to touch her again? Her thoughts were

drifting down dangerous pathways, she warned

herself.

She tried to focus on the square and its famous

sculptures, pausing to check the guidebook she had

bought earlier. While she was living here she could

even try to learn Italian and turn her year of marriage

into a means of adding to her future CV. That would

give her something far better to occupy her thoughts

than these dangerous sensual longings that had begun

to creep up on her so disturbingly. Of course Lorenzo

would be a good lover, she told herself scathingly.

She didn’t need to experience his lovemaking at first

hand to know that!

The city was busy with other tourists, and by the

time she had walked as far as the Uffizi, having decided

to leave exploring the Palazzo Vecchio for another

occasion, she was beginning to feel both tired

and thirsty. There was a cafe.-bar in the square near

to the apartment, she remembered, and it would not

take her long to walk there.

When she got there, the small square was so busy

that at first she thought she wouldn’t be able to get a

table. But finally she found one, and sat down with a

small sigh of relief.

Half an hour later, she was just finishing her second

cup of coffee when a handsome young Italian approached

her table.

"Scusi, signorina," he apologised, giving her a

boldly flattering smile. "May I share your table? Only

the cafe. is full and…"

He was very good-looking, and quite obviously an

expert at recognising solitary female tourists, Jodie

reflected in rueful amusement as she looked back

at him.

From the other side of the square Lorenzo watched

the age-old tableau being played out in front of him.

Young male Florentines traditionally spent the summer

months flirting with gullible female tourists — so

much so, in fact, that it was an

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