The Unwanted Conti Bride (The Legendary Conti Brothers) by Tara Pammi Page B
Authors: Tara Pammi
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though.”
She offered that tidbit reluctantly as if Kairos needed her protection. From Luca. She gave so much of herself to just a friend. “What did your friend say?” he asked casually, swallowing away the jealousy her friendship with another man aroused.
“That he’ll be waiting to offer his support as a friend when you leave me in pieces , to quote him. I think Tina is causing major ripples in his life.”
The goodwill he heard in her tone for his sister warmed Luca’s heart. It confirmed his growing belief that Sophia had only ever wanted Kairos’s friendship. “Why do you assume that?”
“Because he said ‘We should have never gone near those Contis ’ in a pained voice before he hung up.”
Luca laughed. “Good for Tina,” he whispered in Sophia’s ear and pulled her onto the dance floor.
CHAPTER SEVEN
T ONIGHT , S OPHIA DECIDED , as she tried to not search the huge ballroom for Luca like a desperate, clingy wife, she could be a deer. Never a gazelle or a swan, but at least not a penguin—and unlike the last Conti party she attended, this time she was not a skunk.
She also, quite uncharacteristically, decided to put away all the things Valentina had said about Luca into her newly commissioned cupboard in her head. Tonight she wouldn’t worry, plan, obsess, hide or hate. Tonight she would take a leaf out of her playboy husband’s colorful book and enjoy herself. She’d dance, drink and flirt with Luca, even. Maybe.
It was without doubt the best evening of Sophia’s life. Suddenly, it seemed, all of society, the same people that had always looked on her with begrudgingly given kindness wanted to talk to her, invited her to posh luncheons and generally wanted to figure out how she’d corralled the Conti Devil.
Even knowing that Luca had been with half the women there, Sophia met a few women whom she’d love to get to know more. It was as if by lowering her own walls, she could see the others clearer, too.
And with a haunting clarity, she realized how right Luca was. She’d always been different in this strata of society, which in turn had made her defensive. Thirteen, unpolished but streetwise, she hadn’t trusted that Salvatore wouldn’t change his mind about keeping her; she’d decided from the first moment that she didn’t belong there. Instead of risking rejection, she’d built a wall between her true self and everyone else. And then that episode of the bet had given her even more reason to hate them all. A shield, she realized now.
She danced with Luca, who was, of course, a graceful, slick dancer, then with Leandro, who to her surprise, told her she was welcome to come to him for any matter regarding the CLG board. Almost as if he’d been warned by his brother to not offend her.
Kairos was away on a business trip, thankfully.
Then there was Antonio, whom she’d avoided all evening. Sheer cowardice? Yes, but Sophia didn’t want him to ruin her perfect evening.
* * *
Luca heard the snick of the door behind him and sighed. He’d come into Leandro’s study, looking for the legal papers he’d asked Leandro’s lawyer to draw up.
Without turning, he knew who it was. He’d been waiting for this confrontation all week. Dreading it. Loathing it.
For his grandfather was quite adept at turning Luca back into that needy, emotional boy he’d been during those hard years. Unable to manage his headaches and his restlessness, unable to sleep.
Cowardly as it had been, hiding out in his studio for a week had an added advantage to it. Antonio never ventured there. For one thing, Leandro had decreed long ago that it was Luca’s space—sacred and safe and inviolate. For another, the studio was evidence that Luca had inherited more than just his father’s good looks.
Antonio preferred to believe the Contis were invulnerable to anything from simple mood swings to brilliance-induced madness. Even after Enzo’s life proved otherwise.
“You cannot give Sophia power over CLG stock
She offered that tidbit reluctantly as if Kairos needed her protection. From Luca. She gave so much of herself to just a friend. “What did your friend say?” he asked casually, swallowing away the jealousy her friendship with another man aroused.
“That he’ll be waiting to offer his support as a friend when you leave me in pieces , to quote him. I think Tina is causing major ripples in his life.”
The goodwill he heard in her tone for his sister warmed Luca’s heart. It confirmed his growing belief that Sophia had only ever wanted Kairos’s friendship. “Why do you assume that?”
“Because he said ‘We should have never gone near those Contis ’ in a pained voice before he hung up.”
Luca laughed. “Good for Tina,” he whispered in Sophia’s ear and pulled her onto the dance floor.
CHAPTER SEVEN
T ONIGHT , S OPHIA DECIDED , as she tried to not search the huge ballroom for Luca like a desperate, clingy wife, she could be a deer. Never a gazelle or a swan, but at least not a penguin—and unlike the last Conti party she attended, this time she was not a skunk.
She also, quite uncharacteristically, decided to put away all the things Valentina had said about Luca into her newly commissioned cupboard in her head. Tonight she wouldn’t worry, plan, obsess, hide or hate. Tonight she would take a leaf out of her playboy husband’s colorful book and enjoy herself. She’d dance, drink and flirt with Luca, even. Maybe.
It was without doubt the best evening of Sophia’s life. Suddenly, it seemed, all of society, the same people that had always looked on her with begrudgingly given kindness wanted to talk to her, invited her to posh luncheons and generally wanted to figure out how she’d corralled the Conti Devil.
Even knowing that Luca had been with half the women there, Sophia met a few women whom she’d love to get to know more. It was as if by lowering her own walls, she could see the others clearer, too.
And with a haunting clarity, she realized how right Luca was. She’d always been different in this strata of society, which in turn had made her defensive. Thirteen, unpolished but streetwise, she hadn’t trusted that Salvatore wouldn’t change his mind about keeping her; she’d decided from the first moment that she didn’t belong there. Instead of risking rejection, she’d built a wall between her true self and everyone else. And then that episode of the bet had given her even more reason to hate them all. A shield, she realized now.
She danced with Luca, who was, of course, a graceful, slick dancer, then with Leandro, who to her surprise, told her she was welcome to come to him for any matter regarding the CLG board. Almost as if he’d been warned by his brother to not offend her.
Kairos was away on a business trip, thankfully.
Then there was Antonio, whom she’d avoided all evening. Sheer cowardice? Yes, but Sophia didn’t want him to ruin her perfect evening.
* * *
Luca heard the snick of the door behind him and sighed. He’d come into Leandro’s study, looking for the legal papers he’d asked Leandro’s lawyer to draw up.
Without turning, he knew who it was. He’d been waiting for this confrontation all week. Dreading it. Loathing it.
For his grandfather was quite adept at turning Luca back into that needy, emotional boy he’d been during those hard years. Unable to manage his headaches and his restlessness, unable to sleep.
Cowardly as it had been, hiding out in his studio for a week had an added advantage to it. Antonio never ventured there. For one thing, Leandro had decreed long ago that it was Luca’s space—sacred and safe and inviolate. For another, the studio was evidence that Luca had inherited more than just his father’s good looks.
Antonio preferred to believe the Contis were invulnerable to anything from simple mood swings to brilliance-induced madness. Even after Enzo’s life proved otherwise.
“You cannot give Sophia power over CLG stock
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