VITTORIO'S RUNAWAY BRIDE (The Vittorio Series) by Kimberley Reeves Page A

across his face as he pictured her lying naked and waiting for him in the king size bed.
    “I know that look, Logan Vittorio,” Shelby chastised, “and if you think this is all about sex you’re wrong.”
    Logan chuckled and raised her hand to his lips.   “Do not worry, carissima , I will make sure you are fed afterwards.”
    “Oh, you’re impossible,” she snatched her hand away.
    “Are you saying you have not imagined a stolen hour of intimacy with me in the middle of the day?”
    Her cheeks burned a glorious shade of scarlet.   “It never crossed my mind.”   His laughter brought a smile to her lips.   “Okay, so maybe I did think of it briefly, but that’s not all I want to do whenever you manage to slip away to see me.”
    “You will not be disappointed when there are days I cannot get away at all?”
    “Of course I’ll be disappointed, but I won’t be unhappy because it will make those days you can see me so much more special.   I’ll have my painting to keep me busy and without Alba around to scowl at me whenever I invade her kitchen, I’ll be able to make lunch for you.   And if you have to stay late I can bring you dinner or maybe even help you with your work.”
    “Shelby…”
    “Please don’t say no before you even give me a chance to prove I can be useful.   I know you think I have my head in the clouds because the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do is paint, but I’m very good with computers and I can type seventy words per minute. And you forget, I took business courses in college so I know how to keep my own books, and I do so want to be involved with your work so I’m not completely lost when you talk about your ventures…”
    “Okay, okay,” he laughed, “I will give you a chance to prove yourself.   If you like, I can have my Personal Assistant, Margaret, train you.   If things work out, perhaps you can fill in for her when she takes time off.”
    “Oh, Logan, that would be wonderful!”
    “I warn you, I am not going to be easy on you.   Margaret’s job is very demanding and the only reason she has lasted as long as she has is because she does not let my moods affect her.   She knows I can be abrupt and does not take it personally.   I cannot have you falling to pieces if I seem harsh at times.”
    “I wouldn’t expect any favoritism and I promise you can fire me on the spot if I don’t measure up to your standards.”
    “I can trust you not to be angry with me if I find it necessary to fire you?”
    “No tantrums, I swear.”
    “We will give it a trial run then, but if Margaret does not think you can handle it, I will have to accept her opinion and expect no argument from you.”
    Shelby’s high spirits took a slight dip.   “You don’t think I can do it, do you?”
    “ Innamorato …”
    “Don’t you sweetheart me, Logan Vittorio,” she admonished, “you think I’m going to fail.”
    Logan chose his words carefully.   “I am confident you will do your best, but it is a tough job and I do not want you to be upset if it does not work out.”
    “I’m not as fragile as you think I am.”
    “Perhaps not, but I am worried about the strain it may put on our relationship.”  
    He turned onto the private road leading to their house, not at all happy with the path their conversation had taken.   He shouldn’t have given in so easily or at least tried harder to talk her out of working with him.   Logan was under no illusions about how difficult he could be, and though he considered himself to be a fair and generous boss, he was also extremely demanding and often sounded rather abrupt, especially when he was up against a tight deadline.   He waited until they passed through the wrought iron security gates and were halfway to the house before stopping the car.
    “I am afraid we will not have the house to ourselves tonight,” he confessed with an apologetic smile.   “When I told my parents I was bringing you home, my mother insisted on getting