The Sicilian's Bride Read Online Free Page B

crossed, way too close in that small space, his eyes glittering in the dim light and brimming over with self-confidence, she couldn’t think of a single original thing to say.
    “Ciao,” came a voice from somewhere above them. “Chiunque nel paese?”
    “My brother,” he muttered. Then he swore in Italian. At least it sounded like swearing.
    So much for the bonds of Italian brotherhood, she thought as he brushed by her on his way up the stairs.

CHAPTER TWO

    D ARIO took the stone steps two at a time leaving the American heiress behind. That’s all he needed—his brother interfering just when he was finally making progress. At least he thought he was. It was hard to tell when she kept insisting she wasn’t discouraged. But no woman in her right mind would take on a run-down operation like this. Most women he knew wanted a beautiful house, land, money, excitement and more.
    Naturally the woman he compared all others to was his ex-fiancée, Magdalena, who’d made it clear the life he’d offered her was not enough. Surely this woman would have to agree, sooner rather than later, that this run-down dump of a place was not enough for her, no matter what the long-term possibilities were, and run back to where she came from, which was where she belonged.
    “What are you doing here?” he asked Cosmo, who was standing in the stone patio, his car parked in front of the house.
    “I heard from Delfino the American woman might be on the property. I wanted to say hello and welcome her on behalf of the family.”
    “Are you out of your mind?” Dario demanded, struck by his younger brother’s immaturity and lack of common sense. “Welcome the woman who has already refused to sell theproperty back to us? The woman who’s keeping Nonno from realizing his dream before he dies?”
    “Nonno’s dream or yours?” Cosmo asked.
    Dario ignored the question. He knew what his brother thought. He knew what the whole family thought of him. They thought he was obsessed with trying to recover this land they’d written off long ago. Maybe he was. But maybe he should be. Because it was his fault they’d had to sell the land, and now it was his responsibility to get it back. It was so obvious. Why couldn’t they understand that?
    “What were you going to do, bring her flowers and roll out the red carpet?” Dario asked.
    “Of course not, but be honest, Dario, you’re the one who cares more than anyone about getting the place back. Give it up.”
    It was true. No one in his family had any idea how important it was for him. How much he blamed himself for what had happened—and would continue to blame himself until he’d got the property back and their wine won the gold medal. Then and only then could he put the past where it belonged. Until then…
    “It’s gone,” Cosmo said. “Get over it. Stop blaming yourself.”
    “Easy for you to say,” Dario said. “It’s my fault we had to sell. You know it’s true.”
    “Forget it,” Cosmo said. “It’s over. We have vineyards enough. Let this one go. I came by to see for myself if the new owner is as beautiful as I heard,” Cosmo said.
    Dario shook his head. “You heard wrong. How do those rumors get started? She’s not beautiful at all.” It was true. Her mouth was too large, her nose too small. Her hair was the color of copper in the sunlight, but that was definitely her best feature.
    “So she’s not beautiful. What is she like?”
    “Just offhand, I’d say she’s stubborn, proud, determined and naive. And overconfident. No idea what it takes to makewine. As soon as she realizes this place isn’t for her, she’ll be on her way. But right now she’s wavering.” Unfortunately that was just wishful thinking. He didn’t detect any sign of wavering in this woman. “If you don’t leave now you might say the wrong thing and she’ll be here forever. It’s not fair to her to encourage her.”
    “Encourage her?” Cosmos teetered on the edge of indecision. “I just