Read Giovanni (Blood Brothers Book 6) for Free Online Page B

to talk,” he whispered.
    “We have nothing to talk about,” Sydney spoke as softly as she could.
    “You and I both know we have unfinished business.”
    “We’ve already gone over everything that needs to be said. Don’t ruin this dinner for anyone else.”
    “I won’t as long as you agree to meet me outside after dinner.”
    She took a deep breath. “Fine. Can I enjoy my dinner now?”
    “By all means.” She could hear the smug satisfaction in his voice and was actually glad she couldn’t see the smirk that probably rested on his face; otherwise she’d be tempted to smack it off.
    “So Miss Lewis, did you cook this delicious meal?” John Chandler’s dulcet voice was a welcome distraction. She turned in the direction she’d heard him speak.
    “No, you can thank Ida for the spread, although I did peel the potatoes. And please call me Sydney. We’re not formal around here.”
    “And call me John.”
    A feeling of warmth spread throughout her body at the intimacy his tone took. She smiled. “Okay, John.”
    “I’m surprised you didn’t have an accident handling a knife,” Darlene piped up.
    Sydney cringed on the inside at the sound of her demanding boarder’s high-pitched voice. It was like nails raking down a chalkboard. “Why would you think there would be an accident?” She knew exactly what Darlene was trying to get at but she wanted to see if the other woman had the gall to come right out and say it. She’d bitten her tongue quite a bit whenever Darlene was around but she wasn’t about to let the woman make her look incompetent, especially with a roomful of people. She might be blind but she was no pushover.
    “Oh, I hope that didn’t come out the wrong way. I just worry about you is all. I think it’s amazing what you can do for someone with your…limitations.”
    Before Sydney could tell that bitch exactly where to go, Darlene started talking to John.
    “So John, it’s not often we get many handsome single men around here. What’s your story?”
    Now it made sense why Darlene had put in an appearance tonight. She must have caught sight of John. The woman was a barracuda.
    “I don’t really have much of a story to tell. I made a decent sum of money in the stock market in my twenties, got a bit burned out from the rat race and decided to cash in my earnings and see the world.”
    “Oh, that sounds exciting. I bet you’ve seen so much. I’d love it if you tell me about it sometime. Maybe you can to my room later for a drink and we can talk about it.”
    Sydney had been taking a bite of her meatloaf and nearly choked on it when she heard Darlene drop that tired line.
    Dylan whacked Sydney’s back. “Are you okay?”
    Sydney broke into a fit of coughs. “I’m fine,” she managed say before reaching for a glass of water.
    “Sydney, sweetie, are you okay?” Darlene’s fake concern made Sydney want to fling her mashed potatoes in that tramp’s direction. The only thing that stopped her was not wanting to hit anyone else.
    “I’m fine,” she mumbled, embarrassed that she let the other woman get under her skin. She had no reason to be jealous, after all she barely knew John. And even if she broke her own rule about dating her boarders there was no guarantee that he had any interest in her beyond that of landlord and tenant.
    The rest of the meal was an ordeal. Between Darlene’s subtle barbs and Dylan finding any and all excuses to touch her, Sydney was ready to stab someone by the time she managed to get dinner down.
    She excused herself before dessert to get some air and headed to the porch to clear her thoughts. When she heard footsteps shortly afterwards, she braced herself for another headache as she remembered she had promised Dylan a talk.
    Without warning he placed his hands on her shoulders and pressed his lips to the back of her neck.
    Sydney shoved her elbow into his midsection. “What the hell are you doing, Dylan? I didn’t come out here for you to molest me.”