Read Mila (Heartbreaker #3) for Free Online Page B

he realizes it.
    “Mimi!” Nicola slaps the table next to my arm to get my attention.
    “ Mia Nipote, what?”
    I grab her little hand and bring it to my mouth, pretending to eat it. Her little giggles make me smile. I tell her what a pretty little girl she is in Italian.
    I’ve been speaking in English the majority of the time I’ve been in America. Occasionally I slip and speak in Italian. I sit back up and feel his eyes on me. I try to fight the pull, but I can’t. Our eyes connect, and he gives me a small smile. I feel my cheeks flush and look down at my plate.
    “I’m going to take Nicola to the bathroom. We’ll be right back.”
    I swear Jill winks at me before lifting Nicola out of the high chair and disappearing toward the back of the restaurant. I glance at Brian beneath my lashes. He smiles at me, the smile small and almost shy looking. I look down at the table and feel him rest his hand on top of mine.
    “I know you just want to be friends and I’m cool with that, but I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner this weekend?”
    I school my features, not wanting him to see that I’m excited he’s asking me out. Even if it’s just as friends, I know I want to get to know him better. If he’s just a friend, I know I won’t hurt him in the end, like I would if we started dating.
    “I’d love to. I have to work Saturday night, but I’m free Friday.”
    Which means, if he agrees, that I have two days to prepare for my non-date with Brian.
    “Friday works great.”
    I give him my number and he calls me so I can save his into mine. He has to leave and head to an appointment, but he tells me he’ll call me tomorrow. I stand up and come around to him. I kiss both of his cheeks before hugging him. His woodsy scent wraps around me and makes me want to bury my nose in his neck.
    “I’ll talk to you later,” he says and then walks to the front.
    Jill and Nicola come back a few minutes later. “Brian had to get to an appointment.” She raises an eyebrow at me. “What?”
    She snaps Nicola back in her seat and sits back down. “So…?” She looks at me expectantly.
    “So, what?”
    “Why won’t you go out with him, Mila? He’s a great guy. He’s handsome, smart, and really fun.”
    “We’re going to dinner Friday.” Jill’s eyes sparkle and she smiles. “It’s just as friends, Jill. Don’t start planning our wedding or anything. It would just be nice to have someone else to hang out with. That way I’m not always bothering you guys.”
    I always feel like I’m intruding on everyone. Well, except for Jordan. He’s Jasmine’s twin brother. Around two years ago, he was the victim of a hate crime due to his homosexuality and since then he’s been very quiet and reserved, but he and I have gotten to know each other.
    “You don’t ever bother us. Mila, you’re family.” She places her hand on mine. “What brought this on? We haven’t made you feel unwelcome, have we?”
    “Oh God, no. Not at all. It’s just you and Nico are having another baby and still making up for all the time you lost. I don’t want to wear out my welcome.” The waitress comes to our table and informs us that our bill was paid.
    “Brian is such a sneak,” Jill says. She throws a large tip on the table. When we step outside, Jill walks us to my car. She buckles Nicola in and kisses her before hugging me. “Nico should pick her up by three. Remember, you’re always welcome and never think otherwise.”
    We head back to my house, where Nicola promptly falls asleep. I lay her down in the portable playpen that Jill brought over. I grab my sketch pad and sit down on the sofa. I have the perfect view of Nica’s profile.
    Thirty minutes later, the drawing is perfect. I remove it from my sketchbook and lay it gently on the coffee table. I’ll clean the drawing up later, then frame and hang it on my wall with the rest of my sketches, which consist of anything I see that inspires me. Not all of the sketches are of