Page 5 of Prideful Union
I step back, feeling like I’ve been slapped in the face. “But you’re here to get to know me, right?”
“I am. And I’m not impressed.”
I gasp. Not impressed? How dare he!
But before I can come up with a witty remark, he walks away.
And I’m left standing there like an idiot.
I walk out of the room and into the quiet hallway, trying to catch my breath. I was so looking forward to meeting Santino, but that hope has been dashed. It’s a rocky start, but I’m sure I can make this work. I will get married, preferably to Santino.
I just need to impress him.
With a confident nod, I head back into the room, but I stop when I hear Santino talking to someone.
I scurry behind a plant, listening.
“She’s all right,” Santino says. “I was expecting someone prettier, like her sisters.”
“What are you talking about?” the other man replies. It sounds like my brother-in-law, Leo. “Lucia is pretty. Just don’t tell Francesca I said that. She’s just as pretty as any of her sisters.”
“Even so, she didn’t impress me.”
My jaw drops. I can’t believe him!
“Why not?” Leo asks.
“There was an air of desperation from her. I don’t like desperate women.”
Desperate? I amnotdesperate. I know what I want, and I go after it.
And I’m going to tell Santino just how wrong he is.
I walk out from behind the plant and go right up to him.
CHAPTER 2
Lucia
“Talking about me?” I ask Santino, tapping him on the shoulder.
He turns around, eyeing me over with that disinterested look. “I was, yes.”
I meet Leo’s eye behind Santino. “You can go. This is between us.”
Leo smirks as he walks away. No doubt, he’s going to go tell Francesca everything. And then tell everyone else.
I turn back to Santino. “Who do you think you are?”
“Santino Ricci.”
God, I could slap this guy. But no, he’s too handsome to slap. And he’ll be my future husband—potentially. I can’t let him think I’m beneath him.
“And I’m Lucia Moretti,” I remind him. “And I am not desperate.”
Santino’s eyes widen for just a second before his stoic expression takes over. “So, you heard me talking.”
“I did. You weren’t subtle about it.”
