Leah's Seduction: 8 (Gianni and Leah - Leah's Seduction) Read Online Free

said.
    Leah and her mother replied in unison, “Oh yes it is.”
    They stayed for a while to chat, then strolled downtown for Gianni’s benefit. He seemed to enjoy it, and Leah was pleased that her mother got along with him so well. But then, why wouldn’t she? Gianni was utterly charming.
    At one point, when he was inside a gallery examining some artwork, Leah’s mother whispered in her ear, “He is wonderful. I’m so glad I have the chance to get to know him.” She beamed at her mother’s compliment.
    The afternoon drifted by, and late in the day, they met Leah’s father at Portland City Grill. The restaurant was on the thirtieth floor of a bank tower, and Gianni managed to get them a window seat near the piano. They had a view of the city, and the surrounding waterways that were lit up for nighttime.
    Patrick Ivers looked handsome in a white shirt and dress slacks. His dark hair was groomed, if a bit wild and curly. Leah saw him dressed up so infrequently that she had to comment on it. “You look great, Dad.”
    He smiled. “You didn’t think I’d wear my baker’s apron, did you?”
    Leah laughed. “Of course not. But it’s nice to see you out for the evening. You work so hard all the time.”
    They placed their orders, and wine was poured. Leah’s father looked across at Gianni and said, “So Leah tells me you collect cars?”
    Gianni launched into a description of one he had recently acquired, and that started a discussion. Leah knew her father liked cars too, and she observed his enjoyment at chatting with Gianni about the different models. She focused on her mother, taking the chance to talk with her while the men were busy.
    “Maybe you’ll have a chance to go to the farmer’s market tomorrow,” her mother said.
    “Yes, I think we will. And I can show him the university while we are there,” Leah said. “I guess Aubrey is working on a show, but she said she would join us for coffee. She wants to meet Gianni while he is here.”
    “That’s good. I don’t know when you will visit again, so I do want your sister to meet him.”
    “Jena is coming back from Greece soon, she said. I got a long email from her last week. Too bad it wasn’t a bit sooner, so she could be here too,” Leah said.
    “Yes, it will be so good to see her. I miss her. She has been away so long. But I know she’s had a wonderful time.”
    “I don’t see my sisters enough,” Leah said. “I guess we have our own lives. But I should talk with them more. I’ll have to make a point to do that.”
    “Well, the way you travel, I don’t expect you to be able to come and see us often. But I am so glad we got to meet Gianni. I can tell he is a good man,” her mother said.
    Leah’s heart warmed. “He is, Mom. He really is.” She looked over at Gianni, but he was still lost in conversation with her father. Leah squeezed his thigh and smiled at her mother.
    *****
    Dinner had been delicious, and they had such a good time with Leah’s parents. After the meal, they hugged goodbye, with plans to meet the next day for lunch. Sylvie wanted to make something at home, and they accepted her invitation.
    Leah wasn’t ready for the evening to end. It was the first time Gianni had been to Portland with her, and she wanted to make the most of it. “Let’s go to the zoo,” she said.
    “At night?”
    “Yes, they have concerts during the summer in the evenings. They’ve been doing it for years. It’s such nice weather. It will be great.”
    “Sounds like fun to me,” Gianni said. “And by the way, you have wonderful parents.”
    “I’m glad you liked them,” Leah said. “It seemed like you and Dad got along.”
    Gianni smiled. “A kindred spirit.”
    “Because he is a car fanatic like you?”
    Gianni nodded. “You have your dad’s brown eyes,” he said, and ran a fingertip down the bridge of her nose.
    She crinkled her nose. “But I think I look more like my mom. My sisters do too.”
    For a moment, Gianni looked