The Costarella Conquest Read Online Free Page A

say no.
    The soup was hot enough to serve. Telling herself she was lucky to have the distraction of being the cook, Laura returned to the patio to invite everyone inside for lunch. Eddie escorted her mother to the dining room. Jake Freedman followed with her father, the two men obviously on congenial terms.
    Another warning.
    Her father must have once been charming to her mother or she wouldn’t have married him. His true character could not have emerged until she was completely under his domination. If Jake Freedman was of like mind, thinking he had the right—the power—to rule others’ lives as he saw fit, she wanted nothing to do with him.
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    Jake continued to get his bearings with the Costarella family over lunch. Eddie had dropped out of school and left home at sixteen, getting himself a job as a backroom boy in one of the television studios.
    â€˜One day you’ll regret not going on with your education,’ his father said balefully.
    He shrugged. ‘Accountancy was never going to suit me, Dad.’
    â€˜No. Head in the clouds. Just like your mother.’
    The tone of disgust caused Alicia to flush. She was a more fragile person than her perfectly groomed image presented, very nervy and too anxious to please. He was recalling Laura’s commentthat her mother needed her when she leapt to Alicia’s defence.
    â€˜Oh, I think Mum’s totally grounded when it comes to her garden.’
    â€˜Garden…movies…’ Costarella scoffed. ‘Alicia has led both of you astray with her interests. I had high hopes for you, Laura. Top of your school in mathematics…’
    â€˜Well, I have high hopes for myself, Dad. Sorry I can’t please both of us,’ she said with a rueful smile.
    â€˜Gardening…’ he jeered.
    â€˜Landscape architecture is a bit more than that, Dad.’
    No hesitation in standing up for herself.
    Costarella huffed. ‘At least you can cook. I’ll say that for you. Enjoying the meal, Jake?’
    â€˜Very much.’ He shot an appreciative smile at Laura. ‘Top chef standard. The soup was delicious and I’ve never tasted better lamb and baked potatoes.’
    She laughed. ‘Top chef recipes from a TV cooking show. All it takes is dedication to following the instructions. You could do it yourself if you had the will to. It’s not a female prerogative. In fact, most of the top chefs are male. Do you cook for yourself?’
    â€˜No. Mostly I eat out.’
    â€˜Need a woman to cook for you,’ Costarella slid in.
    It was a totally sexist remark and he saw the recoil from it in Laura’s eyes, followed by a derisive flash at him…if he thought the same.
    He turned to Costarella and allowed himself one risky remark, grinning to take away any sting. ‘Given that most top chefs are male, a man might be better.’
    Eddie found this hilarious, cracking up with laughter.
    â€˜What’s so funny?’ his father demanded.
    â€˜It’s just that lots of guys in the service industry are gay and I don’t see Jake as gay,’ he spluttered out.
    Laura started giggling, too.
    â€˜I’m not,’ Jake said.
    â€˜Certainly not,’ Costarella declared emphatically.
    â€˜We know you’re not,’ Laura assured him, still tittering.
    â€˜Absolutely.’ Eddie backed up. ‘Laura wouldn’t think you were sexy if you were gay.’
    â€˜Eddie, behave yourself,’ Alicia cried.
    â€˜Impossible,’ his father muttered, though his ill humour had dissipated at this affirmation that his daughter was vulnerable to the attraction he favoured.
    Laura rose from the table. ‘Now that you’ve embarrassed both of us, Eddie, I’m going to serve sweets, which I hope will be tart enough to glue up your mouth.’ She smiled at her mother. ‘It’s lemon-lime, Mum.’
    â€˜Oh, my favourite!’ Alicia glowed with pleasure. ‘Thank you,