Lorenzo's Reward

Lorenzo nodded, resigned. “The moment my sister, Isabella, learns I have guests, she will come rushing to meet you.”

Jess bit her lip. “Won’t she find it odd? That you’ve invited me to stay at your house?”

Lorenzo sat in silence for some time, his eyes fixed on their entwined hands. “She will be very surprised,” he said at last, his voice deeper and more uneven than it had been. “Because I have never invited a woman there before.” He looked up again, his eyes alight with an urgency that took her breath away. “I did not mean to say this. At least, not tonight. I told myself I must wait, be patient. But, Dio, I have wasted enough of my life already.” His grasp tightened. “I knew from the first moment I saw you that I wanted you for my own. Not for a relazione—a love affair, but forever. I want you for my wife, Jessamy.”

A family with a passion for life—and for love.

Welcome to the second book in The Dysarts, a wonderful new series by bestselling author Catherine George. Lorenzo’s Reward tells the story of the second Dysart Sister, Jess, whose experiences have led her to believe that she will never enjoy intimacy with a man—until she finds herself pursued by darkly handsome Italian Lorenzo Forli. Is Lorenzo sincere when he talks about claiming Jess as his wife? Or will it be reward enough for him to seduce her into his bed?

Over the coming months, you’ll get to know each member of the Dysart family, and share in their trials and joys, their hopes and dreams, as they live their lives with passion—and for love.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE crowded pub was hot, smoke-filled, and full of men in suits talking business over lunch. Jess eyed her watch impatiently, willing Simon to hurry, then looked up to find a complete stranger watching her intently from the far end of the bar. Jess felt an odd plummeting sensation in the pit of her stomach when dark, heavy-lidded eyes lit with incredulous recognition as they met hers. She glanced over her shoulder, sure he must be looking at some other woman, but there was no other female in sight.

Jess looked back again, which was a mistake. This time she couldn’t look away. Heat rose in her face. Irritably she ordered herself to stop sitting there like a hypnotised rabbit, her pulse suddenly erratic as the man put down his drink and with purpose began to push his way through the crowd towards her. But before he could reach her two other men joined him, barring his way. The stranger shrugged expressively, signalling regret, and Jess finally broke eye contact. Then it dawned on her that one of his companions was Mr Jeremy Lonsdale, unrecognisable for a moment minus his barristers wig and gown. But when the third member of the trio turned his head she gasped in utter consternation. He was all too familiar, with eyes which blazed in incredulous affront when Jess panicked at the sight of him, spun around and fled from the pub, with Simon Hollister, her astonished lunch companion, in hot pursuit.

Jess dodged through honking traffic, and ran like a deer up the road to the courthouse, to subject herself to the usual security process inside. She was still gasping for breath when Simon caught up with her in the jury restaurant.

“What the hell was all that about?” he panted.

“Prosecuting—Counsel—was there. With chums.” Jess heaved in a lungful of air. “One of them was Roberto Forli, my sister’s ex-boyfriend,” she finished in a rush.

Simon whistled. “And we jurors are forbidden connection to anyone at all on the case.”

“Exactly!”

“How well do you know the man?”

“I’ve only met him once.”

“Did Lonsdale see you?”

“I don’t think so. He had his back to me.”

Simon smiled reassuringly. “Then it’s probably all right. Anyway, we’ll soon know if your friend grassed on you. Let’s grab something to eat before we’re called. I left our lunch on the bar when you took off.”

But after her mad dash in the midday heat Jess couldn’t face the thought of food. Her mind was too full of the unexpected meeting with Roberto Forli. And with the stranger in his company. The memory of those dark, intent eyes sent shivers down her spine. The man had obviously recognised her from somewhere. But where? And when? Jess forced herself back to the present with an effort, and gulped down the rest of her mineral water as the jury was called back into the court.

As she took her seat in the jury box Jess buttoned her jacket against the cold of the courtroom, which was arctic compared with the summer day outside. According to bus driver Phil, the comedian in their group, the courtroom was kept cool to keep the jury awake during the longer discourses, and at the same time prevent heatstroke for the judge and barristers in their archaic horsehair wigs and black gowns.