Best Laid Plans

Overview: The only girl between two boys who each have nearly a foot on her. Didn't stop her from starting physical fights with them. She still thinks she can take them. So while she used to hide away in her wardrobe to read a book or four, she started to question why the heroines in those books would just lie there and take it. These women were just playing that mental woman from Coming to America, Miss “Whatever You Like” who barked like a dog and hopped on one foot. Billy didn't want to do that. Definitely not because one empty-headed fool with different anatomy told her to. So she started to create characters and worlds where the women could own their sexuality, their intelligence, their right to turn around and say “jog on, mate” without apology. The small problem was that other people wanted to read what she was had written. “Er...why?” didn't cut it as an answer. After years of prodding and pleading and come on and for goodness’ sake, what's the point otherwise, she closed her eyes and pressed “submit.” Actually, she had Prosecco, limencello and white wine, then pressed “submit.” If someone is too good to be true, its usually because theyre trying to keep the doors shut on a closet straining with skeletons. Thats always rung true with Francesca Abbey, even though she doesnt want to be a sceptic. It doesnt help that shes in the wrong profession, her past relationships have been disastrous and her mother? Hardly Claire Cosby. But theres something about Luca, a gentle giant who enters stage left as if he was just waiting for the right time. Hes ridiculously gorgeous with questionable taste in shirts but impeccable taste in food. Every womans walking fantasy. He makes her want to believe life can be the Disney Channel every day with all the sensual, explicit and downright dirty parts of HBO thrown in. Gianluca Caristo liked to think he was a practical man. It came with the territory of his current profession and certainly helped with his former. He wasnt given to flights of fancy or madcap ideas, but he would never forget the vivid dream he had when he faced being locked up on the lies of his ex-girlfriend. When he comes face to face with his dream girl two years later, hes sold on fate, karma, serendipityall of it. Francesca is his future. His reward in exchange for his solemn vow to never do violence again. Its a shame that everyone is testing the limits of that promise. As their pasts threaten to interfere with Luca and Frankies fledgling relationship, the future they so badly want happens a lot faster than either of them intended. The fourth in the Italian Knights series is a front-row seat to fools rushing in, enjoying it far too much, ignoring all advice and knowing youd do it all over again if you had the chance.