Kitabı oku: «Wed on His Terms: Million-Dollar Marriage Merger»

To my husband, Don,

the man I’ve been sharing chardonnay with for all our years. A really good man, like a fine wine, only gets better with age.

One

From the time Tony Carlino was six years old, he’d been infatuated with cars, speed and danger. Back then, the hills of Napa that create award-winning merlot and pinot had been his playing field. Racing his dinged up scooter down the embankment, he’d hit the dirt falling headfirst into a patch of fescue grass a hundred times over. But Tony never gave up when he wanted something. He hadn’t been satisfied until he’d mastered that hill with his scooter, his bicycle and finally his motorcycle. He’d graduated to stock car racing and had become a champion.

Newly retired from racing, his present fascination had nothing to do with cars and speed and everything to do with a different kind of danger.

Rena Fairfield Montgomery.

He glimpsed the blue-eyed widow from across the gravesite where dozens were gathered. Valley winds blew strands of raven hair from her face, revealing her heartbroken expression and ruffling her solemn black dress.

She hated him.

With good reason.

Soon he’d walk into a land mine of emotion and nothing posed more danger to Tony than that. Especially when it came to Rena and all she represented.

Tony glanced beyond the gravesite to those hills and Carlino land, an abundance of crimson hues reflecting off foil covering the vines, keeping grape-eating birds from destroying the crop. The land he once resented, the vines that had fed his family for generations was his responsibility now. His father had passed on just months ago, leaving the Carlino brothers in charge of the huge empire.

Once again, Tony glanced at Rena and a face devoid of emotion, her tears spent. She walked up to the bronze coffin, staring blankly, as if to say she couldn’t believe this. She couldn’t believe that her beloved husband, David, was gone.

Tony winced. He held back tears of his own. David had been his best friend since those scooter days. He’d been there for Tony through thick and thin. They’d kept their friendship ongoing, despite a bitter family rivalry.

Despite the fact that Rena had loved Tony first.

Rena held back a sob and bravely reached out to the blanket of fresh flowers draped along the coffin. She pulled her hand back just as her fingertip touched a rose petal. At that moment, she glanced at Tony, her sad eyes so round and blue that a piece of him unraveled.

He knew her secret.

But Tony didn’t give that away. He stared at her, and for that one small moment, sympathy and the pain of losing David temporarily bonded them.

She blinked then turned around, stepping away from the gravesite, her legs weak as all eyes watched the beautiful grieving widow say her final farewell to her husband.

Nick and Joe, Tony’s younger brothers, stood by his side. Joe draped an arm around him. “We’re all going to miss him.”

“He was as good as they come,” Nick added.

Tony nodded and stared at the car as Rena drove away from the cemetery.

“Rena’s all alone now,” Joe said, once Nick bid them farewell. “It’ll be even more of a struggle for her to keep Purple Fields going.”

Tony drew a deep breath, contemplating his next move. They’d been rivals in business for years, but her winery had been failing and was barely holding on. “She won’t have to.”

Joe stiffened. “Why, are you planning on buying her out? She won’t sell, bro. You know she’s stubborn. She’s had offers before.”

“Not like this one, Joe.”

Joe turned his head to look him in the eye. “What, you’re making her an offer she can’t refuse?”

“Something like that. I’m going to marry her.”

Rena got into her car alone, refusing her friends’ and neighbors’ well-meaning gestures to drive her home, to sit with her, to memorialize David Montgomery. She never understood why people gathered after a funeral, had food catered in and specialty wines flowing. They filled their plates, chattered and laughed and most times forgot the real reason they had come. She couldn’t do that to David. No, he was too young to die. Too vital. He’d been a good man, an excellent and loving husband. She couldn’t celebrate his life; he’d had so much more to live. So she spoke the words with sincerity to the guests at the funeral site, “I hope you understand that I need to be alone right now,” and had driven off.

She rode the lanes and narrow streets of the valley as numbness settled over her. She knew this land so well, had traveled every road, had grown up in Napa and had married here.

She wept silently. Tears that she thought were all dried up spilled down her cheeks. She found herself slowing her old Camry as she passed the Carlino estate, the vibrant vineyards sweeping across acres and acres.

She knew why she’d come here. Why she parked the car just outside the estate gates. She blamed Tony Carlino for David’s death. She wanted to scream it from the hilltops and shout out the unfairness of it all.

A flashy silver sports car pulled up behind her, and she knew she’d made a mistake coming here. From the rearview mirror, she watched him step out of the car, his long legs making quick strides to the driver’s side of her car.

“Oh, no.” She grasped the steering wheel and rested her forehead there. Biting her lip, she took back her wish to scream out injustices. She didn’t have the energy. Not here. Not now.

“Rena?”

The deep rich timbre of Tony’s voice came through the window of the car. He’d been her friend once. He’d been her world after that. But now all she saw was a drop-dead handsome stranger who should have never come back to the valley. “I’m fine, Tony,” she said, lifting her head from the steering wheel.

“You’re not fine.”

“I just buried my husband.” She peered straight ahead, refusing to look at him.

Tony opened the car door, and she glimpsed his hand reaching out to her. “Talk to me.”

“No … I can’t,” she said with a shake of her head.

“Then let’s take a walk.”

When she continued to stare at his hand, he added, “You came here for a reason.”

She closed her eyes holding back everything in her heart, but her mind wouldn’t let go of how David died. Spurred by renewed anger, she ignored Tony’s outstretched hand and bounded out of the car. She strode past him and walked along the narrow road lush with greenery. From atop the hill, the valley spread out before her, abundant with vines and homes, both big and small, a hollow of land where many families worked side by side to ensure a healthy crop.

She had promised David she’d hold on to Purple Fields, an odd request from his deathbed, yet one she couldn’t refuse. She loved Purple Fields. It had been her parent’s legacy, and now it was her home, her sanity and her refuge.

She marched purposely ahead of Tony, which was an accomplishment in itself, since he’d always been quick on his feet. His footsteps slowed. Then he let go an exasperated sigh. “Damn it, Rena. David was my friend. I loved him, too.”

Rena halted. Jamming her eyes closed momentarily, she whirled around. “You loved him? How can you say that? He’s gone because of you!” Rena’s anger flowed like the rush of a river. “You should never have come home. David was happy until you showed up.”

Lips pursed, Tony jutted his jaw out. Oh, how she remembered that stubborn look. “I’m not responsible for his death, Rena.”

“He wouldn’t have gotten behind the wheel of that race car if you hadn’t come home. When you showed up, that’s all David talked about. Don’t you see? You represented everything David wanted. You ran away from the vineyards. You raced. You won. You became a champion.”

Tony shook his head. “It was a freakish accident. That’s all, Rena.”

“Your return here brought it all back to him,” she said solemnly.

“My father died two months ago. I came home to run the company.”

Rena glared at him. “Your father,” she muttered. Santo Carlino had been a harsh, domineering man who’d wanted to build his empire no matter the cost. He’d tried to buy out every small winery in the area. And when the owners refused, he’d managed to ruin their business somehow. Purple Fields had seen the brunt of the Carlino wrath for years. Yet her parents had fought him tooth and nail, keeping their small patch of life out of Carlino hands. “I’ll not speak ill of the dead, but …”

“I know you despised him,” Tony stated.

Rena stuck to her promise and held her tongue about Santo Carlino, but she couldn’t help how she felt and made no apologies for those feelings. “Go away, Tony.”

Tony’s lips curved up, a sinful, sexy curl of the mouth that at one time had knocked her senseless. “This is my land.”

She slumped her shoulders. “Right.”

Rena inhaled sharply, mentally chastising herself for driving up here—a bonehead move, as David would say. She was even more remorseful that she’d taken this short walk with Tony.

With hasty steps she brushed by him, but his reach was long and painfully tender when he caught her arm. “Let me help.”

A lump formed in her throat. He didn’t know what he was asking. She’d never accept his help. She glanced into dark, piercing, patient eyes. That was something for the record books—a patient Tony Carlino. He hadn’t become a national stock car champion from his ability to wait.

She shook her head briskly. “Please don’t touch me.”

Tony glanced at his hand lying gently on her arm, then stroked the length of it, sliding his hand freely up and down. “I mean it, Rena. You need me.”

“No, I’ll never need you.” She jerked her arm free. “You just want to ease your guilty conscience.”

Tony’s eyes grew hard and sharp.

Good.

She didn’t need his help or his pity. She’d done without him for twelve years and didn’t need anything he had to offer. All she wanted was to curl up in her bed and dream about the day when she’d hold her precious baby in her arms.

Tony rubbed his aching shoulder and stretched out his legs, closing the Carlino books for the day. His racing injuries had a way of coming back to haunt him whenever he sat at his father’s desk. Maybe it was because Santo never wanted him to leave Napa. He’d chosen racing over the family business and had left it all behind twelve years ago.

He’d wanted more than grapes and vines and worrying about the weather, crops and competition. Of course, Santo Carlino hadn’t taken it lightly. He’d cursed and complained and refused to speak to Tony when he’d left.

Tony pursued his dream despite his father’s tirades. Being the oldest of three sons Tony was expected to take over the business one day with his brothers by his side. But as it turned out none of the three sons had stayed home to run the Carlino empire.

Now with Santo gone, Tony had no choice but to return. His father’s last will and testament made sure that each of his sons spent some time together running the company. He’d stipulated that in order for any of them to claim their inheritance, the land, the company, the Carlino empire, one of them had to agree to become the new CEO within six months.

It was just another way for his father to manipulate them. But Tony hadn’t come back to Napa for the money. He had plenty of his own. He’d come back to lay his father to rest and to let his weary body recover from injuries garnered in a wreck at Bristol Raceway just months before.

He’d called his younger brothers home. Joe, the real brain in the family, had been living in New York, trying to develop the latest software phenomenon. And Nick, the youngest, had been creating havoc in Europe, earning a reputation as a gambler and ladies’ man.

Tony smiled at that. Little Nick had a wild streak that could lay shame to a young and virile Santo Carlino in his bachelor days. But if one thing could be said about his old man, it was that he was a loving and faithful husband. Tony’s mother, Josephina, had tempered him with love and adoration. Many thought her a saint for putting up with Santo, but only the family knew that Santo would have died for her.

“So when’s the wedding?” Joe entered the office at Carlino Wines with his hands on his hips, his studious dark brown eyes visible behind a pair of glasses.

When Tony glanced at him in question, Joe continued, “You told me you were getting married.”

Tony shoved the ledger books away and leaned back in his chair. “You need a willing bride for a wedding.”

“Wanna tell me why you chose Rena? Is it Purple Fields you’re after? Or something else?”

A sigh emerged from deep in Tony’s chest. He rubbed tension from his forehead. “Maybe I want it all.”

“Want or need?”

Tony narrowed his eyes and gave his brother a look.

Joe shrugged in an offhanded way. “You’ve never spoken of marriage before. And the last thing I thought I’d hear at David’s funeral was that you intended to marry his widow. Even if it is Rena. We all know she’s not exactly your biggest fan.”

Tony scoffed. How well he knew. “Hardly that.”

“So, what is it? Do you love her?”

Tony’s face crinkled up, despite his efforts to keep a blank expression. The truth was he had loved Rena when they’d been younger but he’d loved racing more. He wound up breaking her heart by leaving her behind to pursue his dreams.

Now he had a chance to make it up to her and honor the pledge he’d made David. At the time he’d made that vow it was a no-brainer. David was on his last breaths, and he’d implored Tony to take care of Rena and the child he’d suspected she carried. Tony hadn’t flinched when he’d made that promise.

Did Tony want to marry Rena and raise a child that wasn’t his? He simply didn’t know. But it was what he planned to do.

“No, I don’t love her.” He stood and looked his brother straight in the eyes, lowering his voice. “This goes no further.”

Joe nodded.

“I made David a promise to take care of Rena, the winery and … and their unborn child.”

Joe pressed a finger to the bridge of his glasses, securing them in place. He contemplated a moment staring back at Tony then gave an understanding nod. “Got it. Rena knows nothing about this I suppose.”

“Nothing.”

“Are you seeing her?”

Tony winced, thinking back on the excuses she’d given him. “I’ve tried several times since the funeral.”

“Not cooperating is she?”

“No.”

“Can’t imagine why she doesn’t want to start up right where you left off twelve years ago,” Joe said, mockingly. “She picked up the pieces after you left her. It was a hard fall, Tony. I remember hearing all about it. When she fell for David, everyone thought it was the right move. They were happy for her. Sorry, but your name was mud around here for a long time. Then you started winning races and people forgot about the pain you caused Rena. Except Rena. She never forgot. She really loved David, and now he’s gone. You can’t blame her for hard feelings. She’s had it rough.”

“I don’t blame her. But I will honor my promise to David.”

Joe grinned. “I respect your determination, Tony. How are you going to charm a woman who clearly …”

“Hates me?” Tony huffed out a breath. Unfortunately, what he had in mind didn’t require a multitude of charm. Just blackmail. He would give Rena what she wanted most in life. “I have a plan.”

Joe shook his head. “You always do.”

“It’s time I set that plan in action.”

Two

Rena looked in her closet as tears streamed down her face. It had been three weeks since the funeral, and David’s clothes—his shirts and pants, his jackets and sweatshirts—still hung just beside hers. She reached out to touch his favorite blue plaid shirt. Her fingers lingered a bit and an image appeared of sitting by a cozy fire cuddling up next to David and laying her head on the soft flannel, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. She smiled at the memory, even through her tears. “What now, David?” she asked in the solitude of her bedroom.

She was a thirty-one-year-old widow. She never would have believed it. Not when just weeks ago she’d planned on telling David her joyous news … that they were to become parents. She’d had it all planned. She’d silk-screened T-shirts that said, “I’m the Daddy” and another that said, “I’m the Mommy” and the third tiny T-shirt said, “And I’m the Boss.” She’d planned on giving David the set of them over his favorite dinner.

She hadn’t gone to the doctor yet, relying solely on the pregnancy test she’d taken. She’d wanted David by her side when they heard the news officially. Now she’d be going to all of her appointments alone, facing an unknown future.

The only bright spot in all this sadness was the child she carried. She loved her baby with all of her heart and vowed to protect it, doing whatever it took to make a good life for him or her.

Rena closed the closet door unable to remove and discard David’s clothes as she’d planned. “I’m not ready to let go,” she whispered. She needed David’s things around her, to feel his presence and warmth surround her. It gave her a sense of peace, odd as that might seem.

“Do you want me to help you with David’s things, Rena?” Solena Melendez’s voice broke into her thoughts. Rena turned to find her friend at the bedroom threshold, a concerned look on her face.

Rena smiled sadly. Since David’s death, Solena made a point to check up on Rena every morning.

“Solena, no. But thank you.” Solena and Raymond Melendez worked at Purple Fields—Solena in the wine-tasting room, Raymond overseeing the vineyards. They’d been loyal employees since Rena and David took over the winery after her parents’ deaths.

“It will take time, Rena.”

Rena understood that. She’d lost both of her parents. She knew the process of grieving. “I know.”

“And when it’s time, I will help you.”

She smiled and wiped away her tears. “I appreciate that.” She reached for Solena, and they embraced. Their relationship had grown over the years, and now Rena thought of Solena and Raymond as more than employees—they were dear friends. Friends whose salaries she may not be able to pay if she didn’t get this bank loan.

“We have orders today,” Solena said, breaking their embrace. “I’ll make sure they go out on time.”

“Orders are good,” Rena acknowledged with a nod of her head. Thankfully, Solena reminded her daily that she had a winery to run. Purple Fields was small but well-respected, and they’d been holding their own until a slowing economy and bigger wineries started shoving them out. Smaller vintners weren’t able to compete and sustain the same degree of losses as the more established ones.

“I have an appointment at the bank today.” Though Rena held out little hope, she had to try. She needed a loan to make her payroll this month and next. She was due a small amount from David’s life insurance policy, and that money would pay for her doctor bills and whatever was left over would go in trust for her child’s future. No one knew about the child she carried as yet, and she’d planned to keep it that way for the time being. She’d not told a soul. Not even Solena.

“I will pray for good news,” Solena said.

“So will I,” Rena said.

Rena lingered a bit after Solena left her room, putting a little makeup on a face that had seen too many tears. With dark circles beneath her eyes, no amount of makeup could hide her despair. Her grief would be evident, yet she had enough pride to want to appear in control of her emotions when she met Mr. Zelinski at the bank. Bankers were wary of desperation. Rena understood that and prepared herself with facts and figures she hoped would prove that Purple Fields was holding its own and worth the risk of a loan.

Rena walked down the stone hallway and made it to the living room when a knock sounded at her door. “Who could that be?” she muttered, taking up her purse and the file folder for her bank appointment and tucking it under her arm.

She opened the door to Tony Carlino. More than surprised, Rena blinked. “Tony? What are you doing here?”

He cast her a grim smile. “You wouldn’t return my phone calls.”

“There’s a reason for that. I don’t care to talk to you.”

“Maybe not,” Tony said. “But I have to talk to you.”

Rena took in a steady breath and calmed her nerves. Just the sight of Tony brought bad memories. She’d gotten over him once and had moved on with her life. She certainly didn’t want anything to do with him now. “What could you possibly have to say to me?”

Tony glanced inside her home. He’d been here before many years ago, but she certainly didn’t want to invite him in. She’d never minded that she’d come from humble beginnings and that her family home was cozy and rustic, where the Carlino mansion had four wings of stately elegance, two dozen rooms, Italian marble and ancestral artwork that went back a few generations.

“What I have to say can’t be said on your doorstep, Rena.”

Rena glanced at her watch. “I’m on my way out. I don’t have time to talk to you.”

“Then have dinner with me tonight.”

“Dinner?” Rena had to focus hard not to wrinkle her face. “No, I won’t have dinner with you.”

Tony let go an exasperated sigh. “I don’t remember you being so difficult.”

She hadn’t been when she’d first met Tony at the age of sixteen. She’d taken one look at him and had fallen in love. They’d been friends first, Rena keeping her secret that she’d fallen hard for a Carlino. Tony had a smile that lit up her heart, and when they laughed together, Rena thought she’d died and gone to heaven. It had been painful holding in her feelings, not letting on that she loved him. It didn’t help matters that Santo Carlino was trying to run her parents out of business.

“You don’t know me anymore, Tony.” Rena lifted her chin. “If this is about easing your conscience about David, you’re wasting your time.”

Tony’s face tightened. His dark eyes grew cold. He stared at her for a moment, then as if gathering all his patience, he took a deep breath. “I haven’t got a guilty conscience, Rena. But what I have to say is about David.”

Rena glanced at her watch again. It wouldn’t do to be late for her appointment, yet he’d caught her curiosity. “What about David?”

“Have dinner with me and I’ll tell you.”

Pressed for time and jittery about her bank appointment, Rena relented. “Fine, I’ll have dinner with you.”

“I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“Okay, now at the risk of being rude, I really have to leave.”

With a quick nod of agreement, Tony left and Rena breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t think about seeing him later and breaking bread with him. She’d seen the determined look on his face and knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Frankly, she didn’t have time to argue. The bank appointment was all she could focus on. “One hurdle at a time.” She mumbled David’s favorite words of encouragement every time they’d faced a challenge.

She had more important things to worry about than having dinner with Tony Carlino.

Tony drove out of the Purple Fields gates and turned right driving along the roads that would lead him to the Carlino estate. Vineyards on both sides of the highway spread across the valley rising up hills and down slopes, covering the land in a blanket of green.

He’d only been home about three months, and he still felt disoriented, unsure of his place here in Napa. He’d come home because his father had been ill. And now, as the oldest son, he had to assume responsibility for the business working alongside his two brothers. His father had expected as much from him.

The timing had been right for his return. He’d made his mark on NASCAR and had enjoyed every minute of his career until a crash and injury took him off the racing circuit. Perhaps it had been an omen to quit, but it wasn’t until his father’s passing that Tony realized he’d had no choice but to leave the racing world behind.

Somewhat.

He still had endorsement deals with various companies, and that could be an advantage to Carlino Wines. The Carlino name meant success, and people identified with that. Yet Tony’s life had changed so drastically in such a short span of time, and now he planned on taking on a new responsibility with a wife and child.

Was he ready for that?

He questioned that reality now. His vow to David never far from his mind, Tony admitted, if only to himself, that Rena had been right about one thing. If he hadn’t come home and rekindled their friendship, David would still be alive today.

Tony approached the Carlino estate and pressed the remote that opened the wide iron gates. He parked the car in front of the garage house and exited. He met up with Joe in the driveway, his brother ever the optimist wearing a smile and horn-rimmed glasses, slapped him on the back. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He had, in a way. Visions of David’s tragic death played in his head ever since he’d driven away from Purple Fields.

It had been a glorious afternoon in Napa, the temperatures in the low seventies with fresh sunshine warm in the air—a day that made you glad to be alive. Tony remembered thinking that, right before he witnessed David’s crash.

Before he knew it, he was riding beside David in the ambulance.

“I think she’s pregnant,” David whispered, struggling to get the words out.

“Shh. Hang on, David. Please. Save your strength.”

Tony’s plea didn’t register with David. He continued, his voice so low that Tony had to bend over to hear him.

“She won’t drink,” he’d confessed, and Tony immediately understood. Vintners drank wine like others drank water.

David’s coherent pleas gave Tony hope, though he appeared so weak. So fragile.

“Tony,” he’d implored.

“I’m here.” He knew whatever David had to say must be important.

“Don’t leave her alone. She deserves a good life. Promise me you’ll take care of her. And our baby.”

“I promise, David. I’ll take care of Rena,” Tony whispered, looking deep into David’s fading eyes.

“Marry her,” David said, grasping Tony’s hand. “Promise me that, too.”

And Tony hadn’t hesitated. He squeezed David’s hand. “I’ll marry her.”

David gave the slightest tip of a nod and closed his eyes. “Tell her I love her.”

“Hang on, David. She’s coming. You can tell her yourself.”

Frantic, Rena rushed up to David the minute they’d reached the hospital. They’d had time together, spoke their last words and Tony hung back giving them privacy. When David let go, Rena cried out. Her deafening sobs for David shook Tony and reached deep into his soul. He’d never seen a woman fall apart like that.

Tony shifted back to the present and looked at his brother with a shake of his head. “I saw Rena today.”

Joe wrinkled his nose and gave an understanding nod. “Which explains the haunted look in your eyes. Thinking of David, too?” he asked with genuine concern.

“Yeah, he’s never far from my mind. I’m the race car driver. I’m the one taking risks, yet he was the one to die in a crash.”

“People die every day in car accidents.” Then Joe caught himself. He didn’t have a cruel bone in his body. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound callous, but you didn’t encourage him to get behind the wheel. And it was an accident.”

“I wish Rena felt that way. It would make what I have to do a whole lot easier.”

“So, it didn’t go well today?”

Tony shrugged. “She blew me off, but not before I made a dinner date with her.”

“That’s a start. It should get easier now.”

Tony scratched his chin, the stubble grating his fingers. “Doubtful. Rena is as proud as she is stubborn.”

“I hear you, Tony. I’ve learned my lesson with the opposite sex. No more relationships for me.”

Tony looked his brother in the eye. “Sheila really did a number on you, didn’t she?”

Joe lifted his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “I’m over it.”

Tony believed him, noting the firm set of his jaw and his cool air of confidence, despite his casual shrug. Joe’s gorgeous New York assistant had played him, using her charms to snare him into an engagement. But the minute a wealthier man had shown interest in her, she’d dumped Joe for greener pastures and married a man who was twice her age. Joe had been burned, and he wasn’t going near the fire any time soon.

“I’m on my way to the downtown office,” he said, changing the subject. “Good luck with Rena tonight.”

“Thanks. And Joe, keep this quiet.” It wouldn’t do for news to get out that Tony was dating his friend’s new widow.

“I’ve got your back, bro.”

Rena parked her car outside her home, her hands frozen on the steering wheel as she looked with numbing silence at the house in desperate need of paint and a roof that had seen better days. Her garden had been neglected lately, the grounds and outer buildings weren’t what they once were. But the vineyards beyond, whose budding grapes were the mainstay of her legacy, had the best terroir in the vicinity. Their merlot and cabernet wines won awards from the combination of good weather, soil and minerals. The vineyards had never let her down. “All I have left are those vines,” she mumbled, her voice shaky. “What am I going to do?”

The news from Mr. Zelinski wasn’t good. She hadn’t known the lengths David had gone to in order to keep them in business until she’d pressed the banker to be brutally honest. She saw regret in his eyes and sympathy cross his features and knew of his reluctance to tell her the ultimate truth. Both the Fairfield and Montgomery families were part of the tightly knit Napa community and had been personal friends of the banker. She assumed it was out of respect for her mourning that he hadn’t been knocking at her door demanding his money.

The grim news she received shook what little hope she had left. Not only couldn’t she qualify for a loan but David had taken out a home equity line of credit to keep them going these past few months. Until that loan was repaid and her credit restored, she couldn’t even think about asking for additional help from the bank.

She owed more money than she originally thought.

Tears welled in her eyes as the hopelessness of her situation enveloped her. From across the driveway, out among the vines she spotted Raymond checking the leaves, making sure the grapes were healthy.

A sob escaped. She knew what she had to do, and it hurt to even think it. She couldn’t pay Solena and Raymond. She’d barely scraped up enough money to give them their last month’s salary. She’d let her other employees go, but hoped she could keep her friends on. Now, it was clear she had to let them go as well.

Her heart breaking, Rena bounded out of the car and ran up the steps to her house, tears spilling down her cheeks. She couldn’t face losing them, not after losing David so abruptly. Everything around her was changing too fast.

Yet she couldn’t expect Solena and Raymond to stay. She knew they’d have no trouble finding employment at another vineyard. Both were efficient, dedicated and knew as much about winemaking as she did. Selfishly, she wanted to keep them close, to have them work the land and be here when she needed them. Rena had sad facts to face, and she didn’t know if she was up to the challenge.

Slamming the door shut, she strode to her bedroom, wiping at tears that continued to fall. She tossed her files and purse aside, kicking off her shoes as she flopped down on her bed. She lay looking up at the ceiling, searching her mind for a way to keep her business afloat. What avenues had she missed? Who could she turn to for help? Finally, after a half hour of torturous thought, she came up with the only solution that made sense. She had no other option.

She had to sell Purple Fields.

Three

Tony debated whether to bring Rena flowers, remembering that she’d always loved the tulips that grew in the Carlino garden. “I like the purple ones best,” she’d said when they were teens. “They’re bright and happy, just waiting to put a smile on someone’s face.”

But he knew giving Rena her favorite flowers wouldn’t put a smile on her face now. Nothing he could do—aside from vanishing off the face of the earth—would do that. He’d opted to knock on her door empty-handed, hoping that she hadn’t changed her mind about tonight.

He’d sort of bulldozed her into this dinner date. What other choice did he have? He’d waited a respectable amount of time to approach her, allowing her time to heal from the shock of losing her husband. Yet, with a baby on the way and a failing business, Rena was in trouble. Tony didn’t think he could wait much longer.

He’d promised David.

He drove his Porsche through the Purple Fields gates for the second time today and parked in front of the gifts shop-wine-tasting room adjacent to the main house. The quaint shop attracted tourists during the late spring and summer months when the weather was mild and the scent of grapes flavored the air. Rena had worked there during high school, serving sandwiches and cheese and crackers to their customers.

Tony ran a hand down his face, bracing himself for Rena’s wrath. She wouldn’t agree to his terms lightly, if at all. He got out of the car and walked the distance to the house. Using the metal knocker on the door, he gave three firm raps and waited. When she didn’t come, he knocked again, louder.

“Rena,” he called out.

He gazed over the grounds as the last remnants of evening light faded. Focusing intently, he glanced around at the other buildings and through the vineyards. There was no sign of her. Tony tried the doorknob, and to his surprise it opened.

She’d left the door unlocked.

He felt a surging sense of alarm. Rena lived alone now. It wasn’t like her not to be cautious. Without hesitation, he walked inside the house. The entry that led to the living room was dark. As he took a few steps inside, it seemed the entire house was dark. “Rena?”

He made his way down the long hall and opened one door, peering inside to an empty room. He checked another room without success. When he got to the end of the hallway, he found the last door open. A small amount of moonlight illuminated the middle of the room where Rena slept on her bed.

Tony winced, seeing her sleeping soundly, her chest lifting and falling peacefully, her raven hair spread across the pillow. A few strands curled around her face and contrasted against her creamy complexion. She wore the same austere dress he’d seen her in earlier today, but it couldn’t conceal the feminine slope of her breasts or the luscious curve of her hips.

Tony had loved her once. He’d taken her virginity when she was eighteen. When she’d cried, overwhelmed by emotion, he’d clung to her and assured her of his love. Rena had given herself to him one hundred percent and though he’d tried to give her everything she needed from him, he couldn’t. He had another great passion—racing. It was in his blood. From the time he was a small boy, Tony needed to feel the wind at his back. He loved speed and thrilled at the danger of being wild and free. Later, he’d learned to harness his passion. He’d learned that precision and accuracy as well as spirit made you a winner.

He’d achieved his goals without much struggle. He’d been born to race. But he’d also disappointed his father by not working alongside him as was expected by the eldest son, and he’d hurt the girl he’d admired and loved most in the world.

Memories flashed again, of making love to Rena and how incredibly poignant and pure it’d been. But Tony’s mission here wasn’t to rehash the past but to move on to the future. Rena was David’s widow now, and the strain of his death was evident on her beautiful face, even in sleep.

His first inclination was to quietly leave, locking the door behind him, but he found he couldn’t move, couldn’t lift his eyes away from her sad desolate face. So he stood at the threshold of her bedroom, watching her.

It wasn’t long before she stirred, her movements lazy as she stretched out on the bed. Tony’s gaze moved to the point where her dress hiked up, exposing long beautiful legs and the hint of exquisite thighs.

His body quickened, and he ground his teeth fighting off lusty sexual thoughts. Yet, quick snippets of memory emerged of hot delicious nights making love to her all those years ago.

Rena opened her eyes and gasped when she spotted his figure in the doorway. Immediate fear and vulnerability entered her eyes. She sat straight up, and when she recognized him, anger replaced her fear. “What are you doing here?”

“We had a date.”

“A date?” To her credit, she did appear hazily confused. Then the anger resurfaced. “How’d you get in?”

“The door was unlocked. Not a good habit, Rena. Anyone could have gotten into your house.”

“Anyone did.”

Tony chose to ignore the swipe.

Rena swung her legs around and set her bare feet on the floor. She rubbed her forehead with both hands and shook her head. “I guess I fell asleep. What time is it?”

“Eight-fifteen.”

She looked up at him. “Were you standing there all that time?”

“No,” he lied. “I just got here. I was fashionably late.”

She closed her eyes briefly. “I don’t know what happened. I felt exhausted and fell into a deep sleep.”

The baby, Tony thought. He’d had many a racing buddy speak about their wife’s exhaustion during their early pregnancy. “Maybe it’s all catching up with you. You’ve been through a lot this past month.”

“You don’t know what I’ve been through.” She was being deliberately argumentative, and Tony didn’t take the bait.

“How long before you can be ready?”

Her brows furrowed. “Ready?”

“For dinner.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. Not tonight. I’m not—” she began to put her hand to her flat stomach, then caught herself “—feeling well.”

“You’ll feel better once you eat. How long since you’ve eaten?”

“I don’t know…. I had a salad for lunch around noon.”

“You need to keep up your strength, Rena.”

She opened her mouth to respond, then clamped it shut.

“I’ll wait for you in the living room.”

Tony turned and walked away, not really giving her a choice in the matter. There were many more things he’d have to force upon her before the evening was through.

Rena got up from her bed, moving slowly as she replayed the events of the day in her mind. First, Tony had visited her this afternoon, a fact that still irked her. Yet he had something to say and he wouldn’t leave until he got it off his chest. That’s how Carlinos operated; they did what they darn well wanted, no matter how it affected other people. Bitter memories surfaced of her father standing up to Santo Carlino, but Rena shoved them out of her mind for the moment. She couldn’t go there now.

Next came thoughts of her conversation with Mr. Zelinski at the bank. He’d been kind to her, confessing his hands were tied. She wouldn’t be getting the loan she desperately needed. She wouldn’t be able to pay her employees. Purple Fields was doomed.

Her head began to pound. She felt faint. Though her appetite had been destroyed today, she admitted that she really should eat something. For the baby’s sake, if nothing else. She couldn’t afford to sink into depression. It wouldn’t be good for the unborn child she carried.

As quick as her body allowed, she got ready, cringing at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was drawn, her hair wild, her clothes rumpled. She washed her face, applied a light tint of blush to her cheeks, some lipstick to her lips and brushed her hair back into a clip at the base of her neck—just to appear human again. She changed her clothes, throwing on a black pair of pants and a soft knit beige sweater that ruffled into a vee and looked stylish though comfortable. She slipped her feet into dark shoes and walked out of the room. Whatever Tony had in mind, she certainly wasn’t going to dress up for him.

Tony closed the magazine he was reading and rose from the sofa when she strode in. She squirmed under his direct scrutiny. “You look better.”

She didn’t comment yet noted genuine concern in his eyes. Why?

He strode to the door and opened it. “Shall we go?”

“Where are you taking me?”

Tony’s expression flattened. He’d caught her meaning. “I’ve made arrangements, Rena. No one will see you with me.”

If she weren’t so upset about everything, her face might have flamed from his acknowledgment. She lifted her chin. “How’s that possible?”

“We own half of Alberto’s. It’s closed to the public tonight.”

“You mean you had it closed for my benefit?”

“You haven’t had any use for me since I returned. I didn’t think you’d like answering questions about being out with me tonight if anyone saw us.”

Rena had almost forgotten that the Carlinos had their hands in other enterprises. They owned a few restaurants as well as the winery. They also owned stores in outlying areas that sold a line of products related to wine.

“This isn’t a date, Tony. Just so we’re clear.”

Tony nodded. “Very clear.”

Rena strode past him and waited for him to exit her house before she locked the front door. She moved quickly, and once he beeped his car alarm, she didn’t wait for him to open the car door. She climbed into his Porsche and adjusted the seat belt.

“Ready?” he asked unnecessarily. Once they made eye contact, he roared the engine to life. “It’s a nice night. Mind if I put the top down?”

“No, I could use a good dose of fresh air.”

It’s how Tony liked to drive, with the top down, the air hitting his face, mastering the car and the road beneath.

He hit a button, and mechanically the car transformed. He drove the road to Napa surprisingly slowly, as if they were out for a Sunday drive. Every so often, he glanced her way. She couldn’t deny his courtesy.

Or the fact that she thought him the most devastatingly handsome man she’d ever met. She’d thought so since they’d first met the day he entered public school at the age of sixteen. Up until that point, the Carlinos had gone to an elite private school. But Tony hated the regimented lifestyle, the solitude and discipline of being in an academy. Finally, his father had relented, granting his sons the right to go through the public school system.

Tony had made a lasting impression on her, and they’d started out as friends. But the friendship had grown as they’d gotten closer, and Rena had become Tony’s steady girlfriend two years later.

Despite his obvious wealth and place in Napa society.

Despite the fact that Santo Carlino and her father had become bitter enemies.

Despite the fact that Rena never truly believed she could have a lasting relationship with Tony.

“Care for some music?” he asked, reaching for the CD player button.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to be quiet.”

She didn’t want to rekindle memories of driving in Tony’s car with the top down and the music blasting. Of laughing and telling silly jokes, enjoying each other’s company.

“Okay,” he said amiably.

They drove in silence, Tony respecting her wishes. Shortly, he pulled into Alberto’s back parking lot. “I usually don’t resort to back alley entrance ways,” he said, with no hint of irritation. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes, actually quite hungry.”

“Good, the food is waiting for us.”

Before she managed to undo her seat belt, Tony was there, opening the car door for her. He reached his hand inside, and rather than appearing incredibly stubborn in his eyes, she slid her hand in his while he helped her out. The Porsche sat so low to the ground she would have fumbled like an idiot anyway, trying to come up smoothly to a standing position.

Sensations ripped through her instantly. The contact, the intimate way his large hand enveloped her smaller one, trampled any false feeling of ease she’d imagined. She fought the urge to whip her hand away. Instead, she came out of the car and stood fully erect before slipping her hand out of his. Composing herself, she thanked him quietly and followed him inside the restaurant.

“This way,” he said and gestured to a corner booth lit by candlelight. True to his word, the entire restaurant was empty but for them. She sat down at one end of the circular booth, while he sat at the other.

The few times Rena had come here, she’d always felt as though she’d wandered in from the streets in Tuscany with its old world furnishings and stone fountains. Alberto’s was one of finest restaurants in the county, serving gourmet fare and the best wines from Napa.

“I had the chef prepare a variety of food. I wasn’t sure what you liked.”

“You forgot that I loved pepperoni pizza?”

Tony’s mouth twisted. “No one could inhale pizza like you, Rena. But I doubt it’s on the menu tonight. Let’s go into the kitchen and see what the chef conjured up for us.”

Tony bounded up from the booth and waited. She rose and walked beside him until they reached the state-of-the-art kitchen. They found covered dishes on the immaculate steel counter along with fresh breads, salads and a variety of desserts sitting in the glass refrigerator.

Tony lifted one cover and announced. “Veal scaloppine, still hot.”

Rena looked on with interest.

Tony lifted another cover. “Linguine arrabiatta, black tiger shrimps with bacon and garlic.”

Steam rose up, and she leaned in closer. “Hmm, smells good.”

He lifted two more covers displaying filetto di bue, an oven roasted filet mignon, which smelled heavenly but was too heavy for Rena’s tastes, and ravioli di zucca, which Tony explained was spinach ravioli with butternut and Amaretto filling. Since entering the aromatic kitchen, Rena’s appetite had returned wholeheartedly.

“The ravioli looks good,” she said. “And that salad.” She pointed to a salad with baby greens, avocado, tangerines and candied walnuts.

“Great,” Tony said lifting the covered dish of her choice. And one for him. “If you could grab that salad, we’ll eat. Soon as I find us a bottle of wine.”

“Oh, no wine for me,” she announced. Tony glanced at her with a raised brow but didn’t question her. “I’ll have water.”

“Your poison,” he said with a smile. He set the dishes down on the table and took off again, bringing back a bottle of Carlino Cabernet and a pitcher of water.

They settled in for the meal in silence, Rena polishing off the delicious salad within minutes and Tony sipping his wine, eyeing her every move. “Quit looking at me.”

“You’re the best looking thing in this place.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “Don’t, Tony.”

He shrugged it off. “Just stating the obvious.”

When he turned on the charm, he had enough for the entire Napa Valley and then some. “Do you mind telling me what’s so important that you couldn’t tell me earlier this afternoon?”

“After dinner, Rena.”

With her water glass to her lips, she asked, “Why?”

“I want you to eat your meal.”

She gathered her brows and shook her head. “Because … what you have to say might destroy my appetite?”

Tony inhaled sharply then blew out the breath. “Because you’re hungry and exhausted, that’s why.”

“Why the sudden concern about my well-being?”

Tony softened his tone. “I’ve always cared about you, Rena.”

“No, Tony. We’re not going there. Ever,” she emphasized. She wouldn’t go down that mental path. She and Tony had way too much history, and she thought she’d never heal from the wounds he’d inflicted.

“Can’t you just forget for a few minutes who I am and who you are? Can’t we break bread together quietly and enjoy a good meal?”

Rena relented but still questioned Tony’s mysterious behavior. “Fine. I’ll eat before the ravioli gets cold.”

“That’s a girl.”

She shot him a look.

He raised his hands up in surrender. “Sorry.” Then he dug into his filet mignon with gusto and sipped wine until he’d drained two goblets.

After finishing their entrées, Tony cleared the dishes himself, refusing Rena’s help. He needed time to collect his thoughts and figure out how he was going to propose marriage to his best friend’s new widow and not come off sounding callous and cruel. There was only one route to take and that was to tell her the truth.

Hell, he hadn’t ever really thought about marriage to anyone but Rena Fairfield. As teenagers, they’d spent many a night daydreaming of the time when they’d marry. But then Rena’s mother became ill, and Tony had been given a real opportunity to pursue his dream of racing stock cars. Leaving Rena behind to care for her ailing mother and help her father run Purple Fields had been the only black spot in an otherwise shining accomplishment. Begging her to join him served no purpose. She couldn’t leave. She had family obligations. She loved making wine. She loved Purple Fields. She was born to live in Napa, where Tony had been born to race.

He’d hurt her. No, he’d nearly destroyed her.

Each time he’d called her from the racing circuit, she’d become more and more distant. Until one day, she asked him not to call anymore. Two years later, she’d married David. He hadn’t been invited to the wedding.

Tony covered a tray with tiramisu, spumoni ice cream and chocolate-coated cannolis. He returned to Rena and answered her skepticism as she watched him place the food on the table. “What? Regardless of what you think, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. We had to do chores at the house. My father was a stickler for pulling your own weight.”

“I would think you’re one who is used to being served.”

“I am. I won’t deny it. Life is good now. I’m wealthy and can afford—”

“Shutting down a restaurant for the night to have a private dinner?”

“Yeah, among other things.”

“I guess I should feel honored that you served me dinner. You must have a good reason.”

“I do.” He glanced at the desserts on the table and moved a dish of spumoni her way. “You love ice cream. Dig in.”

Rena didn’t hesitate. She picked up a spoon and dove into the creamy Italian fare.

Tony dipped into it as well, butting spoons with her. They made eye contact, and Rena turned away quickly. How often had they shared ice cream in the past?

After three spoonfuls of spumoni, Rena pushed the dish away. “Okay, Tony. I’ve had dinner with you. No one is around. So are you going to tell me why you needed to speak to me?”

“I know you hate me, Rena.”

She steered her gaze toward the fountain in the middle of the dining area. “Hate is a strong word.”

“So, you don’t hate me?” he asked, with a measure of hope.

She looked into his eyes again. “I didn’t say that.”

Tony didn’t flinch. He’d prepared himself for this. “What did David say to you before he died?”

She straightened in her seat, her agitated body language not to be missed. “That’s none of your business.”

“Fair enough. But I need to tell you what he asked of me, Rena. I need you to hear his last words to me as I rode beside him in the ambulance.”

Tears welled in her eyes. Tony was a sucker for Rena’s tears. He never could stand to see her cry.

For a moment, fear entered her eyes as if hearing David’s words would cause her too much pain. But then, courageously, she nodded, opening her eyes wide. “Okay. Yes, I do want to hear what he said.”

Tony spoke quietly, keeping his voice from cracking. “He told me he loved you.” Rena inhaled a quick breath, and those tears threatened again. “And that you deserved a good life.”

“He was the kindest man,” she whispered.

“His last thoughts were only of you.”

A single tear fell from her eyes. “Thank you, Tony. I needed to hear that.”

“I’m not through, Rena. There’s more.”

She sat back in her seat and leaned heavily against the back of the booth, bracing herself. “Okay.”

“He asked me to to watch out for you. Protect you. And I intend to do just that. Rena, I intend to marry you.”

Four

Tony might as well have said he was going to fly to the moon on a broomstick; his declaration was just as ridiculous. Still, Rena couldn’t contain her shock. Her mouth dropped open. She couldn’t find the words.

Her heart broke thinking that David’s very last thoughts and concerns hadn’t been for himself but for her. But at the same time, if what Tony had said was true, then a wave of anger built at her departed husband as well. How could he even suggest such a thing? Asking Tony to take care of her? To protect her? He was the last man on earth she trusted, and David knew that.

Didn’t he?

“You can’t be serious,” she finally got out once a tumultuous array of emotions swept through her system.

“I’m dead serious, Rena.” He pinned her with a sharp unrelenting look.

“It’s ridiculous.”

“Maybe. But it’s David’s last wishes.”

“You’re saying he asked you to marry me?” Rena kept a tight reign on her rising blood pressure.

Tony nodded. “I promised him, Rena.”

“No, no, no, no, no, no.” She shook her head so hard that her hair slipped out of its clip.

Tony held steady peering into her eyes. “Tell me what he said to you. His last words.”

“He said,” she began, her voice shaky, her expression crestfallen. “He said he loved me. And that he wanted me to keep Purple Fields.” She looked down for a moment to compose herself. “He knew how much it meant to me.”

“And you promised him?”

“I did. But I—” Flashes of her conversation with Mr. Zelinski earlier today came flooding back. There was no hope of saving the winery. As much as it hurt her, she’d resolved that she had no other option but to sell Purple Fields. Not only would her family’s legacy be lost but so would her livelihood. Yet she needed to provide for her baby. That’s all that mattered now, and selling out meant that she’d have enough cash for a year or two if she were very careful. “I can’t keep it. I’ve already decided … to sell.”

Tony sat back in his seat, watching as Rena tried to compose herself. So many thoughts entered her mind all at once that her head began to ache. She put her head down and rubbed her temples, to alleviate the pain and to avoid Tony’s scrutiny.

“You don’t want to sell Purple Fields,” he said softly.

“No, of course not.”

“You know what it would mean to Purple Fields if we marry? You’d have no more worry … I’d make sure of it.”

She kept her head down. She didn’t want to admit that marrying Tony would solve her immediate problems and she’d be able to keep her promise to David. But she also knew that her emotions would rule it out this time. She couldn’t marry Tony Carlino.

He’d abandoned her when she’d needed him most.

He’d hurt her so deeply that it took a decent man like David to heal her and make her trust again. She had no faith in Tony, and marriage to anyone, much less him, was out of the question. Her wounds were still too raw and fresh.

Tony reached over and caressed her hand with his. Again, an instant current ran between them. “Think about it, Rena. Think about the promises we both made to David.”

Twenty minutes later, as Tony drove her home, she still couldn’t think of anything else. She wanted to save Purple Fields, to see it thrive and be successful again, but the cost was too great.

Tony walked her to the door. She slipped the key into the lock and turned to face him. “Good night, Tony.”

Tony’s dark eyes gleamed for a moment. He glanced at her mouth, his gaze lingering there. Her heart pounded, and for an instant, she was that young smitten girl who banked on his every word. He leaned his body closer, his eyes on hers, and she remembered the chemistry between them, the joy of loving him and having him love her. Images that she’d thought had been destroyed came back in a flash. He slanted his head and she waited. But his kiss bypassed her lips and brushed her cheek. He grabbed the doorknob and shoved open her door. “I’ll come by to see you tomorrow, Rena.”

Rena stepped inside and leaned heavily on her door, her fingers tracing the cheek he’d just kissed. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for a way out of her dilemma.

A way that didn’t include marrying Tony Carlino.

The next day, Tony knocked on Rena’s door at noon. When she didn’t answer the knock, he walked toward the gift shop and peeked inside the window. Solena Melendez waved to him, and he walked inside the store. “Good afternoon.”

“Hello, Solena.” Tony had met her at David’s funeral for the first time. He’d learned enough to know that Solena and Rena were good friends, Solena being just a few years older. She lived in a residential area of Napa with her husband, Raymond, and they worked for Purple Fields since Rena and David took over from her parents. A quick glance around told him that though Solena kept the quaint gift shop immaculate, the shelves were only scantily stocked with items for sale. “I’m looking for Rena. Do you know where she is?”

“I’m right here.” Rena came out of the back room, her arms loaded down with a few cases of wine.

Tony had an instant inclination to lift those heavy boxes from her arms but restrained himself. Rena was a proud woman.

She set the boxes down on the front counter. “I’ll help you with these bottles in a minute.” She smiled warmly at Solena and turned to Tony, her face transforming from warm to cold in a flash. “Follow me,” she said and walked outside the shop and down the steps.

The air was fresh and clear, the sky above as blue as Rena’s eyes. She walked past her house to the vineyards, and once they were out of earshot she turned to him. “Do you plan on showing up here whenever you want?”

Tony grinned. “Are you mad because I didn’t call to make an appointment?”

“No. Yes.” Her brows furrowed. “I’m busy, Tony. I don’t welcome drop-by company unless they are paying customers.”

“You’re working with a skeleton crew. And working too hard.”

Rena rolled her eyes. “I’ve been doing this work since I learned to walk, practically. Yes, I work hard, but I don’t mind. Why are you here?”

“I told you I’d come by today.”

“Checking up on me?”

“If you want to look at it that way.”

Rena’s face twisted in disgust. “I can take care of myself. I hate that David made you promise to watch out for me.”

“I know you do. But a promise is a promise.”

“And you don’t break your promises, do you? Except to young girls you’ve pledged your heart to. Then you have no problem.”

Rena turned away from him, but he couldn’t let her get away with that. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, turning her around to face him. “I loved you, Rena. Make no mistake about that. I’ve apologized for hurting you a hundred times. But I couldn’t stay here then, and you know it. And you couldn’t leave with me, and you know that, too. We weren’t destined to be together back then.”

She yanked her arm free and hoisted her pretty chin. “We’re not destined to be together ever, so why don’t you go away.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Not until I make myself clear. I’m offering you a business proposition, not a real marriage proposal. If you let go of some of your anger and pride, you’d see that. I’m offering you a way to save Purple Fields.”

She remained silent.

“How long before you have to let Solena and her husband go? How long before you’ll have to close the winery? You don’t want to sell. Purple Fields is a big part of you. You love what you do.”

“Don’t,” she said, her eyes filling with moisture. “Don’t, Tony.”

“Don’t what? Speak the truth? You know damn well marrying me is the best thing all the way around.”

“David’s been gone only a short time. And … and, I don’t love you.” She pierced him with a direct look.

“I don’t love you either,” he said, softly so as not to hurt her anymore. “But, in all these years, I’ve never wanted to marry another woman. I’ve never even come close.”

He put his arms around her waist and pulled her toward him. Without pause, he brushed his lips to hers softly at first. When she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, relishing the exquisite softness of her lips, enjoying the woman that Rena had become. Soft, lush and incredibly beautiful.

When he broke off the kiss, he gazed into Rena’s stunned blue eyes. “We may not have love anymore, but we have history and friendship.”

She tilted her head stubbornly. “I’m not your friend.”

“David wants this for both of us.”

“No!” Rena pulled away at the mention of David’s name. Confusion filled her expression, and she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, as if wiping away all that they’d once meant to each other. “I can’t marry you—no matter what you promised David. I still blame you for his death and, and …”

“And what, Rena? That kiss just proved we still have something between us. You can save your winery and honor David’s last wish.”

“You don’t understand.” Then Rena’s eyes reflected dawning knowledge, as if a light had been turned on inside her head. She covered her flat stomach with her hand. “Your family prides itself on bloodlines. It’s instilled in your Italian heritage. Everything has to be perfect. Everything has to be pure from the wine you make to the babies you bring into this world. Well, I’m pregnant, Tony. With David’s baby. You’d be raising David’s child as your own.”

Tony didn’t flinch. He didn’t turn away. He didn’t move so much as a muscle in surprise. That was his mistake. Rena expected shock. She expected him to change his mind, to withdraw his marriage proposal. It irked him that she thought so little of him.

Rena backed away, gasping at his nonresponse. Her mouth dropped open, and when she spoke, her voice broke with accusation. “You know. How? How do you know, Tony?” She pressed him for an answer.

“I didn’t know for sure, until now.”

Rena narrowed her eyes. “Tell me.”

Tony sighed. “It was David. He suspected it.”

Rena backed away, her hands clutching at her hair. Her shoulders slumped, color drained from her face. It was as if she relived his death all over again. She looked down at a patch of shriveled grape leaves on the ground. “He knew about our baby.”

“I’m sorry, Rena.”

Her eyes watered. “David won’t ever meet his child.”

“No, but he wanted to protect him and … you. I’m capable of doing that for you, Rena.”

“But I don’t want to marry you,” she said softly.

Tony heard the resignation in her tone. She was considering her options. “I know.”

She peered into his eyes. “How would it look? I’m barely a widow—and now I’m marrying my husband’s friend.”

Tony made this decision to protect Rena days ago. “No one has to know. We’ll keep it secret.”

“Secret?” She looked at him, puzzled.

“For a time, anyway.”

She closed her eyes, contemplating. She battled with the idea of marrying him. Her facial expressions reflected her thoughts as they twisted to and fro.

He pressed his point. “Your winery needs help fast,” he said quietly, and then added, “but more important, your child needs a father.”

“Maybe that’s true.” Rena’s eyes flooded with tears now, her voice filled with surrender. “But I don’t need you, Tony. I’ll never need you again.”

That was the closest she’d come to a yes.

Tony made mental plans for their wedding day.

Rena cried herself to sleep for two nights, realizing the futility in denying the inevitable. She was cornered and had nowhere to run. She’d been waging mental wars inside her head since Tony’s proposal for a secret marriage. She couldn’t come up with any other viable solution to her dilemma. She was so heavily in debt she doubted she’d find anyone willing to take on such a big risk.

But how could she marry Tony?

How could she allow him to be a father to David’s child?

It all seemed so unfair.

Rena stepped outside her house and squinted into the morning sunlight rising just above the hills. Golden hues cast beautiful color over the valley. This was her favorite time of day. When David was alive, she’d often wake early and come outside to tend her garden and open her mind to all possibilities. David would sit on the veranda to drink coffee and watch her. They would talk endlessly about little things and his presence would lend her peace and comfort.

But since his death, Rena had sorely neglected her garden. Today, she hoped she’d find solace working the soil and nurturing the lilies and roses. She needed this time to come to grips with what she had to do.

She put on her gardening gloves and took to the soil, yanking out pesky weeds, and with each firm tug, thoughts of what David asked from her in his death plagued her mind. He hadn’t given her what she needed most—time to grieve. Time to try to figure out a way to save Purple Fields on her own. Instead, he’d hidden the facts from her and shielded her from bad news. David had always been a man she could count on, but he hadn’t realized the toll his dying request would take on her.

She tugged at a stubborn weed, bracing her feet and pulling with all of her might. Emotions roiled in the pit of her stomach. Feelings she’d held in for a long time finally came forth as she felt the weed break with the ground. “I’m so mad at you, David, I could spit.”

The weed released, easing from the soil slowly and Rena held it in her hands, staring at the roots that had once been secured in the earth. “You died and left me with this mess.”

And when she thought tears would fall again, instead simmering anger rose up with full force. She was angry, truly angry with David. She was angry with herself. But most of all, she was angry with Tony Carlino. Her anger knew no rationality at the moment. And for the first time since David’s death, Rena felt strong in that anger. She felt powerful. She refused to let guilt or fear wash away her innermost feelings. David had let her down. Tony had blackmailed her.

But she didn’t have to take it without a fight. She didn’t have to lose control of everything she loved, just because fate had stepped in and knocked her down. New strength born of distress and determination lifted her. She still had a say in what happened in her life. Her primary obligation was to protect her unborn child and secure his future legacy.

Rena whipped off her gloves and stood up, arching her back and straightening out as a plan formed in her mind. With new resolve, she headed back into the house. She had a call to make. She needed expert legal advice and knew that Mark Winters, David’s longtime friend, would help her.

She may be down temporarily, but she wasn’t out.

For the first time in a long time, Rena felt as though she had some control about her destiny.

And it felt darn good.

Tony glanced at his watch, his patience wearing thin as he sat in a booth by the window at the Cab Café. Rena was ten minutes late. Had she backed out of this meeting at the last moment?

This morning, he’d been happy to hear Rena’s voice on the phone. She’d called early, just as he was leaving for work and she’d sounded adamant that he meet with her today. She wouldn’t give him a hint as to what the meeting was about, but since he’d proposed to her last week, he figured she’d come to realize that marrying him was inevitable. Not one to ever look a gift horse in the mouth, he’d cleared his schedule and shown up here five minutes early.

The boisterous teenage hangout held a good deal of memories for them both, and he wondered why she’d picked this particular place. At one time the Cabernet Café was a wine-tasting room but when that failed, the owner had changed the café's focus and now it thrived as a burger-and-fries joint.

A waitress wearing an apron designed with a cluster of purple grapes approached and Tony ordered coffee to pass the time. He decided to wait until he’d finished his first cup before calling Rena to see what the delay was.

Less than five minutes later, just as he was pulling out his cell phone, Rena stepped into the café. He rose from his seat and she spotted him. He gave her a little wave, which she ignored.

As she approached, Tony noticed she had shadows under eyes that were haunted and sad, but even that couldn’t mask her genuine beauty. Her hair was pulled back from her face in a ponytail and she wore jeans and a blue sweater that brought out the sparkling hue of her eyes. Her purse sat on her shoulder but she also carried a manila folder in one hand. He waited until she reached the table and sat across from him before he took his seat.

“I was just about to call you. Thought you might have changed your mind.”

She glanced at him and shook her head. “No, I’m sorry I’m late. I had an appointment this morning that ran a little long.”

“What kind of appointment?” he asked, wondering what was so important to keep him waiting.

She glanced out the window, hesitating, and then turned back to him. “I had my first checkup today for the baby.”

Tony leaned back against the vinyl booth and stared at her. “How did it go? Is everything okay?”

Rena couldn’t seem to keep her joy from showing. She granted him a smile and her voice lifted when she spoke. “Yes, the baby is healthy. I’m due in October.”

“That’s good news, Rena.” But the news also brought home the reality of what he was about to do. He would take responsibility for a child he didn’t father. He would marry a woman who didn’t love him. All of it hit him hard between the eyes. This was really happening.

He’d loved David as a friend, but he also knew that if it had been any woman other than Rena, he wouldn’t have agreed to David’s request. He wouldn’t be doing this for a stranger. Though Rena would deny it, they had a connection. Their lives had been entwined for years. Marrying her wasn’t as much a hardship for him as it was for her. “What else did the doctor say?”

She breathed out quietly. “He told me to try to stay calm. Not to let stress get me down.”

“That’s good advice, Rena. You’ve had a lot to deal with lately and you should try to relax for—”

“I don’t need a lecture, Tony.”

Her abrupt behavior had him gritting his teeth. Pregnant women were temperamental at times, at least that’s what he’d heard from his married friends, but it was more than that with Rena. His proposal to her was nothing more than sugarcoated blackmail. Hell, he hated to add to her stress. But he owed David this and he had to see it through.

She looked at him and inhaled a deep breath. “I’m sorry. This isn’t easy for me. Believe me, I have the baby’s well-being in mind every second of the day. That’s why it’s been such a tug of war.”

Tony had thicker skin than to be offended, but most women wouldn’t consider a proposal from him a terrible thing.

The waitress walked up to the table again. “Hi, what can I get for you?”

Rena faced her without opening the menu. “I should have the California café salad.”

“One California café salad, got it. And for you sir?”

“But,” Rena interrupted and the waitress turned back to her, “I’m craving a chili cheeseburger with extra pickles.”

The waitress grinned. “That’s our specialty. Got it. And I’ll make sure you get those pickles.”

“Thank you. I’ll have a lemonade too.”

Tony ordered the same thing, and after the waitress left, he glanced at Rena. “You’re having cravings? I wondered why you wanted to meet me here.”

She lifted a shoulder and shrugged. “It’s been a long time and this morning when I got up, I couldn’t stop thinking about having a chili cheeseburger.”

“We sure ate our share of them when we were kids. We used to close down this place, remember?”

“Yeah, I do.”

And for a moment, Rena’s face softened. Tony remembered what it was like being with her back then. The fun times they’d had together. They’d been so close and so much in love.

Rena stared at the manila folder she’d set down on the table and her expression changed.

“What’s going on?” Tony asked, glancing at the folder. “What’s in there?”

“It’s something I want from you.”

Surprised, Tony looked at her, arching a brow. “Okay, so why don’t you tell me?”

She slid the folder toward him. “It’s a prenuptial agreement.” Her eyes met his directly.

Tony hid his surprise well. He didn’t react, though a dozen thoughts popped into his head all at once. He decided to hear her out and not jump to conclusions.

“If I marry you, I want Purple Fields to remain in my name. I want full ownership of the winery and vineyard. I want to have the final say in every decision having to do with it. My child will own Purple Fields one day, no questions asked. Have your attorney look it over. It’s legal and there shouldn’t be any problem.”

Tony sighed heavily. “Rena, you do see the irony in this, don’t you?”

Rena searched his eyes. “How so?”

“First of all, I don’t want Purple Fields. Marrying me has nothing to do with me getting my hands on your winery. The fact is, I’m worth tens of millions, Rena. Everything I own will be yours. I’m not asking for a prenuptial agreement from you.”

“If you want one, I’d sign it.”

“I don’t want one, damn it! I’m not entering into this marriage lightly. If we marry, it’ll be for keeps. We’ll have a child and we’ll be a family. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, of course. But you’ve made promises to me before that you’ve broken, and now I have no choice in the matter. I want some control. You should understand that, being a Carlino.”

Tony’s lips tightened. He didn’t want an argument, so he chose his words carefully. “This time it’s different. This time, I’m not going to break any promises I make to you.”

“I’d sleep better at night if I believed you.”

Tony let go a curse.

Rena continued to explain. “I’m only protecting what’s mine. Can you blame me? It’s all I have left and I don’t want to lose it.”

Angry now, Tony didn’t bother reading the agreement first. “Fine. I’ll sign it.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen. Then he slid the papers out and gave them only a cursory glance before signing his name at the bottom.

“Don’t you want your attorney to look it over?” Rena asked, her expression incredulous, watching him slide the papers back into the folder.

He shook his head. “I know you well enough to know there’s nothing in this agreement that I’d find questionable. I trust you.”

Rena sat back against the booth, her chin bravely raised. “I won’t let you make me feel guilty about this.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel guilty,” Tony remarked gruffly. Then when he saw Rena holding back tears, he softened his tone. “I signed the papers. You’re getting what you want—at least as far as Purple Fields is concerned. I never intended on taking that away from you.” Then he braced his arms on the table and leaned in. Their gazes locked. “We have to make this work, Rena. If for nothing else but that child you’re carrying.”

Rena closed her eyes briefly. Her silence irritated him, as if she were trying to believe and trust in him. He wasn’t like his ruthless father, but would Rena ever acknowledge that? “I know,” she said finally.

Tony settled back in his seat. What was done, was done. He didn’t want to rehash the past. It was time to look toward the future.

And live in the present.

Tony changed the subject as soon as the food was delivered. He wanted Rena to enjoy the meal she’d craved. Lord knew she needed to build her strength. She also needed some calm in her life and wondered if he could ever provide her that.

Without Rena actually saying so, the existence of the prenuptial agreement he’d just signed was an acceptance to his proposal.

Tony resigned himself to the fact that soon he’d be a husband to a pregnant and reluctant bride.

One week later, Rena stood beside Solena, Tony beside his brother Joe as they spoke vows before a Catholic priest in a little church just outside of San Francisco. Rena’s mind spun during the entire mass thinking this was some kind of a bad joke. She couldn’t believe she was actually marrying Tony Carlino, the boy she’d once loved beyond reason. The boy she’d dreamed of marrying with every breath that she’d taken. Now that dream seemed more like a nightmare.

As the priest blessed their union, Rena reminded herself of the reasons she’d made this decision.

Marrying Tony meant saving her winery from ruin.

It meant that she could honor David’s last wishes.

It meant that her baby would never want for anything, much less a roof over his head or a meal on his plate.

They were good solid reasons. No sacrifice was too great for her child.

Father Charles finished the ceremony. “You may kiss the bride.”

She hardly felt like a bride. She wore a pale yellow dress suit. Tony had provided her with a small calla lily bouquet and had placed a simple platinum band on her finger during the service. Out of reverence to David, he hadn’t given her a diamond—she’d only just last week removed her wedding ring from her finger and tucked it away safely in her jewelry case. It had been excruciatingly hard letting go.

Tony’s lips brushed hers softly. He smiled when he looked into her eyes. She granted him a small smile in return.

Joe and Solena congratulated them, their mood solemn. If Father Charles noticed the austere atmosphere at the altar, he didn’t mention it. In fact, he pumped Tony’s hand hard and embraced Rena.

Raymond approached with a handshake to Tony and a hug for her. Nick approached her with arms open and a big smile. “Welcome to the family. I’ve always wanted a sister. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. I had a big crush on you in high school.”

Rena chuckled and flowed into his arms. “No, you didn’t.”

“I did. But you were my big brother’s girl.” They broke their embrace and Nick stepped away, turning to Tony and slapping him on the back. “He’s a lucky man. Be good to her or I might steal her away.”

Tony glanced at her. “I’d like to see you try.”

Rena bit her lip, holding back a smile. She’d seen the Carlino boys’ teasing banter, and at times she had been a part of it. If anyone could make her laugh, it was Nick. He’d always been too clever for his own good. All the Carlino boys had their own brand of charm and she’d learned early on that each in his own way was a ladykiller.

The six of them dined in an out-of-the-way restaurant on the outskirts of San Francisco, and everyone sipped champagne when Nick proposed a toast. Rena pretended to sip hers, letting the bubbly liquid touch her mouth before she set her glass down. She was among her closest friends here, and though she’d explained to Solena and Raymond her reasons for this sudden secret marriage to Tony, she hadn’t confessed about the baby yet. She needed time to come to grips with all that had changed in her life.

When the dinner was over, Rena walked outside with Solena, bidding her farewell. “I hope I’m not making a mistake.”

Solena took her hand and squeezed gently. “Remember, David wanted this for you.” She glanced at Tony who stood beside Raymond and his brothers. “Give him a chance,” she whispered. “You loved him once.”

“It’s different now, Solena. There’s so much hurt between us.”

“I know. But if you find forgiveness, your heart will open.”

Rena doubted it. She didn’t know if she was capable of forgiving Tony. He’d destroyed her life not once but twice. Was she supposed to forget all that? Emotions jumbled up inside her, and she fought to control them. “I can’t believe I married him.”

Solena reached out to hug her tight. “It will work out as it’s meant to. Be patient. And remember, I am always here if you need me.”

Rena faced her and gratitude filled her heart. “I know you are.” She reminded herself that if she hadn’t married Tony, she wouldn’t be able to employ her dear friends, and that was enough consolation for now.

Tony approached and put a hand to her back. “Are you ready to leave?”

She nodded to him and bid farewell to her friend, squeezing her hand tight. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Solena.”

“Yes.” Solena glanced at Tony. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Once Raymond and Solena left, Tony took Rena’s hand and guided her to his car. “You’re not going to your own execution, you know.”

“Did I say anything?” she quipped, slipping her hand away.

“Not in words.”

She shrugged. “It’s all so strange.”

But before Tony could respond to that, Joe and Nick walked up. Nick smiled. “You did it, you two. Finally.”

Joe cleared his throat. “Let’s leave them alone, Nick.”

“Just wishing them well,” he said. “I guess we’ll see you at the house later.”

Tony shook his head. “I’m not going back to the house tonight.”