Wed on His Terms: Million-Dollar Marriage Merger

скачать книгу бесплатно


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 (#u7d6127dc-e3bf-576e-b74e-3e1e7f64c101)

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.”