heartily. There would be no salad-only dinners for him. He was a well-built man who enjoyed a good meal. He was halfway through a large dish of pasta when he lifted his head. âI want to see your accounts tomorrow. I hope to get through them by the end of the week. Then Iâll know better how we can get your winery back on track.â
Grateful that heâd taken the first step, Rena discussed with him her conversation she had with the banker. Tony hadnât even blinked when she told him her financial situation and how much money she owed.
âIâll take care of it,â he said, without pause. âYouâll make your payroll, and any other debts you have will be dealt with.â
âThank you.â Humbled by his generosity, she put her head down.
âRena?â She looked up into his dark eyes. âWeâre in this together from now on. You donât have to worry about the winery.â
âI know. I appreciate everything, really. I just canât help feeling like a failure. I tried. David tried. We had some bad luck, equipment that needed replacing, problems with distributors and well, the bigger wineries tried to shove us out.â
Tony covered her hand, and the instant spark jolted her. âCarlino Wines being one of them. Thatâs not going to happen anymore.â
She tried to ignore sensations rippling through her. âThe Fairfields have always taken pride in their livelihood. I have a lot of pride. I feel like I let my parents down. I had to remarry to save the business.â
Tony stroked her hand, his fingers caressing hers. It felt goodâtoo goodâto pull her hand away. Lord help her, she needed to feel his touch.
âI wonât take offense to that,â he said. âI know Iâm the last person on earth youâd want as a husband.â
She watched as his fingers slid over her knuckles so gently. âAt one time, I wanted nothing more.â
âAnd now?â
She gazed deeply into his eyes and lifted a shoulder in confusion. âNow, I donât know, Tony. I really donât know. Iâm just so tired.â
Tony rose from the table with concern in his eyes. âGo. Iâll take care of this.â He took up their plates and headed toward the dishwasher. âYou need to rest. Itâs been a long day.â
Rena got up, ready to argue, but Tony had already rinsed their dishes and began loading them into the dishwasher. With his back to her, she noted his broad shoulders tapering down along his back and slim waistline. His slacks fit perfectly over his buttocks, and she recalled the quick flash of excitement she felt when heâd stepped out of the shower yesterday, buck naked. Sheâd only caught a glimpse, but oh, that image wouldnât leave her anytime soon.
âI, uh, thanks. Iâll take a quick shower and go to bed. What will youââ
He turned sharply and met her gaze. âIâll come to bed later, Rena.â
She gave him a clipped nod, turned around and strode out of the room. Her exhaustion catching up with her, she was too tired to think of the implications of sleeping with her new, extremely sexy secret husband.
Rena snuggled deeper into her bed, rebelling against thin rays of dawn creeping into the room. She closed her eyes tighter, rolling away from the light and into familiar warmth. Cocooned in the heat now, she relaxed and let out a stress-relieving sigh.
Her eyelids blessedly shut, she breathed in a pleasing musky scent and smiled. A warm breath brushed her cheek, then another and another. She popped her eyes open. Tony was there, inches from her face, his eyes dark and dusky. He lay stretched out on his side, apparently watching her sleep. âMorning, beautiful.â
Alarm bells rang out in her head. She couldnât believe she was in bed with Tony. And enjoying it. His warmth surrounded her. She focused on the firm set of his sculpted jaw, then opened her mouth to speak, but Tony placed his finger to her lips, stopping her words. âShh. Donât overthink this, Rena.â He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her closer.
She remembered putting on her most unappealing nightshirt last night, a soft, brushed cotton garment with tiny cap sleeves just in case Tony held true to his word to sleep with her. But Rena liked to feel feminine in bed, so the least suggestive nightgown she owned was still a far cry from head-to-toe flannel.
âDonât overthink what?â
âThis,â he said, moving closer and touching his lips to hers. The heat of his mouth and the intimate contact should have caused her to panic. Yet, she didnât resist, her body and mind not fully operational at the moment. He pulled away long enough to search her eyes and must have been satisfied with what he saw in them.
Tony knew how to kiss a woman, and he held nothing back with the next kiss. He drew her in with expert finesse, coaxing a reaction from her. His hand on her waist, she felt his strength through the thin cotton fabric of the nightgown. He squeezed her gently, and immediate tingles coursed through her body. She sighed aloud, a throaty little sound that emanated from deep within. Tony moved his hand up, stroking her side slowly up and down, his fingers brushing the underside of her breast.
Oh God, it felt good to have him caress her, teasing her breast until she ached for his touch.
Rena loved the physical act of making love. She loved the intimacy, the joy of having her body succumb to infinite pleasure. Tony had taught her that. Heâd taken her virginity and taught her to enjoy sexual intercourse. Of course, back then theyâd been so much in love that holding back wasnât an option. Sheâd given herself fully to him, surrendering her heart and her body. Sheâd only been with two men in her life, and each in their own way had taught her about loving a man. Where David had been sweet, patient and dependable, Tony had been irresistible, hot-blooded and sexy.
Tonyâs passionate kisses unnerved her. His touch drew her like a magnet. She moved closer, arching toward him, her breaths heavier now. He nibbled on her lips, whispering how beautiful she was, how much he wanted to touch her.
She gave him permission with a sigh.
His hand came up and cupped her breast over the fabric of her cotton nightie. He flicked a finger over the tip, rubbing back and forth, sending shock waves through her body. Intense heat swamped her, and she longed for more.
She knew the instant Tonyâs body went taut. His breaths deepened, and his kisses became more demanding as he parted her lips. His tongue beckoned hers, and she met him halfway. They sparred in an endless search for satisfaction.
While her body craved the physical release, her heart and mind screamed no. Torn by indecision, she stilled, forcing herself to think this through.
âYouâre overthinking again, Rena,â Tony said in a low rasp. He continued to stroke her breast, unraveling her mind.
She mustered her willpower and covered his hand with hers, stopping him. âOne of us has to.â
âI told you I donât plan on being celibate in this marriage,â he said quietly. âIf I thought you werenât ready, Iâd back off. But the woman I was just kissing wasnât protesting at all. You were enjoying having my hands on you. In another second I would have taken off your nightgown, and we would have been skin to skin. I want that, and I know you want that, too.â
Renaâs heart pumped hard. He was right, but she had to voice her innermost thoughts. âWanting and having are two different things.â
âRenaâs rules, not mine.â
Rena drew