“That’s what I want.” His statement came as a question, asking for her consent.
“You do?” she whispered, her voice steady.
“The day that you showed up at the winery and I found out you were pregnant, I freaked out. I panicked.” Lifting her hand from the water, he pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I thought it was the worst day of my life . . . until you told me that the baby wasn’t mine. I felt like . . . part of me had died. It hit me so hard. I had already looked ahead, envisioning a life with you. You and our baby. In twelve hours I had planned our future and I realized it was the life I’d always wanted. You’re the woman I’ve always wanted. The woman I’ve always loved.”
“You love me?” Her soft exhale floated between them.
His hand came to her face, his eyes holding an intensity she’d never seen him wear before. “Si. I love you, bella.”
Mesmerized by the adoration in his eyes, Hope’s shocked expression slowly cleared. He brushed his firm, full, sexy lips to her soft mouth. Lost in the moment, Hope pitched toward him, tackling his mouth with a provocative kiss, licking into the sweet heat, slowly marauding, savoring the intimate taste of him.
“I love you,” she whispered beneath his lips. “I’m crazy about you and this baby . . . our baby. I’ve never been this happy. I didn’t think it was possible.”
Antonio’s gaze, full of optimism and sentiment, never left her face. A lazy grin lifted at the edge of his mouth, laying a trail of love bites to the slope of her neck. The baby did an acrobatic tumble, wriggling and turning, adding a jab for good measure. They both smiled brightly.
“I think the baby’s happy too.”
“Antonio,” she paused, her quiet laughter mixed with tears. “I need out of this damn tub. I’m stuck.”
Taking careful measures not to slip, he helped her out of the tub. Their kisses swayed between desperately urgent and languid indulgence, both equally arousing, as he towel-dried her body, inching their way to the bedroom.
His lashes lowered, glancing at the baby bump between them. “My world is brighter when you’re here with me. Just so we’re clear, I’m talking about forever, Hope. We can talk about the future and when you’d be more comfortable making it official, but you’re mine . . . forever.”
Her breath caught as he cupped her breast, gently rolling a tender nipple between his fingers, priming it for his mouth. The heat of the water had brought the blood to the surface of her skin, making every touch more intense.
She clasped her palms beneath his jaw, bringing his gaze up to meet hers. “Are you asking me to marry you?” she asked breathily.
His hand threaded through the hair at her nape, tugging a bit as he backed her hips up against the granite countertop. Blindly, she palmed the counter, assisting as he lifted her bottom between two sinks in one fluid movement. He’s so powerful.
“I want more than marriage, Hope. I’m asking you to spend the rest of your life with me. I’m not going to pressure you, but I need you to understand that we’re not temporary. It’s up to you whether you want to get married before the baby or after.”
Bending, he sucked a tight bud into the searing heat of his mouth, languidly licking and flicking with the tip of his tongue, pulling a low moan of pleasure from her throat, “Yes, yessss. God, yes. I’ll marry you.”
Moving upward, he nibbled the sensitive spot on her neck. The heat of his rigid cock nudged her wet opening. “I don’t have a ring yet—” He grasped her face, bringing her lips close to his, until their breath mingled as one. “—but don’t worry. I promise it’ll be beautiful.”
“I don’t care about a ring. You make me feel safe, and happy, and loved. That’s all I need.” His hips thrust forward giving her just the tip. Her heart pounded, her thighs quivered, her core clenched and contracted. “Oh, now Antonio, yes . . .”
Antonio took her mouth vigorously, the kiss went on and on driving her to near madness. She scooted and shimmied her bottom to the edge of the counter, rocking her hips upward in a pleading fashion. Now now now.
His hands slid beneath her thighs, supporting each leg at the crook of his elbows. He thrust deep and held, his eyes glazed over with pleasure, staring into her soul, marking it as his own. They stayed that way for a moment, each accepting and yielding the others possession. He began a slow rhythmic slide, in and out, climbing the summit of ecstasy. Her fingers dug into his heavily muscled shoulders, pulling him close, and kissing him with infinite gentleness. Her flesh pulsed and squeezed around him each time he drove into her.
“Oh,” she whimpered, her inner thighs contracting.
Yanking her to the very edge of the counter, he released one leg from the bend of his arm, fisting his fingers into her hair and tugging. Hope’s eyes rolled back, a kaleidoscope of colors bursting behind her lids, as she started to tip. She gripped the thick of his wrist, bracing herself, digging her nails into his skin dusted with dark hair. He released her other leg, bringing his hand between them, skating his thumb over her wet clit in tight rotations.
Contractions swelled to a state of near frenzy, one of his hands working magic down below, the other tightening its grip at her nape, tipping her over the edge. She shattered, her climax went on and on tumbling through her, drenching him in wetness. He thrust deep into the hot slickness, jerking over her, finding his own release.
Resting her head on his shoulder, the moist heat of her breath fanned over his neck as she panted, working to steady her breath. She felt as if she’d just rocketed across the sky like a shooting star. He kissed her repeatedly, helping her off the counter and into the shower.
Twenty minutes later, she burrowed next to his side, sharing a bowl of gelato. “You’re glowing.” His voice was rich and drugging like the perfect fine wine.
“That’s because I just experienced some new phenomenon called . . . orgasm-ala-mode.” Her feet wiggled back and forth, spooning a bite of yummy goodness into his mouth. “Antonio, is it . . . bad that we just got engaged while in the heat of the moment? What are we going to tell our baby someday?”
“You mean babies.” He accentuated the plural. “I plan on keeping you pregnant. You’re insatiable and beautiful and I’m never going to get enough of this,” he touted, giving a round of kisses to her belly. “We’re doing things our way, remember, and I don’t think there’s going to be anything traditional about it. I suppose maybe we should skip the naked tub scene and tell our children we got engaged by romantic candlelight.”
The happiness in his voice equaled the joy in her heart. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
DURING THE WEEK THAT FOLLOWED, Hope was in her element, preparing for the winery’s biggest tasting of the summer. Tuscany was one of the largest exporters of high-end wine, and Amore Mio Winery intended to be at the top of the list. A host of affluent wine buyers were coming from around the world to sample and purchase the best of their products.
Rhythmic beats of jazz filtered through her open office window, calming the lone butterfly fluttering in her stomach. The Inn was at full capacity with guests and staff, catering to every whim of the buyers who were there to evaluate, sample, score, and hopefully purchase their wine.
It was late in the afternoon by the time Tracy and Hope were able to meet and go over any last minute details.
“How do you keep so calm?” Tracy plopped into a chair, staring bleary-eyed. “You’re like the rock star of wine. I think almost every buyer here knows you. I’ve been threatened by at least five people that they’re going to steal you away.”
Blush tinted her cheeks. Hope rolled her hand over her very pregnant belly. “We’re not going anywhere and I absolutely love working for you, Tracy.”
“If this is how you work when you’re eight and a half months pregnant, I can’t wait to see you in action after you have the baby.”
Tracy’s exhausted exuberance painted a smile on Hope’s lips.
“I told you, I’m at my best when I’m busy. It’s just how
my brain works. You’re killing it today. The wine is a given, but everyone is raving about the Inn and the restaurant too.”
Tracy pressed her palms together and glanced skyward. “Let’s just pray this evening goes well.” Tracy pulled herself to her feet. “Go home and get off your feet for a few hours before the night gets started.”
Hope peered down at her ankles, checking for water retention. She’d snuck into her office several times during the day to elevate her feet. “I feel great. My ankles aren’t even swollen.”
Tracy stopped at the door, turning to face Hope. A sly little grin danced in her blue eyes. “Have you seen Samantha yet?”
A shaky laugh rumbled in Hope’s chest. “Not yet. It’s not that I was trying to avoid her, we simply haven’t crossed paths. I heard someone say that her plane got delayed so she arrived late.”
“I was just curious. Go home and get some rest . . . and that’s not up for debate. I’ll see you back here at seven.”
“I can do that.”
Antonio sat at the edge of their bed, hinged at the waist, tying his brown leather Derby shoes. His neatly pressed trousers stretched over his muscular thighs, drawing a heavy sigh from Hope, ogling over him as she retreated from the closet holding three dresses.
“You look entirely too sexy in that Prada suit.” She sauntered toward him, tossing the dresses on the bed. “I might drag you back to the cellar if you’re not careful.”
He blessed her with a lusty grin and a deep husky chuckle. Grabbing hold of her arm, he tugged her between his legs, showering her tummy with kisses. He reached behind her, fingers splayed wide, grabbing hold of both cheeks. “You better be careful or I’ll bend you over a barrel of wine any damn place I want.”
“Oh, I love it when you talk dirty to me,” she teased, theatrically placing her hand over her heart.
He captured the edge of her white lace bra between his teeth and growled. “God, I love you.”
She pressed a quick kiss to his nose. “Before you leave . . . tell me which dress do you like the best?”
Moving to his feet, Antonio inspected all three dresses. He wiggled his brows ambling into the closet. “Where’s the baby-blue one? That’s my favorite.”
“I think I’m too big for that one.”
Exiting the closet, blue dress hanging from his finger, a shimmering wave of naughtiness danced in his grey eyes. “Nonsense, you look incredible in this dress.”
Hope held the form-fitting sleeveless dress to her distended figure. The thin tie under the bust and ruching at the sides did help a bit. “Are you sure?”
Lifting his brows, his eyes widened looking down at her voluptuous cleavage. He ran a finger along the surplice neckline of the dress. “Oh yeah, I’m sure, and don’t let that bitch get under your skin tonight.”
She pinched the knot of his tie, pushing it into the perfect position. “I won’t let her get to me.”
“Sorry I have to leave early.” He patted her bottom before heading out the door. “See you in a bit.”
“It’s no problem,” she assured. “See you in a few.”
This was the biggest event she’d attended since she’d gotten pregnant and the first time she really wished she could enjoy a glass of wine while getting ready. Needing to take the edge off, she turned on her iPod that she’d found while unpacking. Somewhere between singing Sugar while she was applying her makeup and dancing to Shake It Off while blowing out her hair, it dawned on her that she hadn’t listened to music in months, since Faith had died. She missed her sister desperately, beyond words, but it felt okay to allow herself happiness.
Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman started to play as she stood in front of the full-length mirror, inspecting her full breasts and round belly. She slinked into her blue dress, swaying and strutting to the slow, sexy beat. By the time the third chorus hit, she swaggered out the door ready to take on the night.
The winery bustled with wine enthusiasts from every corner of the world. Hope immediately spotted Antonio at the far end of the cellar. Her heart clutched taking in his broad shoulders clad in a sharp-cut navy blazer draped perfectly on his lean muscular frame. The man was the epitome of sophisticated esthetics and Italian fashion. His good looks and charismatic persona cast quite a shadow making it impossible for her to notice anyone else.
And she wasn’t alone in her attraction.
She ventured through the crowd exchanging brief hello’s, making her way toward a group of women of every age who were undoubtedly enthralled with his good looks and Italian accent. Joining the group, Hope’s spine stiffened a bit seeing Samantha’s pretentious smile and distinctive posh ponytail.
“Hello, Hope.” Samantha addressed her coolly. She turned up her nose, raking an icy glare up and down Hope’s body. “My goodness, you look like you’re ready to burst.”
Jeannie stood beside her boss, a lopsided grin tucked into one side of her mouth. She approached Hope cautiously, not because of her pregnant belly, but because she didn’t want to score deduction points from Samantha. “You look beautiful. It’s good to see you.”
The strong bar of Antonio’s arm slipped around the small of her back as she responded. “Thank you, Jeannie. It’s great to see you.”
His head bent, brushing a brief kiss to her temple before moving lower, whispering in her ear. “You look stunning, bella.”
“Thank you,” she chimed, angling her chin upward to flash him a sexy smile. Several quiet gasps of disenchantment echoed in the background.
“I think most of you already know my fiancée, Hope.”
Hundreds of single women all around the world are probably crying right now. Returning her attention to their guests, Hope had the satisfaction of seeing all traces of arrogance fall from Samantha’s inert expression.
“I think my ovaries just exploded.” The high pitch of Jeannie’s shocked murmur rang through the open circle, resounding off their wine glasses as if someone had rubbed their wet finger over the rim.
Hope blushed, her cheeks matching Antonio’s dusty pink shirt.
“Congratulations,” Samantha managed to say uncomfortably, her eyes still pulled wide as if she’d just had an eyelift. “This is quite sudden, isn’t it, with the baby and all?”
A slow chill inched its way up her spine, astounded by the audacious question.
“Not at all,” Antonio chimed. “Hope and I are thrilled. Couldn’t be happier.”
Another round of aws. Several women congratulated them with hugs and well-wishes. Hope savored the moment. It felt odd at first, like she’d crossed over some unforeseeable line, the line she’d drawn determining when a couple’s happiness seemed too real to be true. The line that she’d used to separate herself from all the people who believed in the fairytale, who believed in love. Inwardly she admitted that she’d never felt so complete, so protected, so adored in all her life.
A cool hand on her bare shoulder captured her attention. Tracy and Vincent joined the conversation. “How’s everyone doing tonight?” Vincent asked, raising his glass to no one in particular.
“Wonderful.” Samantha lifted her glass, repositioning to get closer to Tracy.
As the night went on, Hope could only imagine the amount of sucking up her old boss was shoveling out in hopes of creating a working relationship with the Giovanni’s. Ass-kissing had always been part of Samantha’s technique, and though it seemed to work for her, Hope never took a liking to that particular business tactic. She preferred to go the more genuine route.
Antonio guided her through the evening, proudly introducing her as his fiancée and Amore Mio’s new Master Sommelier, bragging of her excessive knowledge of the industry and her gift for tasting. Every time someone offered them congratulations for their soon-to-be new arrival, they simply said thank you. Neither felt the need to explain the details of their unusual circumstance, each content with using the term our baby. Sounds of light Jazz and a hum of exuberant voices resonated through the vast open room. Guests came and went fr
om the cellar, mingling throughout the entire property.
Later in the evening, Samantha approached Antonio on her way out. “I’m looking forward to our meeting tomorrow. I’ll see you at five o’clock.”
“Unfortunately, I had something urgent come up last minute and I won’t be able to make our meeting, but Hope will be taking over negotiations for me.” He paused. “If that’s alright with you, of course?”
Hope stared straight ahead, controlling her surprised reaction. Neither Antonio nor Tracy had ever mentioned that they wanted her to step in and handle negotiations with Samantha . . . or any other buyer.
Instinctual traces of wariness traveled up her vertebrae like an icy current. She squeezed his hand so tightly that she was certain there’d be crescent-shaped indentations pierced into the palm of the hand she held.
An impervious glaze masked Samantha’s features. After a few beats, she forced a polite smile, shaking Antonio’s hand. “Well, of course. That’ll be fine. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
Hope replied carefully, refusing to show any shock. “I’ll rearrange my afternoon so I can take the meeting.”
It took every ounce of professionalism she could muster to wait until the tasting had ended and they’d reached the quiet interior of his car before unloading. “What the hell was that? What are you doing, Antonio?”
“What?” His demure tone intended to calm her oncoming outburst.
“Don’t give me that. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“You’re our best closer and we need this deal.” A cocky grin touched his lips. “And I really want you to put that bitch in her place. I don’t care for her one bit.”
“No, Antonio. That’s not how this is going to go down. You don’t understand. Samantha’s an ego maniac! She’ll blow the deal just to prove that she’d never let me win.”
“But you won’t . . . blow the deal, I mean.” Other than the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, his expression was unreadable as he patted her thigh reassuringly. “I know you can do this. Plus, I’ve got three more meetings I’d like you to take on as well. I hate to admit this, but you’re a better negotiator than me.”
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