wouldn’t matter by then. They’d be so in love. They might even laugh about their past troubles, it could be so good between them.
“This is perfect,” she said on a sigh. “The only thing ruining it is my stupid cast.”
“You won’t be wearing that much longer,” he reassured, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. She smelled amazing. “Are you comfortable?”
“Yes.”
“How’s your cheek?” The cut still bothered her, throbbing on occasion, and there was even some minor swelling. She didn’t look in the mirror much and he understood why. It hurt, knowing that her career could be cut short. “Do you need any pain meds?”
“I’m fine, Vince. Really. I just need you ,” she stressed. “I was so tired of being in that stupid hospital.”
“I’m glad you’re home too.” He had plans for them. Big plans. Yes, he’d come to New York to take over the US headquarters of Renaldi Accessories, but he’d asked for a minor leave of absence after Amber was injured, which Matteo had given him. Family always came first for the Renaldis. “The accident…what happened to you scared me.”
She lifted her head, her crystal blue eyes meeting his. His wife had the face of an angel and she’d used it to her best advantage during her modeling career. Even with the bandage on her face and no makeup, she was stunning. He preferred her fresh-faced and natural—he always had. “Will you tell me what happened between us that day? How did I end up stepping in front of a car and getting hit?”
God. No way could he be truthful. He’d have to hedge around the facts. Just knowing he was being dishonest to his wife, the woman he loved, made him break out into a sweat. “You’d just gotten off work,” he started, his voice low, his audience of one completely captivated. She was curious and eager to discover the details that were frustratingly out of her reach. “I came by to meet you.”
“Always the attentive husband,” she added teasingly.
If she only knew the truth. “We got into a bit of a…heated discussion.”
Her face was still pretty even wearing a frown. “Are you saying we argued?”
“Somewhat,” he lied. “It was a minor thing, but you were upset.” More lies. Well, about the minor thing. “You walked away from me and I called your name. I sometimes believe that the accident was—my fault. That you turned when I yelled at you and I distracted you.”
He’d never confessed that. Just lived with the pain these last few weeks as he’d watched her suffer. Agonizing over her finding out the truth, worrying over her injuries, afraid he could’ve been the one who did this to her. Not outright, since he hadn’t been behind the wheel of the car that hit her, but still. He’d distracted her enough to make her do something foolish.
Like run out in front of a speeding car that had the right of way.
Amber lifted herself away from him so she could meet his gaze head-on. “This wasn’t your fault.”
“How do you know?” he asked incredulously. “You can’t say that with such conviction. You don’t even remember what happened.”
“I know that you would never do anything to risk my life. You love me. And I love you.” She leaned in so she could deliver a smacking kiss on his lips. “We would never do anything to put each other in harm’s way. So of course it was an accident.”
“But—” He started but she placed her finger over his lips, cutting him off.
“No. An accident. This was no one’s fault.” She traced his lips with her fingertip, her touch so light it sent a shiver stealing through him. He parted his lips and she dropped her hand, brushed his mouth with hers again, softer this time. Lingering. As if she wanted more.
God knew he wanted more. Needed more. He’d missed his wife so damn much.
Reaching up, he cupped her uninjured cheek, holding her to him as he took over the kiss, parting her lips with his delving tongue. She welcomed him, the soft sound of
“This is perfect,” she said on a sigh. “The only thing ruining it is my stupid cast.”
“You won’t be wearing that much longer,” he reassured, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. She smelled amazing. “Are you comfortable?”
“Yes.”
“How’s your cheek?” The cut still bothered her, throbbing on occasion, and there was even some minor swelling. She didn’t look in the mirror much and he understood why. It hurt, knowing that her career could be cut short. “Do you need any pain meds?”
“I’m fine, Vince. Really. I just need you ,” she stressed. “I was so tired of being in that stupid hospital.”
“I’m glad you’re home too.” He had plans for them. Big plans. Yes, he’d come to New York to take over the US headquarters of Renaldi Accessories, but he’d asked for a minor leave of absence after Amber was injured, which Matteo had given him. Family always came first for the Renaldis. “The accident…what happened to you scared me.”
She lifted her head, her crystal blue eyes meeting his. His wife had the face of an angel and she’d used it to her best advantage during her modeling career. Even with the bandage on her face and no makeup, she was stunning. He preferred her fresh-faced and natural—he always had. “Will you tell me what happened between us that day? How did I end up stepping in front of a car and getting hit?”
God. No way could he be truthful. He’d have to hedge around the facts. Just knowing he was being dishonest to his wife, the woman he loved, made him break out into a sweat. “You’d just gotten off work,” he started, his voice low, his audience of one completely captivated. She was curious and eager to discover the details that were frustratingly out of her reach. “I came by to meet you.”
“Always the attentive husband,” she added teasingly.
If she only knew the truth. “We got into a bit of a…heated discussion.”
Her face was still pretty even wearing a frown. “Are you saying we argued?”
“Somewhat,” he lied. “It was a minor thing, but you were upset.” More lies. Well, about the minor thing. “You walked away from me and I called your name. I sometimes believe that the accident was—my fault. That you turned when I yelled at you and I distracted you.”
He’d never confessed that. Just lived with the pain these last few weeks as he’d watched her suffer. Agonizing over her finding out the truth, worrying over her injuries, afraid he could’ve been the one who did this to her. Not outright, since he hadn’t been behind the wheel of the car that hit her, but still. He’d distracted her enough to make her do something foolish.
Like run out in front of a speeding car that had the right of way.
Amber lifted herself away from him so she could meet his gaze head-on. “This wasn’t your fault.”
“How do you know?” he asked incredulously. “You can’t say that with such conviction. You don’t even remember what happened.”
“I know that you would never do anything to risk my life. You love me. And I love you.” She leaned in so she could deliver a smacking kiss on his lips. “We would never do anything to put each other in harm’s way. So of course it was an accident.”
“But—” He started but she placed her finger over his lips, cutting him off.
“No. An accident. This was no one’s fault.” She traced his lips with her fingertip, her touch so light it sent a shiver stealing through him. He parted his lips and she dropped her hand, brushed his mouth with hers again, softer this time. Lingering. As if she wanted more.
God knew he wanted more. Needed more. He’d missed his wife so damn much.
Reaching up, he cupped her uninjured cheek, holding her to him as he took over the kiss, parting her lips with his delving tongue. She welcomed him, the soft sound of
Similar Books
