outside and taking a deep breath of air. The sun began a slow descent on the horizon. “You could fit two of my gift shops in the terrace alone.” Then she turned to him. “Why did you do this?”
“You deserve it, Rena.”
Before she could respond, he turned her shoulders and pointed out toward the ocean. “Look, there’s Alcatraz.”
Rena focused on the island that had once been a notorious prison. “The view is amazing. All of this is amazing.”
Tony kept his hands on her shoulders for a few seconds, caressing her lightly. The air fresh and clear, he breathed in and caught the subtle scent of her exotic perfume. She’d put her hair up for the wedding ceremony, giving him access to her throat. He took in another breath before he felt her stiffen. He backed away, giving her space and time to adjust to the situation and pulled out a white iron patio chair. “Sit down and enjoy the fresh air.”
She did and he sat facing her. “I’m not the big bad wolf, Rena. I know this is difficult for you.”
“Difficult doesn’t begin to describe it. I never thoughtI’d see this day.” Her eyes appeared strained. Her body slumped with fatigue.
“What day?” he asked.
“The day that I’d be your wife.”
“I’m not the villain here. I’m trying to do right by you and David. I’m going to save your business, take care of you and raise…our child.”
Rena flinched, and regret filled her eyes. “You’re trying to ease your conscience and fulfill an obligation.”
Tony shook his head. “You won’t cut me any slack, will you?”
“I’m sorry I’m not the doting wife you’d imagined. I can’t be…this is all so unfair.”
“I wish to hell David was alive, too. He was my best friend, damn it.” Tony rose and paced the terrace. He hadn’t planned on any of this. But he was trying to make the best out of a bad situation. He’d been patient with Rena, though she still blamed him for David’s death. He’d tried to please her. He’d tried being the nice guy, yet she wanted no part of it.
Okay, the gloves were coming off.
“You’re exhausted. Why don’t you take a bath? It’s waiting for you. Then get into bed.”
Rena hoisted her chin. “I’m not sleeping with you tonight, Tony.”
“Wrong,” he said pointing a finger at her. “ I’m not sleeping with you , but I’m your husband whether you like it or not.”
“What does that mean?” She asked with real fear in her voice.
Tony was too annoyed with her to care. “It means that I don’t plan to tiptoe around you anymore, Rena.”
He left her on the terrace and strode over to the wet bar, pouring himself three fingers of scotch. He hated that Rena had it right this time. He had married her out of obligation and a sense of duty to David. But he hadn’t expected her resentment to irk him so much.
Hell, he’d never had to beg a woman for sex in his life. And he wasn’t about to start now.
Rena had never stayed in a hotel as extravagant as this one and decided to take advantage of her surroundings. True to Tony’s word, the bathtub was steaming and waiting for her. Her body craved the warmth and tranquility a nice hot soak in a tub would provide. She closed the bathroom door and lit the candles that were strategically placed around the tub, sink and dressing area. The Ritz-Carlton knew how to pamper and she wasn’t going to deny herself this pleasure. She kicked off her shoes, then stripped out of her clothes folding them neatly and setting them on the marble counter. She turned on the large LCD screen on the wall, finding a music station that played soulful jazz. All lights were turned down but for the flashing abstract images on the flat screen and the candles that burned with a vanilla scent.
Naked and relishing her impending bath, Rena stuck her toe in the water. “Perfect,” she hummed, sinking the rest of her body into the exquisite warmth. For the first time in days, she relaxed.
She closed her eyes and
“You deserve it, Rena.”
Before she could respond, he turned her shoulders and pointed out toward the ocean. “Look, there’s Alcatraz.”
Rena focused on the island that had once been a notorious prison. “The view is amazing. All of this is amazing.”
Tony kept his hands on her shoulders for a few seconds, caressing her lightly. The air fresh and clear, he breathed in and caught the subtle scent of her exotic perfume. She’d put her hair up for the wedding ceremony, giving him access to her throat. He took in another breath before he felt her stiffen. He backed away, giving her space and time to adjust to the situation and pulled out a white iron patio chair. “Sit down and enjoy the fresh air.”
She did and he sat facing her. “I’m not the big bad wolf, Rena. I know this is difficult for you.”
“Difficult doesn’t begin to describe it. I never thoughtI’d see this day.” Her eyes appeared strained. Her body slumped with fatigue.
“What day?” he asked.
“The day that I’d be your wife.”
“I’m not the villain here. I’m trying to do right by you and David. I’m going to save your business, take care of you and raise…our child.”
Rena flinched, and regret filled her eyes. “You’re trying to ease your conscience and fulfill an obligation.”
Tony shook his head. “You won’t cut me any slack, will you?”
“I’m sorry I’m not the doting wife you’d imagined. I can’t be…this is all so unfair.”
“I wish to hell David was alive, too. He was my best friend, damn it.” Tony rose and paced the terrace. He hadn’t planned on any of this. But he was trying to make the best out of a bad situation. He’d been patient with Rena, though she still blamed him for David’s death. He’d tried to please her. He’d tried being the nice guy, yet she wanted no part of it.
Okay, the gloves were coming off.
“You’re exhausted. Why don’t you take a bath? It’s waiting for you. Then get into bed.”
Rena hoisted her chin. “I’m not sleeping with you tonight, Tony.”
“Wrong,” he said pointing a finger at her. “ I’m not sleeping with you , but I’m your husband whether you like it or not.”
“What does that mean?” She asked with real fear in her voice.
Tony was too annoyed with her to care. “It means that I don’t plan to tiptoe around you anymore, Rena.”
He left her on the terrace and strode over to the wet bar, pouring himself three fingers of scotch. He hated that Rena had it right this time. He had married her out of obligation and a sense of duty to David. But he hadn’t expected her resentment to irk him so much.
Hell, he’d never had to beg a woman for sex in his life. And he wasn’t about to start now.
Rena had never stayed in a hotel as extravagant as this one and decided to take advantage of her surroundings. True to Tony’s word, the bathtub was steaming and waiting for her. Her body craved the warmth and tranquility a nice hot soak in a tub would provide. She closed the bathroom door and lit the candles that were strategically placed around the tub, sink and dressing area. The Ritz-Carlton knew how to pamper and she wasn’t going to deny herself this pleasure. She kicked off her shoes, then stripped out of her clothes folding them neatly and setting them on the marble counter. She turned on the large LCD screen on the wall, finding a music station that played soulful jazz. All lights were turned down but for the flashing abstract images on the flat screen and the candles that burned with a vanilla scent.
Naked and relishing her impending bath, Rena stuck her toe in the water. “Perfect,” she hummed, sinking the rest of her body into the exquisite warmth. For the first time in days, she relaxed.
She closed her eyes and
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