Free Breathe by Donna Alward

a breath, and delivered what she figured would be most important to him. “It would be an extra source of income for the winery while you’re still growing your production numbers.”

    Jace considered Anna’s proposal. It was an interesting idea and not a new one. He’d thought of it already, but with taking over the winery and trying to maximize the grapes he already had, there’d been no time to explore it. He already knew he needed to get the store operational again, to sell his wines on-site. He wanted to do tours and promote Two Willows wines right on the premises. If the guesthouse could make money, he could pay one person to do both.
    â€œHow would your father feel about you using Morelli contacts to help me? I’m the competition.”
    As soon as the words were out of his mouth, it was like he could hear Roberto’s response in his head. Two Willows? Competition? Hah. Roberto Morelli would never consider Jace his equal, and he knew it. So did Anna.
    Anna looked away and out the window as she answered. “He doesn’t need to know.”
    Silence reigned for a few minutes.
    â€œHow long?” He surprised himself by asking it, by even considering it. It meant Anna here, within reach but completely out of reach, for an extended period of time. It meant the children underfoot too.
    â€œNot long. It would depend on shipping times for furniture and fabrics, but the house is already lovely. It just needs…some Morelli refinement.”
    The sound of a gentle baby’s snore came from the back and he couldn’t help it, he smiled at her just a little. Didn’t Anna know he couldn’t refuse her anything? He blustered and carried on, but when she looked at him like she was now—soft and expectant—he was done for. He always had been.
    He pulled into the drive at Two Willows and stopped, parking next to the Porsche. A quick glance in the back told him both children were asleep, worn out from their day. He held out his hand to Anna. “Then you have a deal, Ms. Morelli.”
    In the moment, he’d forgotten she wasn’t Ms. Morelli anymore, but she didn’t correct him. Instead she placed her hand in his, the grip firm but the skin soft as silk. “Deal.”
    Before he could change his mind, he leaned over and pressed his mouth to hers. Her soft lips opened beneath his, surprising him. She tasted like strawberry gloss, and memory slammed into him.
    What had he done?
    Her lips parted from his but she remained just a breath away. When he opened his eyes he saw her lashes still lay on the crests of her cheekbones.
    His angel. She always had been and he’d just been careless.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he whispered.
    Her eyes opened, but they weren’t dreamy like he’d expected. Like he was feeling. They were dark and condemning.
    â€œMe too,” she replied, and leaned away to get out of the car.

Chapter Five
    Aurelia was put down for a nap between the pillows again and Matteo watched a DVD while munching on the goldfish crackers he’d picked out at the store. Jace had disappeared to the bottling shed once more after they’d arrived back at Two Willows and Anna took her frustration out on her polpettone .
    She added ingredients to the meat, took off her rings, and kneaded it all together in the bowl with her hands, the muscles in her slim forearms cording with each push and roll. When she’d come here, her only thought had been a desperate need to escape from the pitying looks and her father’s endless edicts. Anna had considered that her history with Jace might create a problem, but she’d told herself she would keep it firmly in the past as she moved forward. She hadn’t considered those feelings would rise up again with such force. All the things she’d wanted back then were still in her heart. And seeing Jace with her baby in his arms brought it all crashing forward. Then he’d gone and kissed