Free Million-Dollar Marriage Merger by Charlene Sands Page A

irony struck her anew.
    How many times had she hoped to be Tony Carlino’s wife? Only to find now she should have been more careful what she’d wished for.

Six
    T ony drove to Napa, a debate going on in his head. On one hand, he knew Rena still grieved, but on the other hand, he’d taken responsibility for her. She was his wife now. He couldn’t let her dictate the terms of their relationship, not if he planned to really honor David’s dying wish. So he drove past Purple Fields and down the highway leading to his home.
    “Where are we going?” she asked.
    “To my house.”
    Rena slanted him a dubious look. “Why?”
    “Just stopping by to pick up some of my clothes to bring to Purple Fields.”
    Rena blinked before realizing his intent. “This was supposed to be a secret marriage, Tony. We can’t live together.”
    Tony expected this argument. He pulled to the side of the road and stopped the car. Immediately, Rena’s shoulders stiffened. She sat up straighter in the seat and faced him. Before he spoke, he searched her face for a long moment, reining in his anger. “Rena, we’re not announcing to the public we’re married. But I can’t possibly work with you at Purple Fields and—”
    “Watch out for me,” she finished for him with a twist of her full lips.
    She tried his patience, but Tony held firm. He’d made up his mind about this and decided it was best for both of them. “We’ll be discreet. Purple Fields isn’t exactly bustling with crowds.”
    “Thanks for the reminder.”
    “Rena, listen. All I’m saying is that you don’t have a big staff that will spread gossip through the county. The place isn’t on the main highway. In fact, you’re in a remote location.”
    Rena’s voice held quiet concern, and she refused to look at him. “I didn’t think we’d live together.”
    Tony reached over to gently turn her chin his way. She lifted those incredible eyes to him. “You’re my wife. I’m your husband. We are married. We’ll keep the secret for a while, but make no mistake that I intend for us to live as man and wife. Now, if you’d rather move into the Carlino estate with me, we can—”
    “No!” She shook her head. “No, Tony. That makes no sense. I need to be at Purple Fields.”
    Tony wasn’t fooled. Rena’s hatred for his father was evident in her blatant refusal. After Tony had moved away, Santo Carlino had tried to ruin all the localvintners in the area, and Rudy Fairfield hadn’t been the exception. Once Tony was gone, his father had ignored Tony’s protests to leave Purple Fields alone. The Fairfields had suffered, but they’d never fully succumbed to his father’s ruthless business tactics.
    Rena hadn’t stepped foot in his house since. It seemed his new wife hated everything Carlino.
    “Well then, it’s settled. I’ll move into your house.”
    Rena swallowed and gave him a reluctant nod.
    He bounded out of the car and opened her door. She looked up and announced, “I’ll wait for you out here. It’s a nice day. I need the…fresh air.”
    Tony didn’t push her. He helped her out, making a mental note that his Porsche wasn’t a family car or comfortable for his pregnant wife. “I’ll be a few minutes.”
    She nodded and stretched out, raising her arms, shaking out the kinks, confirming that he’d been right about the car.
    Tony bounded up the steps and entered the arched wrought iron doors decorated with delicate metal vines that led to a breezeway. The house, set more like an Italian villa atop the hill, had four wings that met in the center by a large expansive living room and dining area overlooking the vineyards. Tony liked his privacy, and each of the Carlino men had lived in separate sections of the house once they’d grown up.
    “Hey, I thought I heard you come in. How are the newlyweds?” Joe asked, approaching him as he began his ascent up the stairs.
    Tony sighed. “Fine.”
    “That bad? I take it the wedding night didn’t go so