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"I have randmother’s diary," he said "Sophia started it about five years before she !"

He shook his head "I’ve been reading it in bits and pieces She talks about a lot of things, including Salvatore’s particularly unromantic proposal When he returned to Italy, he was considered successful The hts on the matter She didn’t complain about that in her diary, but she did er to see America At least I think that’s what she said My Italian is lousy She could have been talking about the laundry instead"

Brenna laughed "I doubt that Women usually don’t discuss laundry in their diaries Not that I could tell you for sure My Italian is worse than awful Why are you reading her diary?"

"I found it when I was going through o I pick it up froed "It’s slow going Plus I’uy, so the past isn’t that interesting to randfather I wanted to co a Marcelli there would cause a lot of talk and distract fro deal"

Brenna raised her eyebrows "Of course it mattered He was your family"

"Is that what it’s called?"

She winced "I knoas mad before, when you left, but after you caht between you? He left you the winery"

"I’ Giovanni left Who else would inherit?"

She looked away Nic thought he read guilt in her body language She was the reason he and his grandfather had beco the point, but decided it had been tooabout all that now e room Brenna shifted in her seat, then offered a shaky smile "How’s Max?"

Nic sipped his coffee "Good He’s housebroken, as pro he can find I also want to get hi creature in your life should corinned "Exactly"

Brenna stood and checked the presser

"When do you getto have to put your personal life on hold until harvest is over"

She laughed "That would only be a proble the winery up and running Besides, I have et lonely"

"You always did, but I was talking about so your husband with a boy toy?"

"So not my style" She tilted her head "Actually, I don’t know that I have a style when it coer isn’t it If there were a man in my life, I’d want him to be older Experienced What about you? Any potential Mrs Nic’s around?"

"Not at the moment"

"So we’re both at romantic loose ends"

She opened her ainst her forehead "Forget I said that"

He would like to, but it was too late Tension sparked to life, filling the rooe the subject, or leave Funny how he only wanted to explore the possibilities Playing with fire?

Not fire, he reminded himself Fire would i he felt was simply mild interest Blood heated and stirred Okay,o

Brenna turned and moved to check the vat So toward her The s him of all those times they’d made love in the Wild Sea Winery They’d done it in this very roo next to her Brenna didn’t ju for an awareness that matched his own He found caution and desire

"It’s, um, really late," she said "You don’t have to stay and keepto push her Or was he pushing the to see howto punish her?

"Nic"

His na his attention to her mouth He reached for her and lowered his head at the same time She could have backed away, but she didn’t Instead she stood still as he kissed her, softly, gently

It was an innocent kiss Their mouths remained closed and, except for his hand on her arm, there wasn’t any body contact

He waited for some hint of what had existed before A flare of heat, a spark of so Brenna felt--