Page 23 (1/2)

Not that his feelings woulddidn’t affect business decisions

Katie and her fiancé joined them Nic listened to the conversation more than he participated Most of his attention was captured by the lands around the hacienda The sun had fully set and most of the vieas in shadows, but he couldinto the distance

Behind the room beyond that Marcelli Wines was sious Once they were a part of his holdings, he would have achieved everything he wanted He would be the best It was all here, within his grasp

Dinner was the blur of courses that Brenna had pro Nic on her right and Brenna next to him Lorenzo was at a different table, with his back to the close to speak in his ear "The Grands outdid the is probably illegal, it’s so good" She sighed "I’ve been living here since March I don’t dare get aze dropped to her breasts, and he instantly re his hands The ht of her, naked, flushed with need and riding him with an abandon that had left him so hard, he practically winced with pain As far as he was concerned, there wasn’t a da with her body, except that it was too clothed and they weren’t alone

He reached for his wine The full-bodied Cabernet did nothing to stop the flow of blood south In three seconds he was shifting uncoured out how ht had been that while it had been great, they probably shouldn’t do it again But on second thought…

He reached for her hand and slid it across his thigh until her fingers encountered his erection She looked at hihtly parted

"What’s that all about?" she asked in a whisper

He pressed his lips to her ear "You naked, riding me to hell and back"

She sed and pulled her hand free "We can’t talk about this My ht next to you"

"I know That lass "You’re nothing but trouble"

He leaned close again "Tell me you’re not wet and I’ll shut up"

She took a drink of water, deliberately turned her back, and started speaking with the man on her other side Nic chuckled While Brenna was pretending to ignore hiht shiver and goose bu out on her ar cleared, Marco stood up The crowd quieted He picked up a microphone from a stand by the table and walked to the front of the tent

"I would like to thank all of you for cos are always special, but Italian weddings"--he grinned--"they’re events"

Everyone laughed

"The Marcelli fa of the winery, o any reference to the connection with the Giovanni falanced at those in attendance Lorenzo had turned his chair to face his son, but never glanced in Nic’s direction Mia winked when he caught her eye and Katie slass of wine in his direction

His plan to buy Marcelli Wines had been born nearly ten years ago Except for Brenna, the Marcellis had been faceless eneht coed So what if he’dto walk away from years of hard work just because he’d been treated well at a party? He was a man ent after what he wanted, and he wanted Marcelli Wines End of story

But he had the uneasy feeling that despite his conviction, so he couldn’t define or even explain

He shook off the thought and returned his attention to Marco

"My daughters, Katie and Francesca I would ask that you raise your glasses to toast theasp from Colleen silenced him Beside him, Brenna turned to see what had shocked her ot to her feet "He’s here"

Nic frowned He saw aHe was tall and casually dressed, with a duffel bag slung over one shoulder

Brenna walked toward hi toward her Thelantern Nic knew he’d never seen the guy before, but his features were oddly faer said to Brenna as she approached

"Only if you weren’t planning on lared So who the hell was this asshole and how did he know Brenna?

11

Brenna had figured the day’s roller-coaster events had peaked when she’d brought Nic to the party But she’d been wrong The fun just kept on co-lost brother

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this confused about one person Joe Larson could destroy her hopes and dreale sentence She should hate him Yet she didn’t She was actually happy to see hi sort of way

"Have any trouble finding the place?" she asked

"Nope"

"Are you here for the ht to the chase, don’t you? Maybe I’ an inheritance"

"Are you?"

He glanced at the watching crowd "It’s ement party for two of my…our sisters Francesca, the one you met with me, and Katie"

"How many of those folks are actual relatives?"