THE RELUCTANT WIFE -Dec 2012

Abby Taylor walked out on her irresistible husband three years ago. Now she has no choice but to return to Italy to ask him for a favor. To pay for her grandmother's heart operation she needs his money, but it comes with strings attached.

Conte Dante Lombardi has it all—an Italian villa, a successful family business, and a noble title. But he needs a child to carry on his legacy and time is running out. He also hopes to satisfy the desire Abby rouses in him. 

As Abby uncovers why he’s in such a hurry for a child, she falls in love with him again … just as she realizes it might be impossible to keep her end of the deal.

Read an excerpt

So, why are you here? May I hope that you’ve come to your senses and returned to fulfill your obligation? It was one we undertook before God.”

She sighed inwardly. She should have expected him to start railroading her into compliance. Hadn’t that been the basis of their marriage from the start? He’d set the terms and expected her complete acquiescence.

They should have really talked more and bedded less.

“I’m not here to stay. I came for a favor that has nothing to do with our matrimonial situation.”

“You need money. Your little business not thriving?”

“My business is fine, thank you for asking.”

“I think you’ve found running a bookstore is not the fun you thought it would be.”

She should have guessed he’d know what she’d been up to. She’d naively thought that when she’d walked out and heard nothing from him he’d wiped her from his mind.

“Don’t look so surprised. Did you think I’d let a woman who still carries my name out into the world without keeping an eye on her? You of all people know how I safeguard the Lombardi name. I repeat, is your visit about money?”

“What else could it be about?”

He swept his gaze over her body, making her wish she’d worn another layer of clothes. He took a step closer. “Some women find me attractive enough to want to share my bed.”

“Been there, done that. The sex was good, but it wasn’t enough.”

His face flushed with anger. “But my name comes in handy, especially when you want a bank loan.”

How could he know about that? “I didn’t volunteer the connection. The bank assumed.”

“So, the divorce will take time, you don’t want to warm my bed once more, and the bank gave you the money for your store. Why are you here, then?”

“I need a lot more money for something else.”

“You are not making sense, mio fiore.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Touchy. You were my little flower.” He reached and stroked a finger down her bare arm. “Like jasmine, you bloomed at night in my bed.”  

She fought the urge to close her eyes and block the images of his mind-blowing lovemaking. He’d been such a fabulous lover—yet a terrible husband.

She swallowed her denial. She’d be a liar and he knew it. When they’d first married, he only had to look at her and she grew wet with desire. A single touch had her begging for him to take her. It would appear nothing had changed.

“Please, sit,” he said with a proud, satisfied smile.

“I’d rather stand, thank you.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders and took a seat back on the couch. Leaning back just a little, he crossed one long leg over the other, watching her intently. Did he notice the way her eyes followed the movement as she tried to disguise her hunger for him?

His lips broke into a lascivious smile before it died in the ensuing silence.. “What is it you want? I am a busy man and I have…company waiting for me.”

“The redhead can wait.”

He leaned forward, almost rising off the couch. “That was brilliant acting. I would almost believe you are jealous if not for the fact that you walked out on me.” He slammed his hand into the couch, sending cushions flying.

She could get angry too. “You know why I left. The choice you gave me wasn’t fair. I was nineteen. I was beginning my life. I deserved your love and support. I was petrified coming into your world.” Her shoulders slumped. “Never mind. You’ll never understand. I was a foolish young girl. I didn’t realize on our wedding day that I had neither your love noryour support.”  

Abby watched his face darken in anger. He’d always been a proud man.

“I’ve had to run the Lombardi Group since I was twenty. I understand how daunting the world of Lombardis is. There has been a Lombardi male leading the company for over ten generations.” He leaned forward. “I didn’t have the luxury of running away when things got difficult. I was twenty years old and still in university when my father died, leaving me with a multinational conglomerate to run and enormous responsibilities and everyone in the family flailing and looking to me for both comfort and security. I needed to make decisions, important ones, difficult ones, on behalf of my family and I still do. Everything I do is for my family. Everything!”

“Your father would be proud of you,” she whispered. 

She watched his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed. “Thank you.”

She raised her hand appealing to him. “Please, this is not why I came. I know why you married me. I think I might even understand it.”

“Do you? Really?”

She gave a choked cry. “Of course I do, because I was there.” The pain sliced at her memories. He had not married her for love.

“You think I was so desperate that I had to marry the first beautiful woman who caught my eye?” 

“Suitable woman,” she mumbled, although his assertion of beauty sent tingles of warmth over her skin. Dante had thought he was getting an infatuated, quiet, and willing wife to stand by his side. A woman who was madly in love with him and his family. Once he’d made up his mind to marry, she’d had no chance of escape.

“Unbelievable. Are you listening to yourself?” He swore in Italian. “I could have married anyone, but I chose you! Although why escapes me right now.” 

“Does it? Perhaps if you’d told me how you felt about me—”

“I showed you every night, usually all night. I picked you to be the mother of my children.”