“Trust me, I am more scared of The Gardener than anything you could threaten me with. You unleashed a storm and now you must weather it. I wish you luck.” Paolo walked off with his cryptic words buzzing in my ears.
Why would anyone care about Anita, let alone The Gardener?
Antoni Bianco had been a low-level guard before his disappearance. His introverted daughter was a mystery to most in our circle. My father hadn’t even known who she was when I announced I was getting married to her. If The Gardener wanted her happy so bad, why didn’t he marry her himself? Frustration bubbled hot in my chest. Marriage had not been something I wanted. I wouldn’t have chosen a sweet, innocent person like Anita. She was a wisp as she slipped through crowds, drowned out by louder, more conventionally attractive women. I admit I hadn’t recognized her worth until I spoke to her. Shrouded in Anita’s shadow-laced brown eyes was a taste of something that made my mouth dry.
My shoulders tensed as I watched her conversation with the same man. He waved his hand, and she shook her head, laughing. Anita had a husky laugh, rare enough to make my hair stand on end. I’d called her mousy, but it wasn’t true. I’d only said it to insult Paolo. Frustration pushed me to lash out with the lie. Tonight, in her yellow frock, she looked lovely. Her too wide smile took up most of her face, her lips painted a beguiling red. When I’d courted her, I’d tasted the sweet innocence she wrapped around her like a shawl. It was threaded with a sharp humor and keen eyes that saw more than they should.
And that was exactly why I didn’t want her. My future balanced on a tenuous thread, and I didn’t need a weakness, or a distraction.
Even at this moment, separated by a crowd, my body thrummed for her. My gaze unconsciously sought the subtle form of my wife, my nerves surging with shaking desire. The want had ruined our wedding night. I grimaced at the memory.
Perhaps The Gardener was married already, and that was why he cared so much about Anita? I ground my teeth until they cracked. The thought had me striding around the perimeter of the room to get to my wife. I bypassed all the animated chatter, uncaring about any of it.
“What has you laughing so hard, wife?” I interrupted. Her beaming smile curdled into pursed silence.
“Mr. Orazio.” The man held out his hand, dipping his head. “It’s a pleasure to be invited.”
“I don’t know who you are. My dear wife must have added you to the guest list.” I couldn’t help adding, with a sharp look, not liking how close he was standing to Anita. The man’s eyes widened, and he scrubbed an embarrassed hand over his thick beard.
“This is Ernie. He is one of your garden staff. His wife, Clara, is due to give birth to her third child. I invited them both as a thank you for helping our family.” Anita gave me an incredulous look. The only staff I took notice of was Maria, and that was because I’d known her since I was a child. I clenched my jaw as Ernie rushed to fill the awkward silence.
“I imagine I look different out of my coveralls.” He wrung his hands together.
“Let’s discuss my project during the week,” Anita smoothed over my faux pas with ease before turning on her wedges. I followed in her wake, trying to wrap my head around what had happened. The Anita I knew was blushing, sweet, and shy. ThisAnita dismissed me as easily as she did our staff. Perhaps the organization of the night had stressed her. I could offer comfort, take her to my bed and—no.
I promised myself I wouldn’t sully her sweetness.
“If you keep running away from me, people will think the honeymoon is over already,” I murmured in her ear. I sucked in her perfume, her gleaming, freshly washed hair.
“Isn’t it?” she drawled as she looked me up and down with a blank expression. My head snapped back, but I schooled my shock. Reaching out, I brushed my fingers against her wrist. Prosecco sloshed from her fluted glass as she jerked away from me, her lip curling upwards.
My forehead wrinkled, and I searched her face, frown deepening at what I found. Her lips flat and pinched, eyes dark and cold. I was used to seeing warmth, a heat I didn’t deserve. It had been too easy to coax it forward when we’d been courting. All it had taken were a few sultry murmurings and intentional touches to have her cheeks flooding pink and voice stammering. Why was she pulling away from me now? If The Gardener was watching how my wife reacted to me, it was easy to see why he was displeased. I cursed my position. As it was, we were being watched by a crowd curious about us. Our whirlwind romance had set Greenich Bay on fire.
“Are you sick of me already, wife,” I tried for levity. Anita batted it away with a roll of her eyes.
Had she found another? Surely not. A harsh grip strangled the breath out of my chest as I considered someone else touching what I’d claimed. Their hands on her slim waist, tangled through her dark, silky locks. Their lips on her smooth, soft skin. I was a possessive man. I may not have chosen Anita, but she was mine just the same. Did I have to make that clear to her? I clenched my jaw, hovering while I waited for a response that didn’t come. She had already moved into a ring of my extended family, andshe gushed, pretending she didn’t notice me standing close to her back.
“You are so kind,” Anita demurred to one of my uncles. His lips twitched as he noted my closeness.
“My nephew has chosen well. You must know we all despaired, Anita, before you came and stole his heart. Now he has a beautiful wife, a wonderful home, and room for a family.”
Emphasis onfamily.They wanted me to get to work producing an heir, strengthening the Orazio line. But I wouldn’t even consider it, not until I destroyed the rot infecting our ranks. Anita looked at me as if daring me to refute the claim. The back of my neck sprung hot with sweat.
“She’s a wonderful wife,” I agreed, sincerely. It was the truth, and in the future, she would have been perfect. But right now, I couldn’t have Sunday roast dinners and children milling around my feet. I had plans to enact, and those things were a liability. They were tools that had the potential to be used against me. Until I purged the danger threatening my legacy, I couldn’t have distractions.
Anita was absolutely that.
Although I hadn’t realized how much until I’d gotten to know her. She was equal parts down-to-earth and elegant. But the subtle way she angled her body away from me had my mind racing. I shouldn’t be thinking about it, or even care. But her deliberate distancing from me flipped a switch. I wanted her adoration back, her pink cheeks and soft smiles. Even if I didn’t deserve them.
“If you’ll excuse me, I must check on the food.” She flashed a congenial smile and swished through the crowd without a backwards glance. I ducked my head. I had displeased my wife somehow. That much was obvious. I pulled my shoulders back. This wasn’t my first time in a woman’s bad graces. Tomorrow I would send her flowers and a gift. I tore my gaze away from her,something white flashing at the entrance to the dining area. I blanched.
Merissa Vani.
Her platinum hair was blown out, and she toyed with her airy fringe as she searched the crowd. She was wearing a white, lacy dress cut well above her knee with hanging flute sleeves, and they dangled over her wrists. Could my night get any worse? I caught the eye of one of my guys, who thankfully waylaid her. Her wide-set eyes turned owlish as I stalked toward her. Fluttering with a ready flirtation.
“Not here,” I growled, stomach sinking at her mysterious smile. “My office.”
Her hand found her jutting hip.
