Amber hated the cover. It represented something foreign to her. Something unknown. And that something unknown was…her.
“You keep it, Debbie,” she said, her voice low, her thoughts a jumble. “My sister-in-law mentioned she had a copy. I’ll get hers.”
Debbie watched her with those see-everything eyes. “You don’t like it.”
“I don’t remember it,” Amber stressed. “That’s a different thing.”
“You were a little bitter then,” Debbie said, her gaze locked on the cover. “Irritated with the world.”
“Why?” She had to ask. Wanted to know.
Debbie lifted her head, her steady gaze meeting Amber’s. “Your husband was being rather demanding on your time and you had none to give. He wanted different things, like children. From what you told me, I had a feeling you were at the end of your rope.”
Amber’s heart sunk. “Were we fighting?”
“Not so much fighting…I wouldn’t call it that. More like he was telling you what to do and you were rebelling against it. As much as you could, I should say. He didn’t allow much room for rebellion when it came to you,” Debbie said with a soft laugh. “He snapped his fingers and, for the most part, you went running.”
“Because I love him,” Amber said.
“Because you were anxious to please him and didn’t want to make him angry,” Debbie said wryly. “He had quite the temper sometimes. Or so you told me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Amber didn’t like what Debbie was implying. The way she just said that…it almost sounded like she was hinting that Vince was abusive. Amber found that hard to believe. She’d dealt with enough emotional abuse from her father to last her a lifetime.
No way would she tolerate that sort of treatment.
Debbie waved her hand, dismissing her words. “Don’t be so sensitive. Clearly you’re completely enamored with your husband again, which I find delightfully sweet. Good for you, for making it work with the macho Italian, Vincenzo Renaldi. You two make a beautiful couple.”
Funny, how those simple words that sounded like a compliment rang in Amber’s head as she left the agency.
You two make a beautiful couple.
The sarcasm in Debbie’s voice had been clear. She didn’t approve of Amber’s relationship with Vince.
But why?
Vince had left work early to beat Amber home and he’d made it with at least thirty minutes to spare. She’d texted him when she’d arrived at her modeling agency, letting him know she was meeting with Debbie Kaye.
He’d never been a fan of Debbie and he knew the feeling was mutual. They both wanted a piece of Amber. He felt it was his right as her husband. Debbie had felt it was her right as Amber’s agent and controller of her career. She’d even threatened Vince once, right after they got married and Amber had insisted they throw a huge party for all her friends. Debbie had cornered him at the restaurant they closed down specifically for the party, in the deepest, darkest corner she could find so no one else would hear her.
She belongs to me. You may have convinced her to marry you and give her endless orgasms every night, but she’s mine. Long after your relationship is over, she will still be with me. And don’t you ever forget it.
Talk about possessive. He’d been so head over heels in love with Amber he’d brushed off Debbie’s threat.
Now, though, he wondered. Had she poisoned Amber into believing he was no good for her? Had she been the one encouraging Amber to dump him for good? Not that Amber couldn’t think for herself, but he didn’t understand how they could go from being so completely in love to everything falling apart day by day, week by week until Amber was asking for a divorce. It seemed to happen fast, without any real explanation.
It had never made any sense.
To temper her meeting with Debbie, he decided to surprise Amber with takeout dinner from her favorite restaurant and then a romantic evening…naked in bed. They hadn’t made love in almost a week and he knew it was because she’d been dealing with some heavy stuff. The scar on her face upset her. Her struggle with physical therapy for her arm frustrated her too. She was feeling self-conscious and low, and that was why he hadn’t discouraged her when she told him she was meeting with Debbie today.
If she’d done the same right after her accident, he would’ve discouraged her from going. He’d been fearful, of her finding out he’d deceived her about the accident and afraid that Debbie would say something detrimental about him and their relationship. Why the woman was hell bent on driving a wedge between them he had no idea. He just wanted her to disappear.
But time had passed. He and Amber were in love. She was going to therapy with her psychologist and it was helping. He couldn’t begrudge her anything that would help her heal. He wanted her healed.
He just flat out wanted her.
His phone dinged, indicating he had a text, and he pulled it out of his pocket to see it was Amber saying she was almost home. He went to work, grabbing two plates, setting the food and silverware on the table and pulling out a bottle of chilled wine. He hurriedly changed out of his work clothes, throwing on a T-shirt and old pair of jeans, wanting to be comfortable and relaxed. Wanting Amber comfortable and relaxed as well.
“I’m home,” she called as she entered the apartment, the door slamming shut behind her. Vince came out to greet her with a glass of wine and a kiss.
“Welcome home,” he murmured against her lips.
She smiled and took the wine he offered, sipping quickly from the glass. “Thank you. What did I do to earn such a pleasant welcome?”
“I wanted to make sure you had a good afternoon.” He took her purse from her arm and set it on the couch, then took her hand and led her to the dining room.
Amber stopped short when she saw all the food spread out on the table, the lit candles flickering in the center. “Is dinner from my favorite restaurant in the whole entire world?”
“Yes.” He slipped his arms around her from behind and kissed the side of her neck. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.” She rested her hands over his, tilting her head to give him better access. “Though I should stop eating so much. Debbie said I’ve gained weight.”
Vince stiffened, lifting his head to stare incredulously into Amber’s eyes. Fury buzzed within him and he tried to shove it down. “I can’t believe she would say such a thing to you.”
“Oh, don’t take it wrong. She said I looked good. I have curves now.” She turned in his embrace, smiling up at him. “Do you like my curves?”
He settled his hands on her flared hips, his gaze dropping to her breasts straining beneath her sweater. “I love your curves.” He gripped her hips, pulling her into him so she could feel just how much he loved her.
Laughing, Amber wound her arms around his neck, her fingers playing with the ends of his hair. “You love them naked.”
“I love everything about you.” His expression, his tone of voice turned serious. He wanted her to know just how much she meant to him. Would always mean to him.
“I know.” She lifted up on tiptoe and kissed him soundly on the lips. “I love you too. Now let’s eat our dinner before it gets cold.”
“Sounds good.” He released his hold on her, watching as she settled in her chair. He did the same. “And no holding back. I want you to eat all of your favorite dishes until you’re stuffed.”
“Such a taskmaster,” she said teasingly.
They ate and talked, Vince encouraging her to have second helpings, Amber jokingly protesting but doing it anyway. She smiled and laughed, reminding him of the Amber he’d first met and fell in love with, though she did become serious when she spoke of her visit with Debbie.
“I saw my Italian Vogue cover,” she said as she pushed her plate away.
Vince took a sip from his mostly empty wineglass, feigning nonchalance. “What did you think?” He hated that cover. It reminded him of the day he flew to New York to reclaim his wife. How angry he’d been. How sad. Seeing the mag
azine at the airport gift shop, staring at his wife in a dumbfounded stupor, he couldn’t believe it was Amber he’d been looking at.
She was unrecognizable in that photo. He’d been proud of her, but that didn’t mean he liked the cover. It was a bad memory that reminded him of a different time. A painful time in their lives, in their marriage.
“I didn’t like it.” She paused, dropping her gaze to the table from a moment as if lost in thought. “I didn’t look like me.”
“I agree,” he said quietly. “But it was a beautiful photo. Very edgy.”
Amber lifted her head, her eyes wide, shocked etched all over her face. “You saw it?” She paused, memories flooding her. “Oh, that’s right. Stasia told me.”
Vince nodded. “Came across it unexpectedly. Couldn’t believe it was you I was looking at, truthfully.”
“I feel the same way,” she admitted.
“What did Debbie say?” he asked.
“She loved it. Was so enthusiastic to see me. She said since the cover, since the accident, I have been completely in demand and so many people have put in requests to work with me. Photographers, magazines, stylists…I’m a hot commodity. That’s how she described me.”
“So I assume you’re going back to work, then.” He tried to drink out of his wineglass again, but it was disappointingly empty.
“I don’t think so,” she murmured, slowly shaking her head.
He set his wineglass on the table slowly, shock coursing through him. “Why not? I thought you were feeling the itch to go back lately.”
“I was. Meeting with Debbie…it confused me. I was so glad to see her at first. But then the more she said, the more hollow I felt. She went on and on about my career, how everyone wants me, and it all felt really fake.”
Relief flooded him, but he schooled his expression. He didn’t want Amber to know how much this pleased him. He would’ve supported her no matter what, but truthfully?
He didn’t want her to go back to work. Go back to modeling. He was afraid he’d never see her again. That they would fall right back into the old patterns and argue over her career, over his, over their marriage and how they never saw each other.
That was the last thing he wanted.
“You may change your mind,” he said, proud of how neutral his voice was.
“I might.” She shrugged, a little smile tickling the corner of her lips. “And then again, I might not. I enjoy staying home and spending so much time with you, you know. A girl could get used to this sort of life.”
“You’ll get bored,” he said, ignoring his happily beating heart. She could change her mind in a flash. She’d done it before.
“Maybe. But then maybe we could have a baby and my life will be occupied with taking care of our child. And I might become so enraptured with my new life as a mother I could want even more children.” Her smile grew and she reached out her hand, which he took easily, her slender fingers curling around his. “In fact, I think it would be a good idea for us to go back to bed and practice making a baby right now. What do you think?”
Vince squeezed her hand, smiling at her in return.
He believed all of his dreams were coming true.
Chapter Thirteen
Amber wasn’t sure why the sudden change of heart in regards to starting a family, but she was rolling with it. More than that, she wanted it, truly wanted it.
With Vince. Only with Vince.
Maybe it was because they’d spent so much time with Stasia and her husband, Gavin, and their two young children. Maybe it was Debbie’s comment about Vince wanting to start a family and how she’d been against it. Even a week or two ago she’d been against it, though there’d always been a niggling doubt…
Whatever it was, the idea of having a child with Vince had occupied her thoughts for days. Weeks really, though she wasn’t sure what exactly kicked it off in the first place. All she knew was that she loved her husband above everyone else. She wanted to create a family with him. She wanted to show him just how much she loved him.
And she wanted to be with him. Now. Tonight. For all eternity.
She’d dragged Vince back to their bedroom, startled to find the mood already set. Her husband had been busy before she returned home and it thrilled her that he cared so much and wanted to make a special night for them both. The bed had been turned back invitingly, lit votive candles were scattered all over the room and the scent in the air was sweetly seductive.
“You really did plan a special night, didn’t you?” She turned to him, curling her finger around one of his belt loops on his jeans and pulling him to her.
He went easily, a sensual smile curving his lips. “It’s been too long since I’ve held my wife in my arms.”
She slipped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his chest for a long, quiet moment. His steadily beating heart calmed her, filled her with peace. How did she get so lucky? How did she find such a wonderful, perfect man to stand by her side? “I know I haven’t been very…affectionate lately,” she murmured.
Vince kissed the top of her head. “You’ve been preoccupied with other things.”
“That doesn’t mean I should ignore you. That’s no excuse.” She tilted her head back and gazed up at him, her heart overflowing with love for Vince. She flat out adored him. Did he know that? Did he see how much he meant to her? She might’ve not shown it lately, but she would tonight.
Just as much as he was showing her. For the first time since her accident, she felt like they were on the same page. They wanted the same things. Life was simple, really. If she followed a certain pattern, things would automatically happen. She was the one who made her life complicated with her choices. Getting married and then leaving her husband to work for weeks, months at a time on location, all over the world, while virtually ignoring Vince…
Of course, he wouldn’t stand for that. How could he? He had his pride.
He also had love, plenty of love for her.
“Well, we’re done ignoring each other this week.” He settled his hand on the side of her cheek, his fingers gently caressing her skin. His gaze roved over her face, his eyes lit with that familiar hungry fire that told her he was aroused. “You’re beautiful.”
She smiled and angled her face so she could kiss his palm. “Thank you.”
“I mean it.” His expression was solemn, his dark eyes becoming unreadable as he continued to speak. “I know you hear that all the time, what with your modeling. People fawn all over you, tell you that you’re gorgeous and it’s true. But I see you, Amber. I really see you and what you are on the inside. What you stand for. I’m proud of you. Madly in love with you. I just…I wanted you to know that.”
His expression was so vulnerable after making such a heartfelt declaration, her heart overflowed with love for this man. It was her turn to reach for him, settle her hand on his stubble-roughened cheek. “I love you too, Vince. So much.”
“When I think about all that we could’ve lost…” His voice drifted and he closed his eyes tightly, his mouth drawn. He looked in so much pain and she hated that. The accident, the possible consequences, they still upset him greatly.
She wanted to take all of his pain away. Like he took hers away.
“Don’t think of it.” She reared up on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his in a simple, lingering kiss.
He would have none of it, though. Vince slipped his hand around her nape, keeping her in place as he deepened the kiss. His tongue traced her lips and she opened for him easily, his tongue thrusting in, tangling with hers. She moaned low, her hands falling to his broad shoulders so she could grip him tight. The more he kissed her, the dizzier she felt, and she needed to grab onto something so she wouldn’t fall to the floor.
His lips had that strong of an effect on her.
They continued to kiss, breaking apart only to remove clothing before they were colliding against each other once again. She felt drunk, her head spinning, and she knew it had nothing to do with the glass a
nd a half of wine she drank at dinner. It was from Vince’s touch, his mouth, his tongue. The things he whispered in her ear, the reverent way he removed her clothing, his gaze never leaving hers. The touch of his fingers upon her flesh burned her, searing her straight through, and the storm grew within her. Gathered and formed within her until he was all she could think about, all she could feel and see.
Only Vince could calm this passionate storm sweeping within her. She knew without a doubt he felt the same way about her.
All thoughts of what Debbie said, how their relationship had been troubled, disappeared as her husband guided her to the bed. She lay there for him, a willing sacrifice as he came over her clad only in his boxer briefs, she in just a pair of panties. When his bare, hot skin pressed against hers she swore they sizzled at first contact. She wanted to feel every bare inch of him, wanted him pushing inside her, connecting them together, reminding her why she was with her husband in the first place.
Because she loved him. Wanted no one else but him. They were meant to be together. She might’ve fought it before, during a time she flat out couldn’t remember, but she was finally okay with that.
She didn’t need to remember. She was too happy living the here and now. Their troubled past was best kept where they were.
In the past.
He was a lucky, lucky man, to have such a sweet, giving woman as his wife. Just looking at her made his chest hurt, his heart felt so full. Touching her made him feel alive. Kissing her made him drunk. Stripping her clothes off, seeing the way she watched him, pleasure filling her eyes, in her expressive face, made him feel like he could conquer the world.
And he could—with Amber by his side.
They connected tonight. They’d had their troubles since the accident, but they were minor in comparison to the way they fought before. The last few days, he’d never felt closer to her. Tonight, at this very moment, it was as if they were one.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered in her ear, then slid his lips along the length of her elegant neck. She arched her head back, giving him better access as he licked and sucked the delicate skin. His hands wandered over her naked body, cupping her breasts, circling her hard nipples with his finger.
Falling for Her Husband Page 9
