Page 3 of The Convenient Cosentino Wife

“I’ve sold nothing of my brother’s.”

“Why not? The two of you have very different approaches to your finances.” Her lips curved faintly. “He liked to spend money and you don’t. I can’t imagine the winery is earning a significant return on the investment.”

“It’s not, but it makes good wines, and with proper management, it could be far more profitable.” Rocco’s gaze met hers and held. “But I haven’t come to discuss my investment strategy with you.”

She broke free from his magnetic gaze, her attention dropping, skimming his scarred left cheek, thinking it both strange and shocking seeing him here. Rocco was so like Marius in coloring...a quick glance revealed the family resemblance, but Rocco was taller and considerably broader through the shoulders and chest. Their features would have been similar if it weren’t for the thick scar and burn mark on Rocco’s cheek, creeping into the hairline. Even without the scars, Rocco’s eyes were so different from his brother’s. Marius had lovely brown eyes, warm, smiling. She didn’t think she’d ever seen Rocco smile, his silver irises perpetually flinty. Frosty. But then, everything about Rocco was imposing and cold, and no one she wanted near her, or in her home or around her son.

But he’d come because of her son and she couldn’t very well leave Rocco on her front steps forever.

“Let’s go to the terrace,” she said. “It will be more private there.”

She led the way through the house’s airy entrance hall to the glass doors that opened onto a secluded terrace overlooking the sea. The terrace had numerous small sitting areas, as well as a table she and Adriano enjoyed when they ate an early dinner outside. Potted citrus trees dotted the long terrace, while the doorway was fragrant with climbing roses.

“I’ll have refreshments brought to us,” Clare said, choosing one of the small sitting areas in the shade and sitting down in a wrought iron chair with pale pink cushions. “Would you care for juice, a spritzer or an espresso?”

“What will you have?” Rocco asked, taking the chair across from hers.

“A spritzer,” she said. “It’s a warm day.”

“I’ll have the same,” he answered.

Clare glanced at Roberto, hermaggiordomo, standing in the doorway, awaiting instructions. “Two wine spritzers,” she instructed, “and perhaps something light to eat.”

Roberto disappeared, but Clare knew she wasn’t without her staff. Gio was just inside the doorway, standing in the shadows. Other security were on the perimeter of the property. She took no chances with her son’s safety. He was her heart and her world and everything she did was for him now.

Clare carefully crossed one leg over the other, high on her knee, the hem of her dress just touching her knees, revealing her slim calves. She felt Rocco’s gaze rest on her legs, and saw a flicker of something in his eyes. She wasn’t sure, but she wished she was wearing trousers and a long-sleeve tunic now, but in the warm months she preferred dresses as they were cooler and more comfortable.

“It’s been quite some time,” she said, voice crisp. “I’d begun to think I’d never see you again.”

Rocco shrugged. “If it weren’t for the birth announcement you wouldn’t have.”

Neither said anything for a long moment. Clare was content to leave the ball in Rocco’s court. After all, he was the one who’d traveled here today. Let him say what he’d come to say.

Rocco had opened his mouth to speak when Roberto appeared with a silver tray. Rocco’s mouth closed and they waited as Roberto positioned the wineglasses and little plates in front of them—nuts, crostini, a small charcuterie board.

“Help yourself, please,” she said as Roberto disappeared.

Instead Rocco sipped his wine spritzer and then frowned.

“Too much bubbly water and not enough wine?” she asked.

“No. What wine is this? It’s not Italian, is it.”

“It’s a California Chardonnay, from Paso Robles, near the Central Coast.” She hesitated. “I’ve bought a vineyard there. Have put in some olive orchards, too. It was a good opportunity so I took it.”

“You always surprise me.”

“Because I’m not the silly society girl you thought I was?”

He opened his mouth to protest but then closed it without saying anything as they both knew he’d disapproved of her from the start and his opinion of her had only worsened during the time she and Marius were together. “Did the birth announcement really get lost in the shuffle?”

“I was incredibly embarrassed to discover I was the one who’d ‘lost’ the envelope. For the longest time I thought Marius’s staff was careless, thinking it was maybe thrown out in a cleaning.”

“And what did you think when you finally opened it?”

“Shock. Disbelief.” He hesitated, expression grim. “It still seems impossible, especially as no one seemed to know of this...development. None of Marius’s circle. None of yours, either.”

“I didn’t send out birth announcements. In fact, I told no one other than you, and it wasn’t an announcement as much as a very brief note, because yes, he is your nephew.”

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