Baby Mine

By Tressie Lockwood

A passionate six-week affair in Italy leaves Jada Thompson pregnant, and the man she thought was just a local nobody turns out to be one of the richest men in America. Billionaire Renzo Mariani owns one of the top five wine and spirits corporations in the country. Telling herself he has a right to know about the baby and that’s the only reason she seeks him out, Jada arrives at Renzo’s mansion and finds out just how rich he is.

She’s in over her head, and the only thing left to do is walk away. What she didn’t realize was that before she disappeared on her last day in Venice, Renzo had intended to talk to her about a more long-term relationship. Jada arriving on his doorstep gives him the opportunity to reignite the fire they shared in his motherland. Even if she runs scared from him, Renzo plans to have Jada on a permanent basis—body and soul—and nothing he’s ever desired has escaped him for long.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tressie Lockwood
• Release date: May 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533737182

Book preview

Chapter 1

Jada stepped out of the taxi, her heart pounding and her mouth dry. Behind her the driver pulled her luggage from the trunk of his vehicle. Of all times, the rain fell, ruining the hard work she’d done on her hair. Now that she had arrived at Renzo’s house, she second-guessed herself. Correction. Mansion. The man she’d had a brief six-week affair with on her once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy was not the everyday Joe, citizen of Venice she’d thought he was. No, the dude was in fact a member of one of the most well known families for producing wine, and the drive where she now stood lay smack in the middle of Renzo’s vineyard in Napa Valley, California. What the heck had she been thinking coming here?

She swiped away the slick hair on her forehead and turned to speak to the driver. I think I changed my mi—

He’d already gotten back into his car and was pulling down the drive toward the street. A moment of panic settled in the pit of Jada’s stomach. She’d paid him before she stepped out of the car, but she’d thought he would at least wait until she was sure someone was at home and they didn’t run her off their property.

She spun back to face the imposing two-story home with cathedral windows everywhere and a roof that stretched toward the heavens with myriad spiky peaks. Nothing could have complemented the circular driveway that surrounded an incredible oasis of a fountain at the front. Even during twilight as it was now, the manicured lawns impressed her, and all of it screamed money. Who would believe her that the fact that she was pregnant with Renzo’s baby wasn’t some kind of plot to get a share of their wealth?

Hello.

Jada’s limbs trembled, and her stomach threatened to give up the half sandwich she’d eaten just a half hour ago. The voice was at once familiar and yet different. She forced her head to turn, although the movements were jerky at best. The man who met her gaze was so like Renzo she had to stop herself from calling out his name. No, this man was younger, maybe a good ten years. He didn’t have Renzo’s height or his overwhelming presence. The twinkling eyes and easy smile were the same despite that.

He strolled up to her with the same gait as her former lover. Have you lost your way? We get a lot of tourists looking for Ledson, but they stumble onto us instead.

Jada opened her mouth to answer but couldn’t push the words out. He has a right to know. That’s the only reason I’m here. Once I tell him, I’m gone. I—

Grey eyes narrowed with concern. You’re soaked. Come inside out of the rain, and I can redirect you from there. I can even call for a car to take you where you’re going.

Jada didn’t get a chance to explain. Before she knew it, the stranger had her by the arm and propelled her toward the front entrance of the house. Over his shoulder, he called someone’s name, which she didn’t catch. A teenaged boy appeared from nowhere.

Get her luggage, the man ordered in a kind but authoritative tone. The boy scrambled to obey.

Jada found herself in an entryway that must be as big as the tiny house she’d just bought three years ago in Charlotte. Okay, she exaggerated, but the opulence took her breath away. Boy had she made a huge mistake coming here. She should have sent a letter, phoned, anything. The problem was Renzo hadn’t given her more than his name in Florence. She’d had to have someone look into finding him. Never in a million years had she expected this.

Stairs straight across from the main entrance led up and then curved to the left and right on the second floor. She stared in awe at the high ceiling and the two chandeliers above the staircase’s center. While she took it all in, a woman moved to the top of the stairs and smiled down at her. Welcome. Who are you?

Once again, Jada started to speak, but the man at her side cut her off. Where are my manners, beautiful lady? Forgive me. He took her hand as if he would kiss it. She raised an eyebrow, and he hesitated, but his smile didn’t falter. I am Ettore Mariani, and this little flower is my sister, Zita.

The grand gestures and over familiarity didn’t shock Jada. She’d seen plenty of it in Italy. These people, while they spoke clear enough, still held what she called that sing-songy way of speaking, which she’d fallen in love with while in their native country. What did threaten to steal her resolve was knowing they were related to Renzo. His last name was Mariani. She’d known this was his house, but to come face-to-face with confirmation made her nervous.

I’m Jada. Nice to meet you. She paused, waiting for them to recognize her name, but no expressions of shock met her gaze. She should have known better. While she searched her mind for a way to escape in favor of the letter or phone call idea, another family member appeared on the scene. Rapid-fire Italian fell from the lips of an older, diminutive woman.

Yes, of course, Mamma. We’re coming, Ettore told her.

Zita finished descending the stairs, and the old woman turned to Jada. Welcome, she said in heavily accented English. You must join us for dinner.

Jada’s mouth fell open. She was a stranger, and the woman didn’t know why she was there. Um, I just need to call a taxi, if you don’t mind. I can use my cell phone, but if I can wait out of the rain for a little bit, that would be great. Thank you so much.

The little woman took her arm and all but dragged her toward a hallway off the stairs. She spoke half in English, half in Italian. Jada picked up only a few words, and neither Ettore nor his sister bothered to explain. As they neared what she assumed would be the dining room, the scent of food stirred her hunger. That was one of the drawbacks of her condition, constantly wanting to eat. Then again, it could be psychological. She hadn’t bothered to examine the desire up until now.

Before she knew it, she sat at a dinner table with a family of strangers. No one stirred to either pray over the food or eat. Jada studied each person in silence, formulating a plan. Just when she noticed the two empty place settings, one at the head of the table, the presence in the doorway drew her attention.

Jada?

With that one word, uttered with the Italian lilt and his deep tone, chills raced over her spine, and goose bumps rose on her arms. She turned her gaze from the table to lock with his. In that moment, he spirited away all the air in the room. Her heart beat a tattoo against her ribcage, her mouth went from dry to moist and back again, and her head spun with memories of herself locked in this man’s embrace while he did things to her body no