His Desert Rose Read Free Page A

tension in her muscles throughout her body. She stood under the spray of the water until it started to run cold.
    Renee stepped out of the shower and toweled dry. She put on Antonio’s shirt, which swallowed her up and removed the shower cap. Renee ran the water to rinse out the shower then walked into the living room.
    Antonio was reading off the list of suitable women, who his father believed would be a good wife. Antonio rubbed his hand across his brow because his father’s list was giving him a headache. He either already been there done that with the women on the list, with no intention of returning to them. Or there had never been any chemistry between him and the women that he had never tried to make a go of it with them. A lot of these women came from good breeding, had good looks, were well connected, and knew how to be great hostesses. Most of them only desired to marry well, to live comfortably, and have the customary heir and a spare. Adultery would be permitted also, as long as it was discreet.
    Antonio wanted more out of a relationship than that.
    “What’s got your head in the clouds?” Renee asked with playfulness that she did not feel.
    “Oh the same old foolishness, that goes hand in hand with being a Favero,” Antonio responded letting out a deep breath. Dad wants to retire, yet he refuses to do so until I get married and start a family,” Antonio explained.
    “Wow, that’s heavy, Renee responded. “You have worked very hard since we were teenagers to learn the family business. You have expanded your company’s market and product line and improved your distribution methods. You love the people of your home town and they adore you. I can’t believe Mr. Favero is blackmailing you into settling down,” Renee finished.
    “Believe it,” Antonio answered.
    “When I was last in Europe, you were considered quite the catch. With your dark brooding mannerisms, outlandish generosity, and chiseled good looks,” Renee said reciting a popular magazine article.
    Antonio pushed Renee playfully. She in turn burst into laughter at his expense. Antonio threw his arm behind the chair as he sat up straight to observe her. Right now in this moment, she looked young, healthy and happy. No one in the world could tell that she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. She looked sexier than any woman had the right to in his dress shirt. Her curls were bouncing here and there. There was still life in her after all, Antonio mused.
    “Oh, don’t take yourself so seriously Antonio,” she said.
    “No worries love, payback is coming,” Antonio teased.
    “Probably when I least expect it, huh?” Renee inquired.
    Antonio moved his dark head from side to side before answering, “I do love the element of surprise.”
    Easy banter went back and forth between them for some time. On and off they would talk about matters of International Business, several public interest stories that at least one of them had been following, her breakdown and her recovery after the loss of her parents and her unborn child.
    Antonio had comforted her, encouraged her, and shared with her.
    Antonio wrapped his arm around her and she leaned into his embrace as she pulled her legs up under herself on the couch.
    “Thank you again, Antonio. I didn’t know I needed this until you were here. I miss talking to you like this, you know,” Renee said looking up into his face.
    For a moment Antonio was captured under her spell, then he said as he used his free hand to brush some stray hairs from her face, “I know what you mean.”
    “I want to be kissed by you right now,” Renee said. “Do you want to kiss me too?” she asked, her coffee black eyes locking with his sea green eyes.
    Antonio brushed his fingers across her delicate chin and leaned in and kissed her full lips briefly. Antonio ran the tip of his tongue along the bottom of her lip from one corner to the next, as he familiarized himself with her taste.  Renee parted her