Breathe Read Online Free Page A

skin. “I opened a bottle already. One of Two Willows’s. Here.”
    He poured her glass half-full of ruby-red liquid and handed it to her. Her fingers brushed his as she took the goblet from his hands and the wine tilted in the glass. She closed her eyes and absorbed the rich scent before taking her first, full sip of Syrah. He waited until he saw her smile of gratification before answering it with a grin of his own, and his dimple popped. Just one, on the right. Her heart tripped.
    She was only reacting to Jace because her emotions were raw. And because it had suddenly occurred to her that she was staying with him without the buffer of Alessandro between them. So often it had been the three of them, all for one and one for all sort of thing. But Alex wasn’t here, and suddenly it felt very intimate. It harkened back to other days when Alessandro had been abroad, studying in Italy. That month had changed everything. It had just been her and Jace left to their own devices. And with Alex out of the way, their hearts had taken over.
    She stared into the swirling red liquid. “It’s lovely.”
    â€œOf course it is. It’s mine.”
    She smiled into her glass. Jace had worked hard, using his hands and smarts when he didn’t have money. He’d eventually taken over the vineyard from his mentor and had renamed it as an extension of his own surname, Two Willows. As long as she’d known him he’d been driven that way. Like he always had something to prove. She’d never understood it, not really. Not until now. Now she realized how awful it was to feel like you were not good enough. Jace had always felt that way.
    But that was as far as her understanding went. Anna knew something more. Success was all well and good. But she’d had it and it meant little to her now. What was important was doing right by her children. Life had suddenly become bigger. Broader, and more meaningful. And no money or accolades in the world could touch it.
    She watched as he stirred hot broth into the sausage and rice mixture. He then drizzled olive oil and garlic over the mushrooms, tossed them together and then poured them into a skillet. The scent was rich and intoxicating, the sizzle of the oil and garlic hot and potent. She would never have imagined Stefano cooking in the kitchen like this. He’d demanded a cook prepare all their meals and that they be served in their formal dining room. But Jace seemed very at home with a well-equipped kitchen. The range was state of the art, the cookware heavy and high quality. It was a working kitchen, not one just for show.
    No, Stefano had always taken everything like it was somehow due him. And so had she, to an extent. Being friends with Jace for most of her life had meant she’d at least realized the world didn’t always work that way.
    â€œDare I ask about him?”
    â€œWho?”
    Jace moved to a cupboard and took out plates and cutlery. “Your husband,” he replied, the word snipped as though it were a bad berry needing to be spit out.
    â€œAh, Stefano. I was hoping you wouldn’t get around to asking about him.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me?” He put down the dishes and stood with his arms folded. “Why did I have to hear it from business associates? You used to talk to me. And the news came and I heard it from my vintner. For God’s sake, I had to get the details from Alex.”
    She swallowed, feeling slightly ill. She knew it was just nerves from talking about how her life had changed. “I didn’t feel like talking to anyone, Jace. Father called Alessandro. I…” But she couldn’t go on.
    â€œI’m so sorry.”
    The taste of it was bitter. What would Jace think if he knew the truth? That she’d moved from loving him to being married to a man she could barely tolerate? He would hate her for sure, and she wanted to give herself a little bit of time before she had to