They stood together in Luca’s enormous floor-to-ceiling bay window and watched the night fall over the waters of the Cook Inlet that connected their hometown to the Alaskan Gulf. It was a lovely night with a full moon and a star-spattered sky.

His arms were loosely draped around her, and her head rested on his shoulder. Jacey couldn’t remember ever feeling so many emotions at once: breathlessness, nervousness, hopefulness. It was a relief not to be huddled and shivering in her cold apartment tonight. She knew without a doubt she was safe in Luca’s home, in the physical sense at least but she wasn’t as sure about the safety of her heart. She was wildly anxious to learn what he expected of her now that they were married. He’d made it clear he wanted a marriage with all the conveniences, but how soon would he demand those perks?

He turned his head to brush his lips against her temple. “We should date,” he said softly.

Date? He wanted to date her? Her breath clogged in her throat. She scrutinized his expression. He looked serious and a little worried.

“What are you trying to say?” she finally whispered.

“I am grateful you accepted my proposition to marry quickly. More grateful that you can imagine.” He hugged her tightly. “But we skipped some important steps along the way, and I fear I’m not the first Calcagni who skipped those steps with you.”

She froze. He knew? How was that possible? She’d told no one how difficult her marriage to Easton had been. How lonely. How heartbreaking. She blinked as the start of tears burned behind her eyelids.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.” Luca shook his head in regret and glanced away. “Guess this isn’t the most romantic conversation to be having on our wedding night.”

She gulped and swallowed. “It’s okay.” Her voice trembled. “And you’re right. I haven’t done much dating.” There. Her ugly secret was out. Or a good part of it.

His jaw clenched at her affirmation, and it was his turn to look sad.

“Where will we go?” she asked quickly, trying to distract him from his unpleasant thoughts.

He offered her a half-smile that didn’t quite erase the grief in his eyes, but any smile from him always did crazy things to her heart. Their gazes clashed and held for several breathless moments. She half-expected him to kiss her again, but all he did was touch her cheek.

“I was hoping you would take a dinner cruise with me. Tomorrow evening?”

Her smile turned tremulous. “I would love to.” Excitement raced through her at the thought of dressing up and going out to dinner with Luca. It meant he wanted to be with her. It also meant he didn’t mind being seen with her in public.

Or was it simply part of his carefully crafted public image? Play the hero by marrying his brother’s widow then make sure the paparazzi gets plenty of publicity shots of it?

Uncertainty twisted her insides. She slid from his arms, suddenly wishing to be alone. “I think I’ll turn in for the night.”

“Good idea.” He watched her with curious longing as she walked to door of his master suite. His lips parted to say something.

She stopped him by holding up a finger. “Don’t even think about it. If you say another word about me needing more rest, I’ll be tempted to throw something at you.”

He grinned and bent to snag a water bottle from the drink fridge at a side bar. “Temper, temper, Mrs. Calcagni. I was merely going to ask if you want to go shopping tomorrow morning.”

“Shopping?” She blushed at his use of her married name, unable to process the rest of what he said.

“You’ll be needing things soon, cara. So will the baby.” He strode her way, uncapped the bottle, and pressed it into her hand.

She wrinkled her nose at the reminder she was about to lose her figure but took a sip of the water. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was. Luca was turning about to be a very attentive husband and father-to-be. It was a novel experience to have someone looking after her following so many years of fending for herself.

“Thank you. For the water.”

“My pleasure.”

The way he said the word pleasure made her toes curl against the hardwood floor.

“Want to call it another date?” He winked at her.

“You mean going shopping?”

“Yes.”

More doubts assailed her. For one thing, there was the dire matter about how little money she possessed. Her thousand dollars in her checking account wasn’t going to go far when it came to stocking up on baby supplies. “I guess I haven’t put much thought into the nursery.” There wouldn’t have been room for a nursery in her old apartment. Probably couldn’t have fit much more than a bassinet there.

“We don’t have to purchase everything in one day, but we can at least get started. I have Don working on getting you a credit card issued.”

Her blood chilled a few degrees. She’d known the topic of money would arise, but she hadn’t expected it to happen on their wedding night. “I didn’t marry you, so I could go on shopping sprees.” Defensiveness crept into her voice.

“What?” He looked startled. “I wasn’t suggesting you did.” At her stubborn silence, he exploded. “Oh, come on! You had to have known becoming my wife would come with a few perks.”

She took another sip of water and had to choke it down. Maybe it was just the hormones at work again, but the idea of blindly swiping a credit card and having her new husband pick up the tab made her uncomfortable. After two straight years of scrimping and watching every penny, it didn’t feel right somehow.

“I don’t think we need to go shopping tomorrow,” she muttered. “My clothes fit fine, and the baby is a long way off.”

“Fine.” His mouth twisted angrily. “But you’re still getting a credit card.”

“If you insist.” Her chin came up. He couldn’t force her to use it. “Goodnight, Luca.”

“Goodnight, Jacey.”

She felt his frustrated gaze on her as she exited the room. What an awkward way to part on their wedding night! She should have seen this coming.