“I didn’t bounce anywhere,” he replies coldly. “I thought my marriage was over, and I was an idiot. I regretted it for a long time. I don’t anymore.”
“Why?” I ask with surprise.
“Because of you.” He shrugs and then sighs. “You were the best part of your mother’s life, Dominic. I never saw her again, but I can guarantee you that much. And now we have you in our family, and I couldn’t be more thankful.”
“I disrupted your life, and I’m quite sure I put undue stress on your marriage last year.”
“You did neither.” He waves me off and laughs ruefully. “My wife knew all about your mother not long after it happened more than thirty years ago. It wasn’t a secret between us. Was it a surprise? The biggest of my life. And it was an adjustment for my other children, but I think it’s obvious that you’re accepted and loved, Dominic.”
Loved?
I think back on the past year, at how the Montgomerys have folded me into their family, accepted me unconditionally. I am their brother, without hesitation.
Even Gail has been nothing but gracious.
Yes, they are my family and I love them back. I’d do anything for any of them.
“I’m grateful for all of you,” I murmur.
“There’s no need to be grateful, son.” He grins at me with the smile of a man who has everything he could ever want. “Family just is. Now, about your Alecia.”
“She’s not mine.”
“You’re not interested in anyone else. You’re trying to reach out to her.” He seems to be struggling with what to say, and he finally says, “Give her some time.”
“What do you know?” I ask, suspicious that he isn’t telling me everything.
“I know that it’s not my story to tell. Alecia has had a rough go of it lately, and maybe she just needs some space.”
“Fuck that. If she needs me, I’ll go take care of her.”
“I didn’t say she needed anyone to take care of her,” he replies sternly. “I said she needs time.”
“I’m not a patient man.”
“Well, you come by that honestly,” he says with a chuckle. “I’d like for you to show me your operation here, and then I’d like to have lunch with my son, if you’re up for it.”
My eyebrows climb into my hairline in surprise. “I’m definitely up for it.”
“Excellent.”
We walk through the grounds, the barn where the barrels are stored, the production barn, the store. He’s engrossed in all of it, just as he is each time he comes out here.
“I’d like to develop a special wine for the women in our family. What do you think?”
I grin slowly, then smile widely. “I think that’s an excellent idea. We could surprise them with it for Mother’s Day next year.”
“Perfect.” Steven nods and claps his hand on my shoulder. “I’m so happy you found us, son. I should have said it months ago, but I don’t think you were ready to hear it yet. I’m proud of you.”
I blink hard and stare out at my vines, my heart in my throat.
“I was terrified when the P.I. gave me your information.”
“I was rather nervous myself when I met you for the first time,” he replies. “But just as it is with all of my children, Natalie included, you are important to our family. You are important to me. I’m sorry that I missed out on so many years with you, but I hope that we can have a relationship with each other going forward.”
I nod, not sure what to say, knowing that anything I do say is going to sound rough.
“Good.” He pats my shoulder again and walks back toward the villa. “Let’s go get lunch. I’m starving.”
***
She’s avoided me all damn day.
I’m standing in Steven and Gail’s backyard while children run around, my sisters laugh, and Jax and Logan are newly married.
The happy couple are feeding each other cupcakes, smashing the frosting in each other’s noses.
“I’ve never understood the whole let’s punish the cake by smearing it all over each other thing,” Will says with a frown.
“I don’t understand why you’re not over there trying to snatch some cake,” I reply dryly.
“Holy shit, you’re right!” He runs across the lawn to the patio as if a linebacker is on his heels.
“I think he already stole one from the back earlier,” Caleb says with a shake of the head. “How is he not fat?”
“Because he works out six hours a day,” Leo says as he pulls his wife into his arms and kisses her head.
“This is the man section,” Sam says with a frown. “Where are the girls?”
“I didn’t realize we had sections,” Steven says as he joins us, handing me a beer.
Alecia walks by, completely ignoring me, just as she’s done all damn day.
“Excuse me,” I murmur and follow her.
“Trouble in paradise?” I hear Sam ask.
“Alecia,” I say and hurry to catch up to her. “Stop.”
“I don’t have time.” She presses on her ear, and speaks into her sleeve. “I need more champagne out here, and Logan’s mother is drinking out of a plastic glass, Em. That’s not okay. Get her a glass flute.”
“I’d really like to speak to you, cara.”
She stops and turns to me, finally looking at me for the first time today, and she takes my damn breath away. Her hair is up in its usual knot, her brown eyes are wide, but unsmiling. She looks like she may have lost a few pounds from the way her green dress hangs on her sweet little body.
But rather than answer me, she simply shakes her head and stomps away, talking briskly to Emily in her sleeve.
What the fuck am I doing? Why am I chasing her?
“Wanna talk about it?”
Natalie has joined me, Keaton on her shoulder sleeping peacefully, watching Alecia walk away.
“Not particularly.”
“She looks sad.”
I haven’t taken my eyes off of her. “I don’t see sad.”
“Then you aren’t looking hard enough,” Nat replies and kisses her son’s head. “What did you do?”
“Why does it have to be me?”
She just raises a brow. “Because if she’d been the one to screw up, you wouldn’t be chasing her the way you are.”
“I’m not chasing her,” I reply with frustration. “I’m simply trying to have a conversation with her.”
Nat nods. “Try harder.”
I glance down at her. “Thanks a lot.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiles widely and walks away, like the smart ass that she is.
Try harder.
I sigh and then follow the way Alecia just went, into the house, and find her in the kitchen.
“Alecia,” I say calmly. “I’d like a moment, please.”
Emily smiles at me and nods, then hastily walks out of the room, leaving us alone.
Alecia shakes her head and turns her back on me, uncorking more champagne.
“Alecia,” I try again.
“No!” She spins back to me, her eyes narrowed. “I. Don’t. Have. Time. I’m working, Dominic. Just leave it be.”
I study her eyes, and now I can see it. The sad. But I also see a new resolve that wasn’t there a few weeks ago.
And that’s what scares the fuck out of me. Is she resolved to live without me?
“I’ll leave you be for now, tesoro.” She starts to argue, but I lean in and make her look me in the eyes. “For now. But we will talk.”
“Fine.” She turns away again and resumes her work.
Jesus, everything in me wants to pull her into my arms and bury my nose in her hair, breathe her in, feel her against me.
I’m longing for her.
But I know I wouldn’t be welcome now. Not only that, I’m not sure that I welcome it. Not until I know what in the hell is going on.
I turn and leave the kitchen, running into Jules as I return to the backyard.
“Hey, big brother.” She smiles
sweetly, and I have the distinct feeling I’m about to be set up.
“Hello, bella,” I reply. “What do you want?”
“I just want to talk.” She loops her arm through mine and walks with me to join Meg, Will, and Nate standing by Steven’s newest koi pond.
“What are we talking about?” I ask.
“We’d like to do a fund raiser for the hospital,” Meg says with a soft smile. “Nate thought it would be a good idea to have a dinner, dance, and silent auction, which they already do every year, but…”
“But rather than have it in downtown Seattle this year, we were thinking of asking if we can book the vineyard. Include packages in the silent auction of wines, and maybe a stay out there. Stuff like that.”
“Of course. The vineyard is always open to you. You know that.”
“Awesome!” Meg hugs me hard, then presses her hand on my chest. “You’re my favorite brother-in-law.”
“I was your favorite ten minutes ago when I suggested it,” Nate says with a smile.
“Shh,” Meg says, holding her hand over Nate’s lips. “Don’t ruin it.”
Alecia hurries past with Meredith, talking fast and completely ignoring me.
That’s the last damn time she’ll pretend that I’m not here.
“She went to San Francisco, you know,” Jules says quietly. My gaze jerks down to her.
“When?”
“A few weeks ago.” She shrugs and takes a sip of her drink. “She won’t say why. Just that she had some things to deal with.”
Her family.
She went alone.
What the fuck is going on?
Jules watches me for a long minute, her usual smile gone, replaced with serious eyes.
“I need to go talk to Natalie,” she says finally, and walks away.
“So the event will be in the spring,” Meg says excitedly, and for the next thirty minutes, she and I bounce ideas off of each other to make the event fresh and new.
“Dom, can you help me with something?” Natalie asks as she approaches me. “I’m sorry to interrupt. This won’t take long.”
“Of course. What’s up?”
“There’s a book on the top shelf of Steven’s study that I want to show Luke, and I can’t reach it. Can you get it for me? I’ll show you where it is.”
I frown down at her. “What about Luke?”
“He’s busy with the babies,” she says and grabs my arm, not giving me time to look around, and practically drags me into the house, through the kitchen and down the hall to my father’s study. “It’s right in here—”
She looks like she’s staring at the bookcase, then turns when she hears voices.
“Oh, hold on. Stay right here.”
“Nat, what’s going on?”
Suddenly, Jules and Alecia appear in the doorway.
“What is going on?” Alecia asks as Jules pushes her in the room, then Nat and Jules each grab a doorknob on the French doors and pull them shut.
“There!” Jules yells through the door. “Now you have to talk! So talk!”
Chapter Twenty Two
~Alecia~
“Alecia!” Jules calls out and hurries over to where I’m talking with Jax and Logan in Steven’s garden.
“Hey, Jules.”
“You guys are so damn hot,” Jules says as she approaches us, then hugs each of them. “Like, super hot. I love your suits.”
Jax and Logan opted for grey suits, minus the jackets, with a three button vest and white button up shirts rolled on the forearms. Jax is wearing a green tie and Logan is wearing a soft pink one, in honor of his mother, who is currently battling breast cancer. They look hip and fresh and completely handsome.
“Thanks, gorgeous,” Jax replies and kisses her cheek.
“Are you happy?” Jules asks them.
“Couldn’t be happier,” Logan says with a grin, then kisses his groom on the cheek. “This was perfect, and your family is awesome for hosting.”
“Well, we were happy to do it.” She sighs happily. “It’s so romantic. Alecia,” she turns to me. “Can I steal you for a minute? I’d like to discuss something with you.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks again, Alecia,” Logan says and hugs me tight. “You did an awesome job.”
“My pleasure.” I collect my hug from the incredibly sexy Jax, then follow Jules toward the house. “What’s up?”
“Oh, let’s go inside and get out of the sun,” she says and takes my hand in hers. “It’s so hot today.”
I frown over at her. “It’s not that hot.”
“You’re not hot? Oh, I’m roasting.” She fans her face and rolls her eyes. “Maybe my hormones are still out of whack from having Stella.”
“She’s five months old,” I remind her.
“Well, either way, I’d like to go inside. Too much sun causes wrinkles.” She winks at me and leads me through the kitchen. “Let’s go to my dad’s study. It’s quiet in there.”
She’s up to something. One thing Jules is not is a good liar. Before I know it, she’s planted her hand in my back and shoved me not so gently into the study, and she and Natalie pull the doors closed behind me, leaving me with an equally surprised Dominic.
“There!” Jules yells. “Now you have to talk! So talk!”
I close my eyes and sigh in defeat. Damn them.
“We love you!” Natalie calls in a sing song voice.
Dominic leans his hips back on Steven’s desk and crosses his arms, watching me quietly. Resigned, I cross to the couch, it’s back facing the desk, and lean my hips against it, facing him, mirroring his stance.
“Why aren’t they talking?” Jules mutters.
Dom’s lips twitch with humor.
“So, how was Italy?” I ask, breaking the silence.
He frowns and blinks. “It was fine.”
I nod thoughtfully. “Good.”
“How’s Blake?” he asks out of the blue.
I scowl. “Fine, I guess. Why wouldn’t he be?”
“Are you fucking him?” he asks quietly, and I’m struck dumb.
Am I fucking Blake?
“What did he ask?” Natalie whispers loudly.
“I don’t know, they’re not talking loud enough,” Jules replies.
“Am I fucking Blake?” I repeat.
He just raises a brow and waits, but his eyes have softened as he watches me.
“You think I’m fucking Blake?” I hate the quiver in my voice. Hate it. How could he possibly think that?
“Let me get this straight.” I push away from the couch and pace before him. “You come to my condo and walk in on something you didn’t even fully understand, get angry, make accusations, and then you leave the damn country. I haven’t seen you in weeks, haven’t heard from you, and the first thing you ask me is if I’m fucking my best friend?”
“I saw it,” he replies.
“What, exactly, do you think you saw?”
“I came to your condo to ask you to go to Italy with me, and I walked in to find Blake half naked, you coming out of the shower, and your clothes thrown all over the living room.”
“You came to take me to Italy?”
My heart stops. He wanted me to go with him?
“I did.”
“I was in the shower,” I reply, the blood leaving my face. “Getting ready to come see you.”
He tilts his head. “Excuse me?”
“Blake and I went for a run, and then he talked me into going to your place.”
He swallows hard, processing my words, and I’m still stuck like stupid on I came to take you to Italy with me.
“And then you pissed me off so bad with your insane accusation that the reason I was going to come to your place completely left my brain.”
“Why were you coming to see me?” he asks quietly.
I can’t tell him this!
“I guess there’s nothing left to say.” I turn to walk away, but he stops me, his hand on my arm.
; “Oh, there’s plenty to say.”
“You thought I was unfaithful to you!” I round on him, furious. “You jumped to conclusions without talking to me!”
“I’ve tried to call you,” he replies, his voice hard and cold. “You never answered. I had to go to Italy. I had a family emergency.”
“You left without me! I thought you’d just left because the going got rough! That I didn’t mean enough for you to fight for me. Just like everyone else in my life.”
“Alecia, no.” He shakes his head in disbelief.
“I think it’s obvious that this isn’t going to work.” I school my features and swallow hard, determined to get through this without letting him see me cry. “You obviously don’t trust me, and what I need, you can’t give me.”
“Just tell me what you want! Tell me how you fucking feel!”
“I fell in love with you!” I yell back angrily. “I was so in love with you my heart ached. And then I find out that just like everyone else in my life, you rank me last on your priority list!”
“This is bullshit!” he exclaims. “You are my priority. You’re my only priority, damn it!”
He takes my shoulders in his hands and holds me in front of him. “I was coming to you to take you with me.”
“I was coming to you to tell you I love you,” I reply before I can stop the words, and feel my eyes fill with tears. “And when I got there, I was told you’d left for Italy. And you didn’t even call me to tell me your were leaving.”
“Oh, baby, no.” He pulls me against him, and hugs me tightly, in the special way he does. “I’m so sorry for this. For all of it. We’ve been hurting for weeks for no reason.”
“I didn’t fuck Blake,” I say, the anger surging through me again as I push away from him. “I would never do that. How could you think that?”
“It looked really bad,” he replies with a sigh. “And I’ve lived that before.”
“The ex.” I cover my mouth with my hand.
“After my mother died, I was engaged to a woman, and I walked in on her having an affair with my cousin the night before our wedding.”
“Oh, my God,” I whisper and glance away, covering my mouth with my hand, but then I get pissed again. “And you immediately assumed that I’d do the same?”
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