by Carla Luna
Think of it as a challenge.
Hadn’t he been asking his brothers to trust him with bigger events than his cousin’s backyard wedding? No matter how much he claimed he’d changed, he had yet to prove it. This was his chance.
With that in mind, he pushed past his animosity and entered the Blackwood Cellars boardroom with confidence. As he greeted Victoria, he tried not to let his gaze linger on her body, even if her navy sheath dress accentuated her slender figure. Seeing her with her hair up in a tidy bun made him want to pull out the pins so that it fell loose past her shoulders. She’d worn it that way when they’d been together.
But he kept himself in check, not allowing his mind to wander into forbidden territory. “Will Ben and Missy be joining us?” he asked.
“Ben’s seen the ballroom before,” she said. “And I’ve already done three walk-throughs with Missy, which was more than enough.”
That couldn’t have been easy. Once again, he wondered why Victoria was torturing herself this way.
Not that her decision was any of his business. He focused his attention on the catering contract. He’d seen enough of them to understand the terms. They’d get an initial deposit up front and the remainder of the balance a week before the wedding. Once he signed it, Victoria led him out of the boardroom. “Have you had a chance to explore the estate?”
“Not yet. I was going to check it out on Friday after we met, but…”
But after his shock at seeing her, he’d been too overwhelmed to do anything but drive back to Escondido.
She nodded, as though no further explanation was necessary. “Our meeting rooms and offices are here on the second floor of Blackwood Manor. We’ll head down to the ground floor, where most of the space is open to the public, other than the private dining rooms and the ballroom, which are only available by reservation.”
He followed her down the stairs and toward the south wing of the manor, which housed the grand ballroom. When she unlocked the door and led him inside, he stood for a full minute, taking it all in. The spacious room looked like something from a 1920s movie, with a Great Gatsby vibe. The ceiling was easily thirty feet high, with a coffered, gold-leaf ceiling, Murano glass chandeliers, and rows of tall, arched windows. A grand staircase at one end led up to a wrap-around interior balcony with gold-painted accents. Though the overall impression was stunning, the space was a little too cavernous for his liking. He imagined that would change once the room was filled with tables and guests.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“Incredible.” He took out his phone. “Okay if I take a few photos?”
“Knock yourself out. There’s also a fact sheet with all the specs attached to your contract.”
The ballroom was such a contrast to his uncle’s backyard, where Araceli had held her wedding. Still, size and grandeur were no measure of a successful event. Even if the guests had been crammed into a tiny yard on a searing hot day, his cousin’s wedding had been a blast. Long after Araceli and Jaime had left to enjoy their wedding night, Rafael and his family continued celebrating until the early hours of the morning.
He'd felt so proud of himself after that wedding. Pulling it off without a hitch, earning praise from his entire family. If only he hadn’t screwed up with Sandra, four months later. Maybe then his brothers would have trusted him to manage other catering gigs. Instead, they’d sent him back to the kitchen.
Victoria’s heels clacked on the marble floors as she walked him over to the storage area housing the tables and chairs. Beside it was the ballroom’s kitchen, equipped with top-of-the-line stainless steel equipment, walk-in coolers, and ample prep space.
“Our kitchen can accommodate any type of catering, whether you’re cooking the food on-site or transporting it from your restaurant,” she said. “We also provide all the flatware, dinnerware, glassware, and linens. For a more consistent look.”
He took a slew of photos, eager to impress his brothers. They were going to be so jealous. The more he saw, the more he was able to push past his discomfort. This wedding would be a ton of work, but if he pulled it off, the end result would be spectacular. And Tres Hermanos would reap the benefits.
Throughout the tour, Victoria remained poised, dishing out tidbits of information and occasionally making him smile with her sarcastic asides. By the time they returned to the entrance of the ballroom, Rafael had convinced himself everything would work out fine between them, as long as they maintained this level of decorum. No anger. No guilt. No passion. Just two professionals doing their jobs, making the best of an awkward situation.
But his resolve went out the window when she turned to him and said, “Any more questions?”
Because he couldn’t leave well enough alone, he opened his stupid mouth and asked the question that had nagged him since Saturday night. “Why are you doing this?”
Her brow creased. “If you mean the tour, I do it for anyone who caters our events.”
“Not that.” He stretched out his arms, as if to encompass the vast ballroom. “I mean, why agree to all this? Wasn’t this supposed to be your wedding?”
She looked down and rubbed her forehead. “How did you know?”
“You think I wouldn’t find out?” He scowled. “You should have told me, right from the start.”
She returned his glare with one of her own. “I should have, but I was a little overwhelmed. As if it wasn’t stressful enough having to coordinate Ben’s wedding, I walked into the boardroom and came face-to-face with the guy who gave me the best sex of my life.” She clapped her hand over her mouth and closed her eyes. “Shit. Forget I said that.”
Damn. The best sex of her life? He couldn’t help but be flattered. Especially since that put him one step ahead of old Benny-boy.
He softened his tone. “I appreciate the compliment. But you didn’t answer my question.”
She let out a long sigh. “It’s complicated.”
“I’ve got time.” If she was willing to open up, he wanted the full story. Maybe if he got the answers he sought, he’d get over her once and for all.
“All right. I think we’re done here. Let’s go outside so I can show you the rest of the grounds. Then I’ll give you some answers.”
At least she hadn’t shut him down outright. “Fair enough. Lead the way.”
He followed her out of Blackwood Manor via the back entrance. She led him down a paved path, past a large, tiled fountain set amid artfully landscaped gardens. Off to one side, an open courtyard stood under a grove of trees, decorated with hanging white lights. Teakwood tables sporting bright red umbrellas were scattered around, interspersed with a few patio heaters.
Victoria stopped when they reached a small pond, ringed by wrought-iron benches and spanned by a wooden bridge. A few of the benches were occupied by visitors, but otherwise, the area was quiet. She stared out at the water, as if bracing herself for what she was about to reveal.
When she finally spoke, her voice was subdued. “This was supposed to be my wedding. The two-hundred-person guest list, the grand ballroom, the Christmas theme. All of it. But Ben broke things off in October and told me he was in love with Missy.” She rubbed her hands along her arms as though warding off a chill. “It would have been nice if he’d delayed the wedding until next year, but her pregnancy sped things up.”
Rafael felt a rush of empathy. No matter what Victoria had done to him, she didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. No one did. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I never should have accepted his proposal in the first place.” She turned to face him, pain evident in her eyes. “Do you remember what a mess I was when you first met me in Baja?”
“I wouldn’t say you were a mess. You said you’d been dealing with a shitty situation at home, and you needed to escape.”
He remembered holding her in his arms as she sobbed out of fear she’d ruined her life forever. She hadn’t told him what she’d done, only that she’d fucked up so badly her father m
ight never forgive her. Rather than push her to reveal her secrets, he just offered comfort.
Later, he offered a lot more.
“I made a huge mistake, and my father paid a lot of money to clean it up,” she said. “But in return, he made my life hell. That’s why I went to Baja without telling him where I was going.” A slight smile crossed her face. “I should be grateful it took him three weeks to track me down.”
“Was that why you left so abruptly?”
She nodded. “You were sleeping when he called. Even though it was five in the morning, he insisted I leave on the next flight out.”
On the morning she’d left, he hadn’t woken until nine, groggy and tired from too much tequila and too little sleep. He’d been surprised to find her side of the bed empty, but he assumed she was out getting coffee. Until he noticed every trace of her had vanished. All she left was a short note: Thanks for everything. Sorry to leave you like this.
By now, the pain had dulled considerably, but it had crushed him at the time. Especially after he learned that Tori Dubois didn’t exist. Without her real name, he had no way to reach her.
“Going home just about killed me,” Victoria said. “My father couldn’t wait to remind me how much I still owed him.”
What was the guy’s problem? Wasn’t he a millionaire? “I don’t get it. Your family’s loaded, right? Why didn’t your dad take it out of your trust fund?”
Not that Rafael knew anything about that shit. But on TV, wealthy families always seemed to be fighting over trust funds, wills, and inheritances.
“Because I don’t have one,” she said. “My father doesn’t believe in giving me or my brothers anything we haven’t earned. We live a privileged life, but we don’t get a lot of discretionary income. Certainly not enough to pay off a massive debt.”
“How much money are we talking about?”
“Thousands. But I made a plan. Once I graduated and started working for Blackwood Cellars, I set a little money aside each month. It wasn’t hard to do, seeing as how I lived at home.” She blew out a breath. “Entitled, I know.”
He shrugged. “Debt is debt. No matter what, it sucks.” He’d dealt with a similar situation after he wrecked the family car in high school. Those five minutes of drunken stupidity had cost him dearly. Not just in terms of money, but in the grief he’d caused his mother.
A couple came over to the pond and began taking photos. After watching them for a minute, Victoria started walking and motioned for Rafael to follow. She crossed the bridge and led him to a bench on the other side of the pond. When she sat down, he did the same but waited for her to continue.
“Even though I’d saved up all this money, I didn’t tell my father,” she said. “I wanted to surprise him. Show up at his office and place a big fat check on his desk—an ‘in your face’ kind of move. But before I could get that far, he hinted there were other ways I could work off my debt. Like dating Ben Macalister.”
He recoiled. “Your dad was pimping you out?”
“Not entirely. He might have pushed me toward Ben, but I’m the one who fell for his bullshit. Ben can be a total charmer when he shows his good side. And he went all out, trying to win me over. As you can imagine, my father was thrilled. Ben’s dad is hoping to run in the next presidential election, and my father wanted to ride that train. He said if I married Ben, he’d cancel my debt.”
That was some manipulative shit, right there. “That’s fucked up.”
“I know. But I was desperate to please him. For most of my life, I behaved like the perfect daughter. My father doesn’t dole out affection easily, and I spent my childhood working for it.”
He gave a silent prayer of thanks his family was nothing like the Blackwoods. Even if the Sanchez clan was constantly in each other’s business, they cared about one another.
“Six months after we got engaged, Ben cheated on me with Missy. When he decided he wanted me back, I turned him down. By then, he’d started showing his ugly side, especially when he’d been drinking. But my father convinced me to forgive him. Big mistake. Ben left me for Missy in October.”
What a mess. The more Rafael heard about Victoria’s father, the more he hated him. The guy obviously didn’t give a shit about anything except his wealth and his political connections.
“Did that mean you were still in debt?” he asked.
“You guessed it. Even worse, I’d gotten cocky during my engagement, and I spent all the money I’d saved. When my brother left Blackwood Cellars to start his own winery, I helped him out by becoming an investor. Maybe it was foolish, but I wanted one of us to follow our dreams.”
“It wasn’t foolish,” Rafael murmured.
How could he fault her for helping her brother? His own brothers had given him so many chances. That was what family was supposed to do. He wanted to reach over and take her hand, but she stood abruptly as if sensing the conversation was getting too intimate.
“Let’s go up to the West Lawn,” she said. “That’s where the wedding ceremony is taking place. The view is breathtaking.”
As they walked along the path leading away from the gardens, he mulled over what she’d told him. “I get why your dad wanted you to marry Ben. But why isn’t he pissed Ben’s marrying someone else? And why is he letting him have the wedding here?”
She gave him a sad smile. “Somehow, my emotional welfare wasn’t as important as my father’s connection to Senator Macalister. That’s why he caved to all of Ben’s demands. So, in answer to your original question, I’m doing this because I still owe my father. But if I can throw an unforgettable wedding, worthy of the society pages, he’ll let me off the hook. That’s what keeps me going.”
Rage churned in Rafael’s gut. No one should treat their daughter like a pawn in some political chess game. “For the record, your dad’s a dick, and your ex is an asshole.”
Her smile widened. “Thank you. And thanks for listening. I’m sorry about the way I treated you in Baja. I shouldn’t have left without saying goodbye.”
He shrugged. “It wasn’t like we had a future together.”
Her actions still stung, but not enough that he could stay mad at her. Not after everything she’d been through. No wonder she’d tried to put their fling behind her. With a father like that, she could never let down her guard.
They slowly crested the hill until they came to a flat expanse of lawn, framed by groves of olive trees. Below them, the rolling hills stretched out, covered with acres of vineyards. For a few minutes, they stood in silence, taking in the view.
He was tempted to put his arm around her shoulder, just to console her, but the slightest touch could lead him down a slippery slope. Even if she was behaving like a polished professional, the passionate woman he’d met in Baja was under there somewhere.
If that woman ever emerged, he’d have a hell of a time resisting her.
Chapter 8
As Victoria surveyed her family’s extensive vineyards, the tension eased from her body. She hadn’t realized how freeing it would feel to confide in Rafael.
“Great view,” he said. “I can see why it’s a popular spot for weddings.”
“Most couples schedule their ceremonies to coincide with the sunset. Ben and Missy’s wedding is at four o’clock, which means the sun should be setting around the time they say their vows.”
“Can I ask you something?”
She turned to face him, curious at the concern in his tone. “Sure.”
“Do you still wish this was your wedding?”
None of her friends had asked her that. They’d either assumed she was livid with jealousy or wallowing in self-pity.
“At first I did. When Ben left, it hurt like hell. But the more I see of his nasty side, the more I feel like I dodged a bullet. I doubt he would have been faithful. And…” She grinned, casting aside her earlier reserve. “The sex wasn’t that great to begin with.”
“No?” He gave her a wolfish smile. “You’re saying you’ve had better?”<
br />
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” She flushed, then looked away. What was she doing? Even if they weren’t enemies, she could not be crossing that line.
Their connection ended when Rafael’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket. “Sorry about that. My cousin Araceli sent me a text, asking for pictures of the ballroom. She’s going to help me serve that night.”
“Is she the one whose wedding you catered?”
“Yeah. You talked to her on Saturday. She answered the phone.” He chuckled. “She always does some goofy bit, like pretending I’m a celebrity chef.”
Oh. “I thought she was your girlfriend.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. Especially when Rafael grinned in a way that was entirely too smug. “Nope. I’m single,” he said. “What about you?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m coordinating my ex-fiancé’s wedding, with assistance from you, Chef Hot Pants. Do you think I could handle another man in my life right now?”
Quite honestly, she didn’t know if she could handle Rafael. Keeping him at arm’s length was going to be tricky now that he wasn’t mad at her anymore.
“We should head back,” she said.
He said nothing but walked with her toward the path. Unnerved by his silence, she tried to fill the empty space. “So…umm…over there?” She pointed to a two-story building, done in California Craftsman style. “More Blackwood Cellars offices. Sales and marketing, along with some of our admin staff. My cousin Brody works there.”
Rafael nodded but didn’t respond. Was he lost in the past, recalling their escapades in Baja? Or taking pride in the fact that she’d made not one, but two references to his prowess in bed?
She had to stop thinking about him that way. If they were going to work together, she couldn’t allow herself to fall into temptation.