Temptation (Billionaire Venture Capitalist #4): A Second Chance Billionaire Romance

by Ainsley St Claire

  My calendar is full of activities today, and I’m ready.

  Today I’m going to be happy. Today is going to be a good day.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Andy

  Surrounded by acres of vines, I’m talking to my harvest interns, explaining to them what I need from them today when the walkie-talkie sounds. “Andy, can you come to the tasting room? We have a guest I need some help with.”

  Crap. That means there’s a drunk and disorderly guest. I’m frustrated that someone in the tasting room would serve someone enough to get drunk. That could affect our liquor license. But on the flipside, we have to be careful that we don’t push the guest out and they make a scene. We have a good rate with a cab service, and the ride shares are always close by, so that helps when we don’t realize some guests have had too much.

  After directing the interns to the warehouse to clean out some of the bins as we prepare for harvest, I climb in the golf cart with my waterproof boots and mud-covered jeans and head to the tasting room.

  I can hear her before I enter, and I can tell she isn’t drunk. There’s no slur; she’s just talking fast and loud. I open the doors and let my eyes adjust to the dim surroundings.

  “There he is!” A woman who looks familiar places her hands around my neck and rubs herself against me. She’s certainly disheveled. She has smudges of dirt on her face and her dress, her hair is a matted mess, and her feet are filthy in her sandals. “Hi there, handsome. You up for a good time?”

  Pulling myself from her grasp, I pull back and get a look at her. Her name is at the tip of my tongue, but I’m so taken off guard by both her appearance and her aggressiveness, I can’t pull her name out of the recesses of my memory. “So good to see you—”

  “Andy, my love. How about we go back to your place and do a bit of the naked tango.”

  I think I remember her name. “Err, Eve, right?”

  “Yes. Yes.” She grabs for my crotch, and I step back. “Don’t be so shy. Rumor has it you aren’t gettin’ any, and I’m here to change that for you. I’m a goddess when it comes to sex.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, but today’s not a good day. Did you drive here?”

  Eve is talking fast, and she’s not completely coherent, like she’s in overdrive. “Oh, you know my husband left me for a younger woman, and it was really hard. I had to raise my daughter on my own. He started a new family and left us behind. Don’t get me wrong, I was far from broke, but she was difficult, to say the least. She’s close to her father, but she’s the reason he left me. She’s in her early thirties now. Do I look old enough to have a daughter that old? No, I don’t. I was a child bride. But you know, I’ve had a tiny bit of work done. Not as much as the other girls, of course. I have great skin. You should see. I love sex. The longest I’ve ever been without sex is a week. I’m good at it, too. I can show you. Wouldn’t you like to have the time of your life?” As she bounced from question to question, I don’t think she took a breath.

  I’m starting to get concerned. “Eve, are you here alone?”

  “Why? Are you looking for a third to join us? I did that a few times. Nothing like showing a man what real pleasure is. I’m up for anything, but I must warn you, I don’t suck if you don’t lick. I mean, oral sex is amazing, and I’m able to cream all over your tongue. I’ve been told my cum tastes like candy.” She grabs my hand and tries to move it to her chest. “And honey, these babies are real. And they don’t point down—"

  “Eve, hold on a moment.” I take her hand and look her in the eye. “Eve, how did you get here?”

  “I walked. I’m very fit. I can walk miles.” Turning, she points to her backside. “See this ass? It’s in perfect shape. I spend sixty minutes every day on a stair climber. Feel it. It’s firm.” Leaning in, she says, “I like back door, too, if you want to do that.”

  “Okay, Eve. Do you have the phone number of someone I can call who can come get you?”

  “Why do I need someone to come get me? I haven’t had anything to drink. I’m perfectly capable of walking home. If you don’t want some of this”—she waves her hand around herself—“then you know, you are missing out.” Raising her voice, she yells across the tasting room. “You are missing out big-time! I’m amazing in bed. I’m a MILF. I may be older, but I know how to give a very good time.”

  With that, she turns and is out the door, leaving my head spinning. I take a moment to speak with Sophia, both a little stunned by what just happened.

  “Do you think we should call someone?” she asks.

  “Yes, but I don’t know who. I don’t have the number of any of her friends. Do you?”

  She shakes her head. “Do we call the police or the hospital?”

  “I’m not exactly sure.” I have so much to do. Shit. I hate this. I walk to the office upstairs and look out the windows for her while the phone connects to the non-emergency line at the St. Helena police station. I explain to them what happened and ask if there’s anything I should do or someone I should call.

  “Did you see where she went?”

  “Honestly, I didn’t. I was a little surprised by it, and it happened so fast. She can’t have gone far.”

  “Okay, we’ll send someone down the highway. We can call the right person if we find her.”

  “I’ll look, too, see if I can’t find a family member’s name.” I hang up, looking at the pile of paperwork on my desk and all the work that needs to be done. Instead I’m looking for an unstable woman who wandered into my tasting room.

  Walking down to the golf cart, I drive out to the road, looking both left and right down the desolate street, I don’t see anyone walking. Knowing my luck, she drove off.

  I see the police cruiser approach, the officer rolling down his window. “Hey, Andy,” he greets me.

  “Jeremy. I’m glad it’s you.”

  “I didn’t see anyone on the road. Did you catch the woman’s name?”

  “I met her with friends. Her first name’s Eve, but that’s all I know. And she said she walked, but she may very well have driven. I didn’t follow her right out the door. We were a bit surprised by her.”

  “What happened?”

  I walk him through her appearance and rambling speech in the tasting room.

  “Sounds like she’s had some sort of break. If she comes back, call us. We’ll take her to the hospital or jail, whichever seems most appropriate.”

  “We’re pretty positive she isn’t drunk, but it seemed like she might need a hospital.”

  “All right then. Let us know if she comes back.”

  I wave him goodbye and go in search of my interns. We’re only a few months off from the crush and life will get very crazy around here. We have a lot to do to get ready.

  I work nonstop all afternoon—with a farm, there’s always something to do. As I pull the golf cart into the garage and prepare to do the paperwork I need to get done, I look forward to eating a frozen microwave meal and watching a soccer match.

  The radio at my hip crackles. “Andy?”

  “Yes, Jose?”

  “I’m out in the cab vines, and I know this may sound crazy, but I swear I just saw a woman out here.”

  Fuck! That’s the other side of the property. How the hell did she get out there? “Dark hair? A yellow dress with big pink flowers?”

  “Dark hair, yes, but I think she’s naked. I can’t be sure. She saw me and hid, and I’m not seeing her, but I can hear her talking, though I can’t make out what’s she saying. I swear I’m not crazy.”

  “Don’t worry, Jose. I don’t think you’re crazy. She was in the tasting room this afternoon. I’m on my way.”

  Driving in a small truck through the acres of grapes, I see Jose at the top of a crest and head over.

  “I can hear her, but I can’t see her.”

  I stand still for a moment and pick up a singsong lilt just above the rustle of the leaves on the vines. I yell, “Eve! It’s Andy. Where are you?”

  A head suddenly
pops up about a hundred yards away and a few rows over. “Andy? Is that you?”

  “Yes, Eve. It’s me. Come on over here. Let’s get you home.”

  She walks over, wearing just her bra and a single sandal.

  “Eve, honey, do you know where your pretty dress is?”

  She shakes her head. “It’s freer to be naked, and I have a perfect body.”

  “Okay. Let’s go back to the villa.”

  Nodding, she walks to the truck. Her eyes are alert, and they dart around like a caged animal who’s been cornered and looking for a way out.

  Noting her demeanor, I speak very soothingly to her. “Eve, have you been out here wandering around the vines?”

  She nods. “I got turned around. But that man scared me. He took my clothes.”

  Jose holds his hands up and shakes his head. I know he didn’t take her clothes, and who even knows where they are. “All right, let’s get you back to the villa. We’ll get you cleaned up and maybe call someone to come get you.”

  She’s silent and still looks like she’s ready to run.

  I call ahead on the radio, asking in rapid Italian, “Sophia? Can you meet me around back with a blanket?”

  “A blanket?”

  “Yes. Now, please. Eve and I are approaching the back.”

  “Eve?”

  “A blanket, Sophia.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  As we pull up to the back, Sophia exits the building and approaches with the blanket. She’s as shocked as I am at the state of Eve. “Let’s get her upstairs to the apartment and get her in the shower.” Turning to Eve, I ask, “Eve? Who can I call to come get you?”

  Her shoulders slump, and she sounds like a little girl. “Call my daughter, Greer.” She rattles off a phone number.

  “I’ll do that while you get cleaned up.”

  Sophia nods at me, and I head into the tasting room. Thankfully we’re closed, and Sophia was only cleaning up.

  Picking up the phone, I dial the number, though I’m not 100 percent sure what to say. She picks up after the second ring. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Greer? I own Bellissima Valle Vineyard in St. Helena. Eve Ford gave me your number. I was wondering what I should do. She was in our tasting room earlier in the day and left abruptly, then was later found wandering the vines nearly naked. Should I call an ambulance, or can you come and get her?”

  “Andreas? This is Greer Ford. We’ve met. I’m close friends with CeCe Arnault?”

  “Oh yes. I had no idea. Is she your mother?”

  “Yes. Everything you’ve described sounds just like her. I’m in my office in downtown San Francisco, and I’ll need to run home and pick up a few things so I can stay with her tonight. It may take an hour to an hour and a half to get to you. Is that okay?”

  “Of course. Sophia is here with her trying to get her cleaned up. I should warn you she was partially naked. She may need some clothes, too.”

  I hear a breath of irritation over the phone. It sounds like she’s struggling not to cry. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll bring something. I’ll call her doctor, and he’ll tell me where I should take her.” There are a few seconds of silence, and she finally says, “Thank you, Andreas. I appreciate you calling me rather than the hospital. I’ll be there as soon as I can. If she gets too difficult, please call me. This is my cell phone, so you can reach me anytime.”

  Hanging up the phone, I can’t believe Eve’s Greer is the same one I met several months ago and have dreamed about since. I’ve wanted to call her so many times, but my life is chaos trying to get my vineyard up and running, and I didn’t think it would be fair to start something and then be unavailable. So many things about her left me intrigued, and I’d only scratched the surface.

  Maybe someone is trying to tell me something.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Greer

  Disconnecting, I can’t believe Andreas just called me. Since we met, I had hoped he was going to call. I only wished it was for something other than a problem caused by Eve.

  My day had been wrapping up, and I was going to go out with Cynthia and CeCe for dinner. Now I need to run. I know they’ll understand, but I wish I was canceling for something other than taking care of my mother.

  I text CeCe.

  Me: My mom is having an episode at Bellissima of all places. I’m headed home and then to Napa.

  CeCe: No worries. Bellissima? Do you need any help?

  Me: No, but thanks. I need to call her doctor. I’ll try to check in later tonight.

  CeCe: Be safe. Call me if you need ANYTHING. Find Andreas and jump his bones while you’re up there.

  Me: I’ll be safe, but Andreas won’t be interested after experiencing a full episode with Eve. I have to bring clothes for her. She was naked and wandering the vineyard.

  CeCe: I’m so sorry.

  I quickly run home and grab a few days’ worth of clothes, then call Mason to let him know what’s going on.

  “Don’t worry about a thing. Go take care of your mother.”

  “Thanks, Mason. I’ll have my computer and cell phone. I may work from Napa for the rest of the week.”

  My mom is bipolar. Imagine the worst nightmare you’ve ever had, take a moment to recall it. Then imagine you were unable to wake up from it because you’re already awake. All those bizarre ideas that make so much sense when you’re asleep start to make sense with your eyes wide open. Eve will do well for months and then decide she doesn’t want to take her medication. It’s been this way ever since I can remember. I’ve managed this forever with Eve.

  When I was young, she took CeCe, Hadlee, and me on a road trip. When we got to Los Angeles—five hours south of San Francisco—CeCe called her parents, and they had the police come to get us. While they took Eve to a hospital, we waited at the Hollywood police station. I’ve never been so scared in my life. Her family took me in and showed me what a normal—if there is such a thing—family looks like.

  The last time I saw Andreas was at Hadlee’s birthday party. We flirted mercilessly, but I watched him flirt with every woman there, so I wasn’t exactly sure he was really into me. Hadlee told me he’d shared with her that he seemed disappointed when I was speaking with someone she went to medical school with and was visibly relieved when he found out the man was gay. He asked CeCe for my phone number but never called. I figured she had pressured him into it. I was certainly disappointed, but I didn’t stay home waiting for him to call.

  I drive like a madwoman to get to Napa. Tearing into the driveway of Bellissima Valle, I’m ready for what’s ahead of me. I talked to the doctor, who suggested I take her directly to the hospital.

  Andreas is opening the door before I can even get out of my car. “I’m sorry I had to call you about this.”

  I stop short and take in his deliciousness. He’s wearing low-riding jeans and an old T-shirt, his feet bare as he leans against the doorframe. I could just eat him up. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

  He gives me an embrace that makes me want to melt in his arms, then holds my hand as we ascend the stairs to where he has my mother. “She’s asleep on the couch.”

  I stop short when I see her. She looks so peaceful, like a sleeping baby, and I know when she wakes we’ll either be in a manic episode or a depressive one. “I’m really sorry she’s disrupted your day. Do I owe you any money for anything she might’ve ruined? Please tell me when she was wandering the vineyard she didn’t do anything to your vines.”

  “No, she was fine. Really. I was worried about her.”

  I’m relieved she didn’t do anything to his grapes. I’m a wine enthusiast, and I’ve learned how delicate the vines can be, especially right now as they prepare for blooms that will lead to grapes. “I’ve talked to her doctor. I’m going to drive her to the hospital in Calistoga.”

  “Whatever you need to do.”

  I go over to the couch and rock her gently. “Mom? Wake up. We need to go see Dr. Phillips.”

  She wakes
up, and the look in her eyes tells me a manic moment is coming at me. “What are you doing here? I’m here with my boyfriend. I don’t need you here. You ruin everything. You ruined my relationship with your father and now with Andy. Get away. Go home. You’re embarrassing me, Greer. You need to leave now.”

  Andreas speaks up. “Eve, I called Greer. I was worried about you.”

  She pulls the blanket tight around her body. “Is there some aspect of me that worries you? Oh, I get it. You’re one of those who insist on me taking my medicine. Well you can’t make me. You think I might give you what I’ve got or drive you crazy, that me trying to ‘wake up’ means I have to go mad first? Hmm. Well I won’t lie to you, that’s what it means for some people, but that’s only if they aren’t with me. I can ‘wake up’ without the need for psychosis. Anyway, once you have some kind of awakening, you realize the pills they force you to take leave your brain in an ugly fog. You don’t want that, trust me. All the pills they’ve made me take can ruin your life for years, and sometimes you don’t really recover. You can lose people close to you, people you love. I don’t recommend it, not for anyone, and least of all you. You’re so nice. I think you're adorable! But we need some ground rules. I need to know when you’re coming, for a start.”

  This is her argument every time this happens. It used to make me cry, but these days I just listen and rub her arm to comfort her as she rides the manic mood. It doesn’t take long, and I’m able to talk her into getting into my car.

  When Eve insists Andy join us, I turn to face him. “I hate to inconvenience you any more than we already have.”

  “It’s not a problem. I really don’t mind.”

  We drive the thirty minutes to the hospital and take her in together. I’m grateful Andy is here, as she walks in with her head high.

  Her doctor comes out and speaks to me. I have Andreas share what happened this afternoon, and then I tell him, “I stopped by her apartment. It’s a complete wreck and looks like it has been for some time. I have a feeling she’s been off her meds for a few weeks.”