by Reese Ryan
Liam’s face and chest flushed with heat and his heart thumped so hard in his chest he wondered if she could hear it, too.
Being in such close proximity to Teresa made it difficult to remain aloof and pretend he didn’t want her as much now as he ever had. That he didn’t think of her constantly.
It would be a painfully long twelve months.
According to his father’s will, that was how long Teresa had to take a role in the company before she could divest herself of the shares he’d left her. That meant twelve months of working closely while rumors swirled around them and this palpable heat raged between them.
He honestly didn’t know if he could take it.
Teresa had been tapping out a text message on her phone, presumably floating the idea of moving the event to Napa Valley past Matt.
“There.” She put her phone on the seat between them. “We’ll see what he says.”
“Great. Now about this meeting.” He handed a portfolio to her. “Here’s the basic information you’ll need to know this afternoon. We’ll be meeting with the board to—”
Teresa’s phone dinged and she picked it up. She grinned, turning the screen toward him. “Matt loves the idea. Now I just hope I can find a venue for our preferred date.”
Liam flipped his wrist and looked at his watch. It was clear Teresa wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else until she had some peace of mind about finding a venue.
Liam placed a call to his assistant.
“Duncan, please email Teresa St. Claire our list of preferred hotel venues in Napa Valley. Preferably those near a vineyard. And be sure to copy her assistant Corinne on it. Thanks.”
Liam ended the call and put his phone away. “Let Corinne know she should call off the search for Seattle venues. Then maybe we can get to the business at hand.”
Teresa stared at him. “Why would you—?”
“Same reason. I’m doing this for Matt and for myself. I need you to focus on Christopher Corporation right now, and until that was resolved, it was apparent you wouldn’t be able to.”
He opened his portfolio after she’d sent her text message. “Now let’s get started.”
Six
Gideon had been working in his office all morning with the door closed and Jessie’s first album playing. She’d hit the music charts with one or two of the songs from her most recent album. But the songs on this older EP were far better. Her voice had a raw edge that reminded him of Alicia Keys’s first album. And the songs all seemed so personal and heartrending.
He couldn’t help thinking of her older sister Geneva and how heartsick he’d been when she’d broken it off with him. But he was also reminded of the day two years later when Jessie had shown up at his place.
Gideon couldn’t help cringing at the memory.
He didn’t regret rejecting Jessie’s advances then. It was the right thing to do. But he did regret how he’d handled the encounter. He would never forget the heartbreak and pain in those dark brown eyes. It haunted him still.
Gideon paused as he listened to the song.
“I was so young. Did you have to be so cruel? All I ever really wanted was you.”
He rubbed his jaw.
Was the song about their encounter that day?
Maybe it made him arrogant to speculate whether the incident between him and Jessie had been the inspiration for the song. But it’d been fifteen years, and he hadn’t been able to get that day out of his mind. Was it really so implausible that it’d had a lasting impact on her, too?
Gideon massaged the base of his skull, where tension always gathered.
The Humphrey sisters.
Painful memories of both Geneva and Jessie were inextricable parts of his past. As were the happy memories of them that he’d always treasure. So he could never regret the rainy Saturday afternoon he’d first encountered the pair at a local movie theater. Or the ways in which that encounter had shaped his life.
As painful as it’d been, the dissolution of his relationship with Geneva had been the best thing for both of them. He wouldn’t be the man he was today if not for his drive to prove Geneva and her snobby, elitist parents wrong.
It had taken a while for him to get over the sting of her rejection, but Gideon harbored no regrets about Geneva. But Jessie... He groaned.
Jessie was another matter altogether.
He’d considered contacting her, if for no other reason than to apologize for handling the situation so badly. But he’d decided against it.
He would welcome the chance to make peace with Jessie. But he wouldn’t reopen an old wound just to absolve himself of guilt.
There was no point in revisiting old hurts. What was done was done.
So despite his desire to make it up to Jessie for hurting her, some relationships were better left in the past.
Seven
Liam lagged a bit behind Teresa and Evelyn Montague, the manager of The Goblet Hotel and Vineyards in Napa Valley, as the woman offered them a tour of the facility.
The vineyards and the grounds of the hotel were lovely. The hotel itself had loads of charm, something he knew both Matt and Teresa would appreciate. The art deco style hotel featured lots of chrome, silver, black and red. The furniture and wallpaper sported bold geometric shapes. The lighting, the mirrors, and much of the furniture and finishes exuded an iconic elegance of days past. Yet the hotel was tastefully modern and chic. The Goblet offered style and luxury without being pretentious.
It was the reason he’d fallen in love with the place when he’d visited it several years ago.
“I can’t believe that you can accommodate our event on such short notice. A hotel this beautiful... I was sure you’d be booked.” Teresa’s eyes roamed the sumptuous space as they entered one of the ballrooms.
“Yes, well...” Evelyn glanced back at him, then cleared her throat. “We had some cancellations.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Teresa stared at the woman, following her gaze. She looked at Liam quizzically, the wheels turning in that pretty head of hers. She returned her gaze to Evelyn. “But it certainly worked out to my advantage, for which I’m appreciative.”
Her thank-you seemed to be addressed to both him and Evelyn.
Teresa flipped her blond hair over her shoulder and straightened her suit jacket. “I’ve seen all I need to see. I’m prepared to sign the paperwork as soon as it’s ready.”
“Very good.” Evelyn nodded. “I have a couple of items to handle first. So please, enjoy lunch and cocktails on the house. The covered patio overlooking the vineyard is quite lovely.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.” Teresa’s blue eyes glinted in the sunlight spilling through the windows.
They followed the woman to the dining space, then she whispered something to their server before excusing herself.
There was an awkward lull of silence between them as they reviewed their menus. Finally, Teresa spoke.
“I honestly can’t thank you enough, Liam.”
“For?” He raised a brow, still surveying his menu. The offerings had changed since last he was there.
“For recommending Napa Valley and The Goblet.” She put her menu down and leaned forward. “More importantly, thank you for whatever you did to convince them to make space for our event.”
“Me?” He feigned ignorance.
“Please don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. I saw the look Evelyn exchanged with you. There was no cancellation, was there?”
Liam put his menu down and straightened his tie without response. He avoided her mesmerizing blue eyes, for fear his would reveal anything more.
He said instead, “What looks good to you?”
* * *
You.
Teresa bit back the automatic response perched on the edge of her tongue.
&
nbsp; He was wearing a lightweight gray gabardine suit that fit him to perfection. His baby-blue shirt nicely complemented the icy blue eyes that calmly assessed her.
“You didn’t answer my question.” She sipped her water. “You must’ve gone to a lot of trouble to make this happen. As grateful as I am for what you’ve done, I’m completely perplexed. Why would you go to such lengths to help me?”
“Matt’s my best friend, and I try to help my friends whenever I can. They’d do the same for me.”
“You’re a bit of a fixer yourself.”
Liam chuckled. “Never thought of it that way before.”
She hadn’t heard the sound of his laugh in so long. It was nice to hear it again.
“Well, even if you did this for Matt, I want you to know how much I appreciate it. With everything that’s been going on lately...” Her shoulders tensed as the weight of the rumors and lost business settled on her again. “Limitless Events won’t survive if I don’t pull this off. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He furrowed his brow. “And I’m sorry I accused you of leaking information about us to the media. Someone is obviously trying to damage your business and reputation.”
“Do you have any idea who might’ve done it? Not many people knew about us. And I don’t believe any of them would ever do something like this.”
“Isn’t it more likely it was one of the reporters you invited to your events?”
“Are you suggesting this is my fault because I invited the media?”
“No. But you can’t blame me for being wary of them until we get to the bottom of this.”
That she could understand.
What she couldn’t understand was why Liam insisted on accompanying her on the trip and touring the hotel with her.
Did he really expect her to believe he’d done all of that because he and Matt were best friends or because of their collaboration on the Sasha Project?
“Are you sure it’s a good idea for us to stay overnight at the same hotel with all of the rumors already out there about us?” She glanced at the server, who seemed to be staring at them whenever she looked up.
“We’re both part of Christopher Corporation for now. This is a working trip. Duncan is still trying to get me an early-morning meeting with the CEO of a local medical technology company I’ve been eyeing. It’d make an excellent acquisition for our portfolio, but the owner isn’t very enthusiastic about the possibility.”
“I didn’t realize Christopher Corporation dabbled in the medical field.”
“Our interests are quite diverse. Real estate, technology, entertainment...any solid investment that piques my interest and will provide a good return.
“If you’d read the company material I had sent over, you’d know this.”
She ignored the jab. “So maybe this medical tech company just isn’t interested in selling.”
“I have it on good authority they are. I get the sense they just don’t want to sell to me.”
Liam thanked the sommelier when he brought out the bottle of four-year-old cabernet sauvignon Evelyn had recommended and decanted it. Then the server brought their appetizers. Artisanal cheeses with a charcuterie tray and crackers, both house-made.
“Why wouldn’t they want to sell to you?” Teresa sipped her cabernet. The savory, full-bodied liquid, bursting with the flavor of plums and berries, rolled over her tongue.
Liam’s cheeks and forehead flushed as he studied her intently. He loosened his tie. “I’d say it has everything to do with the kind of person my father was.”
“Linus shouldn’t be an issue for them anymore.” Teresa hoped she didn’t sound insensitive.
“The culture and philosophy of a company often survive its founder. Especially when a family member takes over.” Liam swirled the dark liquid in his glass, then took a sip. “They probably suspect I’ll run the company the same way.”
“Show them that isn’t true.” Teresa piled duck prosciutto and Fourme d’Ambert onto a cracker and took a bite. “Oh my God. That’s good,” she muttered, one hand shielding her full mouth.
Liam’s eyes darkened and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. He spread duck rillettes and a savory goat cheese on a toasted baguette. “If they’d returned any of the calls Duncan made to them, I’d happily reassure them I’m nothing like my father.”
She took another sip of wine and spread foie gras on a cracker. “Call the CEO yourself and request an informal meeting. Don’t dance around the issue. Go at it head-on. Let him know that while you respected your father, you didn’t always agree with his methods. You have a different vision for Christopher Corporation. One you’d like his company to have a starring role in.”
Liam rubbed his chin, his head tilted thoughtfully. “My father might’ve been an asshole, but people respected him. I can’t go into this deal with him thinking we’re coming from a weakened position.”
“Sometimes a softer touch makes a stronger impact. Besides, it’ll give you a common enemy and a chance to bond because of it.”
Liam put prosciutto on a cracker and popped it into his mouth.
“What I’ve been doing clearly isn’t working,” he conceded. “Maybe it’s time to try something new.”
“To new beginnings, then.” She lifted her glass.
“To new beginnings.” Liam clinked his glass against hers.
They both seemed to relax into an easy, comfortable conversation that reminded her of the nights they’d spent talking and making love. Before the will was revealed. Before those rumors had started flying, wrecking the fragile relationship they’d been building.
Teresa’s mind whirred with unsettling thoughts. About her turbulent, off-and-on relationship with Liam. Her unpredictable brother, who still hadn’t returned any of her calls. The rumors that were causing her to hemorrhage clients and whoever might be behind them.
“Teresa.” Liam’s large, warm hand covered hers. “Is everything all right?”
She glanced down at his hand and he quickly withdrew it, pressing it to the table.
“Yes, of course.” She bit back the tears that burned her eyes. “I’m fine.”
She most definitely was not fine.
Teresa was angry. With Liam for the distance he’d put between them when she was given shares of Christopher Corporation. With whoever leaked those ridiculous affair rumors to the press. But most of all, she was angry with herself. Because despite it all, she couldn’t help still wanting him.
She longed for the heat that had raged between them during their past toe-curling encounters. But she also longed for the tenderness in his touch the night he’d rescued her from beneath that fallen tree. And the vulnerability he’d displayed later that night when he’d told her about the awful relationship he’d had with his parents.
Teresa drew in a deep breath. It was nice enjoying a delicious meal and incredible wine with Liam as they overlooked the vineyard, with no qualms about who might see them. But it was the exception, not the rule. So she shouldn’t read anything into it or expect it again. She should just enjoy it.
She needed to get through the next year quietly, without any more incidents or negative press.
* * *
Liam’s phone buzzed for the third time. He glanced at his watch. “I can’t believe we’ve been here three hours.” He’d forgotten how easy she was to talk to.
“No wonder the staff has been circling us.” Her eyes gleamed.
Liam couldn’t pull his gaze from her bright smile.
Teresa was beautiful, but there was something much deeper that appealed to him. She was smart and diligent, and she seemed so sincere.
He wanted to believe her interest in him wasn’t a calculated ploy to grab a bigger piece of Christopher Corporation. That she genuinely enjoyed his company as much as he enjoyed hers.
“Is everyth
ing okay?” She regarded him with concern, her head tilted. “Do you need to take that call?”
“It’s nothing pressing.” Liam slid his phone into the pocket inside his suit jacket.
Teresa put her phone back in her purse and indicated to the server that they were finally ready to leave. She returned her attention to Liam. “Thank you again. You didn’t have to do any of this, but I’m glad you did.” She smiled. “Despite all of your posturing, you’re a really good guy.”
His heart swelled, but then it was seized by guilt over having accused her of running a scheme on his family.
“Let’s make that our little secret. Don’t want the competition thinking I’ve gone soft.” He winked at her and then left some cash on the table for the server.
They’d spent three hours talking about the mundane. From Matt and Nadia’s wedding to how Seattle’s sports teams were doing this year. Over a second bottle of cabernet sauvignon, they discussed which Netflix shows were worth binge-watching.
All safe topics.
The server smiled broadly when he spied the additional tip Liam had left on the table. “Can I get you two anything else? A dessert perhaps? I can have it sent to your room.”
“Rooms,” Teresa clarified. “We’re work associates.”
The way the man’s eyes danced made it clear he believed otherwise. “Shall I have something sent to your rooms?” He stressed the s at the end of the word. “On the house, too, of course.”
“I couldn’t eat another bite...until dinner.” Teresa rubbed her belly. “But please give our compliments to the chef. The food was spectacular and your service was impeccable.”
The man thanked them, then stepped aside, allowing them to exit the table.
When Teresa stood, she teetered slightly. Liam placed his hands on her waist to steady her. Their eyes met for a moment.
“That cabernet sneaks up on you.” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “I’d better lie down before dinner.”