by Reese Ryan
“I’ll walk you to your room.” Liam guided her toward the exit, his hand resting on the small of her back. The server gave him a knowing grin.
Just great.
The server didn’t believe they were simply business associates and Liam was to blame.
Accompanying Teresa on this trip was a bad idea. Suggesting they stay overnight was an even worse one.
They were in Napa Valley, rather than in Seattle where the rumors about them were swirling. He hoped they’d be safe here. He’d always been impressed by how discreet and respectful of his privacy the staff at The Goblet had been. He had no reason to suspect that this time would be different.
As they rode the elevator up to her room, his hand grazed hers. A rush of pleasure flooded his senses as he recalled the sensation of her soft, bare skin caressing his when last he’d held her in his arms.
He tried to block out the growing desire to back her against the elevator wall and claim her sweet mouth in a demanding kiss. Graze her nipples with his thumbs through the silky material.
Suddenly, the elevator chimed, indicating they’d arrived on her floor.
She exited the elevator. “Will I see you for dinner?”
“I’ll walk you to your door.” He stepped off, too. She’d seemed slightly tipsy, so he wouldn’t rest unless he knew Teresa was safely in her room.
She seemed pleased by his offer.
“Dinner would be nice. I’ll pick you up at your door around seven.”
“Or I could meet you downstairs.”
“It’s like you said... I’m a nicer guy than I let on.”
They stopped in front of her door and she opened it, stepping inside.
“Thank you again, Liam. The hotel is perfect for Matt’s retreat. You have no idea how badly I needed this win.” Her lips quirked in a soft, dreamy smile that lit her beautiful eyes. “This has been a really lovely day. After all of the crappy ones I’ve had this past week, I needed a day like this. So thank you.” She looked at him expectantly.
Liam leaned against the doorway, his arms folded as he stood just over the threshold from Teresa. There was barely a foot of space between them. He wanted to lean in, erase the distance between them and take her in his arms. Kiss her until they were both breathless.
The eager look in her eyes and the soft pout of her kissable lips indicated it was what she wanted, too. But he’d promised himself he’d stay strong, so they wouldn’t end up tumbling into bed.
There was too much unresolved baggage between them. So as wonderful as the good times they’d shared were, those moments where overshadowed by the pain, distrust and resentment that still bubbled just beneath the surface for both of them.
Liam heaved a long sigh as he pushed off the wall. “I’m going to give that CEO a call, like you suggested. Thank you for a lovely afternoon.”
Liam strode toward the waiting elevator before he changed his mind.
Eight
Jessie put down her pen and huffed. She’d written two new songs for her album, but she was still struggling to write the title song. The one that would stand as a metaphor for her ability to rebound from both heartbreak and the disappointment in her mentor, Arnold Diesman, the record label’s top exec, turning out to be a lecherous jerk.
She unrolled her yoga mat, sucked in a deep breath and went into her favorite sun salutation. It was the perfect way to alleviate the stress she was feeling, and it got her creative juices flowing.
Jessie bent over into a deep forward fold, her hands pressed to the mat and the blood rushing to her brain.
Her phone rang.
Figures.
Her phone had been silent all day, but the moment she’d gone into moving meditation, not wanting to be disturbed, it rang.
She checked the screen. Teresa St. Claire.
Jessie answered. “Hi, Teresa. What’s up?”
“Hi, Jessie. Great news. We’ve nailed down the date and venue. The retreat happens in two weeks and you’re going to adore the venue. It’s a cute little art deco boutique hotel and vineyard in Napa Valley. I’m here now. The place is incredible. Very Old Hollywood glamour.” The woman spoke excitedly.
“Didn’t want to take another chance on Seattle rain and calamitous mudslides, huh?” Jessie wasn’t sure if she was more relieved by not having to deal with the dreary weather or avoiding an encounter with Gideon.
She’d frittered away too much of the time she should’ve spent writing this album with imagining what it would be like to see Gideon again.
“With the short notice, we just couldn’t find another venue in Seattle that was both available and luxurious enough for this event.” Teresa’s response brought Jessie out of her temporary, Gideon-induced haze. “Otherwise, I would’ve loved to keep the event in Seattle where most of the guests are based.”
Lucky me.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Napa Valley, so I’m looking forward to it.” Jessie sat on the piano bench with her back to the keys. “Send the updated contract with all of the particulars to my agent. We’ll get it executed and return it as soon as possible.”
“Corinne will send the contract first thing in the morning,” Teresa said. “And more good news... Matt Richmond approved adding Chase Stratton and Dixon Benedict to the guest list. He was thrilled you suggested them. Both men were on his radar for future projects. He’ll invite them both personally tomorrow. I can’t confirm yet that either man will be there, but as promised, they’ll both be invited.”
“Keep me posted on whether they RSVP?”
“I will, and one more thing.” Jessie could hear the grin in Teresa’s voice. “I told you that wealthy music lovers who might invest in your indie project would be in attendance. Well, I’m reviewing the updated guest list and I just got confirmation that real estate billionaire Gideon Johns will be there as well as—”
“Gideon Johns RSVP’d?” Jessie began pacing the floor, her heart racing. She’d managed to avoid Gideon when the Seattle retreat was canceled. She obviously wouldn’t have the same luck in Napa.
“Yes, and I’d be happy to introduce you.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Jessie responded tersely. “We’ve met.”
“I see.” Teresa’s voice registered worry. She was silent for a moment, then asked tentatively. “Gideon’s presence won’t be a problem for you, will it?”
Part of her was eager to show Gideon that the girl he’d dismissed was now an in-demand recording artist. But another part of her dreaded the encounter. A man as rich and powerful as Gideon probably barely remembered her, while she’d thought of him often over the years.
But she wouldn’t allow the possibility to sidetrack her career. Nor did she need Gideon’s help.
“No.” Jessie forced herself to smile. “He’s my older sister’s ex-boyfriend, that’s all. He probably doesn’t even remember me. Thank you for the call. I’ll look for the contract from my agent.”
Jessie ended the call and continued to pace the floor.
Why should she care whether Gideon would be at the retreat? She should be over what happened between them fifteen years ago and over him. But her mind was buzzing with memories of the man who’d wanted to marry her sister.
The man she’d had a killer crush on from the first time she’d laid eyes on him when she and her older sister Geneva met him one Saturday afternoon at the movie theater.
Their parents hadn’t been thrilled about Geneva getting serious with a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks. But the more they objected, the more Geneva dug in.
Her sister had truly cared for Gideon, in the beginning. But at some point, it became more about defying their parents than genuine affection for him.
On her sister’s birthday, Gideon had presented Geneva with an engagement ring. That’s when her sister realized she’d let things go too far.
Geneva was about to embark on a year of traveling in Europe and she wanted the freedom to see other people. So she’d kissed Gideon tenderly and ended it.
Gideon had been devastated, and so was Jessie.
She’d adored him.
Jessie sat on her yoga mat, her legs folded in lotus position. Eyes squeezed shut, she inhaled a deep breath, trying to shut out the heartbreak she’d experienced the day she’d told Gideon how she really felt about him. But as a songwriter, she was in an unenviable position.
She needed to conjure up the raw emotions she’d felt that day. Feelings that compelled her to pen songs about unrequited love, living through the pain of a shattered heart and learning to rebuild it. How else could she convey that pain so palpably that the audience felt it, too?
But that meant that in moments like this, her wounded heart bled afresh. As if it had happened yesterday instead of a decade and a half ago.
She certainly hadn’t spent her entire adult life pining away for Gideon. But in moments like this, it was clear she’d never really gotten over him.
* * *
“Gideon, we need to talk.” Landon stood in the doorway of Gideon’s office looking flustered.
The kid was brilliant, but Gideon wondered if he’d ever have the steely spine it took to deal with the ups and downs of real estate.
Financial and real estate journals had proclaimed that Gideon had the Midas touch. But he never fell for his own hype. He was good at the real estate game and had a gut sense of what deals and which investors were right for a project. But nothing was foolproof.
Gideon nodded toward the seat in front of his desk and leaned back in his executive chair. “What’s happened now?”
“Some of the smaller investors in the Dubai deal are nervous because they’ve learned that our two largest investors pulled out of the deal. No one has jumped ship yet, but I get the sense they’re considering it.”
“You did the preliminary work on this deal. Are you confident in your research?”
“Yes, of course. I did solid background on everyone involved. I’ve run comps in the region. It’s a hot area. Demand for and the price of hotel rooms continues to climb. New shops and restaurants are going up. Investors from around the world are clamoring to get in on deals in the area.” Landon spoke animatedly. He seemed insulted by the insinuation that the preparatory work he’d done was lacking.
“That level of confidence...” Gideon pointed to the younger man. “That’s what you need to convey to any investor who might be getting cold feet. They wanted to be part of this deal and they understood the inherent risks. So what they really want to hear is that we’re still completely on board with the deal.”
Landon nodded thoughtfully. “I can do that.”
“Next time one of them calls, let them hear the fire and bass in your voice that I just heard.”
“You can count on me.” Landon was infinitely more self-assured than he’d been when he entered the room. “One other thing...we have a limited window of time here. We’ll all feel more confident about the deal once the remaining funding has been secured. I know you have meetings lined up with several potential investors, but Matt Richmond isn’t among them.”
Gideon had hoped to bring up the deal in casual conversation with his friend. But neither man’s schedule had permitted for an impromptu lunch or meeting for drinks.
“We’ve both been busy.” Gideon shuffled through a stack of papers on his desk without looking up at his assistant. “I’ll give him a call.”
“Preferably today.”
Gideon narrowed his gaze at his assistant. “How about as soon as you leave my office?”
“You’ve got it.” Landon saluted as he rose to his feet. “Keep me posted.”
As soon as Landon was gone, Gideon pulled out his cell phone and dialed his friend.
“Gideon, what’s up?” Matt answered, out of breath.
“I didn’t catch you in the middle of—”
“No.” Matt laughed. “I took a break to work out. I was on the treadmill.”
“If this is a bad time—”
“It isn’t. I could use the break.”
“It’s about that deal in Dubai I mentioned to you before. You’ve been griping about missing out on my last three projects.”
“True. They had killer returns. I’m still kicking myself for not getting in on that deal in New York. The price per square foot in that neighborhood is through the roof.”
“Precisely,” Gideon said. “That’s why I’m trying to save you a spot on this Dubai deal. The ROI is going to be even bigger than on the New York project.”
“I hear exciting things about the opportunities in Dubai. But I’m a little nervous about investing in real estate internationally outside of my part-time residences. Investing in the Middle East makes me particularly apprehensive.”
“Have you ever been to Abu Dhabi or Dubai?” Gideon prodded.
“Can’t say I have.”
“Both cities are remarkable. In fact, if you and Nadia are still debating a honeymoon destination, Dubai would be a terrific spot. It’s a luxurious oasis.”
Matt had recently gotten married to his former assistant, Nadia Gonzalez, but with the anniversary retreat, they’d postponed their honeymoon.
“I was thinking somewhere tropical, like Tahiti.” Matt chuckled. “But I get your point. Look, I don’t want to be on the outside looking in on your next big deal, but I need to know a little more about what I’d be getting myself into on this one before I’m willing to invest the kind of money you’re talking about here.”
“Understandable.” Gideon drummed his fingers on his desk. “We’re working on a fairly tight window here. So why don’t we discuss the details over lunch?”
“I’m in the midst of preparing for the retreat I’ve rescheduled. So I’m pretty tied up,” Matt hedged. “You’ll be there, right?”
“I look forward to spending time in Napa Valley.”
“Come in on Thursday instead of Friday. You and I can sit down over drinks and hash this out then.”
Gideon’s jaw tensed. The retreat was two weeks away, making the timeline even tighter. But if he squeezed Matt on a deal he was already squirrelly on, it’d scare his friend off.
“Sounds perfect,” Gideon said.
“See you in Napa Valley two weeks from now.”
Gideon hung up with his friend and sighed.
Nothing worthwhile ever came easy. His entire life had been a testament to that.
Gideon scrolled through his emails and came across the invite to the retreat again. A gorgeous photo of Jessie was plastered across the graphic. He was still a sucker for those big brown eyes and that generous smile. The one that still instantly made him smile, too.
He’d begged off the Seattle retreat at the last minute, deciding it would be better if he and Jessie didn’t cross paths. In the end, it didn’t matter since it was canceled, but the truth was he feared Jessie hadn’t forgiven him. That she wouldn’t welcome a reunion. But avoiding the rescheduled retreat in Napa Valley wasn’t an option. So it was better that he went in with a plan.
He needed to approach Jessie first. Wipe the slate clean and let bygones be bygones. He only hoped Jessie was inclined to do the same.
Nine
Gideon Johns walked into the lobby of The Goblet Hotel on Thursday a little after one in the afternoon. He’d arrived even earlier than Matt suggested to ensure he got a chance to sit down and chat with his friend well ahead of the start of the festivities.
“Gideon.” Teresa grinned as she approached him, a wide smile spread across her face. Her gorgeous blue eyes sparkled as she shook his hand in both of hers. “It’s wonderful to see you again. Matt said you would be arriving today.”
Gideon leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “I realize I’m here ahead of chec
k-in, but I’m hoping my private cottage is ready.”
“I anticipated that you’d arrive prior to check-in.” Teresa grinned. “Your room was ready at 10:00 a.m.”
“You’re amazing.” Gideon smiled.
Teresa walked to the front desk with him. “Melva, this is Mr. Gideon Johns. He’s the guest I requested early check-in for. He’s in one of the private cottages.”
Gideon handed the clerk his credit card and identification. He turned toward Teresa, lowering his voice again.
“I’m glad you’re in such a good mood.” Gideon didn’t want to wreck her upbeat disposition by going into the specifics of the ugly rumors circulating around Seattle about her and Liam. But he wanted to assure her he didn’t believe them. “You’re good people, Teresa.”
Her smile deepened and her eyes were filled with gratitude. She placed a hand on the forearm he’d propped on the front desk. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
He’d spent most of his adult life honing his ability to read people and decipher their intentions. Nothing about Teresa St. Claire made him believe she was the scheming vixen that the haters and gossipers in his circle would have him believe her to be. But in a business like hers, perception was everything.
It was a dilemma to which he could relate.
Gideon didn’t believe for an instant that Teresa had nefarious motives when it came to Liam Christopher and his family’s corporation. But as he spotted Liam sitting in a chair across the lobby watching them intently, it was clear that Liam’s interest in Teresa wasn’t just business.
The hunger in his eyes as his gaze slid over Teresa’s body spoke more of the bedroom than the boardroom. The way the man’s eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared when Gideon leaned in to speak to Teresa in a hushed tone indicated the slightest hint of possession.
Regardless of what might have gone on between them, Gideon refused to believe the woman he’d gotten to know was capable of the deceit and betrayal of which she’d been accused. But in his experience, many people born of wealth liked to believe that people who came from very humble beginnings, like him and Teresa, didn’t belong, regardless of how hard they’d worked or how high they’d risen. They were a social experiment waiting to implode. And when they did, they’d shake their heads and wag their tongues as they mused about their moral defectiveness.