by Sammi Franks
As he came closer, he whispered under his breath, “I do.”
My cheeks turned pink, a combination of embarrassment and anger. “I suppose I should allow it, since that’s the only way you’ll ever have a piece of me.” My brow shot up in challenge, then I moved to talk with Max and Victoria, completely aware I’d hurt him, frustrated at how much the realization bothered me.
“Ready to get started?” I asked them.
They exchanged a look, and I almost felt like I was in trouble. Max jerked his head toward Alex. “I’m going to go discuss locations, now that we’ve had the tour.”
“We’ll just have a little girl talk here.” Victoria shrugged.
My stomach churned. Victoria and I never had girl talk. We were friendly, but it was all business. “I’ll behave,” I murmured. “I’m sorry.”
“What happened? You two spent the other day undressing each other with your eyes, and now you look at him with thinly veiled hatred.” She studied me. “How did he hurt you, Charlie?”
I looked toward the open doors at the back of the building overlooking the vineyard, which unfortunately ended up being the direction Max and Alex had gone. Max had an arm around the guy’s shoulders. Their heads were together, deep in conversation. I frowned and met her gaze again. “We were going at it hot and heavy. Then his phone started ringing and he left.” I tried to play it off. “It’s probably for the best.”
“It probably isn’t.” Victoria countered. “Any idea who it was? Did he at least tell you that?”
I licked my lips. This part made me feel shittiest of all. “He said it was his sister. The guy probably doesn’t even have a sister. I bet it’s kid-code for his side-chick. Or maybe I was supposed to the side-chick.” I threw my hands up. “How should I know?”
“Oh no.” Victoria shook her head. “He has a sister.” She gnawed on her cheek for a moment like she was trying to decide if she should say anything. A minute later, decision made, she broke down. “Last year, I helped Alex sell his much larger, much nicer, condo on the water. He downsized his lifestyle considerably. The new place, once an industrial building, was barely livable. He had my contractor do some of the work, but mostly, it’s awful.” She sighed. “I asked him why he made the change and he told me about his mother. His sister cares for her. He helps out financially. If he said she was calling, it was a family emergency. You may want to cut him some slack.”
“Why would you tell me this?” I whispered, my throat constricting out of guilt over the pain I’d caused Alex.
“I’m not telling you what to do, but you’re going to want to give him the chance to explain himself. I know you well enough to see you’re a good person with a big heart you guard like the gold in Fort Knox.” She pulled me into a hug. “And Alex is a good man. He’s going through a lot.” We started to walk toward the guys. “Oh, and Charlie, I know he may seem young to you, but the guy has aged ten years in the last ten months.”
I crossed my arms over my body, determined to play it cool, even though I kind of wanted to throw myself at Alex and beg for forgiveness. He seemed calmer when we joined them this time, more focused, completely ready to work. And when he did, I saw him in a way I hadn’t before. The guy was an artist. He was funny. He knew how to pose his subjects, how to bring out the best in them, and how to sneak in those glorious unplanned shots where they were simply being themselves. Periodically, he would glance at me to see if I was paying attention. He’d show me something he’d captured in the screen on the back of his camera. I’d stopped being angry with him. Now, I was scared. This is such a bad idea. Don’t let him get under your skin, Charlie. No matter what, don’t fall for him.
7
Alex
* * *
We wrapped up faster than we typically did during a photo shoot and a lot of it was because Charlie was helping me. I was lucky to have her, even after I walked out on her. I should have at least offered her some kind of explanation. I didn’t like leaving it the way I had. I wanted her to know I would kill to be locked to her lips, twining my body with hers. Instead, I ran out without even looking back. Without even saying goodbye. I was a grade-A asshole.
Max came over and clapped me on the back. “Thanks,” he said. “Depending on how quick you can get me proofs, I might want to have you do the wedding party. My sister would die if we didn’t get shots of her and her friend all dolled up.”
“Friend?” Victoria asked with a quirked brow. “By friend, do you mean Hawk?”
I saw Charlie smile. “By Hawk, do you mean Hunk?” she asked.
I felt my lips curl up. I liked that she was funny. She could hang with the guys and fit right in. I had a feeling that she had a bawdy sense of humor. I wanted to experience it first-hand. If I didn’t fuck things up too badly with her, maybe I would. If she gave me that honor.
“Give me five, and I’ll have everything set up,” she announced, her crisp blue eyes on Victoria and Max.
“Did you need any help?” My voice was too eager. Even I knew that. I couldn’t curb my enthusiasm just being around her if I tried. It wasn’t my fault that I was drawn to her, that I wanted to be around her.
She stopped what she was doing to look at me and I had to catch my breath. The way she looked at me, the way she gave me an intense yet devastating curled lip, I was paralyzed.
“You helped me,” I told her, trying to think of something quick. Everyone was staring at me and Charlie had this smug grin on her pretty face like she knew it. “And I, uh, well, I think I should return the favor. If you don’t think I would be too much of a detriment.”
Charlie continued to look at me. I felt myself shift underneath her gaze. “Sure,” she said after a moment. I let out a relieved breath, like I was worried she was going to reject me. “I could use the help.”
I practically ran across the room to help her. I heard Max snickering, but ignored him. Clearly, he understood my enthusiasm. Victoria was gorgeous. If she told him to jump, I highly doubted he would respond with anything other than asking how high.
She led me into the kitchen where she stood at the fridge and started pulling out cheese. In under fifteen minutes, she had different cheese cut up and arranged on a tray. My job was to stick tooth picks in them because I couldn’t be trusted with anything else, something I accepted without offense.
I brought the tray out just like she instructed me to do and placed it on the table. Charlie came out right after me with four wine glasses on a different tray. Max and Victoria came closer to the table as she proceeded to pop a bottle of wine and pour a small amount into each glass.
Honestly, I didn’t know anything at all about wine. I didn’t drink it much - beer was my preferred drink. But I loved watching her speak to the couple about it. She would get this light in her eyes, like this was what she enjoyed to do more than anything. And it made my stomach tumble with nerves. Why in the hell would this woman waste her time with someone like me? I knew I was attractive. I wasn’t a complete idiot. I had my fun in high school and in my early twenties. I kept in shape. I honed my skills. I did everything I needed to do to be the best I could, but I didn’t feel like I was good enough for Charlie. She was too intelligent, too beautiful. If I was being honest with myself, I was intimidated by her. To the point where I could barely speak properly around her.
I loved the sound of her voice. It had a light rasp to it, like she smoked when she was younger, but quit a while ago. When she spoke of wine, I could tell she was passionate about it. It was a topic she loved speaking about. I could listen to her speak about it for hours. I barely touched my wine, barely munched on the cheese. I couldn’t stop staring at her. I couldn’t concentrate on anything else. By the time Max and Victoria left, Max had bought a bunch of wine and Victoria nearly had a fit over it. Still, Max didn’t budge, so Charlie put in the order and got a hefty deposit. Which she deserved.
“Congratulations,” I murmured when it was just the two of us.
Charlie nodded her head once, her eye
s on the closed doors before she shifted them to me. “Listen,” I continued. I knew I was pushing my luck but I couldn’t help it. My mouth was going a mile a minute and I couldn’t stop it. “I wanted to apologize. For what happened a couple of days ago.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she told me.
“I know,” I began quietly, “but I want to. At the very least, you deserve an explanation. I promise you, I would never leave in the middle of that, but my sister is the exception. And I hope you understand.”
“I do,” she responded briskly.
“Oh.” I wasn’t expecting her to agree with me so quickly. “Okay. Would you be willing to give me another chance to make it up to you?”
Instead of replying with words, Charlie crossed the room and gave me a long kiss.
8
Charlie
* * *
“Should I take that as a ‘yes’?” Alex stared at me, eyes wide.
“Maybe the wine is making me all warm and fuzzy,” I teased.
“Maybe we should have more wine.” He grinned. “But seriously, I need to explain.”
I shrugged and averted my eyes as I moved to pour us two fresh glasses of wine. “Tell me what you want, when you’re ready. I’m not pushing.” I bit my lip as I considered what I was doing. I still wasn’t convinced this was the right direction. If we drank enough, I might share some of my own secrets, but this time, gentlemen first.
Alex followed me back to the bar area and sat on one of the stools. “I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but it’s probably not exactly as you imagine.” He rubbed his face with both hands. “I’ve told no one. And I don’t know why. It’s not like I have anything to be ashamed of, but I suppose I don’t want to be pitied.” He eyed me carefully. “I especially don’t want you to pity me. I’ll feel like less of a man. I’m supposed to be strong.”
I tilted my head as I poured us the same sweet red dessert wine Max and Victoria had chosen for their souvenir bottles. This was one of my newer blends. I was exceptionally proud of how it had turned out. “I think you’re very strong. Chances are, anything you say will only verify my belief.”
He nodded and licked his lips, as if he were considering his next words carefully.
There was something about the way he looked, sitting there across from me, so innocent, so earnest, so fucking handsome. God, I loved his eyes. I wanted to drown in them. My eyelids lowered. I didn’t want to be reminded of how amazing it felt when he touched me, or how my skin broke out in goosebumps when he touched me. I didn’t want to think about how great his lips felt on mine, or how his kisses made promises I was positive his body would keep. Then I slowly opened my eyes and glanced at him, wondering how he felt about our silence, curious as to how he felt about me. In an instant, I had my answer. He stared at me, his hands gripping the bar so fiercely his knuckles were white.
I couldn’t help myself. I had to see if the second time was as intense as the first. My chin rose. My lips pursed. I stared at him through my thickly mascaraed lashes.
Slowly we leaned toward each other. Our lips were nearly touching when I heard a vehicle on the gravel drive in front of the winery.
I sighed and leaned back. Hoping this would be a quick delivery and we could get back to more important business. I’d gone far too long without a fuck. I didn’t need anything serious. I wasn’t shopping for a husband. Hell, I didn’t even want a relationship, but damn if I didn’t want Alex.
I groaned when I saw the vehicle pulling in. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “Limos mean more work. Usually, it’s some collector. At the same time, if they love wine and know wine, this can go quickly.”
“Do you want me to leave?” He frowned, and I suspected he was as disappointed by this development as I was.
“Not necessarily. It’s up to you.” I tried to play it off like this was no big deal, but I wanted him to stay, even if I was too proud to ask him.
Alex studied me a moment. He glanced at the limo. No one had even exited it. “You know, I brought my laptop. If you don’t mind, I can just work here. I’ll upload the images, send them to Max and Victoria so they can choose the one for the bottles.” He grinned. “Then, after you kick out the rich people, we can talk…and stuff.”
I smirked. “Alex, I can talk with anyone. With you, I’m more interested in the ‘and stuff’ aspect of our relationship.”
He snickered. “I’ll try not to disappoint.”
“You could never disappoint…” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a couple walking toward the building. It was my ex. “Oh…fuck.” I groaned.
In moments like this, I wished I had staff. I should hire people to work the tastings. I should have someone besides the seasonal workers to help with the gift shop. Oh, but I had to have a personal touch to the business. I was convinced this was why the business had grown exponentially in the last few years. I was a bit of a control freak. And I had this deep-seated fear that if I let anyone else touch the business, they would ruin it. So, I stretched myself thin. I managed everything except my blood pressure. I probably had an ulcer.
The door opened, the bell ringing even though I was standing right there. I stood proudly behind my bar, my chest pushed out, my already non-existent stomach pulled in, and my nostrils flaring. It was hate at first sight. Nearly ten years had passed and I still fucking loathed Chad.
“Oh, Charlotte, is that you?” I could see in his face the pleasure he was deriving from seeing me working. “I had no idea you worked here.”
“Chaddy, who’s this?” The curvy blonde on his arm asked as she pressed as much of her body as possible against him.
“Pumpkin, this is my ex-wife.” He sighed.
“Which one?” Her head tilted.
Chad tapped his chin like he was trying to remember.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, Chad! I barely recognized you.” I nodded. “It’s probably a combination of the hair and muscle loss. You might want to check and see if you have low T.” I shrugged. “And Rogaine can work miracles.” Then I turned to the blonde in his arms. “And which ex-wife will you be?”
“No need to get snippy. After all, you’re the one schlepping wine like a peasant.” His brow shot up.
I shook my head. “It’s worse than that. I own the place.”
“Huh.” He looked at the place differently now and it didn’t make me feel better. I’d seen it before. Chad wondered what he could do to possess it. Everything was meant to be acquired. I decided to shut him down from the start.
“I hate to disappoint you, but it’s not for sale. I own it free and clear. I don’t have a single loan or debt associated with the place. So, you can buy the wine, but that’s all I’m selling here.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
His eyes narrowed. “I doubt there’s anything here I’d want. You seem to be pretty old and used up.”
I’d almost forgotten Alex was there until he moved around the bar to stand beside me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and nuzzled my neck. “Charlie, care to introduce me?” He grinned before whispering loudly in my ear, “Apparently his eyesight is going too.”
9
Alex
* * *
This asshole, Chad, I thought I heard, slid his sunglasses down his nose to appraise me, like I was some kind of property rather than an actual person. I held his gaze without flinching. I kept my arm firmly around Charlie’s waist, keeping her close to me. I suspected she could hold her own against anybody, but I still wanted her to know that I was here for her, that she had me to lean on if she needed me.
“Why, yes, Alex,” Charlie replied, not taking her eyes off of the man in front of her. “Alex, this is probably my biggest regret in life. Chad, this is Alex.”
“Hi.” I forced my most charming smile. “I’m a world-renowned photographer with work in History, National Geographic, and Westport’s own Sunset Magazine.”
Chad gave me a look. “You look like you’re barely out of diapers,” he muttered. His wife - I used the term lo
osely - tittered with amusement.
“That’s funny,” Charlie noted. Her low, sultry voice gave me goosebumps. “You look like you’re getting into them.”
The girl made an affronted noise and I couldn’t hold back my snicker if I tried.
“Listen wife number whatever,” Charlie began. Her voice was warm. “Chad may seem charming to you now and it doesn’t hurt that he’s rich. I completely understand the attraction. I was wife number three; I was with him before he was obscenely rich, before he was wrinkled, and before he turned into such an asshole because of the money and power. I can tell you right now that I completely understand that you’re in the honeymoon part of the marriage. He’s treating you like you’re a princess, I’m sure. Buying everything you want, complimenting you, taking you out every night. Showing you off. Jetting off around the world.”
As Charlie spoke, I watched the curvy blonde nod her head to herself. She probably didn’t even realize she was doing it. Her teeth popped out and started to chew her bottom lip. Her blue eyes filled with worry and doubt.
“But there will come a time when he starts taking you out less,” she continued. “He starts complimenting you less. He starts blaming work for his lack of interest when really, you’re getting too old for him. The thing is, Chad is smart. I hate admitting it, but it’s true. He made you sign a pre-nup, right?”
When the blonde nodded, Charlie pressed her lips together. “I thought so,” she said. “He’ll tell you not to take it personally. He’ll tell you he did it with every wife - which is true. But do you want to be like every wife? Or do you want to be different? Special?”
I watched Charlie with sparkles in my eyes. This woman was brilliant. I couldn’t stop my mouth from dropping. She was wonderful. She was quick and clever and intelligent. If I hadn’t just met her, I would have been absolutely sure I was in love.