by Claire Adams
I tried to stop myself from overreacting, but it was too late. Something deep inside of me snapped, and I turned, slapping Jackson hard in the face and yelling, "Leave me alone. Just because I wasn't good enough for you doesn't mean someone else won't love me. I'm lovable goddammit. I'm worthy of a good man."
He jerked back as his cheek turned red. "I'll call you next week. Have a safe flight."
I pressed my hands to my face and let out a soft sob as my tears turned into a full-on crying session in the middle of the lobby. Why did this shit keep happening to me? Was there no rest for the weary?
The worst part was that my tears weren't over Jackson or my ineffectiveness to keep a man beside me, but over the one I was giving up due to my insecurities.
I wanted to run upstairs and promise Easton the world if he would just love me.
The scary thing was that some part of me knew that he already did.
Chapter 22
Easton
I paced the floor until the sun came up. Calling her seemed like the right thing to do, but I'd watched how hard she struggled to leave me. It was a good clean break that set us back to being friends. The ball was in my court now to call her when I got back to New York, or not to call. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. I'd mulled over it a zillion times before my alarm went off that next morning. She was headed home, but I had a full day of work ahead of me.
Two resorts left to visit and no desire whatsoever to deal with the unruly bitch that ran both of them. She would be up my ass the entire day. And between getting no sleep and having Vivian walk away from the possibility of a future, I wasn't in the mood.
After ironing my suit, I dressed quickly and checked my tie in the mirror before I left the penthouse. Some part of me wanted to run into the beautiful woman who'd stolen my heart, but I knew it was better if I didn't. Hopefully she was on her flight headed back to the comfort of New York. I wished I was.
I grabbed a coffee from the pastry shop downstairs, letting my eyes move across the lobby in search of her. I couldn't help myself.
"Do you need a car this morning, Mr. Parks?" An older valet smiled at me and extended his hand as I walked up. "I'm Tom. Nice to meet you, Sir. Love your work."
"Well, thanks, Tom." I shook his hand and nodded. "I need a ride over to Valencia and then Carrington Hills. I'm going to try to work them both in today."
"Sounds fun." He lifted his eyebrow. "You know they're under new management, right?"
"I do. I've had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Tarrens before." I checked my watch and moved back as the man mumbled something about the woman being a scary witch or bitch. I didn't catch which one, but both would work just as well.
"Here we go, Sir." He walked toward me and motioned for me to take the white Lexus at the front of the line of cars. "Good luck today."
"Thanks. I don't really believe in luck." I walked to the car, pausing only to answer his next remark.
"Fate then?"
I turned and smirked. "Not at all. Fate's an unruly woman that's hell-bent on offering nothing more than a mirage."
"Ouch." He rubbed his chest and smiled. "Let's hope she didn't hear you."
After getting in the car and adjusting the mirrors, I looked into the rear-view mirror at myself and grimaced. "Let's hope she did hear me."
Anger burned through me as I drove over to Valencia. Why would Vivian not even have the courtesy to call and say goodbye? I wasn't worth a fucking goodbye? How selfish of her. She knew I was falling in love with her. I could tell by the way she spoke to me, the way she looked at me. She was falling in love with me too. Was protecting herself worth crushing me?
"I guess so." I pulled up to the beautiful hotel and got out, ignoring the valet and stopping by the front desk as I presented the attendant with a list of people and times. "I'm Easton Parks. I'll be interviewing the following people at the times listed. Show me to the conference room you have set up for me. I take my coffee black."
"Yes, Sir." The young girl's eyes widened and her lip quivered slightly. I'd intimidated her by being a jackass.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so pushy. Long morning." I ran my fingers through my hair as she glanced up.
"The conference room is this way. I'll show you to it." She ignored my apology, not that I didn't completely deserve it, but it stung nevertheless. The day was sure to be shit, but I only had it to get through and then I could go home. I even considered looking for a red-eye flight later that night. The sooner I got home and spent some time around my family, the better I would feel. It was hard to be around them and not leave filled up with love and acceptance. They were just good like that.
"Mr. Parks. What a treat." Eliza Tarrens stood in the open doorway of the conference room, her ego taking up what little bit of space her portly figure left available.
"Miss Tarrens. The pleasure is all mine." I extended my hand to her and shook hers quickly before releasing her.
"I see you have a full schedule today." She pressed her fingers to her lips. "Is there any way I can twist your arm to have dinner with me tonight? We have a new dish we're going to be introducing to the restaurant soon."
"I appreciate that, but I have two resorts to inspect today, and my flight leaves late tonight. I could ask Kevin Jarrett to come by and sample the new dishes if you like?" I clasped my hands behind my back and tried not to notice how her dark gaze moved off my face and down my body over and over. The idea of being intimate with anyone but Viv left me cold, unmoved.
Fuck.
"No thanks. Kevin Jarrett is a weasel of the worst kind. I'll be putting in a comment on just how much of an ass he is." She growled in disgust and moved back out into the hall. "Let us know if you need anything. Make your interviews to the point and don't waste our time, good?"
"Never. Time is money." I glanced down and busied myself, not wanting to give her another moment of my attention. If Kevin was a weasel, then she was a shark. I couldn't stand either of them. Jon and I would have to have a long talk when I got back from Los Angeles. Things needed to change, or we would soon find some of the goodwill associated with Wilmington and Branch diminished.
*****
I worked through the day, trying hard to keep myself on an even kilter and not act like the demanding ass that I felt like. The hotels were both in pristine shape, but I would expect nothing less from Eliza. She knew what we looked for, having worked for my boss for many years before I darkened the door of the company.
The ride back to La Mage was long due to the hordes of people who lined the city streets in search of love, excitement, and pleasure. It was Saturday night and I had one more meeting to wrap up my visit. Kevin hadn't been on my radar in the latter half of the week, but I assumed it was because he was busy with his responsibilities, and besides, I was wrapped up in Viv.
Vivian.
My heart throbbed in my chest as I pulled back into the resort’s driveway. She wasn't going to soon be off my mind. I needed to close things down completely with her or ask her to be mine. The latter sounded like a much better plan, but she was hardheaded. The chance of her denying me was relatively high, seeing that she'd done it multiple times already.
I walked into the hotel and stopped by the front desk. "Evening. Can I speak with Jeffry when he's free?"
"Of course, Mr. Parks. There's a private room at the back of the bar. Would you like to wait there, and I'll send a server in with a drink and dining menu?"
"Sounds brilliant. Thank you." I turned and walked toward the bar as a bulky guy with brown hair turned and pinned me with a hard stare.
"Hey. Aren't you the guy from the club earlier this week? The one who thinks he has a shot with my girl?" Jackson cracked his fingers and took a step toward me.
I sighed internally. Now wasn't the time. I needed to wrap up this meeting and get the fuck back to New York. What Vivian ever saw in the behemoth in front of me was beyond me. He looked like every other football-playing, dip-chewing meathead I'd ever known.
"Sh
e's not your girl, Jackson. You decided to fuck around on her, remember?" I drew my shoulders back, more than happy to remind him of who he was dealing with. I was the guy that wasn't scared to put his ass on the floor. I'd proven that.
"You don't know shit, dude. Being with the same woman for ten years is a drag. Even someone as great as Viv." He let out a deflated sigh and lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "Or so I thought. I fucked up...bad."
"Yeah, you did. I have a meeting right now, and I'm not really looking to console anyone for hurting Vivian. So enjoy your stay, and keep away from her. I'm not beyond putting a hurting on your ass again."
He chuckled. "I get that. I tried to talk to her this morning, but she went ape-shit on me. Just do me a favor – don't hurt her, or I'll find you and bring some friends with me. She's a jewel, a really, really good woman. One of the last, I'm afraid. Cherish her, dude. I didn't, and I'll regret that shit for the rest of my life."
"Right. Thanks for the advice." I moved past him and walked toward the darkened door, wanting a stiff drink and a dark room to force myself to sleep in. My body ached, and my mind was growing fuzzy from lack of sleep, but the dull pain that vibrated through me over and over had everything to do with diminishing hope.
Jeffry glanced up from the single table in the center of the large wine room. "Easton. Glad you had a minute for me. Please, come and sit down."
"Of course. I'd have made time for you if necessary." I sat down and unbuttoned my coat before accepting the highball glass he offered me.
"You're a man who appreciates whiskey, I'm sure."
"I appreciate anything that warms my blood and helps me forget my troubles." I gave him a cheeky grin and enjoyed the resounding laughter that left him. A heaviness sat on his shoulders that worried me a little. "Talk to me. What's going on?"
"It's about your associate, Kevin Jarrett. He's..." The older man poured me a glass of whiskey before dropping a few ice cubes into the glass and sitting back. "He's entitled to his opinion of course, but his reviews from this week are scathing. And in all honesty, I know I shouldn't have, but I checked his room ticket and the cameras and noted that he didn't even haunt the steak house. He reviewed several dishes from the restaurant, but there is absolutely no way he ate anything from there. I'm just at a loss as to what to do."
"Wow. That's complicated." I picked up the glass and took a long drink.
"I know. I'll be forced to talk with our owners about filing a slander suit against your company if those reviews come out. We're all for honest reviews and feedback, but I think your friend has gone off the deep end." Jeffry sat down and let out a long sigh. "It happens when people gain some false sense of power."
"Those reviews won't be posted, Jeffry. I'll talk to Jon on my flight back tonight. We'll get all of this worked out for you, I promise. I tried several dishes, and one of the women I met here this week is working toward being a food critic, too. I know she tried several dishes of yours and absolutely fell in love. I would assume Jon will have Kevin's job for what he's done. We'll work with the girl to review her recommendations and critiques. We'll need to post something alongside my review of the resort for sure."
"Which you found pleasant, I hope?"
"It was wonderful, spectacular, like no other place I've ever stayed." I tapped the table, wanting to reassure him completely, but there was a level of objectivity that I was required to maintain. "This is by far, my favorite beach resort in the states. You guys are doing a great job here."
His eyes filled with tears as he nodded. "Thank you."
"Of course." I lifted the drink to my lips and downed the rest of it. "I'm going to catch an early flight. Call if you need anything, but trust me, I'll fix this."
"I know you will. Thank you, son." He reached out and shook my hand firmly. "Come back any time, and introduce me to your new friend. I love meeting a good food critic. They're always so in touch with the things in life that woo us to keep going."
"Like love?"
"Yes, and passion, colors, and nature." He smiled and nodded to the door. "Catch that flight and be safe."
"I will." I turned and jogged toward the elevator, knowing that I couldn't let her go. I might have to play it safe around her for a while, but once she opened up to me, even a little, I was diving in as deep as she would let me.
Jeffry was right about her type. She was brimming with emotion and passion, but she'd tucked it away due to her heartache. I didn't just want to offer her a solid relationship and a future with us together, but a career with a focus on the things she seemed to love so much.
I packed up quickly and caught a cab to the airport as my heart raced in my chest. My mother's advice to play it safe was sliding off the table almost too fast. I'd resolved the anger inside of me over Viv tucking tail and running. I would have too if I had been through some of the shit she had over the years.
Pulling out my cell phone, I called Jon, hoping to get my mind off of everything for a little while at least.
"This is Jon."
"Hey, boss. It's Easton. I'm headed back to New York. Do you have time to meet up with me sometime tomorrow or Monday before my flight to L.A.?"
"Sure do. How was La Mage? Did they treat you right?"
"Brilliant, as always. I enjoyed myself, and the other resorts were classy, clean, and delightful as well." I coughed into my hand, trying to think through how I was going to bring up Kevin yet again. Jon knew how I felt about the guy, but he seemed to believe that I had a bias toward the wayward food critic, which I did. He was an ass, though he played it off well in front of Jon and everyone else in the company.
"Perfect. I'll make time. Just call Sherry and set something up."
"Alright. I'll talk to you then." I dropped the call and texted his secretary, Sherry, setting up a thirty minute meeting. Talking in person would go over much better than over the phone. With the idea of a pending lawsuit over Kevin's actions, I had just the right amount of ammo to get him fired.
And lucky for us, I knew the perfect girl for his position.
Chapter 23
Vivian
The flight home was delayed by seven hours, which put us back in New York in time to change into our pajamas and get to bed. I was so beat from being up the night before that I had to have Case drive us back to the dorm room. I slept like a rock until she finally pushed at my shoulder just before lunch on Sunday.
"Hey. My mom wants me to come spend the night with them. I'm going to drive up there if you're gonna be okay here by yourself." She sat down on the edge of my bed, speaking far too fast for what I was capable of comprehending.
"What? Where are you going?" I pressed my palms to my eyes and stretched out.
"My mom's. I'll be back tomorrow sometime."
"What about class?" I drug my fingers down my face and grunted as I turned onto my side.
"I'll just make something up. A delay or something from the trip. I'll be back tomorrow night. You want to go with me?" She tugged at the covers playfully.
"No, but thanks." I rolled over to the other side of the bed and stood up. "What time is it? I feel like I'm coming out of a coma."
"It's twelve-forty." She got up and moved back to her bed, zipping up a small duffel bag before tugging the strap over her shoulder. "You sure you don't want to come?"
"No. I want to start working on my post-college plan." I yawned loudly and moved to give her a quick hug. "I'm going to jump in the shower. Be safe on your trip and text me when you get there."
"Okay." She caught my wrist as I turned to go. "No hanging out with Jackson, right?"
"No. Never. I'm done with him, no matter what." I gave her a weak smile and walked into the small bathroom, closing the door behind me. A week ago, I would definitely have hung out with Jackson in hopes of figuring out how we could work through all the shit we'd been through. But now, after meeting someone like Easton, there was no way.
The thought of the handsome, dark-haired businessman caused a longing to rise up inside of
me that I couldn't ever remember feeling so strongly. He would be headed home some time in the next few days, and while I shouldn't have, I expected a call from him. After leaving him without as much as a goodbye, I didn't deserve a call from him, but something told me that our love affair wasn't over just yet.
I washed up quickly and braided my wet hair before pulling on a pair of jeans and tugging a bulky sweater over my t-shirt. After lacing up my boots, I grabbed my scarf, gloves, keys, and library card. I wanted to do some research, and the library would be open on campus by then.
There was a serenity to the place that I adored. There was nothing else like it in all of New York. I needed to keep my mind busy, but my emotions at rest. The college library would help me do just that.
I picked up my favorite coffee at the corner vendor just down from the shade trees on campus and walked languidly toward the large, ornate structure. I wanted Easton to call and tell me he was home, but I would have to bide my time seeing that I didn't get the specifics on when he was flying back into town.
"This is assuming of course that he even wants to see you." I moved back as a group of guys walked out of the library, the last one holding the door for me and smiling brightly.
"Morning." He winked, and I smiled, trying to play nice as best I could.
"Morning," I mumbled and walked in as I breathed in deeply. The smell of old books was one of my favorites. That and a good strong cup of coffee was my idea of heaven. I couldn't help but wonder what Easton's favorite scents were. Our twenty-question game was cut off far too early, but it was my fault. I hoped to have the chance to reconcile that.
Taking the stairs to the third floor, I found an open cubbyhole desk with a computer that was working a few minutes later. Setting my stuff on the desk beside the computer, I turned and scanned my surroundings. It was quiet, and the place seemed empty.
"Perfect." I sat down and shook the mouse as I tried to think through what I wanted to search exactly. I'd looked up various websites on being a food critic, as well as degrees held by the world-renowned critics until I was blue in the face.