“She reads the naughty books too,” Miss Kitty says behind her hand to her sister, not bothering to be quiet.
If only my sex life were really that interesting.
***
He’s going to be late.
I check the time on my phone for the fifteenth time in the past twenty minutes and scowl.
I hate late.
The front door of the Starbucks near my condo swings open and I glance up. My jaw drops and my mouth goes dry at the sight of Dominic as he pulls his sunglasses off his face and scans the small coffee shop for me, his blue eyes heating when they rest on me.
He’s in a black T-shirt and jeans. The kind of jeans that mold around firm thighs and a tight ass and make a girl forget how to think.
Damn, what this man does to a pair of jeans. I rarely see him in jeans.
It’s a sight to behold.
“You’re almost late,” I inform him, as he approaches my table, making his lips twitch.
“But not quite,” he replies, and leans in to kiss my cheek, then places a bag on the floor by his chair. “Do you mind if I order a quick coffee?”
“Not at all,” I reply, and fist my hands in my lap so I don’t reach up and cover my cheek where his lips just were. I’m like a freaking lovesick teenager.
Check that. Horny teenager.
It’s disgusting.
I pull my notes up on my iPad and read through them while Dom orders his coffee and returns to me, carrying two cups, and places one next to me.
“What’s this?”
“Your tea,” he replies and sips his coffee.
“How did you know what I drink?”
“I asked the barista,” he replies with a smile. “Not a coffee drinker?”
“I hate it,” I reply with a shrug. “I prefer strong tea with honey.”
“So noted,” he replies softly. “How’s your head?”
I tilt my head and watch him for a moment. “Headache’s all gone. Your magical leaves worked.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “There’s no magic. My grandmother used to do that for us.”
“Us?” I ask before I can catch myself. What happened to keeping this strictly professional?
“My two cousins and myself. We all lived on my grandparent’s vineyard.”
“In Tuscany.”
“In Tuscany.” He nods and takes my hand in his, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world and laces his fingers with mine.
“I’m sure it’s beautiful there.” My eyes are locked on our hands.
Pull away, Alecia Marie. Right now.
“Mm.”
My eyes find his again and I have to blink and shake my head to pull myself out of his trance.
This man is potent.
I pull away and return to my iPad. “So, we need to go over the vendors for the wedding.”
“I’d like a list of the vendor’s employees as well,” he replies without missing a step.
“Why?”
“I want my security team to run background checks.”
“That’s not necessary—”
“Yes. It is.” He holds my gaze firmly. “This is my family, Alecia. My very public, wealthy, celebrity family. I have hired security, and they will run background checks on all of the vendors. Even you.”
“Me?!” I toss my head back and laugh. “I’ve been working with the Montgomery and Williams families for two years.”
“Why is that?” he asks and the smile immediately leaves my face.
“Excuse me?”
“I think it’s a valid question.”
“I think it’s an asshole question.”
He quirks a brow. “If you like.”
I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest, all warm and fuzzy feelings toward Dom out the damn window.
“I work for them because I do a damn good job of it. I know their preferences, and I have a good relationship with them, especially the girls. I’m not star struck by them and I don’t allow my staff to be. I like them, damn it, so if you think I’d hire vendors that would put any of them at risk—”
“I didn’t say you would.”
“But you think I continue to work for them because, what, it gives me a rush to work with celebrities? Let me fill you in, Mr. Salvatore, I plan weddings and events for politicians, professional athletes, actors, and owners of Fortune 500 companies you can’t even pronounce the names of.”
“I’m quite good with languages, actually.”
“Screw you. Do you think they’d continue hiring me if I wasn’t excellent at what I do?”
“No.”
He’s perfectly calm, sipping his coffee while I rail at him, pissed and offended, and it occurs to me that it was a test.
I deflate and brace my head in my hands.
“I passed that test, I take it?”
“With flying colors, yes.”
I glance through my fingers to find him grinning at me.
“You’re not funny.”
“I enjoyed that.” He shrugs, his muscles straining under his T-shirt. His arms are tanned and strong, his hands long-fingered and I can’t help but wonder if he plays the piano.
“Do you play the piano?”
“Yes. Why?”
“You have hands for it.”
“That’s not all my hands are good at.”
I bite my lip and continue to stare at his hands as he runs the very tips of his fingers up and down his coffee mug.
I bet those hands are good at lots of things.
“Did you also hire your own security?” he asks.
“Mm.”
“Excuse me?” He chuckles, and I blush furiously.
“Yes, I did.”
“I’ll have the head of my security contact them so they can coordinate.”
“I’m going to want to meet with both teams next Friday on the site and go through the choreography of it all. Nothing can fuck this up.”
“Agreed.” He pulls a muffin out of a brown paper bag and peels the paper off the bottom, then passes me half of it. “Here.”
“I’m fine.”
“Did you have breakfast?”
“No.”
“Here.”
I sigh and take the muffin from him, knowing that arguing is futile. “Thanks.”
“I hope you like chocolate.”
“I’m female.” I chuckle and take a bite of the delicious pastry. “It’s in my DNA to enjoy chocolate.”
“I have a wine that goes perfectly with a nice dark chocolate.”
“I know. The late harvest Cabernet Sauvignon. You don’t bottle much of it.”
He narrows his eyes and takes a sip of his coffee before responding. “You know your wine.”
“I do. I love wine, but it’s also part of my job. I can’t serve bad wine at events.”
He reaches down and pulls the bag onto the table and sets it before me.
“For you.”
Inside is the limited edition white wine that I covet every summer.
“Oh,” I breathe, stunned. “I love this.”
“I know.”
I glance up in surprise.
“When I brought it to Brynna and Caleb’s wedding last summer you practically drooled over it.”
“It’s so great. I try to order some every summer. I’ll share this with Emily.”
“Who’s Emily?”
“My assistant. This is her favorite too.”
He runs his forefinger over his bottom lip. “I’m sure I can find a bottle for her as well.”
“Thank you.” How am I supposed to resist a man who brings me my favorite wine and is generous enough to offer the same to my staff?
“When are you going to come out to the vineyard to work?” he asks quietly.
I’ve been avoiding this. I love his vineyard. And I’m attracted to him. And that’s just not a combination that makes me comfortable.
But he’s right. I have to go out there.
“Does Wednesd
ay work? You don’t have to show me around. I’m sure you have staff who can help me out.”
“I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of,” he replies noncommittally.
“Thanks. Well, I have another meeting in Seattle in an hour, so I should go.”
“Of course.” He stands and holds his hand out for mine, helping me to my feet. “Do you need directions to the vineyard?”
“No, I know where it is.”
He nods and holds the door open for me.
“Where are you parked?”
“Oh, there wasn’t any parking when I got here, so I’m a block over. You don’t have to walk me.”
“I’ll walk you.”
“You’re rather stubborn, aren’t you?” I ask, as we walk toward my SUV.
“That’s what mama always said,” he replies with a laugh. “But she also taught me to make sure a woman reached her destination safely.”
And, queue the butterflies.
“Chivalry isn’t dead after all,” I mutter.
“It shouldn’t be.”
I unlock the doors and he opens the driver’s side for me, leans in to lay the wine on the passenger seat, and takes in the back of my packed vehicle.
“What do you have in there, cara? It’s packed.”
“Decorations, samples. Stuff. I never know when I might need something.”
He turns back to me with a smile, but when his eyes catch mine, his face sobers. He reaches toward me and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, then gently cups my jaw in his palm and lightly traces circles on my cheek. My nipples pucker, my breathing increases, and he licks his lips as his eyes drop to my mouth.
He’s going to kiss me. I lean in, just an inch, craving his lips on mine, yet knowing this is such a bad idea.
The worst idea ever.
I don’t want him to kiss me.
I so want him to fucking kiss me.
But rather than tip his face down to mine, he backs away, takes a deep breath, and gently pulls his fingers away from my face, leaving me yearning for him.
“I’ll see you Wednesday, cara.”
I bite my lip in disappointment, but offer him a quick grin.
“Wednesday.”
And with that, he turns and walks back the way we came, his hands in his pockets, those jeans moving deliciously over his ass and his black T-shirt showing off every muscle in his back and shoulders and every part of me is screaming for him.
Such a bad idea.
Chapter Four
“Good morning,” I say with a smile as I answer my phone via the bluetooth on my car.
“Hi Alecia, it’s Meg.”
“How are you today?” I ask and change lanes. The traffic on Interstate 5 is surprisingly light this morning heading south. I’m just passing by Fort Lewis, and with each passing mile, I keep getting more nervous.
This is a welcome distraction.
“I’m stressed out. Why didn’t anyone tell me that getting married was such a pain in the ass? I should have just followed Leo’s lead and gotten married in Vegas.”
“Getting married in Vegas suited Leo and Sam, but I don’t think that’s your style.” Meg’s mega rock star brother, Leo, married his long-time girlfriend Samantha Williams just last month in Las Vegas when the whole crew, all of the Montgomery and Williams siblings and their significant others, were there for a combined bachelor/bachelorette party for Will and Meg.
I was supposed to join them, and was looking forward to it, but I ended up picking up a last minute wedding and had to bow out.
Then Leo and Sam go and get married on me, and I missed it! Damn them.
“Well it would have been much less stress, let me tell you.”
“Okay, talk to me. The stress is my job. What’s up?”
Meg takes a deep breath. “Twenty-eight new RSVP’s since I saw you last week.”
“Okay.”
“Okay? What is wrong with people? All of the RSVP’s were supposed to be returned six weeks ago! That’s twenty-eight more people that we need to find seating for, Blake has to cook food for. Party favors! Oh, my God, twenty-eight more party favors!”
“Take a deep breath, Meg.” My voice is crisp now and all business. “This is what you’ve hired me for, remember? I have this covered.”
“It’s twenty-eight more people to pay for, Alecia. I know Will says that he doesn’t care about the money, but this wedding has turned into this enormously expensive affair with celebrities and so many people, and it’s costing him a fortune!”
I nod, knowing she can’t see me. It’s costing a fortune.
“Meg, Will wants to give you this wedding. He loves you big. Anyone can see it.”
“He does everything big,” she whispers, and I can hear the tears in her voice. All brides are nervous and worry about their day, and few handle the stress of an affair of this size this well.
“It’s a lot of people. Celebrities and wealthy people, yes, but Meg, they’re your friends. You know every single person you’ve invited.”
“I know. I made sure of that. We’re not turning this into a media circus. Only guests we know and care about will be there.”
“Exactly.”
I hear her take another deep breath.
“I’m being ridiculous.”
“You’re being a bride,” I reply with a chuckle. “It’s okay. There will be several more moments like this between now and next Saturday, but seriously, don’t sweat it. Everything is under control. We have wiggle room for extra people. This doesn’t concern me at all.”
That’s not entirely true, but she’ll never know it.
“Okay. I feel better.”
“Good. I’m actually about to turn into Dom’s winery right now. I’m going to go over the plans for the set up and start to get things underway.”
“Oh, my God! It’s happening! The butterflies are back.”
“Why do you have butterflies, sweetheart?” Will asks her. He must be hugging her because his voice is very close to the phone.
“Alecia is going to the winery today to start on things.”
“Hi, Alecia,” he says into the phone.”
“Tell him hello. Go attack him or something to take your mind off things. I have this handled. I promise.”
“Yes, go attack him,” Will agrees. “Bye, Alecia.”
“Bye guys.” I chuckle and end the call as I park in the circular drive in front of the large villa before me. Meg gets to go have sex with Will Montgomery.
Lucky bitch.
I turn the engine off and stare at the villa for a moment, take a deep breath, and pray that Dom’s assistant will be showing me around. He’s a distraction I don’t need today.
And he does distract me.
But luck isn’t running in my favor when the door to the villa opens and Dom steps outside and saunters to my door, opening it for me.
You can do this! You’re a professional!
“Good morning,” he murmurs and holds his hand out for mine.
“Good morning,” I reply. I place my hand in his and allow him to help me out of the car, and immediately curse myself when the zing of awareness travels up my arm and lands squarely in my belly, making me warm all over.
Damn sexy Italian.
“You’re earlier than I expected.”
“There’s a lot to be done, and I have some vendors coming this afternoon to drop off supplies. I wanted to get a head start.”
He nods and leads me along the sidewalk, away from the front door of the villa.
“Let’s look around outside first, then I’ll show you the house.”
“Sounds fine,” I reply and pull my hand from his to turn on my iPad and bring up my notes.
“Would you like to change your shoes?” he asks, making me stop in my tracks. I blink up at him in confusion and then look down at my black heels.
“Why?”
“We’ll be walking quite a bit, and those can’t be terribly comfortable. Sexy as fuck, but not exactly practical
.”
I smirk. Yes, my shoes are sexy as fuck.
“These are sneakers for me, Dom. I’m fine.”
“As you wish,” he replies with a half-smile, showing off the dimple in his cheek and making my nipples pucker.
Damn nipples.
He’s in dark grey slacks today. I’ve decided that his ass looks fantastic in anything. Jeans, slacks, it doesn’t matter. And he’s wearing another white button-down, this one has grey pinstripes, the sleeves rolled, and the top button undone.
I want to lean in and breathe him in.
Down, girl.
“Where are we headed first?” I ask, staring down at my iPad.
“Where would you prefer?”
“Let’s look at where the dance floor and stage are going. That’s the biggest project for construction, and I want to get a feel for it first.” I glance up to find him smiling down at me with warm eyes. “What?”
“I like it when you put on your business side.”
“I’m so relieved,” I reply dryly. Stop flirting with me!
He just laughs and leads me around the building. There are sidewalk paths that meander through beautiful, lush green grass and gardens and water gardens. The grounds of the winery are simply gorgeous.
It’s still early in the day, so it’s not too warm, but I’m glad I wore a light linen shift dress rather than a suit, since I’ll be outside the majority of the day.
“You live so far away from the city,” I say, needing to cut through the silence that he seems to be perfectly at ease in. He glances down at me with an easy grin.
“Wait until you see why.”
“Well, I can see that it’s beautiful here.”
“Oh, you haven’t even seen the best parts.”
“Lead on, sir.”
The back of the villa is as beautiful as the front. There are wide windows, opening the inside up to the amazing views of the vines and gardens. About fifty yards away, sitting perpendicular to the main villa is a smaller, one-story building with wide barn doors, currently pushed open.
“That’s going to be the store,” Dom says. “I have a crew in there setting it up. I’d like to have it up and running the week after the wedding.”
“That’s a great idea,” I reply. “It looks different since we were here briefly last year, when Meg and I came out to look around.”
He nods. “I’ve been renovating. I added onto the back of the villa, expanding my private quarters. This is my wing,” he points to the section of the house we’re walking past now. “And that side is going to be for guests. I might start using it as a bed and breakfast.”
With Me in Seattle Bundle Two Page 82