Crushing

by Kelly Kay

  “What he means is I’m his plus one. It’s great to meet you, Noelle, was it?”

  “You can call me Elle. Are you okay? It seems you tripped.”

  “Totally fine. That was purely for show and to keep Wade on his toes.” Meg winks at me. She is interesting.

  Wade’s lips curl to the left as he says, “Around this one, I should have permanent pointe toe shoes.” She hits him then laughs. I find their relationship intriguing. They seem totally enamored with each other but with zero sexual chemistry.

  “Well, go on in and enjoy. I’ll catch you later, Wade. Text me if you need me or have any questions. There’s sangria floating around, but the good stuff is in the tasting room being poured by Samantha.” Wade winks at me and squeezes my shoulder as they turn towards the courtyard. Meg walks away, hiking up her grass skirt again.

  “Randy, come find me to dance. See you later, Noelle. I mean Elle!” She yells over her shoulder.

  Asher strolls down the hill from the trolley drop at the end of the first batch arrivals. I set up the Trolley to bring people from a more considerable parking lot towards the front of the property. I haven’t seen him in almost a month. We text occasionally. I’m aware he wants more from me. My back goes stick straight when I realize he has a tall, thin, and leggy date with him.

  She’s wearing a gold shimmering mini dress, more Ibiza tiki bar than the cruise ship kitsch that we’ve set up here. She makes the rest of us look out of place. She has to be a foot taller than I am with the opposite coloring. She has that rich skin tone I envied the Balinese women. Long dark hair that cascades down her delicate back. Her alluring eyes are inky and intriguing, whereas my round green globes are too bright, round and obvious. My chest flushes and my cheeks burn as Asher approaches. She’s otherworldly and clearly a decade younger than me and two than Asher. Huh. Maybe he doesn’t want more from me.

  “Stunning! My darling angel, Noelle, as always, you’re stunning.”

  Asher wraps his arms around me and picks me up slightly like I’m a little girl at a birthday party.

  “Asher. Good to see you.”

  I kiss his cheek slightly, and I see Josh come around the corner. I don’t know whether he’s jealous or annoyed, but he’s staring with laser focus at Asher. Then to me, then to the mysterious dark beauty with the tiniest ass I’ve ever seen on a human adult.

  “Thank you so much for the invite, my soft feather. These parties are always epic.”

  Did he just call me a soft feather? Every time he just digs himself deeper.

  I turn to his date. “Hi. I’m Noelle.” She doesn’t shake my hand but lifts one arm and half-waves instead. Josh stands to the side and is staring with his mouth open. Duh. Who wouldn’t stare at her? Even Randy’s staring. I’m wearing stupid strappy wedges, looking chunky and clunky. Somehow my shoes are making me even shorter, and she’s in black spike Louboutins. I look like a different species. This is a gazelle, and I’m like a meerkat popping up trying to get everyone’s attention.

  “Serena, this is Noelle. I was swept up by this stunner last week when I met her in Santa Barbara.”

  I don’t know what to say to his sudden love at first sight. After five months of pursuing me, I find the flip odd, but I did blow him off. And I don’t want him. And now I don’t know what to say to them. “Santa Barbara. Josh is from there.”

  “Joshua.” She says his name breathy, with a ‘z’ instead of ‘j’ sound and with a flick of her lips upwards. It’s fucking weird. Like she’s making up an exotic accent to go with her look.

  I ask her, “Do you know him? Let me grab him.”

  “No bother, girl. Zosh-ooua always finds me.”

  Girl?! Then she brushes past me like she’s Natasha from Rocky and Bullwinkle. What the hell does that mean? Zosh-ooua. He’s slipped away from the courtyard. The rest of the senior staff has formed a receiving line, and I give up my place. Mrs. Dotson’s already crocked and hugging every person.

  I run into the tasting room looking for Josh. Someone needs to hear how strange that scene was. “Where’s Josh?” My voice bellows over the room, and Sam points towards the tank rooms. She goes back to pouring after she gives me the intel. Pushing the doors open, I find him and a bunch of the vineyard workers passing around a bottle of tequila. “Dude!” I hurry to him and take the bottle. I take a long pull myself. Much to the joy of the workers who applaud me. “I just had the strangest experience. Wait until you hear this, or did you see?”

  “Oh, I saw it.” He seems dark and brooding again. The opposite of what his resort wear clothes say to the world.

  “I think I’m in the clear with Asher. But she’s a bitch. And she towers over me so I don’t think I can take her down if she riles up trouble.”

  “You have no idea how much of a bitch she is.”

  “She kind of said she knew you. Not so much as knew you but enjoys saying your name strangely.” I straighten up as tall as I can and imitate her, “‘Zosh-ooua will always find me.’” Everyone laughs at my impression except Josh. I bow and do another shot.

  He nods and says, “That’s Serena.”

  “I know. That name totally matches her whole Padma Lakshmi vibe. Exotic and stunning.”

  “She’s not stunning.” He winks at me, and the corners of my mouth go up. “She’s my ex-fiancée.”

  “Wha?”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Josh

  Not sure what that money-grubbing whore is doing here or what her angle is, but if she’s mixed up with Asher, my guess is it’s all calculated. I can’t understand what they want from me. I have no skin in this game. The winery is going to sell. I don’t get the money. It’ll go to my parents. And I’m not sure why Asher cares at all. I know he lives to put us down in some way, but that girl is trouble. A gold-digging piece of problem. And how the hell did he find her? This is no serendipity. He didn’t just meet her. Is she here to get me back? Does Asher think it will bother me, or does he want Noelle all to himself? How does Asher know about Elle and me? What shit is he trying to stir? Does he think that if he flaunts her in front of me that I’ll lose interest in Elle and he can just have her? She’s not a fucking prize to win. Nothing could be farther than the truth.

  She interrupts all the questions swirling in my head. The fresh breath of air that is Elle. She asks, “Are you okay? I hadn’t planned on this contingent, but I can move around some tables to make sure you’re seated far away from her.”

  I squeeze her hand. Always planning and controlling. I wonder what she's like when she doesn’t have a plan or an agenda. “I am. I’m glad you’re here.”

  And then she stuns me by saying, “I’m glad you’re here too.” We both take another hit of tequila.

  I ask, “What’s the plan?” Now she’s stunned as I give her control.

  “I’m going to head back out in a minute. You need to face this. Do you want me to kick them out? I can get Randy to do it. Well, I can’t, you can. Randy hates me.”

  She’s babbling, and it’s adorable. Serena would sleep with me if I snapped my fingers and all I can do is be enchanted by Elle. I watch as she takes a long pull on the bottle, and it’s fucking hot as hell. Serena’s black heart is nothing compared to the lightness that radiates from Elle. I am well aware I don’t deserve her, but that’s not going to stop me from having her.

  The only goal Serena and Asher could possibly have is to upset me or get me back together with Serena. They won’t get the satisfaction of either. I’m going to drape myself on Elle tonight. Let me see if she’ll play my game. It’s a cheap move, but it puts me in striking distance while out in the open. She can be safe and dangerous at the same time. I’m going to flip her world upside down tonight.

  “Elle. I have a plan. Come find me in like ten minutes. And forgive me for what I’m going to do. But I need for you to roll with it.”

  She’s sitting up on a counter holding court with Jose, the vineyard manager, and crew. They hand her a bottle of beer. Jumping down off
the table, she finds a lip to the table and opens the beer without an opener. All the while, not a hair out of place or a spot on her dress. Incredible. She’s oblivious to the multitude of openers lying around.

  “Sure. Anything you need. Can you do me a favor and make sure the photographer is circulating?”

  I nod and head out to find the biggest mistake of my life.

  I left, built a life that on paper looked perfect. Serena completed that picture for me. We dated for years. Then after our engagement party, and my parents’ stunt, she admitted she knew about the winery all along. I’d never told her. I never shared any part of Sonoma with her. And when I told her I wanted no part of the LaChappelle/Whittier Vineyards, she was gone in a week. Even though I make a shit ton of money, she wanted winery money. She wanted prestige, a fantasy lifestyle, and old school wealth. She has no idea that if you’re doing winemaking right, you’re knee-deep in muck, not sipping sparkling on a porch. I’m also sure that she has no idea how much money I really have. I’m grateful she was vain and shallow so I didn’t end up married to her.

  That was a year and a half ago. After Serena, I fucked every hot woman who crossed my path without caring about their names or the day after. Until the El Dorado. Even before I knew Elle’s last name, there was a connection I couldn’t define. There was a moment where we saw each other for more than what we told ourselves we were. We each believed and felt there was more. We validated each other and healed some wounded buried part of ourselves.

  Asher and Serena are chatting with local luminaries as I approach. “Everyone having fun?”

  “Zosh-ooua, darling.” She leans towards me, and I kiss her cheek. She smells spicy, a smell I used to love, but tonight it smells heavy and out of place. Almost acrid. Funny what time and distance can do.

  “Serena. Such a surprise to see you here. At my family’s vineyard.”

  “Asher.”

  Her annoying habit of using as few words as possible comes back to me in a flash. She’s the opposite of Elle, who uses way too many words. Asher puts his hand out to me.

  “Joshie, good to see you. I had no idea you two were acquainted.”

  I hate that name. Pretty sure he knows that. He’s greasy and dripping with lies. Serena has no idea he’s not wealthy. I have no problem letting her think that he is.

  I say, “That makes it even funnier.”

  “What does?”

  “That you’re picking up my sloppy seconds.” I try to take him down a bit, but he gets me back.

  Asher retorts, “Takes one to know one.”

  He nods over my shoulder, and I know Elle’s behind me. I want to fucking rip his head off for being that demeaning to her. Serena deserves it, Elle does not. At least I know he’s terrible in bed.

  I need Elle to save me, but I only hope she doesn’t freak for what I’m about to do. I never know how she’ll react to something. When she’s lovely, I think she’s purring, but she can turn on a dime and scratch pretty profoundly. Fucking Hellcat.

  I say, “Appears that way.” I turn, and the last of the yellow sun is reflecting off her shoulders and into her emerald eyes. This may be a stunt, but I am going to enjoy every second of it. She stops short of me, and I snake my arms around her waist and yank her to me. With a wicked grin on my face, I wink, and she nods with a sly smile.

  I brush her lips with my thumb, and her arms find their way around my neck. I have anticipation butterflies. She has goosebumps all up and down her arm. I don’t quite understand because we’ve kissed before. Granted, we didn’t know each other’s last names when we began. And we certainly didn’t know each other at all, even if somehow we did.

  Maybe it’s because we can’t wait any longer. I move into Elle as she moves into me. My mouth slants over hers. She slowly parts her soft lips and moves her head in the opposite direction. I lick her just inside of her mouth, and she draws in a sharp breath. It’s sweet and suggestive. How can she make a sweet kiss dirty? We’re lingering and savoring the moment. Every nerve ending in my body is tingling. Our lips barely touching and teasing. Every part of me is awake, for what feels like the first time. Then we’re kissing and it’s soft and intimate. I pull back from the kiss and we gaze at each other, intoxicated by the kiss.

  Then she pulls my shirt towards her and finds my lips again. This time for a deeper and longer kiss. It’s everything. Just like the first night, it feels as if our mouths and our bodies were made for each other.

  Her tongue tickles my teeth, and I open wider to take her inside. She responds to whatever I do to her. We’re pulling at each other as if this were the last time we’ll ever kiss. We’re milking every freaking second from it. It’s no longer a performance but a connection. It’s selfish. It’s for us, and we flick and lick our tongues together. She gently moans inside my mouth to make this the most flawless kiss. And then she pulls back and looks just past me.

  “Asher, hi. Didn’t see you there. Can I get you another glass? There’s a legacy vertical tasting in the cave if you have any interest. So delicious.”

  She’s spot on fucking perfect at this moment, and I want to keep kissing her. I really do. It might be the tequila, but the heat in her cheeks tells me that she’s feeling the same. She breaks our embrace, and I lightly pat her ass as she turns to walk away. She blows me a kiss, and I pretend to catch it. Then when she’s around the corner, I see her crack up. I turn away from the two of them and continue over to some of the guests I recognize.

  “He kissed that short, tiny gurrrl.” I can hear the pout in Serena’s voice with my back to her as I walk away.

  Damn fucking straight I did. And I’ve just decided I’m not going to stop. That was the best fucking kiss of my life.

  Chapter Fifty

  Elle

  What the fuck was that? I mean, I know what he was doing, and it felt good to help him. But Jesus, my cheeks are on fire. I felt that kiss in my toes and in my now swollen and throbbing core. There are still tingles where he was holding me. This asshole of a man who changes personalities so fast it can make anyone’s head spin just delivered the most electric, vulnerable and sensual kiss I’ve ever had. I need him. I mean, I think I’d like to do that again. I want his lips now. I can’t believe I just knowingly kissed Josh. It was so good. We’ve been on a collision course with that moment for a while. I’m so happy I’m too tired to fight my feelings any longer.

  I shake my head like I’m trying to erase lines on an Etch A Sketch to get the memory and feeling out of my head, belly, and pussy. I point the photographer in the right direction then the staff escorts the partygoers to the dinner. The DJ should be here any minute so we can convert the cocktail area to a dance floor. I circle around the cave to the dining area, and it’s stunning. There are large glowing balls in the trees to light up the tables. They’re giving off a warm glow of red, orange, yellow and a very tropical blue, that all matches my dress. The tables are skirted in fake grass, and there are fire dancers in the clearing to greet them. The servers are in place with LaChappelle/Whittier’s brand-new Rosé and light sangria, both adorned with umbrellas.

  One last tweak. I place two large blue orbs on either side of the bars, making sure they’re more visible in the dark. I tape them to rocks to anchor them in place. I look around and then open the back door to the cave to let everyone out to the alfresco dining area. I stand back and watch as everyone enters and marvels. I grin at the oos and ahhs. It’s my bread and butter, the thing that makes me tick. I don’t want credit, but I do love to see a great reaction. I love making a moment. Randy approaches, and I brace myself. He hands me an LC/W tumbler glass of Rosé.with an umbrella in it.

  “Girl, you make me look good.”

  I turn quickly to him. “You don’t hate me!”

  “No one hates you, and that’s why I hate you. I like to be different.”

  I nod to Serena as she enters the space. “She hates me.”

  “Who the amazon Bella Hadid wannabe? I think the shoes are a knock-off.”
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  I laugh and try to see them. “Like she painted the bottoms herself?”

  “Exactly. That leather shouldn’t be fraying. She’s just mad you’re going to fuck her man tonight.” I choke on the wine and stare at him. “Girl, you’re going to have to give me details on that. I’ve lusted after little Joshie for years.”

  We sip and gab as everyone’s served. The servers keep refilling our tumblers. I have a warm belly that’s becoming liquid courage. I watch Josh visit each table. He’s laughing and hugging people. There’s a rowdy table that all leap up to hug him. They’re our age. I’ve seen Jims before, he’s a Langerford, but I don’t recognize anyone else. Jims stands up and looks around, then approaches me. Randy licks his lips, but Jims doesn’t notice.

  “Darling, that dress. You are a vision. Tell me.” He hugs me. Which is strange considering we’ve only met once in passing. I can tell he’s had several tumblers as well.

  I ask, “Jims. It’s nice to see you again. But tell you what?”

  Jims gestures towards Randy and me. “Who is this?”

  Randy holds out his hand. “I’m Randy, we’ve met before.”

  Jims turns to Randy in all of his tan glowing the moonlight. Jims is a gorgeous man, and I see why Randy is lusting after him. But Jims looks completely bored. “Randall, I know who you are. We’ve slept together.” I choke on my Rosé.

  Randy says, “I’m aware. And?”

  Jims answers a question that wasn’t really asked. “My darling, that was our time, and it won’t come again. Now you, intriguing blonde goddess, who made this garment?”

  “Oh! It’s a Verandah printed blouson-sleeve cover-up wrap dress with fringe. I always say that because it was on the tag.”

  “Fuck me. It’s floaty, fun, and fucking fabulous. It’s a cover-up? You ingenious girl.”

  “I loved the print so much. I wear it as a dress. Justifies the cost. Can’t imagine getting it wet at what I paid for it.”