Page 66 of Bitter Rival

But I can’t help but be a little bit enamored with my fake boyfriend. I wish he would always be this charming. I didn’t even know he had it in him. I’m practically basking in the glow.

“We’re currently entertaining an offer from a corporation,” Beckett says. “While it’s certainly enticing, we’d hate to see the vineyard end up in the wrong hands?—”

“And as much as we would absolutely love to keep it,” I interject, “we’ve had to make the difficult decision to let it go so we can pursue our passion project.”

“Oh yes, you absolutely must follow your passion wherever it takes you,” Gabriella says. “We’re fortunate that our children have displayed an interest in the winery. But we let them make their own choices and would never force them into something they didn’t love.”

“You say that,” Michael says, “but if I ever got wind that our kids were selling to a corporate outfit, I’d be rolling in my grave.”

“You’d come back as a ghost and haunt this place,” Gabriella says with a light laugh.

“I certainly would,” Michael says gravely, his eyes on Beckett. “I firmly believe that vineyards should be family-run. So before you sell to some heartless conglomerate, I’d like to sit down with you and go over the financials.”

“We can certainly arrange that,” Beckett says evenly.

After a few more minutes of small talk, not exactly Beckett’s forte, he says, “Thank you for lunch.” He’s gotten what he wants and he’s ready to leave now. “But we’ve taken up enough of your time.”

He stands and offers me his hand. It would look silly if I didn’t let him “help me out of my chair” like a character in a period drama so I take his hand. His large one engulfs mine and when he pulls me to his side, he wraps his arm around my shoulders like he wants to keep me close.

He’s so convincing in his role that anyone would believe we’re a real couple.

“It was lovely to meet you.” Not sure why I keep saying lovely, but Gabriella said it many times throughout the lunch, so it seems like a good choice.

“Oh, it’s been our pleasure,” Gabriella says, clapping her hands together. “We simply must do it again.”

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that everything we talked about this afternoon is strictly confidential,” Beckett says. “We wouldn’t want word to get out that we’re planning to sell so I’d appreciate it if we could keep it among ourselves for now.”

“We won’t breathe a word,” Michael says. “You can count on us to be discreet.”

It’s only when we’re back in the car that I can’t resist saying, “Since you don’t date, am I your first girlfriend?”

“You’re not my girlfriend.”

“Fake girlfriend. Real girlfriend. Why quibble over the details? And what do you mean you don’t date? Are you a monk?”

“A relationship is not a prerequisite for sex.”

“Wow. I’m learning so much about you.” Actually, I’m not. I could have guessed that he’s anti-relationship just by the way he behaves. Like a man who doesn’t want to get too close to anyone. He can’t even handle a semi-passionate kiss without shutting it down and putting up walls.

“But what if you meet the right girl, fall madly in love and realize you can’t live without her? Next thing you know you’re riding into the sunset headed to your very own happily ever after. Did you ever consider that?”

“No. Because I’m not living in a fairy tale.”

“Such a cynic,” I say with a disappointed sigh. “So why are you so opposed to love and marriage? Are you scared of getting hurt or scared of hurting the other person?”

“I’m not scared,” he scoffs. “Marriage holds all the appeal of a prison sentence.”

“Michael and Gabriella have been married for forty years and they’re still in love.”

Beckett snorts. “Don’t fall for their little act. It was just as fake as ours.”

I think he’s wrong about them. They seem to genuinely love each other but I’m not going to argue over it. “So did I play my cards right?”

He glances over then focuses on the road. “You were surprisingly restrained.”

“Why yes, Daisy, you did a great job of fooling the Castellanos into believing you’re my fake girlfriend and you might have even helped me seal the deal. Thank you so much for your cooperation, Daisy. I appreciate you, and all you do to help make my life better.”

“That’s a little over the top considering all you had to do was sit there and moan your way through lunch.”

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