Page 19 of Let it Breathe
8
Chai
Iescapedto the bathroom in the barrel room to clean up. I saw my reflection in the mirror. The after-sex glow had returned.
"Ugh." I groaned.
Why do I keep having sex with this man?
I didn't even like him. No, that wasn't true. I liked him a lot. And the fact he wanted to invest in the vineyard kind of made me like him more. I wasn’t sure whether he was doing it for the investment opportunity or for me, but once I got his money, he couldn't take it back, could he?
I joined them out by the gate that led to the vineyard. My dad had his arm around Donovan's shoulders.
"I can't believe you."
I jumped when CJ walked up behind me.
"What?" I straightened my dress.
"When did you meet him really?" He shook his head and refused to look at me.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
CJ leaned in close and sniffed. I pushed him away.
"Please tell me my sister doesn't fuck strangers in our winery," he whispered. "Please tell me you've met him before."
Oh, shit.
I swallowed and nodded. My head hurt and my heart beat out of my chest.
I looked over at Donovan, concern all over his face.
I grabbed my brother's arm and pulled him off to the side.
I bit my lip, stalling to come up with a plausible story. Something that didn't confirm what my brother was thinking. His sister had turned into a slut.
"Okay. Look." I looked up at him. "We've been dating for a while. I just didn't want to tell anyone because I didn't want you guys to make a big deal about it."
"You're dating him so he can buy the vineyard?" CJ asked and grimaced.
"No, it's not like that at all." My mind raced. "He found out about it a few weeks ago and surprised me at the conference because I wouldn't tell him about it. I didn't want him to think I was with him for his money."
"So he really wants to invest." CJ looked over at Donovan and my dad.
"Yeah, I think so." I smiled, and Donovan narrowed his eyes but smiled back.
"How serious are you and he?"
"I don't know. I mean, I like him." I was surprised to say it out loud, and I liked the way it sounded rolling off my tongue. "He's a good man." I meant that, too.
I glimpsed up at CJ. His face held a strange expression. The goal was to find an investor for the vineyard. Why did he look like he had been punched in the gut?
"Nothing's final. I told him he had no obligation, and he may change his mind."
"Yeah." CJ blinked. "No. It's good. I mean, I still want to sell, but it's up to Dad."
"Yeah, it's up to Dad." CJ's jaw clenched, but he didn't say any more. He walked away.
