Page 22 of Impossible Love

Victoria

My father is counting on me. This is the first time he’s ever put this kind of deal in my hands. He’s never trusted me to go out solo to negotiate a purchase of this magnitude. I believe this is a test, and I have no choice but to ace it.

But holy shit, he was so pissed off that I agreed to stay here a few days. He got mad that I had to hitch a ride with Cal to the ranch. He was furious that Jamie was leaving because of termites. The fire-breathing level of anger seemed odd to me.

He screamed at me, which is not all that unusual in itself, claiming that my carelessness had already put the project in jeopardy. He warned me that he expected me to rebound and give it my all. That means he still trusts me, I suppose. If he didn’t, he would have insisted I come back immediately.

Then he reminded me that I may have inherited his brains and drive, but it’s watered down with my mother’s sentimental nature. He sees it as my greatest weakness. It’s been his mantra from the day my mother died in the accident. That I’m too soft to be a real killer.

“I’m ready for another glass of wine.” I lift my glass.

As Cal fills it from a bottle of 2010 Château Margaux, I think maybe this isn’t the smartest idea. It could be dangerous to be tipsy around him. On the flip side, if I stay tightly wound, Cal will see it as a weakness. I decide I’ll find a happy medium, drink enough to help me relax but not enough to dull my awareness.

Desperation gives off the stink of failure. He needs to believe that I don’t care one way or the other about this deal. A laid-back attitude is the only way to keep Cal from acts of sabotage.

Dammit, relax!

I remember seeing a hot tub on the back deck. My muscles are tense from the day’s drama, especially the phone call with my father. I could really use a deep soak in the hot water. I wonder if I can sneak out there at some point.

I rub my forehead. My mind’s wandering too much. I need to stay on track. Why am I feeling so woozy? I’ve only had two glasses of wine. If I’m going to make my father proud, I need to take the cow by the horns. Or is it bulls that have horns?

“I need to borrow your Jeep.”

Cal has finished most of his steak and wipes his mouth with a cloth napkin. He leans back, surprised. “What for?”

I chug the glass of wine. “I need to… no, wait. What I meant to say is that I might find it informative to go out to Sulfur Springs. Check out the property. You know, just get the lay of the land. Because it’s my job.”

He chuckles. “You’ve had too much to drink.”

“I’m not drunk, though, right? Because I just had one or two or three glasses of wine.”

“Counting is hard. I get that. Also, your face is red, your lips are puffy, and your napkin fell off your lap fifteen minutes ago and you didn’t even notice.”

My hand flies to my face. My cheek is burning hot. I look down at the floor, and sure enough, there’s my napkin, half wrapped around my chair leg.

“It’s the elevation,” Cal says.

“What elevation?”

“A little alcohol goes a long way at this altitude. And even if you weren’t shitfaced, it’ll be the middle of the night by the time you reach Sulfur Springs, if you reach it. No streetlights. Lots of places to drive off a cliff around here.”

He has a point. I’m drunk. It’s getting dark. I have no idea where I am and no idea where I’m going. I hate that he’s right. Again. And I’m drunkenly wrong. This is no way to start a business relationship.

Much to my embarrassment, I hear myself yawn. It’s loud and drawn out. I smack my hand over my mouth to stifle the sound. I look at Cal. “Geez. Must be the altitude.”

“Indeed it is.”

“Dude! Do you always speak in that velvety, deep voice?”

He smiles slightly, knocking me even more off guard. I’m used to a gruff, angry Cal. Not this smiling, amused, friendly Cal sitting way too close to a tipsy Victoria.

“Velvety, huh?” He stands, pushing aside his chair with the back of his legs. He puts his hand out to me. “Come on. It’s been a long day for you, and you need to sleep. I’ll help you to your room, dude.”

“I don’t need any help.” I stand up and knock over my wineglass. “Oh, geez.” I bite my lower lip. “I’ll have you know I never, ever say geez at sea level. Or dude, for that matter.”

He grabs my hand and pulls me up and toward him. I smack against him, connecting from shoulder to hip. It feels so good to lean my body against him this way, and even though I’m a little bit dizzy, I can still fantasize about all the other places on his body I’d like to lean up against and how wonderful all that leaning would feel.

Cal smiles down at me. This time it’s a full smile. Wide and generous. He has perfect teeth. Full lips. Eyelashes too dark and thick to belong to a man. It’s completely unfair. He lowers his gaze to my mouth.

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