Page 66 of Executive Decision

“You’re recently divorced?”

“Divorc-ing. He’s also a barrister—in the UK.”

“Ah, well fuck. That isrough. My apologies. We’re the worst people to divorce.”

“Your ex is a lawyer?”

“Nah. Yoga teacher.”

Well, there wasnoway this worked. She had to be some nubile waif of a girl. I wasnotthat woman.

“It gets easier,” Ken insisted.

I nodded, unsure what to say. My divorce was one thing. This experience was another. Whenever I visited a winery, I thought about our dad’s deep interest in our own. If I thought too hard, I’d start crying. I had yet to go to our family’s winemaking operation. Mum encouraged me, but it was too painful. Some of my best memories were of harvest time. It felt so free and calm. It felt sonormal. And now? Now, it felt too vulnerable and nostalgic. I wasn’t ready. Today would be rough.

“Thanks,” I said instead.

“Hey! Mr. Mayor! Making us late!” Erik declared loudly over the din of adult conversation.

I stared over, heart stopping, and made full-on eye contact with Cal Markham. Between the rolled-up shirtsleeves and his excellent stubble, I could not look away. I only envisioned the look he gave me when he ducked between my thighs and ate me out. One weekend of debauchery stirred up so many big feelings—a continuation of the things I felt for weeks after the first time he had me. The sexual chemistry was unmatched, but I wouldn’t risk a hookup here.

“And Cal joins us,” Ken sounded happy. “Do you know Cal?”

“Cal was one of my father’s best friends,” I said. “I am well acquainted with Cal.”

I tried not to stare as Sarah introduced Cal to the only other single at the party—a socialite. She and Cal were well-matched. She was pretty, tall, and had shiny chestnut hair. They made amuchmore handsome couple than we ever would.

“Let’s round up and head out!” Erik declared.

We piled into the waiting limo bus for our multi-stop wine tour. I decided it was time to get drunk. If I was to survive watching Cal flirt with this brunette and as I pretended to care about Ken—a lovely man I wasn’t interested in—I would need something to dull the pain. I listened to Ken carry the conversation, talking about Big Law and his partnership buy-in. I couldn’t have cared less if I tried. I was so over work talk, and sad I missed that key part of my own life.

We filed out to the first winery for a tasting of primarily dry wines.

“Bone dry. Your favorite,” I heard over my shoulder.

Turning, I spotted Cal.

“You are correct.”

“So, you were offered up to the Ken Doll,” Cal said.

“And you are the match for Brunette Barbie, Cal.”

Cal, breath hot on my neck, whispered. “Not interested. I should be grateful for being forced into this pity-arrangement, but all I can think about is watching you cum.”

Fuck. Why did he do this? Why did he constantly torture me?

“We cannot…” I lowered my voice. “We cannotdothis, Cal. This is not something?—”

“You’re going to tell me we’ll spend the whole weekendnotdoing anything?”

I swiveled, needing to face him. “Do you want to risk this, Cal?”

“I shouldn’t, but damn, I want to.”

I rolled my eyes. “You are barking up the wrong tree, Mr. Mayor.”

“And your resolve will weaken, princess. Mark my words.”

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