Page 40 of Love Beyond the Illusion
I pause before speaking, “Preston is one of the reasons why you’re here. I knew he and his dad wanted to take over the winery, but I didn’t know that they were sharing that information with other people.”
“Wait.” She stops abruptly on the flower-lined path. “Sophia mentioned being engaged to a man named Preston today. It’s the same guy, isn’t it?”
I blink slowly. “Yeah, that’s Preston Waters. He’s the son of my dad’s best friend and business partner. Someone who also used to be one of my closest childhood friends and now is engaged to my high school girlfriend.”
Piper’s bright green eyes dilate, giving me a clear view of the little brown specks that dot the rim. “What the actual fuck? This is some crazy drama. What did you drag me into?”
I start walking again, and she picks up pace right beside me. “I guess I didn’t realize how complex it actually was.” I turn to her when we reach the front door of the villa. “But in my defense, I did tell you that my dad’s partner and his son were trying to take over the winery.” I give her a playful wink.
“Yeah, you did say that, but you happened to leave out that this is clearly personal and not just about business,” she says, lifting the two pizza boxes from my hand so I can unlock the door.
She’s complaining, but her body language is telling a different story. She wants to be here as much as I need her to be.
“I didn’t even think of it that way. Are you upset with me?”
Piper grabs a cold bottle of white wine from the fridge. “I’m not upset, but if we’re going to be partners in this, I need you to communicate with me like a partner.”
“You’re right, and I haven’t been,” I say, completely understanding where she’s coming from. This whole thing was my creative idea, and yes, I may be wasting twenty thousand dollars if it doesn’t work, and yes, I may have been able to pull this off by myself, but I’m starting to realize how much better this could be with her. I need to stop viewing this as my problem to tackle alone—I need to utilize her more because she’s clearly willing to help.
“No more surprises. I’m here to help you—yes, you are paying me, but regardless of that—I’m here for you.” She pops open the bottle.
“I know. No more surprises.” I head out to the patio and set both boxes on the table. Is she really going to eat this entire pizza herself?
She soon joins me, carrying two glasses of chilled white wine in her hands. Piper hands one to me before settling into the seat on the other side of the table. As she takes her first bite, I get caught by how tiny her nose is. The bottom has a more prominent button shape to it, with a few freckles scattered on top.
I stare at her with a smirk on my face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing you demolish that whole thing by yourself,” I say as my eyes scan the features of her delicate face. The orange hue from the dusk sky shines off her strawberry blonde hair, making it look like a deeper shade of red.
Piper cocks her head. “You have no idea what I’m capable of. Just sit back, watch, and be amazed.”
Chapter Sixteen
Piper
“Areyounervousaboutthe harvest dinner coming up in two weeks?” I ask, washing out our wine glasses after dinner.
Jack slides the back door shut and flips up the lock. “A little. It’s all the same pressure that I wanted to escape from to begin with.”
“Is there anything I need to know before we go? There isn’t some random, distant cousin hell-bent on taking down Jack Bradley, right?” I say, partly sarcastic but slightly serious, considering the recent events that have unfolded.
“I hope not.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Actually, I’m not.” He laughs. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were.”
After drying off the glasses, I put them back into the cupboard. “If there is, lucky for you, I’m here to defend your honor.” I bend in a playful curtsey.
“Oh really?” Jack leans back on the counter next to me, boxing me into the space between the refrigerator and his body. He crosses his arms and dips his head, turning it toward me.
“Yes.” My heart is pounding in my chest. He’s only wearing a black T-shirt, but the heat radiating from him is almost unbearable.
“And how do you plan on doing that?” he challenges in a soft whisper.
Oh god.What am I supposed to say? I can’t tell him all the things I’d like to do to him that have nothing to do with defending his honor. “I’m your girlfriend. That’s what I’m supposed to do.” Deciding to dodge the question entirely.
