Page 35 of White Wedding
Her heart went out to him. “I’m sorry. I wish he’d let you come home to visit. I’d try talking to him, but I’m already on thin ice as it is.”
“I’m going to approach Mom about it. When she comes home from New York, I’ll pick her up at the airport and mention it on the drive. Maybe then I can convince her to let me visit at Christmas.”
Victoria hated the thought of celebrating the holiday without him. “I can come with you to the airport. For moral support.”
“Thanks. I’d like that. But back to Rafael—once the wedding’s over, you should go after him if that’s what you want.”
“But we’re from two different worlds.”
“Because he’s not rich? Neither is Jess. It’s not a big deal.”
A spark of indignation flared up inside of her. Connor made it sound so easy. “Yeah, but you’re…”
“What?”
The wind picked up, making her shiver. “You’re not rich anymore. Every penny you have is invested in that winery. You’re not exactly the Blackwood poster child. Which means you can get away with dating someone different.”
Ugh.That sounded racist. But race wasn’t the issue. Their father didn’t care that Jess was half-Latina, only that she was lower-class. He often claimed the only color he saw was green.
She twisted her hands together, hoping she hadn’t gone too far. “You know what I mean, right?”
Connor frowned. “Don’t be a snob. If you love someone, it shouldn’t matter how much money they have.”
Now he was cutting too close to the mark. She crossed her arms. “Love? Who said anything about love?”
“Too soon, huh?” His scowl dissolved into a sly grin. “Seems to me you’ve got it bad, but what do I know? Jess claims I’m clueless about that stuff.” He opened the passenger door of his truck and set the bottles on the floor. “Speaking of which, I need to get home so she can thank me properly for the brandy.”
“So, get going already.” But he’d managed to wring a smile out of her. She was glad her brother had found someone he loved. Even if he was broke, he was happier than she’d ever seen him.
She watched him leave, rubbing her arms against the evening chill. As his taillights faded into the darkness, she looked over the valley, dotted with other mansions similar to theirs. This was what she’d grown up with. It was all she’d ever known.
That doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
She mulled over Connor’s accusation. For years, she’d accepted her family’s wealth and privilege without question. Being a snob came with the territory. But she didn’t know if she wanted to be that person anymore.
She went inside, headed into the kitchen, and refilled her mug with mulled wine. Sitting at the breakfast bar, she sipped it slowly, savoring the taste of cinnamon and cloves. Was she a wimp for not standing up to her father? For not striking out on her own, like Connor had?
But he’d already had a head start. Even before he invested in the winery, he’d been living on his own, in a condo he bought four years ago. And unlike her, he hadn’t enjoyed his work at Blackwood Cellars because he reported directly to Darren. But Victoria genuinely liked event planning. She loved the feeling of organizing all the details, turning ideas into reality, and orchestrating a well-run event. She wasn’t ready to jettison her life.
And yet…
She wasn’t happy either. For too long, she’d battled twin demons—resenting her father for treating her poorly while also craving his approval.
By her third glass of wine, she was too sleepy to think straight. She got ready for bed, settling in with a twisty Gothic mystery set in a crumbling English castle. As long as she focused on the story, her mind wouldn’t wander into forbidden places.
When her phone pinged, she picked it up from her nightstand.
Rafael had sent a text.Sorry if I was inappropriate tonight.
So much for putting him out of her mind. She was tempted to leave his text unanswered, but she couldn’t resist.You were fine. A total gentleman.
He replied with lightning speed.I didn’t want to be.
How had things progressed so quickly? They’d gone from animosity to friendship in five days. And now they were sending late-night texts, like a couple of lovers.
She needed to put the phone down. And set it onDo Not Disturb.
Instead, she ignored her instincts and hit the call button. Before she could change her mind, Rafael answered, the rumble of his low, sexy voice making her shiver. “Everything okay?”
