Page 16 of Let it Breathe
7
Donovan
IfollowedChai out the side door and into the fresh air. I needed it because my head was a mess. I second-guessed ambushing her like this. I knew it wasn't fair.
"It good to see you again, Chai," I said as I caught up with her. She wore flats, the back of her legs no less amazing.
"Uh-huh." She smirked but kept walking. She stepped on each path stone. My legs skipped over every other one, but my timing was off. She stopped abruptly, and I stumbled and ran into the back of her. I grabbed her ass to keep from falling down and pulling her down with me.
She stumbled as she pushed my hand away.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry." I held my hands up. "But it's not like I haven't touched it before."
She stepped to me. "Shut up." She pushed a piece of hair behind her ear and looked around.
She grabbed my hand. "Come on."
She stepped into a door a few feet away. We both had to duck to enter. As soon as she shut the door behind me, we scrambled down a staircase, and the temperature dropped thirty degrees. It wasn't cold but chilled. Barrels were stacked against the wall four deep, and an aisle ran down the middle of the room. Chai walked across the room and checked to make sure we were alone.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, avoiding eye contact.
My gaze laser focused on her nipples as they hardened beneath the fabric of her dress. I couldn't answer her.
She looked down and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Seriously." She narrowed her eyes. "What are you, twelve?"
"I can't help it if your body reacts to me." I wiggled my eyebrows.
"It's not your body I'm worried about. It's your mouth." She dropped her arms. "And it’s not you. It’s cold in here."
"Okay." I chuckled and dragged my eyes away from her chest to scan the room.
"Really. Why are you here?" she asked.
"I'm looking into investing in the wine business."
"Why?" Her tone was inquisitive but full of speculation.
"What do you mean why? I like wine, and I want to make some money." I rubbed my bald head.
"Why my vineyard?"
"Because you're looking for an investor." I tilted my head and held her gaze. It was the truth but not the whole truth.
She shook her head. "Not buying it. What's the real reason?
"My best friend is my business manager."
She tilted her head.
"My cousin, James, we grew up together. He's my off-season personal trainer."
She shook her head. I raised my hand.
"My high school teacher and I started a tutoring company in my old neighborhood. I chose to endorse Nike over Reebok even though Reebok offered me more money because when I met with the CEO of Nike, he talked to me like we were old friends, equals."
