Chapter 2
Eric
Staring at Emma sitting across from me in the limo, I angrily wonder what the fuck I did so wrong.
If she didn’t want to be here, then why did she come? It’s not as if I’d forced her. I’d only dangled the proverbial carrot in front of her face.
And just like all women I have ever known, she’d jumped.
Yet she is clearly hostile towards me, acting like I’d done something wrong.
Anger fills me as I toss back the entire glass of champagne and pour another.
Glancing back at Emma, I allow my gaze to run over her lush curves, remembering that first time we met.
I’d watched her appear out of the limo, her lush body perfectly highlighted by the deep blue maxi dress that hugged her waist and displayed her breasts flawlessly. But it hadn’t been her body that had attracted me.
Yes, she was stunningly sensual, but it was that radiant smile that she bestowed on Lucas as she grasped his hand. It had been filled with happiness, excitement, and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
It was unlike anything I’d ever seen.
Her smile had been genuine and full of warmth - full of softness - and I realized she was unlike any of the women that I’d ever crossed paths with.
I’d been immediately drawn to her. It didn’t matter that as soon as we were introduced she grew steadily colder towards me because I’d already had a glimpse of her.
Of who she truly was, and I wanted her to look at me that way.
And just like anything in my life, I went after what I wanted.
And right now, I wanted Emma.
It didn’t matter, and it still doesn’t, that she’d been with Lucas. I was used to women who went from bed to bed.
But looking at her sitting across from me now, her posture rigid, her body radiating a clear don’t touch me signal, I silently wonder for the first time ever if I’ll ever get past a woman’s defenses.
Mentally shrugging if off, I think silently – It’ll happen. It’ll just take longer than you’d hoped.
Sitting back in my seat, I sip at the second glass of champagne I poured and allow Emma to wallow in her anger as I think about all of the plans I’d put into place since meeting her.
I’d wanted to start a restaurant in LA for some time before meeting Emma and I had the money to back it, but I knew I needed someone to run it. Despite having my family’s money to easily fall back upon, and it wouldn’t even be a ripple in the ocean of wealth we have, I never wanted to tackle anything half-assed. I had pride and I wanted anything that I created to succeed.
I didn’t want to be known as the boy who was handed everything.
Sure, I’d been handed the vineyard on a silver platter, to keep me quiet about my family’s secrets, but I’d worked - and worked hard – since it came under my ownership. When a wildfire had threatened to burn everything I’d worked for, I could’ve walked away, let it burn and take the insurance money and never look back but I found that I couldn’t simply walk away. I’d put too much time and effort into it to allow it to go up in smoke.
So, I’d stayed, working right alongside my crew, as we watered and overwatered the perimeter of the vineyard in an effort to keep the fire away. It had worked, and the vineyard has been steadily prospering and producing every year since.
Meeting Emma had seemed like fate to me. Not only had she caught my fascination, she had the experience and knowledge I needed to start a restaurant in LA. Hearing about her dream to also start a restaurant in LA only solidified it in my mind.
Fate had sent her my way.
And I was going to help fate out and have her for myself.
After searching for a location, I had my accountant run the numbers and when I was sure it would work, I’d gone ahead and purchased the building, sure that Emma wouldn’t say no to something she’d dreamed about.
When I’d made the phone call to Emma through Reid Vineyard’s office line, I’d expected her to be excited. To be grateful for the chance to explore her dreams and jump at it right away.
But instead, she had remained silent until I prompted her for an answer.
The answer she gave me was one that I hadn’t been expecting.
She had to talk to Lucas first.
I hadn’t quite understood that because I was offering something that I knew she wanted. Any other woman I have ever met wouldn’t have thought twice about jumping at my offer.
But not Emma.
No, instead she had told me she needed to talk to Lucas and that she would get back to me when they had time to think it over. She then ended the conversation by stupefying me further when she clarified that it would take at least a week to get back to me.
I couldn’t see what she had to possibly think about or even discuss with Lucas.
But I still wanted her, and I still wanted the restaurant.
Plus, I knew women.
They always went for what they truly wanted in the end, so I accepted her time frame.
When I’d seen the unknown number displayed on my iPhone screen the next day, I’d thought about letting it go to voicemail for a moment before reluctantly answering. Hearing Emma’s voice on the other end had surprised me. After she told me that she was available to come anytime I’d asked no questions, only happy that she was on her way.
To me.
I was going to get what I wanted…
Finally get what fate had surely thought was owed to me.
Because fate had never been kind to me, especially since she gave me such bitches as parents.
As I take another sip of my champagne, I once again allow my eyes to caress her lush figure, silently consoling myself that she’ll succumb to me.
Someday…
Just as she did when I dangled that proverbial carrot.