Chapter 15
Willa
I was more than happy to pack up Justin's car and get back to Brooklyn.
When we made love the night before, he was angrier, like he couldn't even concentrate. It was hot and rough and nothing that I was expecting.
Yet it was still wonderful because it was him. And he still whispered over and over how much he loved me.
Though his family and family friends still intimidated the hell out of me, and I was happy to have any welcome break from them.
When we got back to the city, I was emotionally exhausted. I wanted to just go upstairs and curl in my bed and nap before I had to go work in the bakery. We still had the Farmer's Market the next day and Natacha needed more jars filled.
Instead of turning down my street, Justin turned in the other direction toward the winery.
"Did you forget I was in the car?" I laughed.
He smiled for what seemed like the first time the entire ride. He'd been pretty silent. I knew there was something going on in his head, but I didn't want to pry, so I just sat quietly and took notes on my work-in-progress.
"I thought you might want to spend some time here. I just have to check on some things downstairs, but then I can make us lunch, we can hang out."
I chewed on my bottom lip. There was something in his eyes. Some kind of pain. Something was bothering him, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out exactly what it was. His mom was a bitch, but all mothers can be. Maybe that's all it was.
"Well, I do have to work at the bakery tonight. The market's tomorrow, so I need to make sure I have everything set."
"Oh. Okay, I'll swing you back by your place then." He put his hand on the wheel and looked in the rearview mirror.
Putting my hand on his, I waited until his eyes met mine. "I can go later. Let's hang out first."
He let out an audible sigh. "Okay. Great."
We pulled into an underground garage that I had never been to under the winery.
"Was this another part of the bootlegger territory?"
Justin grinned. "This actually was just a cellar. We dug it a little deeper for wine and to add a garage for our cars and the van, but if you need more story inspiration, I'm sure this would be a great place for a murder."
When he parked I unbuckled and reached over the seat. "And the unsuspecting victim parked his car, not knowing the blonde temptress next to him was planning his demise."
Justin laughed for what seemed like the first time all day. "Oh, no! I hope she doesn't take advantage of him first."
"Of course she does!" I laughed before sliding over the seat and repeatedly kissing his neck before his hands trapped my face, pulling my lips to his in an extremely passionate kiss that left me breathless by the time he pulled away.
"Wow. That's definitely a kiss that's going in this book, even if right now it's not romance, it might need to be."
He ran his finger down my jaw line. "Everyone needs a good love story, though, ours might be my favorite."
"That is one hell of a line. Can I use it in a book?"
He smiled and leaned in placing a light kiss on my lips. "As long as you give me the credit."
"You'll get more than just credit." I kissed him again, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.
I'd never felt this way about anyone. I think the last guy I told I loved him was my dad, and besides family it was like a high school or middle school boyfriend who I really had no idea what it meant. None of my college relationships were like this. No guy made me feel so cherished, and made me think about a future.
I was completely lost in his lips when a knock came at the windshield.
I gasped, backing up, thinking we would get busted by the cops.
Then once I was out of my make out-haze I realized that this was his private building and it was his business partner, Luke, knocking.
"Sorry for interrupting, I wasn't sure when you guys were going to come up for air!" He laughed.
I liked Luke well enough. He was kind of goofy, but was the light to Justin's seriousness.
Justin turned toward Luke. "You've made your point. What do you need?"
"That pain in the ass bridezilla Mom who has the wedding in October keeps calling. I told her you were out of town and you'd get back to her on Monday, but she still won't stop. She even asked for your cell phone number."
Justin groaned, rolling his eyes. "Yeah. I can call her."
Luke rubbed his hand over his bald head. "You actually don't need to. She's in the winery, having a late lunch with the bridezilla."
"Awesome. They're definitely who I wanted to see today."
I patted Justin's thigh. "Why don't I go home and unpack, make a few cheesecakes then I'll come back after. I'll even try to sneak you one back."
He smiled slightly. "You'd better bring me back more than cheesecake."
I leaned and gave him another small kiss. "I can definitely do that."
***
I didn't even bother unpacking my suitcases and headed down to the bakery. Some time making cheesecakes would keep me from watching the clock and waiting to see Justin again.
Seriously, the man was becoming an addiction.
The last four years in college, all I'd concentrated on was writing. I'd never taken a leap of faith until I went to New York. Now, my world was forever changed.
I was in love and I never wanted the feeling to go away.
I bounded down the stairs and pushed the back door open to the bakery. I expected to see Natacha in the back, singing in one of her crazy outfits. My eyes widened in shock when I saw a tall, very built man in a tight fitting black shirt, jeans, and a pink apron, washing dishes.
"Oh. Um. Hi," I managed to stammer out.
"Ello. You must be Willa. Tacha told me about you," he said in a heavy British accent.
"Yeah. I'm Willa..." I said, raising my eyebrows and approaching the work area where empty mason jars were stacked.
He wiped his hands on a pink hand towel and turned around, flashing a brilliant white smile with freaking dimples and a five o'clock shadow. "Jase Pierre."
I shook his hand limply, staring at him like I just saw a ghost. "Natacha's...brother?"
He laughed, shaking his head. "Just because I'm British doesn't mean I'm into that kinky stuff. I'm her husband."
I blinked once then twice. Natacha often talked about her husband, but I never actually saw the guy. I didn't expect someone that looked like he could have been a male model. "Oh. I'm sorry. I feel like a dumbass."
He shook his head. "Don't feel that way. It wouldn't be the first time. When we got married, people constantly asked if I did it for the visa. Really it was because she used to bake for me when I studied in New York for University. That woman knows the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
"Well her cheesecakes are amazing."
He smiled. "Yeah, Tacha tells me you work for the jam lady. Those are some damn good jellies."
"I just follow the recipe, heh." I traced my foot on the ground.
I still sucked at talking to guys, even if it was my boss and landlord's husband. I wasn't good at talking with people, period. The only person who conversation came easy with seemed to be Justin.
"I think there is more of an art than that to baking. You can follow a recipe all you want, but if you don't add your own flair to it, it's going to taste like everyone else's."
I nodded. "Yeah. I guess that can be true with anything in life."
"Sure it can. Food. Architecture. Even wine like your lad makes."
I raised my eyebrows. "Natacha told you about my boyfriend?"
He laughed. "There isn't much that we don't talk about."
Taking a step forward and setting down the towel, he smiled. "Like that you came here as a writer and you've been spending too much time down here instead of actually writing. So that's why I said I'd come in and help this weekend. I didn't know you'd actually be in."
"Yeah, Justin had a meeting and I thought I'd get some work in."
His smile turned into an all out grin. "Well you should turn that tiny arse of yours around, pick up some Chinese food for your man, and make his night."
"Are you sure? I could still help. I'm sure with two of us it would be done in no time."
Jase stepped forward, looking down at me with his eyes serious. "Willa. As your boss and landlord, I'm telling you that you need to either go feed your very lucky boyfriend, or go up to your apartment and write."
I sighed then shook my head before mock saluting him. "Aye, aye, captain."
***
I thought about opening up my laptop and writing. Maybe even doing some laundry. But instead I found myself packing up my computer and heading to a Chinese place around the corner from the winery.
Balancing the bags, I made my way to the back door of the winery that led to Justin's apartment. I took out my phone to text him when I heard a familiar voice.
"Going somewhere?"
I grinned, looking up to see Justin standing in front of me with his hands full of bags.
"Just going to see some guy and feed him Chinese food. You know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," I laughed nervously, holding up the bags and hoping I wasn't interrupting him.
"I did pick up some groceries for dinner, but Chinese sounds even better."
He kissed me quickly before unlocking the door and taking some of my bags as we headed up to his apartment.
We went inside and he set all of the bags on the counter, one of his falling over and a few women's toiletry items fell out.
Taylor eagerly bounded off of the couch and started batting at a small cat toy that fell out of the bag.
I raised an eyebrow, picking up a pink toothbrush. "Um, is there something you want to tell me?"
His eyes widened. "Um..."
"Yes?"
He raked his fingers through his hair. "Okay. It's stupid, but while I was out, I thought I'd pick up a few things, so you don't have to keep bringing stuff back and forth from your place to mine. You could even leave some clothes in my closet if you wanted. Or all of your clothes. All of your things..."
I couldn't believe the words he was saying. All of the air whooshed out of my lungs and my heart swelled. "You want me to move in with you?" I asked, breathlessly.
"Yes. I mean, only if you want to," he stammered.
I stepped closer, feeling my lips curl into a smile. Was it too soon? Would I be making a huge mistake?
If I moved in with him, I could cut my hours at the bakery, maybe even all together. Then I'd have more time to write. But there was the jam business. "You do know I'll have to dirty up your kitchen to make jam here..."
He grinned, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me to him. "We can dirty up the one in the winery, or make the jam here and let me clean you off."
"Mmm, you make jam making sound sexy," I purred.
Pressing his forehead to mine, he wrapped his arms tightly around me. "So, will you? I mean maybe I'm moving too fast by asking, but I know that when I don't wake up next to you, I hate it. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up to your smile every day."
"How could I say no to that?"
He smiled, breathing a silent laugh through his nose. "You can, physically. If you're not ready or just don't' want to right now, just tell me no and we can move on, and eat some Szechuan chicken."
"Well...there is one problem."
He raised his eyebrows. "What's that?"
"I got General Tso's. Is that still okay?"
He kissed me lightly. "I can live with that, if you can stand living with me."
I kissed him again. "Yeah. I think I can do that."