night. ”
“ And, what did it say? ”
“ That she had to go to Princeton because it was her dream, that she hoped I would understand, and that she hoped we could stay together. ”
“ What the fuck? ”
“ That was my exact response. ”
“ Why didn ’ t she mail you the letter? Or message you? Or one of us? Anything? ”
“ Exactly. Why didn ’ t she? If she was as heartbroken as she claims to have been, why didn ’ t she send it? ”
“ Did you ever contact her after that? ”
“ Fuck no. ”
“ Maybe that ’ s why she didn ’ t send it. ”
“ It really doesn ’ t matter anymore. We agreed to talk this week, but I ’ m bailing on that. At the wedding, I ’ ll tell her I don ’ t want to see her again, and she can go back home. ”
“ Uh —”
“ Uh, what? ”
“ She agreed to work for Asher, helping to design our new wedding and event space. She ’ ll be around. ”
“ Shit. I ’ m the one who encouraged her to take the job. ”
“ Riley, maybe you should talk to her in person before you make a permanent decision. She ’ s been working really hard. The wedding is going to be beautiful. Want to know what Maggie told me? ”
“ Probably not. ”
Of course, it doesn ’ t stop him from saying, “ Ariela told Maggie that she thinks making Keatyn ’ s wedding perfection will prove her love to you. ”
“ That makes no sense. ”
“ Women never do, ” he says.
I pull up to the hotel and leave my car with the valet, our conversation replaying in my head and wondering what the hell I should do. It ’ s hard to forgive someone who caused you so much pain — let alone let them back into your life.
My heart wants to go to the vineyard, hold Ariela in my arms, and have her tell me she still loves me.
I want her to keep telling me that until I believe her.
Because after reading the note, I’m not sure I ever will again.
As I knock on the door to Shelby ’ s bungalow, I focus on the task at hand. I ’ m here to take Shelby out for dinner, get to know her, and then fuck away any and all thoughts of Ariela.
When Shelby answers the door, my jaw drops to the floor.
“ I look different, huh? ” she purrs, handing me a glass of champagne. “ I learned something today, Riley Johnson. ”
“ What ’ s that? ”
“ Do you remember the good champagne we had in New York? ”
“ Uh, yeah. ”
“ I found out that it ’ s actually a cheap brand. I think the sommelier steered you wrong. ”
“ Oh, that sucks, ” I say, feeling bad for lying to her. “ Um, you look amazing. ”
She does a little twirl, allowing me to check her out. Her hair has been changed from its usual bleached blond to a softer shade with brown undertones. Undertones are probably something a guy like me shouldn ’ t know about, but I do. Keatyn always has very precise descriptions for the actresses she wants cast in our movies. Anyway, Shelby looks gorgeous, and I can ’ t help but appreciate it. Her boobs are restrained in a low-cut gown that has sheer mesh covering her cleavage while still giving a hint of the creamy skin beneath. The rest of the black dress drapes fluidly over her curves, but isn ’ t the skintight version she usually prefers. Her makeup is soft and pretty rather than harsh and dark. The effect is stunning, really.
“ I ’ ve been totally pampered today, ” she says, reaching for my zipper. “ I ’ d like to pamper you in return. ”
I grab her hand. “ Although I would love to have your kind of pampering, you look too beautiful. Let ’ s go to dinner first.”
She freezes, staring at me with wide eyes. “ Really, Riley? You think I look beautiful? Like not just hot, but actually pretty ? ”
“ Yes, you look beautiful. And I told you, I want to get to know you better. Let ’ s go eat then when we come back I will pamper you. ”
She grabs my face and kisses it then puts her arm in the crook of my elbow, allowing me to escort her out the door.
At
“ And, what did it say? ”
“ That she had to go to Princeton because it was her dream, that she hoped I would understand, and that she hoped we could stay together. ”
“ What the fuck? ”
“ That was my exact response. ”
“ Why didn ’ t she mail you the letter? Or message you? Or one of us? Anything? ”
“ Exactly. Why didn ’ t she? If she was as heartbroken as she claims to have been, why didn ’ t she send it? ”
“ Did you ever contact her after that? ”
“ Fuck no. ”
“ Maybe that ’ s why she didn ’ t send it. ”
“ It really doesn ’ t matter anymore. We agreed to talk this week, but I ’ m bailing on that. At the wedding, I ’ ll tell her I don ’ t want to see her again, and she can go back home. ”
“ Uh —”
“ Uh, what? ”
“ She agreed to work for Asher, helping to design our new wedding and event space. She ’ ll be around. ”
“ Shit. I ’ m the one who encouraged her to take the job. ”
“ Riley, maybe you should talk to her in person before you make a permanent decision. She ’ s been working really hard. The wedding is going to be beautiful. Want to know what Maggie told me? ”
“ Probably not. ”
Of course, it doesn ’ t stop him from saying, “ Ariela told Maggie that she thinks making Keatyn ’ s wedding perfection will prove her love to you. ”
“ That makes no sense. ”
“ Women never do, ” he says.
I pull up to the hotel and leave my car with the valet, our conversation replaying in my head and wondering what the hell I should do. It ’ s hard to forgive someone who caused you so much pain — let alone let them back into your life.
My heart wants to go to the vineyard, hold Ariela in my arms, and have her tell me she still loves me.
I want her to keep telling me that until I believe her.
Because after reading the note, I’m not sure I ever will again.
As I knock on the door to Shelby ’ s bungalow, I focus on the task at hand. I ’ m here to take Shelby out for dinner, get to know her, and then fuck away any and all thoughts of Ariela.
When Shelby answers the door, my jaw drops to the floor.
“ I look different, huh? ” she purrs, handing me a glass of champagne. “ I learned something today, Riley Johnson. ”
“ What ’ s that? ”
“ Do you remember the good champagne we had in New York? ”
“ Uh, yeah. ”
“ I found out that it ’ s actually a cheap brand. I think the sommelier steered you wrong. ”
“ Oh, that sucks, ” I say, feeling bad for lying to her. “ Um, you look amazing. ”
She does a little twirl, allowing me to check her out. Her hair has been changed from its usual bleached blond to a softer shade with brown undertones. Undertones are probably something a guy like me shouldn ’ t know about, but I do. Keatyn always has very precise descriptions for the actresses she wants cast in our movies. Anyway, Shelby looks gorgeous, and I can ’ t help but appreciate it. Her boobs are restrained in a low-cut gown that has sheer mesh covering her cleavage while still giving a hint of the creamy skin beneath. The rest of the black dress drapes fluidly over her curves, but isn ’ t the skintight version she usually prefers. Her makeup is soft and pretty rather than harsh and dark. The effect is stunning, really.
“ I ’ ve been totally pampered today, ” she says, reaching for my zipper. “ I ’ d like to pamper you in return. ”
I grab her hand. “ Although I would love to have your kind of pampering, you look too beautiful. Let ’ s go to dinner first.”
She freezes, staring at me with wide eyes. “ Really, Riley? You think I look beautiful? Like not just hot, but actually pretty ? ”
“ Yes, you look beautiful. And I told you, I want to get to know you better. Let ’ s go eat then when we come back I will pamper you. ”
She grabs my face and kisses it then puts her arm in the crook of my elbow, allowing me to escort her out the door.
At
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