Drunk on You: an age gap, enemies to lovers, fake engagement, office romance (Love & Whiskey Boo

Chapter Five

The past seventy-twohours have felt like some weird dream that I can’t wake up from, and I’m not sure if I even want to. Ian Thomas has surprised me in more ways than one. He’s not only sweet and romantic, but he’s also gorgeous and nothing like I expected the businessman who was looking for a trophy wife to be like.

We’ve spent the weekend with him wining and dining me and showing me a good time while we get to know each other on a more personal level. I haven’t taken this much time off from work in God knows how long, and it’s been nice, enjoying some time relaxing and not having to worry about analyzing marketing data and consumer reports.

I came here with the goal of using Ian to get to my dad and his company and never thought in a million years that I would feel something more. So, when he told me he wanted to take things slow, I damn near lost my shit, thinking he was feeling something as well.

Thankfully, I misunderstood, and he just meant that he didn’t want to jump into bed yet since this was all new. I meant what I said about not wanting to repeat my dad’s mistakes, and the last thing I need is to start a new relationship while trying to convince my dad I’m the right person to run Kingston. All my attention needs to be on the company and my future.

Maybe if my dad had focused on the company instead of trying to have it all by marrying my mom and getting her pregnant, things wouldn’t have gone down the way they did. Don’t get me wrong. I’m thankful to be alive. But I didn’t ask to be born, and after watching what my parents went through and wishing my dad would give me the attention I craved while I was growing up, I’d never be dumb enough to do things the way he did.

With that said, that doesn’t mean I can’t successfully run the company with the vision he has. I don’t have to be married with kids to be a positive face of the company. That’s just his bleeding heart talking.

After spending the rest of the day on the boat, Ian and I went to dinner and then spent the evening binge-watching movies neither of us had taken the time to watch.

On Sunday, he was supposed to take me to the country club, but instead, we spent the day by his pool, making out, swimming, and eating, enjoying the last day of our little bubble we’d created.

Now, it’s Monday, and he left early this morning for work—which reminds me that I should probably ask him where he works. We were so focused on each other this weekend that we didn’t get into details about anything in the outside world. And although I don’t need to know details like that, I find myself wanting to know more about him.

But right now, my mind needs to be clear because I’m on my way to meet my dad for breakfast. I haven’t seen him in six years—since my mom’s funeral—and my feelings are all over the place.

I pull up to the restaurant we agreed to meet at and get out, handing the valet my keys. Ian got me a beautiful Mercedes crossover. He asked what kind of vehicle I wanted, and since I’ve barely driven since moving to London, I told him something safe, but not too big. He did good—that’s for sure.

When I get to the hostess stand and give her my dad’s name since he made the reservations, I’m taken back to a small, private room, where I find my dad waiting for me.

When our matching hazel eyes meet, I stop in my spot and suck in a harsh breath, seeing how much he’s aged since the last time I saw him. His once-salt-and-pepper hair is now mostly all salt with only a little pepper. And the lines around his eyes have increased. He’s lost a bit of weight, but he still looks like the man I remember. The man I looked up to and wanted to be just like.

His eyes turn glassy with emotion, and every negative feeling I had toward him is washed away with the tears that are sliding down his cheeks. Suddenly, the anger I felt just doesn’t fucking matter. Nothing but being here with him does.

“Anastasia,” he chokes out, standing and making his way toward me.

“Daddy.”

He wraps his arms around me in the most comforting hug, and I inhale his signature scent. It’s been six years since I’ve felt my dad’s arms around me, since I smelled his signature scent—spicy, mixed with a hint of the cigars he’s been smoking since before I was born—and I find myself getting choked up.

“I’m so sorry it took me so long to see you,” I cry into his chest, hating that I went this long without seeing him.

He’s the only parent I have left. I shouldn’t have spent the last several years holding a grudge against him when I could have been enjoying his company. God, I was so stupid. What if something had happened to him while I was thousands of miles away, being stubborn?

“No, no apologies, my sweet girl,” he coos, rubbing my back. “I’m just so happy you’re here now.” He backs up slightly, and his eyes home in on my red lips. He smiles softly, most likely remembering how much my mom loved her red lipstick. “You look so beautiful and so much like your mom.”

“Thank you.”

We sit at the table, and the waiter pours us each a glass of water, then Dad orders us a bottle of wine to share. When I lift my glass to take a sip of water, he eyes my engagement ring and smiles.

“Tell me about this man who stole your heart.”

I swallow thickly, suddenly wishing that I hadn’t lied to him, but it’s too late now. I already agreed to be Ian’s fake fiancée, and I can’t go back on my word because of my guilt.

“Well, as I told you, his name is Ian, and he’s in the business world, like us.” Since I don’t know where he works, I leave it at that. “He’s sweet and romantic, and we have a good time together.” All true statements.

“I want to meet him. And I can’t wait for you to meet Selene.”

“I’d like that. I just need to check with him because he’s busy with work.” And I haven’t told him that my family is here and that I’m using him the same way he’s using me.

“He should be putting you first.” He frowns.

“Dad,” I sigh. “You of all people should know what it’s like.”

“I do,” he says with a shake of his head. “And look where it got me. I lost my wife and daughter. If this man is smart, he won’t make the same mistakes I made. No job should ever be more important than family.”

“I know,” I agree.

“Speaking of jobs,” he says, “what are you doing for work now that you’re back?”

“I’m not sure yet,” I say because I wasn’t planning to ask him to let me come to work for him yet. I want today to be about us. And I figure, over the next couple of weeks, I’ll put out feelers and see where he stands. “I’m just taking things one day at a time.”

Dad nods thoughtfully.

The waiter delivers the wine and pours us each a glass. We both approve, so he takes our order and then retreats.

“I’ve been thinking,” Dad says once we’re alone again. “How would you feel about coming to work for me? My marketing team has a spot available.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want to mix business with family.”

“I don’t,” he sighs. “But you’re my daughter, and I love you, and if you want to come work for Kingston, you deserve to. Plus, I would love to have you working in the same building as me.”

“But not as your CEO,” I mutter, hating that he doesn’t believe in me.

“Why don’t we take things slow?” he suggests. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll spend a week working for Kingston and change your mind about wanting the CEO position.”

“I won’t,” I assure him. “When do I start?”

“You don’t need to discuss it with your fiancé first?” He nods toward my ring. “I know how badly you want to be considered for this position, but this type of job can put a strain on a relationship, especially a new one.” He frowns. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea. You’ve never been in a relationship before.”

“I can handle being in a relationship and running a company,” I assure him, pushing aside the guilt niggling at me for lying to my dad about my fake relationship.

But in my defense, he pushed me to this by refusing to see that a single woman was capable of being the face of a liquor company. Honestly, he’s only doing this because he’s fallen in love and wants everyone to feel what he’s feeling. He’s thinking with his heart instead of his brain.

“Okay,” he concedes. “But on one condition. I don’t want business to come between us. I’ve waited a long time to get you back, and I don’t want to lose you again. I have a couple other people I’m considering for the position, and if you don’t get it …”

“I’ll understand,” I tell him, knowing damn well I’m going to outshine every one of those other prospects.

Our meals are brought to the table, and we spend the rest of lunch catching up. I try to ask him about the company, but he refuses to discuss it, telling me that I can come in tomorrow and he’ll show me around and have HR get me formally hired so I’m on the payroll.

“Speak to your fiancé and let me know when we can meet for dinner,” Dad says while we wait for our cars at valet. “I can’t wait to meet my future son-in-law.”

“I will,” I tell him, giving him a side hug, happy that I came home. Even if I don’t get the position, coming back here was long overdue.

“Where are you going now?” Dad asks when our cars pull up.

“Actually …” I clear my throat. “I was going to go visit Mom. I haven’t been to her grave since we buried her.”

“Would you like some company?” he offers, surprising me since he mentioned having a business meeting this afternoon.

“I thought you had to go to work.”

He lifts my chin and meets my gaze. “I meant what I said, sweetie. Family first. If you want me there, I would love to join you. That meeting can be rescheduled.”

“Thank you,” I choke out, overcome with emotion. “I’d like that.”