Chapter 13
Ben
My gaze kept drifting from Sherry to the far side of the restaurant. Vic, my dad’s right-hand man, had just sat down at a table with a busty blonde that looked to be about half his age. Not that I was surprised, he had a type, and once they hit twenty-eight, they aged out.
The last thing I needed was for him to blow my cover. The thought I was actually undercover, and deceiving Sherry did not sit well with the lobster ravioli in my stomach.
“You sure you’re okay?” Sherry asked for what felt like the umpteenth time. So much for keeping a poker face. I was sick and tired at pretending like everything was okay.
“I’m fine. Shoveled my food a little too quickly, but it was so good I couldn’t help myself.”
“I told you.”
“You’re going to run with this as long as you can, aren’t you?”
“Of course.” Her lips curved into a too sexy smile as she brought her wineglass to her mouth. Normally my eyes would linger, I’d have some sexual innuendo to make her blush, but my mind was on the man I couldn’t see. But just because I couldn’t see him didn’t mean he couldn’t see me.
I wiped my mouth with the cloth napkin and pushed from my chair.
Sherry placed her wineglass down and tilted her head.
“Bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.”
I hurried from the table and went straight for the men’s room.
Nervous energy bounced around inside me, and I planted my hands on the edges of the porcelain sink.
My reflection stared back at me, reminding me that I was a fool.
I stupidly thought I could have my cake and eat it too.
When in reality, I never should have slept with Sherry.
I just couldn’t resist her.
Shoving the water on, I cupped my hands and splashed my face, trying to let the cold liquid calm my frazzled nerves.
The water in the sink next to me turned on.
“So this is the angle you’re working now, Ben?” I knew the voice without even opening my eyes. “Getting in good with one of the golden girls of Vine Valley? Smart. Real smart. Daddy will be pleased… or maybe he won’t.”
I met Vic’s eyes in the mirror. “What is that supposed to mean?”
He handed me a paper towel to wipe my face, and I reluctantly took it. “Just that I hope you remember the main goal here, and that’s not to get your dick wet.”
My fist clenched around the towel. The desire to slam my knuckles into his perfectly white veneers was almost too strong to ignore. If I punched him and caused a commotion, it could draw a crowd, then questions would be asked. I didn’t want to answer any questions.
Quite frankly, I didn’t have answers. This shithead was right.
I did have a main goal. I wanted to give my dad what he wanted, get back in his good graces, and maybe finally get the respect I deserved.
And not be the loser of the family who failed time and time again.
I took his bait, allowed him to rope me into this fucked up situation. Everything was going fine until Sherry.
I didn’t want Sherry to know I was the blood of her family’s enemy. She would never believe me that they were my enemies, too. I just hadn’t realized it until now.
Now my priorities had shifted. The main goal was not even at the forefront of my mind. I just had no idea how the fuck to untangle this damn web I had weaved.
Hurting Sherry wasn’t an option, though.
She was the only good thing in my life. I had always lived with a darkness hanging over me.
I didn’t know what it was like to be genuinely happy, but every time I was with her, every time I sensed she was near, I experienced it.
Even when she’s dodging me, just knowing she’s close by, it’s all I need.
“I know what I’m doing,” I snapped. If he detected a weakness in my armor, there would be hell to pay, and I couldn’t guarantee that Sherry wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire. For now, all Vic and my father needed to know was that I was still on course. It would buy me time to figure shit out.
I hoped.
Vic grabbed a paper towel and dried his hands. “Remember, your charm always snags them, but the second you show them the real you, they bolt. Do us all a favor and don’t show yourself too soon.”
Vic tossed the crumpled-up paper towels into the bin and headed out of the bathroom. Once he was gone, a slew of curses poured from my mouth. I yanked at my shirt collar and straightened my sleeves before heading to Sherry.
“What’d I miss?” I asked as I took my seat.
“I ordered dessert.” A pretty pink blush stained her cheeks. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Enough to share?”
“I don’t share dessert, but I ordered you one.”
“Is this one of those siblings things?”
“Nope. It’s a my best friend owns her own cake shop, and I am never denied my fair share. I’m spoiled.”
A laugh should have rumbled out of me, some entertaining wit, but Vic’s words echoed in my head instead, the second you show them the real you, they bolt .
The server returned and placed two plates in front of us. I glanced at the decadent slice of cake. “Chocolate?”
Sherry scoffed. “That is not just chocolate. It is Lainey’s triple-dark chocolate espresso dream cake with a ganache so smooth it could fix your childhood trauma.”
I huffed a quiet laugh, but the tightness in my chest didn’t ease. “I think I’ll need more than a slice for that.”
Sherry’s eyes widened. “I am so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“No, it’s all right.” I gave her a small smile, attempting to push past the heaviness pressing against my ribs. “It was funny. Now let’s see if it’s true.”
I cut off a sliver and forked it into my mouth. It was rich, smooth, decadent. Unfortunately, as good as it was, it wasn’t enough to cover the bitterness on my tongue.
Sherry’s eyebrow arched. “So?”
“Amazing.”
“I told you. Life changing.”
I went in for another piece, but as much as I wanted it, I couldn’t ignore the heavy weight in my stomach that was dulling my appetite.
Sherry pointed her fork at me. “Okay… seriously, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing, my ass.”
“I’m just… thinking.”
“That could be dangerous.”
I wanted to tell her everything. Who I was, what I was really doing in Vine Valley, but I couldn’t. Not yet.
“Just tired.”
She didn’t push, just flashed an understanding smile and returned to her cake. But the lightness between us had shifted, and I hated how easily I had let it.
For a second, I almost told her.
And for a second, I wanted to.
We finished with dessert, and I paid the bill before making our way back to my car. I opened her door because despite it all, I was still a gentleman. Not something I could equate to my father, but my own moral code.
The ride to her house was quiet. The truth of the situation, a black cloud between us I desperately wanted to toss out the window and drive as far away from as possible. But that was the thing with dark clouds… they tended to follow you.
I eased the car to a stop in her driveway and placed the car in park before turning to her. The confession sitting on my tongue practically begging to come out.
“Want to come in for a nightcap?” she asked, eyelashes fluttering and insinuating much more than a drink.
God, I wanted to follow her inside, lose myself in her warmth, her laughter, her light brown eyes that looked at me as if I was worth something.
That look, that light, that’s exactly what stopped me. Because I wasn’t. Not now and maybe not ever. I was a failure of epic proportions, and I had purposely deceived her.
I forced my head to shake. “I can’t.”
That sexy come get me look withered. “But earlier you made it seem like—”
“I forgot I have something I need to do.”
Disappointment consumed her gaze before she masked it with a tight nod. “Of course.”
I hated myself for letting her know disappointment. For being too much of a pussy to stand up to my father. For allowing this to go on for as long as it had. For letting myself fall for her. I hated that I was already losing her, and I hated even more that she didn’t even know.
“Good night, Sherry.” I leaned across the console and pressed a kiss to her cheek, relishing in her softness, in her light floral scent.
She opened the door and slipped out without as much as a glance back.
I waited until she got in the house and closed the door. I waited even longer. Why? I had no idea. Maybe I hoped she’d come running back out, begging me to come in and breaking my resolve. The door never opened again, so I threw the car in reverse and headed home.