Chapter 1 #2
I whip my head around to her. “Totally, yeah. I’m just… I just think I need a drink or something.” I give her a smile, letting her take care of serving the dessert, while I step into the kitchen to catch a breath and find something strong for my nerves.
I can’t believe Brody came to my party. Why is he here?
I rake my fingers through my hair, side-stepping a couple of people who wish me happy birthday, but I have no idea who they are. I rip the fridge door open and pull out an already opened bottle of Pinot Noir.
I clumsily take a glass from the shelf, unscrew the top, and then start to pour a very full glass.
“You know, that doesn’t usually pair well with cake,” a deep voice drawls with a chuckle following it.
My whole body jumps at the sound of Brody’s voice, and wine spills onto the counter. “Shit!” I set the bottle down with a thud and go for the paper towels. As I do, my hand connects with a strong, manly one. “Sorry,” I mumble, my eyes jumping up to meet his once more.
He shakes his head at me. “You’re jumpy tonight, Georgie.” I can barely function at the sound of my childhood nickname coming out of his mouth. He’s got a perfect tan, those incredibly gorgeous eyes, and a perfect razor-sharp jaw to go with his perfectly muscular biceps.
Yep. Brody Wilder is still fucking perfect.
And I think he knows that I’m gawking over him, because as my mouth hangs open and nothing comes out, his expression fills with amusement.
“I have a feeling you weren’t expecting this party.” He leans against the counter, his black T-shirt just as classy as something designer. “And that you didn’t want it either.”
“That’s a big assumption,” I choke out, and then quickly shift back to the task at hand, swiping up the spilled wine. “For all you know, I could’ve planned this entire party myself.”
“Yeah?” Brody teases, holding out his hand and nodding to the damp paper towel. “Maybe you’ve changed more than I thought since I last saw you.”
“Maybe,” I place the soiled towels in his hand, feeling the warmth of his calloused hands. I clear my throat as he tosses them into the trash can, taking in the gray hairs blending with his dark brown hair.
Another thing that Brody pulls off seamlessly.
He angles back to face me, just as someone erupts in obnoxious laughter in the living room. I cringe at the noise, my head still aching from the headache I came home with.
“Why don’t we step outside and get some air?” he offers, his expression softening as he meets my gaze. “You look like you need to get out of here, and I haven’t seen the backyard of this place.”
“Yeah, well,” I pause. “It’s not much.”
“It’s better than the noise in here,” Brody takes a step toward me, and gestures to the back door. I nod, and then pull open the door, revealing a tiny terrace.
“It’s not much.” I chew my lip nervously, knowing full well that Brody is the epitome of a wealthy businessman. I have no idea what he makes, but I know the tech company he started sold for a couple billion or so.
“I think it’s nice,” Brody says while looking at the few potted plants shoved in the corner. “It reminds me of the place in Staten Island I bought after the Navy.”
I swipe my hair behind my ear. “You still own that place, right?” I think back to the minimal knowledge I have of my dad’s best friend.
“Yeah, I do. I rent it out.” He grins at me, his eyes dropping down my body in a way that causes a shiver to run down my spine.
Stop being weird, Georgia.
I take a long sip of my wine. “So… my dad didn’t come tonight.” I don’t know why I blurt out the words, but for some reason, they seem relevant.
“No, he didn’t.” Brody lets out a sigh. “He’s wrapped up in that company out of Italy.”
“Hmm.” My eyes drop to my glass. “It’s always something.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry he’s not here.”
I brush him off and meet his gaze again. “It’s okay. It’s his normal. He’s always busy with something—investing in something.” And never making anything off it, I wish I could add.
Brody blows out a sharp breath and changes the subject. “What have you been up to? Your dad said you were working somewhere in the city? You graduated culinary school a few years ago, right?”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “Um, yeah…” Embarrassment floods my chest. “I was really hoping to be closer to opening up a café or at least working in a kitchen by now, but—”
“But you’re not?” Brody finishes for me.
“No,” I say softly, feeling more like a loser than ever.
Especially standing next to Brody in his designer clothes and perfect haircut.
“I’d say that I’m not anywhere close to fulfilling dreams right now.
I’m more like hanging on by a thread.” I lift the glass up to him.
“Cheers to being a failure.” I take a long sip of wine, and as I lower the cup, Brody has a smirk on his face. “What?”
“You know, I’m about to take a month-long trip on my yacht with some friends. You should come as my chef. The guy I had booked actually just backed out today.”
I tip back my head and laugh at the pipe dream. “Ha, yeah, if only.” I glance over at him, still smiling. “Consider me hired.”
Brody grins and looks like he’s about to say something but doesn’t get it out before Lily bursts through the back door and grabs my hand.
“Georgia May,” she scolds me, “You have to get your ass in here and socialize. No hiding.” She looks at Brody. “I’m stealing her away from you.”
“Go ahead. I need to get going anyway.” He gives me a nod as Lily pulls me backward. “Happy birthday, Georgie.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, wishing that I could just stay out here with him.
And that he was serious about the job on his yacht.
I bet that would’ve paid off my credit card.