Chapter 11 #3
We stared at each other, the seconds dragging between us. The silence was both uncomfortable and oddly relaxing, a weird juxtaposition. I wish I knew what it was about this man that spoke to me on more levels than I was used to. It wasn’t simply attraction. It was more, and that was not good.
“Welcome to Ridgeview. You must be Mr. Montgomery.” I jumped at the sound of my mother’s voice, taking a few strategic steps away from Clay.
Mom looked at me, questions in her eyes, even as she extended her hand.
I don’t think she knew what had happened between us, but she sensed something. “I’m Tricia, Reese’s mother.”
Clay stepped forward, taking her hand and bending slightly as he shook it, causing my mom to wink at me over his bowed head. “Mrs. Henley, it’s a pleasure. I can see where Reese gets her stunning looks from.”
Wait? What?
Mom blushed like a schoolgirl talking to the quarterback. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before responding, “Why, thank you. That’s very sweet of you.”
My mother was gorgeous, with short blond hair that was just beginning to show hints of silver.
She was statuesque, with a figure to match.
I’m not sure how I got the short end of the height stick, but everyone in my immediate family towered over me.
Standing near Mom and Clay, I felt positively pint-sized.
I never really felt like I looked anything like her, though we shared some characteristics, but for Clay to make that comparison was, well, I don’t know what.
Even with everything we said and did to one another the other day, he had made no comment like that.
Except to look at you like the last scoop of rocky road at Scoopdelicious.
To cover the weird feelings his words aroused, I fell back on what I knew best.
I huffed and stared pointedly at Clay. “Do they teach you how to compliment people in those fancy schools you went to?”
“No, it comes naturally. It’s all part of my charm.”
The laugh bubbled out of my throat before I caught it.
My mom shot daggers at me. I’m sure in her mind she saw me handling this in a truly professional manner.
Joke’s on them though…they’re the ones who made me point person.
It wasn’t like they didn’t know my personality.
Clay, on the other hand, grinned, recognizing a comeback in our game when he heard one.
“Are you suggesting I have no charm?”
I shrugged. “You said it.” Turning from him, I slipped back behind the desk, searching for distance. See, I knew there was a reason my plans included expanding the space in some areas.
“She didn’t mean it,” Mom jumped in, and I bit back another laugh before she grounded me like I was a teen again.
Clay waved off her concern. “Oh, she does, but it’s okay.” His gaze strayed to me before focusing once more on Mom, that damnable not really non-existent charm blazing bright. “I think she sort of enjoys teasing me.”
“I do not,” I muttered under my breath.
“Well…” My mom’s confusion was clear in her tone. “Be that as it may, we’re happy to have you. Will you be staying for a while, Mr. Montgomery?”
I stared at my mom, attempting to decipher whether she knew about my plan. I probably should have run it by her and Dad first, but considering they were two of the people who put me in charge of navigating this grand plan of mine, I figured they’d have to deal with me making the decisions.
“Please, call me Clayton.”
I sensed Clayton was his preference when he corrected my usage of Clay, but he never pushed it.
Truth be told, I sort of enjoyed yanking his chain in this little game of ours and I had a feeling he did too.
I’d stop if I thought he truly wanted me too, but until then it was full speed ahead.
With absolutely no thoughts of his chain or doing anything to it.
“Of course, Clayton, and it’s Tricia.”
He nodded, his dimple denting his cheek only slightly. “Actually, Reese has asked me to stay for a few weeks, to get to know and work with all of you, before I pitch how Conti-Montgomery can be of assistance.”
“Oh, well, that was…” Mom looked at me, likely trying to come up with the perfect word to use. Hell if I knew. “Nice. I’m sure you’ll get an appreciation of what we have to offer here.”
Fire lit his eyes, and I hoped Mom didn’t pick up on it. “Oh, I have already started to appreciate your offerings.”
Bastard.
“I was just telling Clay I have to work, so he can go into town. On his own.”
“A tour guide would be so much more beneficial, though. Don’t you think so, Tricia?”
I was going to kill him. If he laid on the charm any thicker, Mom would be buried under it.
“I have to work. Some of us aren’t billionaires who can just jet off somewhere.
Speaking of which, I’m surprised you don’t want a helicopter or something parked out in the yard.
” Mom clenched her teeth, obviously not happy with the way I was acting.
There was a better-than-not shot I’d hear about it from her later.
What was it about this man that brought out every sarcastic part of me?
“Not a fan though it can come in handy. I prefer the company jet. That’s at Dulles.”
“Of course it is.”
Mom’s eyes darted back and forth between us, like she was watching a tennis match, before shaking her head and giving me a look that had scared teenage Reese more times than I cared to admit.
“Reese, I can take over here for a while. I was going to run over to the winery with a package for Abby, but why don’t you bring Mr. Mont—” she paused, a blush staining her cheeks and smiled his way, “I mean Clayton, over there and show him around?”
Oh, there was a question mark in her voice, but I knew she didn’t mean it. That was a direct order if I ever heard one, and I’d heard more than a few growing up.
It was the smart thing to do. I loved showing off Henley Falls, especially our property.
Not to mention it had been my damn idea for him to stay and get to know all of us.
Introducing him myself would go a hell of a lot further with the parentals than letting him run around by himself, except it also meant a lot of time with him.
Time I was afraid would wear down any resistance I managed to form when away from him.
It also felt somewhat monumental showing Clay around. Like a new parent proudly showing off their baby. Our land, our businesses, our town was my baby. I didn’t know if I could watch someone who oozed money and high society look at it and find it lacking.
Find us lacking.
“Come on, Reese, show me the winery.” He turned to my mom, the full-wattage smile back with the dimple taking center stage.
Man, he could turn it on when he wanted to.
A grown-ass, married woman almost swooned right in front of me.
“She was telling me right before you joined us that I needed to get a lay of the land.”
I refused to admit his eyes drifted my way at the word “lay.”
“Fine. We’ll go.” I grabbed my phone from where I had it stashed behind the counter and rounded to the front.
“Mom, call if you need me.” I wheeled around and stared at the man I wanted to stay away from but somehow managed to get trapped into spending more time with.
“I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes.
” Glancing at his pristine and undoubtedly expensive suit, I added, “You may want to change.”
“Logan knows where Abby’s treat is,” Mom explained as I slipped past my mother, adding a whispered “be nice” that was more of a threat than anything else.
I was nice to him.
Especially up in his room.
Shoving my phone in the pocket of my dress, and that thought aside, I strode to the hallway door and pushed it open. I needed peace and time away from him, time I would not get right now.
Just my damn luck.