CHAPTER TWO
GRIFFIN
Griffin Sawyer was relieved when the bellman left after showing him to his suite and fussing over him, making sure he had everything he wanted. He appreciated the attention but wanted nothing more than to be left alone so he could mope in private.
He pulled a cold beer from the refrigerator and sat on the balcony watching the waves roll onto shore and pull away again. The sound of it was soothing. He took a deep swallow of the beer and let out a long breath that spoke of a combination of hurt, humiliation, relief, and anger.
Damn! What a screwed-up mess his supposed wedding day had been, less than forty-eight hours ago.
While he hadn’t been certain about marrying Cassandra Welles, his grandfather was becoming frail and needed to know that his life’s work in the winery would continue under Griff’s direction and that his family would continue to own it.
But Griff should’ve been more realistic.
The daughter of a movie star, Cassandra was spoiled, rich, beautiful, and a damn liar.
He should’ve understood that she wanted only the glamor of owning a vineyard but none of the work.
When she realized what her life would actually be like if they married, Cassandra had bolted just before walking down the aisle, leaving him to explain that the wedding was off. Permanently.
He drank another cold sip of beer and shook his head. He’d been hoodwinked by her from the beginning. He should’ve recognized she was addicted to attention, fancy parties, and showing off her assets. Letting out a snort, he said softly, “Never again.”
He rose and decided to go for a run on the beach to relieve his stress.
Cassandra had thought she’d be the one staying here in the Presidential Suite with her new beau, a man she said she couldn’t live without.
But that was going way too far. He’d paid for the room, and by damn he was going to enjoy it.
After changing into a pair of running shorts and a tank top, Griff headed out to the beach.
A run along the sand would ease his anger and humiliation.
Other women who’d come to the church for the ceremony had smothered him with offers to help him get over the trauma, but he had zero interest in having anything to do with the opposite sex.
Griff stepped onto the sand and inhaled the salty air. The sun washed over his body, and he sighed with satisfaction. He’d make this ‘honeymoon’ of his a time of relaxation just for him, away from the vineyard his grandfather owned and ran. Away from lying, cheating, women.
He trotted onto the sand and took off along the edge of the water, noticing the tiny footprints of the shore birds who’d left their marks in the sand behind them.
In the distance, he noticed a man talking to the woman who’d checked into the hotel at the same time as he. There was something about the way the man was standing very close to her and her rigid posture that struck him as wrong.
Griff jogged up to them and saw a look of relief flash across the woman’s face. When the man turned to face him, she mouthed the words “Help me.”
Instantly alert, he said, “ ’Afternoon. What’s up?”
The man straightened and held out his hand, giving him a cheesy smile. “I’m Brock Goodwin, the president of the Neighborhood Association. I was just telling Lori that I’m available to show her around if she’d like a personal tour.”
Lori shook her head slightly, letting Griff know how uninterested she was.
“That’s real neighborly of you, Brock,” said Griff, feigning friendliness. “But I’ll be showing Lori around on my own.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were together,” said Brock. “See you later.”
After Brock trotted off, Griff and Lori stared at one another.
“Thank you for rescuing me,” said Lori. “I’m Loralie Hamlin. That man was unbearable. I’m glad I didn’t meet up with him in a less public place. He scared me.”
“Yeah, I got that impression. I’m Griffin Sawyer. Friends call me Griff. Are you here alone?”
She sighed audibly and nodded. “My family sent me here to recover and have some fun. My sisters think I’ll meet a man, and my life will change completely.
What they don’t know is that I have no desire to date or see anyone else.
My husband died over two years ago, and I’m not interested in starting over again with someone new. ”
She lowered herself onto the sand. “Sorry for dumping all of that on you. But it feels like such a relief to say it.” She stared out at the water and went quiet.
Seeing her distress, Griff sat beside her. “I know what you mean. I’m supposed to be on my honeymoon.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry.”
“In hindsight, it wasn’t a sustainable match.
We should never have tried to go through with it.
She’s with someone else, and I am here on my own.
” Griff couldn’t believe he’d told a stranger his humiliating situation.
But while Lori seemed sympathetic, she didn’t try to smooth it over. That made him feel better.
They smiled at one another before Lori got to her feet. “Again, I’m sorry, but it sounds like you might have dodged even more trouble. Thanks for your help.”
Griff watched her walk away, relieved she had no desire to hunt for a man. If he was interested in a relationship with someone new, he’d put her at the top of his list. With her curly brown hair and that hot little body of hers, she was a winner.