Chapter Fourteen
Jack was up at six thirty this morning. I wasn’t, but I know he was because I heard the front door open and close. After some time, he walked in carrying a breakfast burrito and coffee. Both were for me. When I asked him if he was going to eat, too, he said he had already eaten down at the restaurant. It was a kind gesture but a big reminder that Jack and I weren’t even friends. It is like I’m working for him. We act separately.
I thanked him for the food and the three different types of creamers before heading outside to eat on the patio while he stayed inside, working on his laptop at the small dining table.
I wish I could say eating alone bothered me, but it didn’t. I was enjoying peace. Even though there are multiple villas around us, the seclusion and serenity of these lands make you feel like you’re cut off from everyone else. I haven’t felt a peace that deep in a long time.
After breakfast, I get ready to meet Heidi and the other ladies for a pool and spa day.
“Take my keys,” Jack calls out over his laptop screen. “The hotel is only about two miles down the road.”
Jack has black square-frame glasses on. It’s the first time I’ve seen him wear them. I blink several times, utterly taken aback by how sexy it is. It’s almost shocking. The same loose hair that’s always out of place on the right side of his forehead partly hangs over the lens in front of his eye. He has a black T-shirt on and gray basketball shorts. Gray fucking shorts. I wish he’d stand up so I could get a little outline.
“I didn’t know you wore glasses?”
“I do.” He gives me an awkward grin. “Only when my contacts start to bother me.”
“Yes—of course,” I stammer—a stupid thing to say. “And thank you, but I can put it into the GPS on my phone. I’m sure I’ll find it.” I grab my pool bag, slip my sandals on, and head toward the door.
“Wait.” Jack removes his wallet from his back pocket and slides out a silver American Express card. “Take my credit card if you need it for anything.” He holds it out in front of us, pinched between two fingers.
I stare at the piece of plastic in his hands, then shake my head. “No, Jack, I don’t need your money.”
“I want you to take it. You’re here for me, and I will pay for everything,” he insists, flashing me with that bright smile. “Plus, I’m a gentleman.”
What is it with those glasses?
“Fine, if you insist,” I say, snatching the card from him. He probably would have offered to pay for my flights if I hadn’t gotten free flights from the airline. “What are you going to do while I’m off winning over your mother and the other influential ladies of the town?”
Jack grins and then clasps his hands together under his chin. “The ladies of the Ton will happily invite you into their inner circle, Miss Piper. I’m sure your afternoon will be spent chatting about all the gossip that Dupara County has to offer.”
“Funny.”
“I thought so.”
My hands hang off the side of my beach bag. “Seriously, what are you up to today?”
“I have a call with our ops manager to run through some changes we’ll be making with marketing and some daily functions as well,” he replies, leaning back in his chair.
“Cool. Well, go get ’em tiger.” I wink.
“What?”
“Isn’t that what girlfriends are supposed to say?”
“Maybe,” he quips. “But what would Piper say?”
“I would say—” I pause for a brief moment, then glance around the room a few times, searching for an authentic answer and not what would be expected of me. “Good luck, and tell me about it later.”
Jack’s eyes light up. “Thank you. I’ll tell you how it went when you get home.”
I laugh. “I’ll see you when I get home, dear!”
“Can’t wait. Goodbye,” he calls out.
Holding back a snicker, I walk down the entryway toward the front door. Jack’s car is parked in the first space right outside the villa. I hop in, plug the hotel’s address into my GPS, and get on my way.
While on the drive over, I thought of what I would talk about with these women. What if they ask me questions about Jack, and I can’t answer them? We talked about so much during our short time in Vegas, and I wish I could remember all of it. Some things have come back here and there, but not much. I’m hoping I can pull this off.
The GPS alerts me that I’ve already made it to my destination. Jack was right. It’s literally down the street. I pull his black BMW into the small parking lot of a rustic boutique hotel. Reaching into the back seat, I grab my bag and water bottle. Placing the bag in my lap and suck in a heavy breath. “I can do this,” I whisper to myself while gripping the rubber padding on the steering wheel.
I walk into an airy and naturally charming lobby. I catch a glimpse of the pool through the large windows and see a group of about eight to ten women chatting between two covered cabanas.
“Welcome to The Grey House. How can I help you?” a woman behind the counter with short brown hair and wearing what looks like a horse-riding vest greets me.
“Hello, I’m here for—”
“Noreen, she’s with us. That’s Jack’s girlfriend,” a woman’s voice interjects.
“Oh, hello!” the woman behind the counter says in a cheerier tone.
“Hi, Piper.” Heidi is suddenly standing on my left in a one-piece bathing suit and a floral cover-up. “Noreen, this is Piper.”
“Hello, it’s great to meet you”, I say, smiling at Noreen.
“It’s so good to meet you, Piper. I can’t believe Jack brought a woman home,” Noreen says, bringing her eyes back to Heidi. I guess she knows Jack well enough to comment on his love life. Has he really never brought anyone around his family? I’ve always been reluctant to bring guys that I’ve dated around Roxy, but that’s for obvious reasons. But Jack’s mom is warm and kind.
“I know, isn’t she beautiful—and so sweet? I invited her with us today. Can you send out Paul in a few minutes to grab her order?” Heidi asks.
“Of course. It was great meeting you, Piper, and if you need anything at all, give me a holler.” Noreen reaches over the counter to touch my arm.
“It was wonderful to meet you as well and thank you so much.” I smile.
“Let’s head out and introduce you to the ladies in our women’s group.” Heidi hooks a loose arm around me and leads me to the pool area.
As we approached the other women, I noticed that not one of them was swimming, which I was relieved to discover. When Heidi first mentioned a spa—and pool, I was nervous about it being too cold for me. This Phoenix girl is not about to swim in seventy-nine-degree weather—unless the pool is heated, of course.
Heidi begins my introductions. “This is Adeline. She’s the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.”
Stretched out on the lounge chair, wearing a cream-colored wrap dress, she tips her oversized sun hat to look in my direction. “Nice to meet you. Love to see our Jack finally settling down.”
I beam with pride playing the part of Jack’s girlfriend, and I find myself wishing it was real. When he does find someone to marry for real, she will be lucky and adored. “It’s great to meet you, Adeline.”
“And this is Heather. She owns Helena Wines,” Heidi continues, ushering me over to the next chair.
Heather sips a tropical cocktail with an umbrella on the top. She looks slightly younger than Jack’s mom and Adeline. “Great to meet you, love.”
As Heidi and I make our way to each small group of women, my head is spinning by the time we finish with two brunettes that look about my age.
When we approach them, Heidi looks caught off guard. “Piper, this is Sophia and Misty. They both work for Mountain Coast Winery here in town.”
Sophia rises from the chair, flips her wavy chestnut hair around, and looks me directly in the eyes. “Jack’s girlfriend. It’s nice to meet you.” She’s smiling, but there’s something misleading about it.
Misty raises her sunglasses and waves at me comfortably from her seat.
“Hello,” I say to them both.
Heidi turns to the brunette, lowering her eyes. “Sophia, I thought you and Preston were out of town this week?”
“We were supposed to be, but it was more important to stay here for the beginning of harvest season,” she says, shooting me side glances—or are they daggers? What is her problem?
“Oops,” Heidi squeaks, pulling her phone from her cross bag. “It’s the winery. I have to get this.”
While Jack’s mom steps away to answer the call, I’m left alone with two women who clearly already don’t like me. I open my mouth to break the uncomfortable silence when Sophia speaks first.
“So, how long have you and Jack been dating?” she asks with her nose slightly angled up.
A cool breeze whips through the air, eliciting goosebumps and a shiver. “Since March.”
“That’s not very long. And he already brought you home to meet his mom?” she says condescendingly.
Sophia knows Jack in a way that the other women don’t, making me uncomfortable and territorial. “Yes, I guess.” I stare at her caked-on makeup. “We’re very close.”
“Interesting.”
“How do you know Jack?” I hold my breath for fear of the answer I’ll get.
“Jack and I were high school sweethearts. Some say he never returned here because he couldn’t get over me. But I’m engaged to Preston, his best friend now. I’m sure that’s probably hard for him.”
My heart freefalls inside my chest. His high school sweetheart?What the hell? He never mentioned this or her. Maybe he thought she wouldn’t be around? That bad energy and evil side-eyes with those snarky comments make so much sense now. Frustration whips at my back as I grow increasingly pissed off with this shitty situation that I’ve been put into.
The vibration from my phone breaks my initial shock, only for a second. It’s a text from Jack, but I’m in a stand-off with his ex-girlfriend, so I don’t bother answering him. “Oh, that’s interesting because I heard he moved away to get away from you.” That’s probably a lie, but I can’t let her win.
Sophia’s fake, exaggerated laugh sends another cold chill up my body. “I’m sure that’s what he likes to tell people, but I don’t care. I’m engaged to a very wealthy man who spoils me and who also happens to be part owner of Jack’s winery.”
Why is she telling me all this? Does she think I fucking care? I’m expecting her to pin me into an argument over whose boyfriend’s dick is larger—which, in that case, she’d know since I have yet to see Jack’s.
Now I’m pissed. He’s my husband. I should know what his dick looks like—feels like. The slickness from my sweaty palms causes the bag to start slipping from my hands.
“Sorry, Piper, I didn’t mean to leave you!” Heidi cries out, sprinting back over to us. “I have to run back to the winery. There are some shipment issues. Please stay and have fun.”
“Bummer. Wish you could stay, Heidi, it’s always so nice seeing you,” Sophia says sweetly. Wow. I roll my eyes. This day couldn”t have gotten any worse.
I adjust the bag in my hands, gripping it tightly. “No problem. I think I’ll stay for a bit.”
“You can hang out with us.” Sophia sneers, plastering that same fake smile on her face. Bitch.
“I think I’ll go hang with Adeline and Heather. Thanks anyway.”
Heidi and I are shoulder to shoulder, walking over to the other side of the pool. “Jack and Sophia dated in high school. She was so infatuated with him, but don’t worry, honey. That ship sailed a long time ago,” she whispered.
I do like his mom. “I’m not. Jack and I have a great relationship.” Another lie.
Before we reach the opposite side of the pool, she turns to face me fully. “I can tell by the way my son looks at you that you’re something special. I’ve never seen him look at anyone like that before.”
My breath comes to a screeching halt. The way he looks at me? It’s all a facade, and I feel guilty for misleading her. “Thank you, Heidi.”
“Also, it’s better not to hang out with Sophia. She can be a little bitchy,” she adds.
“You don’t say?”
She laughs, giving me a quick hug. “I’ll see you soon. And tell my elusive son that I say hello.”
“I will.”