CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Edward
“Where do you want to eat?” I asked as I pulled out of the parking lot. “I made reservations at a restaurant downtown. Is that okay? Or do you just want to order in? I know you’re shaken up. I am, too.”
“Let’s order in, if you don’t mind,” She looked at me with her big green eyes. There was fear in those eyes, and it twisted my gut. I wanted to hold her and tell her I’d keep her safe from everything. But I didn’t even live here. How could I possibly make that promise?
“Of course. That sounds good to me, too.”
“Edward, do you think it was an accident?”
I had my doubts, but I didn’t want to scare her further. “I hope so. I just don’t know.”
My phone started ringing. The area code was a Charleston number. Cara and I glanced at each other. There were only a handful of people I knew in the area—and the only one I wanted to hear from was sitting beside me. I answered it through Bluetooth. “Hello?”
“Edward! How’re you doing, my boy?” It was Garrison Hart, and he was speaking as if I hadn’t just talked to him at the Moonlight. Cara and I shot each other a look.
“Fine, sir. How are you?”
“Good, good. Listen, Libby and I want you and Cara to come out and stay with us the next few days at the house. I know her parents aren’t in town, and this would be a good way to make sure she’s okay after getting all shook up like that.”
Cara was shaking her head dramatically. She didn’t have to tell me twice. “Thanks so much, Mr. Hart, but we’re fine. She’s going to stay at her place.” I didn’t know if Cara wanted me telling Garrison that I was staying with her or not.
“Mr. Hart?” Cara spoke up.
“Well, hey, Cara! You feelin’ alright, hon?”
“I’m fine, thanks. Listen, Edward will stay with me. I’ll be perfectly safe.”
He was silent for a minute. “Do your parents know Edward will be staying with you?”
I could tell he was trying to guilt her for sleeping with me. My hands gripped the wheel.
“They don’t. But I’ll call them when I get home and tell them. My parents have always loved him. They won’t mind a bit. In fact, they’ll be pleased he’s with me.”
I was pretty sure she was exaggerating that claim. Her parents and the Whittakers had always liked me just fine—until I’d broken her heart. I knew they didn’t feel the same about me now.
He was quiet again. “Well, if you say so. I might send Monty over to check on you tomorrow, hon. Bye now.”
“No! Mr. Hart, you don’t need to send Monty…” Cara stopped talking as she realized he’d hung up already.
“Ahhh!” She yelled as she slammed back against her seat. “What is wrong with them?”
“I don’t know. I think they’re bonkers. Do y’all have contracts with him? You know Wixby River Farms?”
“Lord, I have no clue. You’d have to ask Dad, Hawthorne, Declan, or Aidan.”
“I’m wishing I didn’t have that contract now. I wonder why he’s not canceling it.”
“Maybe to keep you under his thumb.” Cara said. “Or just keep tabs on you.”
I was glad she was realizing how the Harts were. It was a definite change from the last time I’d tried to talk to her about them.
We pulled up at her townhouse and went inside.
“I’m going to take a shower. Do you mind just ordering from wherever sounds good to you? I’m not picky. You know I can’t eat really heavy things, though, right?”
“Right.” I wasn’t sure what to order her. “So, do you just want some grilled seafood and a salad? Does that sound right?”
“Yes.” She smiled at me. “Perfect. Raspberry vinaigrette dressing on the side.”
I ordered and then paced around her living room. I texted Declan.
Me: Hey. I’m in Charleston with Cara. She’s fine, but there was a stage accident today during her performance, and she was almost hit by falling lights.
Declan: Shit! So glad she’s okay. What’re you thinking? Was it really an accident?
Me: Don’t know. The police are investigating.
Declan: Stay with her, man. At least until the investigation is over. Or bring her home if you can.
Me: I’m staying with her. They don’t know how long the performances will be canceled.
Declan: Okay. I’ll stop in at the orchards and check in while you’re away if you’d like me to do that.
I was instantly relieved.
Me: That would be so great, thanks.
Declan: You think it’s the Harts, don’t you?
Me: Yeah. But it doesn’t make sense, and I have no proof. Why would they want to hurt her if they want her for their son?
Declan: Good point.
Me: Do you have a vendor contract with Hart Family Farmers Markets?
Declan: I don’t know. That’s more my dad or Aidan’s area. Why?
Me: Kind of wishing I didn’t have one. Okay, I’ll keep you posted on what’s going on.
Declan: Thanks. I’m going to call Livy if that’s okay.
Me: Please do. I want all of you aware of what’s going on. I’ll let Cara know I’m telling you. She’s in the shower right now. She’s pretty shaken up.
Declan: Take care of her.
Me: Will do.
I put my phone down and walked around, looking at pictures I’d already seen the last time I was here.
“Hey,” Cara appeared from her room. She was wearing a big T-shirt, and leggings. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her face was scrubbed clean of makeup. To me, she was even more beautiful like this than when she was perfectly made up for a performance.
“Hey,” I said going to her and pulling her into my arms. She nestled her head against my chest. It felt amazing.
There was a knock on the door. I peeked through her peephole, making sure it was food delivery and not the seemingly ever-present Monty Hart. It was food. I breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door.
Cara had the table set and ready for us by the time I’d paid the delivery driver and brought the food over. She’d turned John Legend music on low and opened a bottle of wine.
“Great music choice.”
She smiled. “Yeah, I love his music. I opened red. Is that okay with you? I have white if you’d prefer it.” She waited to pour until I nodded.
“I like either,” I said.
She smiled. “I do, too.” She took a sip and then walked over and handed me a glass. “Declan said the two of you are thinking about starting a vineyard together.”
I raised my eyebrows. “The two of you talk more often than I realized. Would it bother you if I teamed up with Declan on a project like that?”
“Not at all. I think it’d be great.”
I grinned. “Good. He and I have been talking a lot about business ideas we have, and we seem to work well together. I’d like to partner with him on the vineyard, and I have the unused acreage.
” I also had my eye on the vast tract of land that separated Ashton Orchards from Wixby River Farms. It had been for sale for years, but I could never get my father interested in the idea of expanding or adding a vineyard and winery to our business, even though it seemed like a natural progression to me.
More and more vineyards were popping up all over the South.
American wine making wasn’t solely found in California anymore.
Cara cocked her head, thinking about it.
“I could totally see y’all working well together.
Declan’s in charge of everything regarding growth and expansion at the farms now.
You both seem to have your eyes on the future—revamping, taking advantage of new and different opportunities, changing outdated systems—that kind of thing. ”
I nodded, staring at her. I started to talk to her more about it, but I got distracted by how gorgeous she looked. And I didn’t want to bore her. Once I got started talking about future opportunities for Ashton Orchards it was hard to get me to stop.
She’d turned down the lights and lit candles.
The flames flickered, and the lights playing off her alabaster skin cast interesting shadows across her lovely face.
Her big T-shirt had slid off one smooth shoulder, showing that she was wearing a sports bra of some sort.
I could see a shadow of her cleavage, and I was suddenly having a hard time not thinking about her body.
It kind of made me feel like an ass. She’d had a near death experience, and all I could think about was whether I was going to get to fuck her tonight or not.
I felt myself getting hard. I looked up and realized she was staring at me, grinning.
“What are you looking at Edward?”
My face flushed. “Um, nothing,” I said looking back at my plate.
“Really?” She said. I glanced back at her and was startled to see she was pulling her big T-shirt off. I gaped at her. Now she was just sitting there in her sports bra and some leggings.
“What… what are you doing?” I had to choke down the bite of food I’d just taken. My mouth was suddenly dry.
She shrugged. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail. She locked eyes with me as she reached up and pulled the scrunchie out, letting her long, silky black hair fall all around her shoulders and down around her waist. I gulped. “Cara…”
She picked up a chocolate-covered strawberry and ate it, letting out a little moan that went straight to my dick.
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair as it pushed hard against the zipper of my pants.
“If you’re trying to seduce me, I don’t mind a bit, but let me tell you, I’m a sure thing,” l said.
“I just thought you might not be in the mood after what happened tonight.”
“I assure you, I am.” She stood up and walked around to where I was sitting. “What do you want to do with me?”
Damn. So many things. I pushed my chair back and was about to stand up when she took her hand and pushed me back down. She got down on her knees in front of me, and I got even harder. I closed my eyes as she unzipped my pants and pulled my cock out.
“Look at me.” I opened my eyes as she put her beautiful mouth around my cock and started to lick and suck. I watched as her lips stretched tight around me.
“Fuck…” my head rolled back and rested on the chair as I was overcome with desire.
I gripped the arms of the chair as she moved faster, bobbing up and down on me, sucking hard on the way up.