Temptation (Billionaire Venture Capitalist #4): A Second Chance Billionaire Romance

by Ainsley St Claire

  With each container I open, my mouth waters and I get more and more excited. “We’re going to eat so well tonight.” I plate generous portions of various kinds of antipasti, a seafood pasta, salad, and bread on our plates. This is heaven.

  I’ll need to make sure Sophia knows about this place. She and Luke will want to drive into the city for this. We’ve been on the hunt for restaurants of this quality since we moved to the States.

  “I set the table on the patio so we can watch the night sky and enjoy the evening outside. Our window of great weather is fleeting.” I nod, understanding that San Francisco is actually colder in the summer than the winter because of the dense fog created by the hot desert on the other side of the bay.

  “Filippo knows my brother in France, and I know his sister, who’s married to a friend. What a small world.”

  “Wow, that’s amazing.” Popping a shrimp into her mouth, she smiles as if she’s been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

  “I don’t mean to change the subject, but we’ve not really talked about our histories. You mentioned before that you don’t want kids. Why?”

  All the color drains from her face. “It isn’t because I don’t like kids. I love kids.” She takes a big breath and continues, “You’ve met my mother. She’s bipolar, and it can be genetic. I don’t show any signs and may never have it, but I could pass it onto my children. My mother and her sister are very tortured by their illness. When my mother is in a depressive cycle, she’s often suicidal. Since there’s a chance I could pass that on, I can’t do that to an unsuspecting child.”

  “I understand, but you do take exceptional care of your mother.”

  “I hate to admit this, but not always. It’s really hard. She says awful things to me, and when I was younger, before I understood her illness, I often said awful things to her.”

  “Teenagers often say things to their parents when they’re emotional.” Picking up her hand, I bring it to my mouth and kiss the inside of her wrist. It’s very sensual, and her eyes hood as she looks at me with carnal need, but I won’t be deterred. “Have you ever been married?”

  “No, though I came close with a guy who CeCe is tormenting right now.”

  “How is she doing that?”

  She goes into all the details, and I think it’s really funny that so many people showed up to throw darts at pictures of this guy. However, I’m bothered by his threatening text. Is it really necessary to say such awful things about her mother? The guy is a complete ass.

  “That’s ridiculous. You have no control over your mother’s disorder. It isn’t contagious.” Before I go on a rant, I take a deep breath. “I’m really sorry he hurt you, but I’m also glad you’re here with me. If I ever meet him, I’ll shake his hand and thank him for breaking up with the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

  She leans in and gives me a soft and yearning kiss. “What about you?”

  “I’ve been married, though it didn’t last long. We met too young and didn’t really want the same things. We met at UC Davis, and both had a love of wine. We were crazy in love, but she wanted to go to fancy restaurants and drink the wine and didn’t really have the patience to grow and cultivate the winemaking process. We divorced five years ago. We have a child. My daughter’s name is Genevieve, and she’s eleven. She lives in Sacramento with my ex-wife, Melanie.”

  I’m ready to run after her if she gets angry about this new information, but she only smiles broadly at me.

  “Is she the young girl in the picture with you and Sophia at your apartment?”

  “Yes, that was taken last year. I see her most weekends, but she hasn’t wanted to see me recently. She’s my world, but Melanie’s dating someone seriously, and Genevieve’s worried about it and doesn’t want to leave her mother. I tried to get her to join us on our trip to Italy, but she wouldn’t come.” She isn’t running away, that’s promising. Looking down at my hands, I do the only thing I can—I apologize. “I know I should have told you sooner. I’m sorry.”

  “Sophia mentioned she and her husband didn’t have any kids, so I figured the girl in the pictures was your daughter.” She shrugs like it isn’t a big deal. “I always hated when my parents were dating people when I was growing up. My mom would bring the flavor of the night home, and I’d have to pretend I didn’t hear her moaning like a porn star.”

  “Oh, that’s awful.” I laugh.

  “I know, isn’t it?” Getting serious again, she continues, “But my dad would wait to introduce his girlfriends to me until they were engaged or already married. So that was equally hurtful.” She seems to struggle with something, then finally confesses, “My father had guilt over leaving me to care for my mother. My parents never said it to me, but I know I was always an afterthought. ‘Oh yeah, I need to introduce you to my daughter.’ I don’t want Genevieve to feel that way about me. Hopefully we can meet one day, because you’re a package deal.”

  “I’m sorry if you’re upset about Genevieve. I should’ve told you earlier.”

  She reaches for my hand. “I’m really okay with it.”

  “I haven’t dated very much since my marriage broke up. At least no one seriously until… you. This may be an adjustment for her.”

  “We’ll figure it out. One day at a time, right?”

  I look at her and my heart skips a beat. I’m in love with this woman, I have no doubt. We haven’t been with one another long, but every time we’re together, I find something else to love about her.

  I hope she’s right about taking this slow for Genevieve’s sake, because I’m not ready to have to choose between them. They both feed my soul in different ways, and I need them like I need air and water.

  We enjoy our Saturday morning wandering the farmer’s market, running into Cameron and Hadlee there. I met them at Sara’s birthday party. While we’re catching up, Dillon and Emerson arrive.

  Hadlee says, “We’re looking forward to hanging out with you tonight.”

  “I think CeCe has a few things in mind for this evening. If Greer hasn’t already warned you, she doesn’t do anything understated,” Emerson adds.

  Dillon laughs, and I share, “Believe it or not, that doesn’t surprise me.”

  “We’ll try not to be too hard on you,” Cameron confides.

  “Don’t you dare, Cameron. Andy is a good guy, and you can’t scare him away,” Greer warns.

  Dillon asks, “What’s the plan? I just go where my wife tells me.”

  “Tell me about it,” Cameron mutters.

  Hadlee pats him on the arm. “And you never complain.”

  “We’re meeting at the Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate, and I think she has a picnic of some sort planned,” Emerson says. “And I think we’re going on the swan boats in the lake.” Turning to look at Dillon and Cameron, she warns, “And the first one to tip or cause someone else to tip will be sleeping at the Fairmont, or if you’re lucky, Mason will take you in.”

  I laugh at the visible blanch from both men. I’ll have to ask why later. “I’m up for whatever you guys want to throw at me,” I tell them honestly.

  We chat for a short while longer before we all go our separate ways.

  “See you later this afternoon.” Hadlee gives me a hug, then mutters in my ear, “Don’t let them scare you.”

  As we walk hand in hand back to the apartment, Greer gives me the rundown on Mason and Annabel. “We really need to accept her. If he decides he’s going to marry her, then she’ll be in our social circle for a very long time. Honestly, I think we all really wanted Mason and CeCe to get together.”

  I just nod as she fills me in on all the company gossip.

  “Maybe as an outsider, you’ll see it differently and we’re just jaded by our hopes for them.”

  “I can do that.”

  We spend the remainder of the morning relaxing on the patio. Greer studies her computer carefully, and I read an Italian mystery. Reading in Italian helps keep my vocabulary strong, so I try to read all I can
in my first language. I’m not getting very far in my book, though, looking over at Greer too often to focus. She’s so beautiful. And she’s smart, sexy, funny, and amazing in so many ways, too.

  Greer’s cell phone is ringing like a doorbell. She looks up at me as she turns it off. “Okay, the torture—I mean picnic is in a little over an hour.”

  Laughing, I ask, “I’m not worried. Should I be?”

  She stands and reaches for my hand to pull me up. “They’re my friends and really, outside of my mother and father, they’re my family. They’ll be protective of me, but I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

  “You did say we had ‘a little over an hour.’ Does that mean we have time to relax a little bit?”

  She kisses me softly on the lips. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

  I pull her gently to me. She smells of vanilla and orange spice, and I love exploring where she hides her perfume. Our lips meet, the silky slow kisses continuing as I reach for the hem of her T-shirt and pull it over her head. Her hair falls over her shoulders, and I take in her vulnerability and need.

  My tongue and lips tease her as I nip at her nipples and move to the insides of her thighs, making her shiver in pleasure and sending lightning through my body. I slide my hand between her thighs, my thumb teasing her clit, and she whimpers.

  She reaches for my shirt and pulls it over my head before pushing me back on the bed, our bare chests pressed against one another as we kiss passionately. We’ve become impatient in our lovemaking, but this time we’re going slow and enjoying ourselves.

  My warm breath teases her skin as I move down her body to the apex of her thighs, her fingers tightening on the bedsheets.

  I drag my tongue over the beautiful nub and growl into her, rolling it in small slow circles. I move with slow, achingly teasing movements, my tongue swirling in mind-blowing circles and pushing the tip deep against her. Her entire body starts to shiver and melt as I work her precious clit. She explodes all over, screaming her orgasm into the sheets, clawing at them and twisting them in her fists.

  My cock hard and ready, I enter her slowly, wanting to make love to her. I’m tender as I move in and out, our eyes connecting as she plants small kisses on my chest. This all feels right. It takes time, and we enjoy the joining of our two bodies.

  My orgasm is the most intense I’ve ever had.

  I would prefer to just remain naked and in bed all weekend, but I suppose we should give my dick a break. I don’t think I’ve ever come this much in twenty-four hours. She has the magic touch.

  “I know you told me, but who will be there this afternoon?

  “I’m pretty sure you’ve met everyone—CeCe, Mason, Annabel, Emerson, Dillon, Sara, Trey, Hadlee, and Cameron. You should’ve met Cynthia before, too, and I think she’s bringing a date. And one of Mason’s exes just joined the firm, but we all adore Quinn, and I think she’s also coming with a date.”

  We grab a quick shower, her eyes filling with lust as she bites her lower lip and watches me carefully while she soaps my swollen cock.

  “Do you think they’d miss us if we didn’t show up?” I ask.

  She continues to stroke me. “They’ll all show up here, and then we’d never be alone the rest of the weekend.”

  Regretfully we both finish our shower and get ready. I know this is a test, and I’m trying not to be nervous. She’s very close with her friends, and if they don’t like me, we won’t last long.

  The Lyft is downstairs waiting to take us into Golden Gate Park when we exit her apartment.

  During the drive over, I ask, “How did you meet your friends?”

  Greer goes through meeting CeCe and Hadlee in high school, and Emerson was CeCe’s college roommate. Emerson owned her own company that was purchased by SHN, which is where most of her friends work, and where she met Dillon. I like everyone, so I’m pretty confident that I’ll be okay with this group. After all, I’m crazy about Greer, so why wouldn’t they like me?

  The Lyft drops us off at the Japanese Tea Gardens. We walk hand in hand and Greer leads me. I’ve seen it from the outside but never ventured into the gardens. Just inside the main gate, there’s an amazing clipped hedge in the form of Mt. Fuji. I marvel at the hours it must take to maintain the simple yet very ornate gardens.

  To the left of the Mt. Fuji Hedge is the Dragon Hedge, decorated with a backdrop of illuminating bamboo. A pathway filled with beautiful Japanese flowering bushes and plant guides you to the Drum Bridge; it’s like we’ve been transported to Japan in the middle of San Francisco.

  Just over the bridge is a small walkway that leads us to the gazebo, decorated as if he had transported to Japan with golden lanterns and beautiful white plum blossoms. I was expecting blankets and cold cut sandwiches sitting in one of the park areas, but this is much more elaborate.

  Everyone is dressed very casually, and CeCe walks over and gives us both a tight hug and kisses on both cheeks. “Welcome! Our guests of honor are here with a beautiful glow.” She winks at Greer, who turns a vibrant shade of crimson.

  The evening is surprisingly fun. There’s a subtle Japanese guitar known as the shamisen playing over loudspeakers, and we eat a traditional Japanese dinner of various types of sushi, saba shioyaki (grilled mackerel) as a main dish, nikujaga (meat and potato stew) and sunomono (cucumber salad) as side dishes. Miso soup and genmai (brown rice) are also served. As we sit on mats on the floor around a large table, we enjoy hot tea, Japanese beer, and sake.

  Everyone is very polite and asks general questions, but nothing too invasive. As we finish our meal, CeCe announces, “Time to take this party over to the swan boats.”

  I spend time watching Annabel and Mason. She seems unhappy, and he seems indifferent. That’s what the last few years of my marriage were like, so if I had to guess, their relationship is beginning to peter out. As we wander over to the boats, we walk along with them, and I ask Annabel, “What keeps you busy since you left SHN?”

  She lights up. “I take care of our home, and I’m very active in several charitable organizations.”

  “You must miss working.”

  “No. Mason has been very firm that he wants me to be available for certain work activities, and an employer would never understand my need for flexibility, plus my volunteer work is incredibly fulfilling. I’ve been asked to sit on a committee by the mayor of San Francisco.”

  CeCe, who’s been listening to our conversation, asks, “Wow, I’m impressed, Annabel. What committee?”

  She very proudly says, “The Shelter Monitoring committee.”

  I see a slight smirk appear on CeCe’s face. “You would certainly have your hands full.”

  “I’m very excited.”

  We end up in eight swan boats, and we paddle around the lake. I want to wander off and find a quiet spot to make out with my girl, but I notice between Cameron, Trey, and Dillon, they’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen. Finally, to show my humor with their pestering, I’m able to splash them with water. I grew up with eight brothers; I can play their game. The girls are all screaming, and before we know it, we’re all soaked and laughing. I’m ready to get a tongue lashing from CeCe, but she’s equally wet and laughing just as loudly as the rest of us. I really like this group of friends.

  Exiting the water, Dillon pats me on the back. “Well played, man.”

  Trey says, “My sister was even laughing, and that says something. Greer’s like a sister to me. Please be gentle with her. She means the world to all of us.”

  I nod and shake their hands. “Sounds like a plan.”

  CeCe asks, “I know you two would like to be alone tonight, but how about we keep this going and head over to one of Trey’s favorite bars, Bourbon and Branch? It’s only eight o’clock.”

  Everyone is looking at us, and I see the conflict on Greer’s face. I finally say, “We’d love to.”

  Standing at the bar with a smooth caramel-colored bourbon over a perfectly round and completely clear i
ce cube, I’m being interrogated by Trey, Dillon, and Cameron.

  “How do you like living in St. Helena?”

  “How serious are you and Greer?”

  “What are your intentions with her?”

  “How will you manage living ninety minutes apart?”

  I answer every question honestly, often as simple as “We haven’t discussed that yet.”

  After the guys are done with me, I get a different reception from the women. CeCe is all hugs and proudly telling everyone, “I knew you two would hit it off.”

  Sara and Emerson talk about their favorite wines, though they’re also protective of Greer, asking about Genevieve and Melanie and what my plans were long-term. I was still being tested by the women, only it wasn’t as obvious.

  Surveying the group at the end of the night, and knowing Greer’s situation, I’m really glad she has so many people in her life looking out for her.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Andy

  Sophia is staying behind to manage the vineyard while I go home. There’s no one I can trust more than my sister. She has a real handle on the business, and she couldn’t care less to go back to these meetings. My older brothers and my father are of another generation and don’t treat my sisters as the partners they really are and she would rather stay here and work.

  I know my mother’s talked to them about it, and those of us who have one of our sisters for help plan on splitting our vineyards with them. We’re from a patriarchal family, and women are to support the men, though most of us disagree with this attitude. I see Sophia as my equal and treat her as such. She may not be on the deed or any of the loan documents, but no decisions are made without her input, and one day once the vineyard is all mine, I’ll give her half.

  I leave in a week, but I’m mentally ready to walk out the door today. My inventory is still off, the total growing to almost fifty barrels. Each barrel produces fifty cases, or six hundred bottles, and it’s strange to have so much gone missing.