by Dawn Brower
“I missed you so much. Why didn’t you come straight to the ranch?”
“I had—still have some things to take care of. Business. I will come out to the ranch once I take care of a few things here in Seattle.”
Ginnifer stared into her eyes and studied her. “Does this have to do with Colt?”
“Don’t mention that bastard’s name,” Wes demanded.
“I will say his name whenever I want. Don’t use that tone with me again,” Ginnifer exclaimed.
Vitoria shook her head as she watched Wes nod and sit down. Clearly he was still in a bad mood and attempted to take it out on Ginnifer. Her best friend didn’t have a problem with setting someone in their place. Dallas sat there with an amused look on his face, watching Ginnifer.
“I don’t really want to talk about it, Ginny. Can we sit down and have a nice meal?”
“Of course, how silly of me. You must be tired too.” Ginnifer gestured toward a chair at the table for Vitoria to sit down in. Then followed suit and sat in her own seat. “How long will you be in Seattle, Tori?”
“I’m not sure exactly. I have open-ended plans.”
Vitoria didn’t want to spring her good news on Ginny until she knew for sure where she would be residing. She still needed to call Alison and let her know all the details on the new office. Her assistant hadn’t given her any indication she would be moving out to Seattle yet. She hoped she took her offer and started to pack her bags. Good assistants were so hard to find.
“Really? You have that much work in Seattle?” Ginnifer raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“Yes, after working with Colt.” She noticed both Novak men wince at his name. “I have had a number of players switch over and sign on to my firm.”
Colt Lewis was her first client on the west coast. He was the second string quarterback for the Seattle Starlings—and Emma Novak's former boyfriend. Wes and Dallas hated him for breaking their baby sister's heart.
“Were they in the market for a new publicist or did they just enjoy looking down your shirt?” Wes sneered.
"Wes," Ginnifer exclaimed. Her mouth fell open in shock.
"It's fine, Ginny." Tori reminded herself she could handle anything the Neanderthal dished out. “You really shouldn’t judge other people by your own standards. Considering how low yours are.”
Before he could respond with a withering retort, the waiter came up to their table. He was dressed in black tuxedo pants and a crisp white shirt, a black bow tie around his neck. This little Italian place was indeed fancy, much more formal than she would have given Dallas credit for. Vitoria had to wonder who picked the place.
“Can I start you out with some drinks?”
“I’d like some wine, a pinot grigio. Whatever the house specialty is,” Vitoria told him.
“Oh that sounds good. I will have the same,” Ginny piped in.
“I need something much stronger. Give me a scotch on the rocks,” Wes grumbled.
Dallas shook his head at his brother. “I want water. It’s a long drive home tonight.”
The waiter jotted down their drink order and strolled off to fill it.
“Oh, you’re not staying overnight?” Tori asked.
“No, we only came into town to handle some wedding details,” Dallas replied.
“I thought we were going to do that tomorrow, Ginny.”
Ginnifer nodded. “We are doing dress fittings tomorrow. This was something I needed Dallas’s input on. It has to do with the venue for our reception. We decided to hold it here in Seattle.”
Vitoria sat back, surprised at their news. “I thought you wanted to do everything at the ranch. I remember you saying how the building we used for yoga would make a fantastic wedding venue.”
“And it will after we finish some renovations. We had a small incident in the building, and it was damaged. The renovations won’t be completed for a few months, and we are not willing to wait for them to be finished to get married.”
The waiter returned with their drinks. Thank God, she really needed a drink. She picked up her wine glass and took a long, savoring sip. It tasted like heaven in a glass. She turned and saw Wes staring at her with heat in his eyes. What had she done this time? She ignored him and gave Ginny her full attention.
“I see. You didn’t mention this on the phone earlier.”
“You didn’t really give me a chance. Besides, I’m telling you now. We settled on a hotel here in Seattle. We can have the wedding and reception in the same place. Makes things simple even if they were a bit last minute. We were lucky to find a venue this late.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Wes down his drink. He motioned to the waiter to bring him another glass. At the rate he was drinking, he wouldn’t be able to drive her back to the hotel. She felt momentary relief at the notion until she realized there would be no one to drive Wes anywhere. Vitoria clenched her teeth as she watched Wes take another swig of his drink. Damn him, he needed to stop drinking so much. If he thought she’d chauffer him around, he was sadly mistaken.
“I hope you don’t plan on getting drunk. I’m not driving your ass anywhere.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I will be more than capable of handling my own vehicle when we leave.”
“I told you, I’m not your sweetheart.”
“I knew it wouldn’t last.”
“What?”
“You holding your barbed tongue long enough to get through dinner.”
Oh hell, he was right. She couldn’t seem to help herself as guilt flooded through her. She glanced over at Ginnifer. Her mouth hung open in surprise. She thought she had been doing a good job of hiding her animosity. Wes Novak really brought out the worst in her.
“What can I say? You inspire to me to new levels.” She chose to make light of it. Vitoria shrugged and turned back to Ginnifer. “So what time are we meeting tomorrow?”
Ginnifer looked back and forth between Tori and Wes. She appeared as if she wanted to ask them something, but shook her head and said, “We have to be at the dress shop at eleven. Is that time is all right for you.”
“Yes, it should be fine. I don’t have a strict schedule for this trip. I will know more later this evening after I make some calls. I don’t foresee any problems though.”
She let her mind ramble on needless things in an attempt to ignore Wes. His attitude and hatred for her forced an uneasy feeling through her whole body. She really wished she knew why he didn’t like her.
Whenever she tried to discuss it, he closed down. Instead of having a real conversation, he’d slide innuendos at her. Each one suggesting Tori had done something wrong to him.
She never laid eyes on him before she spent time at Novak Springs during the Cowgirl Yoga program. Wes took one look at her and she’d become public enemy number one.
One day soon she’d make him listen. She needed answers, and he’d better be prepared to give them. Considering his current inebriated state, she’d wait until he sobered up. A drunk Wes would surely be more of an ass than normal.
“So you really have no idea when you are going to come out to the ranch?” Ginnifer asked again.
“No, I don’t.” Tori laughed.
“I really want to spend more time with you.”
“I have some things to take care of. I miss you too.”
Vitoria picked up her glass of wine and took another sip. She paced herself as she drank. She didn’t want to get drunk and muddle up her own mind.
“Fine. I won’t push—much.”
“Of course you won’t dear. Wouldn’t want to chase your best friend away,” Dallas said. His small chuckle filled the space around them.
“Of course if you ask me—” Wes started to say.
“No one is asking you anything,” Tori cut him off.
“No need to be rude, sweetheart.”
If he didn’t stop calling her sweetheart, she wouldn’t be responsible for her actions.
“Can’t you two stop bickering long enou
gh to get through a meal?” Dallas asked. “You need to work out whatever this is before the wedding. I don’t want to play referee at my own nuptials.”
“I’m sorry, Dallas. I’ll rein in my temper,” Wes replied.
His guilt etched across his face. He rubbed his hands over his eyes. He looked weary and tired. Tori almost felt sorry for him until she remembered what a fiend he was. If he could stop being an ass, maybe she could refrain from being a bitch.
“All we can do is try. I’m sorry. Wes really brings out the worst in me. That’s no excuse, stating a fact. I’ll do my best to not let my temper out around him.” She didn’t add the small caveat of only when they were around to see it. Wes already knew she wouldn’t hold back if he decided to be a dick.
Ginnifer sighed. “I hope you two can find some common ground. You both mean a lot to us.”
“Who knows, maybe we will,” Tori agreed. “How about a toast. To the two most important people here. Ginny and Dallas, may you always be happy and blissfully in love.”
They clinked their glasses together. Cheers could be heard from all of them. She hoped her words would indeed prove true. Ginnifer deserved happiness. Their meals came, and they ate in relative peace. No more bickering came out of her or Wes, but she noticed he had to bite his tongue and hold back a few times. She had a couple of incidents herself. It was so hard to be good. She took a deep breath and smiled for all she was worth.
If Wes could refrain from lashing out so could she. When the urge to snap came she took another bite of food—stuffing her mouth was her only avenue when she wanted to slice him with her words. She needed to get through this meal and get back to her room. Once there she wouldn’t have to worry about Wes Novak for the rest of her trip—and once she lived in Seattle permanently, she would make a point of avoiding him at all costs.
Chapter Six
Dinner was hell. Despite what he told Vitoria, he had indeed managed to imbibe a bit too much scotch. What could he say—it gave him the fortitude to sit through a whole meal listening to her bullshit. He picked up his glass and swallowed the last of its contents and set it down on the table. He could feel Vitoria’s glare as he placed the empty tumbler down.
“Well, I’m glad you two finally made it to dinner. Thank you for joining us,” Ginnifer said, a smile beaming across her face.
“I wouldn’t have missed it. You’re my only close friend. I’d do anything for you.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it. It’s time to call it a night though.” Ginnifer stood and set napkin on the table.
“I agree, we still have to drive home,” Dallas interjected. “Wes are you coming back to the ranch tonight?”
“No. I still have some business in town. I’ll be back in the morning.”
He wanted to have a one-on-one conversation with Vitoria. Wes needed her to admit her treachery. What she did—how it caused his best friend’s death. If she was even honest enough to own up to her own mistakes—something he doubted she was capable of doing.
“Well then, we will see you tomorrow,” Ginnifer said as she pulled Wes into a hug. “If I’m gone when you arrive, I’ll see you sometime after dinner.”
“You can count on it,” Wes replied as he pulled out of Ginnifer’s embrace.
Dallas clapped Wes on the shoulder. “When you get home find me. I need your input on some ideas I have to expand our side business.”
“What ideas?”
“Not now. I don’t have time to get into it. We’ll talk more about it tomorrow.” Dallas nodded at Wes and Vitoria. “Don’t you two kill each other once Gin and I aren’t around to referee.”
Yeah, like he would do something that would take away his own freedom. He might despise her, but murder wouldn’t be in the cards. Not something he was capable of doing anyway. All he wanted from her was her own admission of guilt.
“We will certainly do our best to refrain from murder,” Vitoria agreed in as light a tone as she could muster. “I happen to enjoy my freedom.”
“Look, something else we agree on. Never would have thought we’d have anything in common sweetheart,” Wes drawled.
After Dallas and Ginny left, Wes would once again have Vitoria all alone. It would make a good opportunity to further interrogate her and annoy the hell out of her. He enjoyed getting her all riled up. It had become one of his favorite hobbies.
“I will see you in the morning, I texted you the address of the dress shop. Meet me there at eleven, and we can start the fitting process. I’m told it’s relatively harmless.” Ginnifer laughed and pulled Tori in for a quick hug.
“Night, Ginny. I will be there, I promise.” Tori pulled herself out of Ginnifer’s arms and took a step back, a warm smile plastered on her face.
Vitoria watched as Ginnifer and Dallas walked away from the table. Now she was completely alone, once again, with Wes. Time to pay the piper—he hoped she was ready to deal with him.
“Ready to leave, sweetheart?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. You aren’t going to stand there and tell me you’re sober enough to drive. It’s a lie, and you know it.”
Wes tilted back on his heels and studied the expression on her face. Her caramel-blonde hair floated around her heart-shaped face in delicate wisps. Her blue eyes shot heated daggers at him—a lesser man would have been terrified. Wes knew her and what she was capable of. He didn’t have a problem disabusing her of any of her preconceived notions.
“Which is why you get the privilege of driving me back to the hotel.”
“You expect me to be your chauffer?”
“Why not—you didn’t have a problem hitching a ride with me here,” Wes baited her.
“You imbecile, you didn’t exactly give me much of a choice. I could have”—she paused for a quick breath—“and would have quite willingly driven myself here. You were determined to browbeat me and make me come along with you for the ride.”
“So that’s a no on driving?”
Vitoria pushed him and stomped away from the table. She pounded the floor with her stilettos. He had to admit it was quite a sight to see. The only thing would have made it better was if her hair was loose enough to fly around her back. Wes followed her out the door. He still had to convince her to drive them both back to the hotel. Outside the restaurant door he spotted her storming to the parking lot.
“Now sugar, you know you want to get your hands around—my stick shift,” he drawled. “Don’t act all hard to get. You’ve got me right where you want me.”
Vitoria spun on her stilettos—a hard-to-master skill, no doubt. It amazed him how easily she got around in those death traps. She marched toward him and punched him in the gut, effectively knocking the breath right out of him. While he was keeled over in pain, gasping for breath, she reached inside his pocket and snatched his keys.
Wes watched her sashay toward his car and unlock it with the remote. He rushed forward so he could slide in the passenger seat before she took off. No sooner was he seated and shutting the door than she pulled the stick shift into reverse. He was starting to understand her anger when he did it to her earlier in the night.
“You promised Dallas you wouldn’t attempt to kill me tonight.”
“No, I believe I said I would try not to kill you—and I haven’t.”
“Could’ve fooled me. I’m still trying to catch my breath. Did you really have to punch me in the gut?” Wes’s breathing was still labored as he gasped through each word. He had made it worse by dashing to get inside the car.
“Yes I did. You were being an ass. Don’t try to use your charm on me. I’m immune. Have been ever since the day you arranged for me to fall into a pile of shit.”
Wes chuckled at the memory. She had been doing her damn best to get his attention that day. He didn’t understand why, but she had a hankering to get on his good side and trailed after him while he did chores on the ranch. It was pretty funny to use the rope on her and lasso her up like a runaway foal. Of course, she didn’t find it
amusing when she landed in a pile of manure. He, on the other hand, found it both ironic and fitting. She was a pile of shit herself seeing as she was responsible for Eric’s death.
“Ah—good times…”
“You would look back at it with fond memories considering you’re the son of Satan and all.”
“Is this your subtle way of referring to me as the Anti-Christ?”
“Only if the shoe fits,” Vitoria replied.
Vitoria drove up to the front of the hotel and put the car in park. She hopped out, walked over to the valet, and handed him the keys. Wes jumped out after her in time to grab the parking slip from the valet and followed her inside. She was on the elevator before he could reach her.
He was willing to bet she forgot he had a key to her room—or assumed the front desk worker walked up and let him in.
Either way she was assuming she could escape. Lucky for him he could walk leisurely up to her room and let himself in, like the good fiancé he pretended to be earlier. He punched the up button on the elevator and whistled as he walked inside. Leaning against the wall he crossed his legs and waited until it stopped at his desired floor. He exited and set a lazy, yet determined pace to her room.
He stopped outside the door and unlocked it with his keycard. He pushed it open and found Vitoria kicking off her killer heels. Her pretty blue eyes shot daggers at him as he stepped inside.
“What the fuck are you doing here? Don’t you have something better to do than harass me?”
“Not really. I kind of like this look on you.”
Wes shut the door behind him and walked over to her.
“I don’t like any look on you. You can open that door right back up and exit my room.”
“We have some things to discuss.”
“Did you drink more than I thought you did? Are you on some kind of hallucinogenic drug? I have nothing to discuss with you.”
Vitoria picked up her suitcase and tossed it on the king size bed. She unzipped it and rifled through her clothes until she found some silky nightgown. Wes couldn’t help wondering how it would look on her. He swallowed a lump that began to form in his throat and shook his head.
