by Milly Taiden
“Gladly.” She huffed reverting toward her office.
***
CHAPTER EIGHT
The castle remained eerily quiet over the next few days. Vincent made himself scarce, however, she knew exactly when he entered into the main building. The gorgeous painting depicting a sleepy Tuscan village, hanging on her wall, threatened to rattle loose of its supporting nail with each slam of the door.
Lulled by the mundane ticking of the antique clock hanging on the wall, she caught herself dozing off at her desk for the second time and it wasn’t even noon yet. Catching a whiff of freshly brewed coffee, she closed her laptop and followed the rich, delicious aroma.
Sunshine beamed through each large arched window, warming her bare calves as she sauntered down the long hall. Walking past the back door, she saw Vincent walking up the sidewalk, arms encumbered with two cases of wine. Their eyes locked for a split second. Turning away from the stormy grey pull of his eyes, she saw him nod asking for her assistance.
Tracy ignored him and continued down the corridor. Hearing the door knob jiggle, moral decency tapped her on the shoulder. She stopped mid-stride, struggling with a mental tug-of-war, detestation verses politeness. Her eyes rolled back and her lip curled in revulsion. Her conscience winning, forcing her to do an about face.
“Here, by all means, let me help you with that.” Tracy offered with a snide smile, voice as sweet as honey, opening the door allowing him to walk through.
She thought she heard him draw a breath, possibly to thank her, as she slammed the door behind him rattling the glass. He lurched at the loud boom, fumbling to keep hold of the crates, swearing beneath his breath.
Her head bobbled back-and-forth childishly, huffing in satisfaction, “No wonder you do that.”
Throwing him a sideways glance, Tracy witnessed a rare hint of a grin lift at the corner of his mouth. The vision was so gorgeous it made her traitorous heart flip.
Feeling his eyes pinned to her backside, her hormones automatically took over, adding a sway to her hips. She feared her knees might buckle before making it to the coffee niche around the corner.
Grabbing a gourmet single serve coffee capsule, she shoved it into the maker and wiped her sweaty palms on a napkin. She inhaled her coffee while leaning on a spotless countertop, allowing her pulse to settle before venturing back into the hall.
As she made her way back to her office, Tracy saw Vincent outside on the veranda. A smile ticked the edge of her mouth. He didn’t slam the door when he left. Her head tilted, a ping of curiosity pulled her closer to the wall.
Hiding behind the edge of the window, she watched in astonishment as his typically rigid stance softened and an unpretentious smile broadened across his entire face. Reading his lips, Vincent called out Bongiorno to someone just out of her sight. She questioned what on earth could make this man happy. He extended his arms wide sparking a twinge of unsuspecting yearning to her core. Clinging to the corner of the wall, she frowned, privately wishing and wondering why he hadn’t greeted her with the same sexy grin.
Lost emotions collected in her chest, spreading heat to a tender place deep inside, until she saw her mom and Lisa round the corner. Tracy’s face soured.
A crimson haze surrounded her vision and anger splintered at the idiotic pleasantries he showered them with. Tracy moved toward the window, grimacing as she observed Vincent embracing Lisa in a friendly hello. Her breath fogged on the cold glass. She contemplated pounding her fist on the window to warn her mom not to be fooled by her nemesis. Who the hell does he think he is being nice to my mom and Lisa?
“Oh I do not fucking think so,” she seethed beneath her breath heading for the exit with lethal determination.
Fury and defensiveness worked itself into full on crazyville by the time she burst through the door. Her arms swung crossly, propelling her into a brisk march. Vincent inclined forward to customarily kiss her mom’s cheek. Tracy picked up her pace trotting toward them.
“Momma!” Brushing Vincent to the side, Tracy literally squirmed between them. His stunned expression played in slow motion out of the corner of her eye as she embraced her mother.
Her mom startled at Tracy’s brusqueness. “Well, hey there sweetheart.”
Breathless, she continued in an octave higher than normal, “What brings you here?”
“Lisa brought me. We came to say hi.”
Tracy remained wedged between them, blocking Vincent from her mom. She knew by the scowls of confusion notched between Tess and Lisa’s brows, her behavior bordered on odd at best and most likely verging on flat out rude.
Vincent dropped his hands to his side and took a step back. Their gaze connected and Tracy’s heart jumped, nearly beating out of her chest. Judging by the dumbfounded look on his face, he was just as shocked by her actions. Guilt and embarrassment spread over her in a thin layer of perspiration.
Vincent refrained from getting next to Tess, holding out his arm to usher them inside. Lisa latched onto to Tracy, linking arms at their elbows.
Her mom, who would never consider the notion of being impolite, finished their introduction, “Thank you for offering to take us on a tour. I would love to see the vineyard.”
Tracy’s jaw clenched so tight she could’ve bit a stick in two.
Lisa’s voice interrupted her rage. “MJ is working in Dubai designing a palace for a sheik. Apparently he takes precedence over me.” Lisa pouted, sarcasm coiled with irritancy. “Tommy and Benny are busy with production deadlines, so I’m sending you the next best designers I know. Your mother and I.”
Tracy could barely pay attention, consumed with eavesdropping on her mom and Vincent’s conversation. Her anger grew with each passing second. His endearing tone pissed her off beyond belief. The fabric of her dress clung to her damp skin.
“Designer?” she heard Vincent question.
Tracy twisted her neck and glared at Lisa, signaling for her to please zip her lips. Tension mounted, neither she nor Vincent were any good at concealing their body language. Annoyance swirled between them.
Reaching the door, she asked, “Momma, would the two of you mind giving us a minute?”
A glimpse of Oh dear, shit is gonna hit the fan covered the women’s faces as they stepped over the threshold into the safety of the castle. The door shut tight and Tracy circled around Vincent, using his body to block their view.
“What is your problema?” A debris of loathing spewed from his lips.
She laid into him. “My problem? You’ve been nothing but mean to me since I walked through the damn door! And then you go and try and charm the—”
Vincent flinched at her high pitch and the velocity of anger coloring her voice. He lowered his chin and narrowed a cold hard look at her. “A designer? For your sake, it better not be for this place.”
“Yes, this place is in desperate need of professional help! And don’t you think for one second that you are going to be nice to my mom and Lisa!”
“The Levi’s are one of our best clients.”
“I don’t give a crap if she’s your client.” Fury throbbed in the pulse at the side of her neck. “Lisa is my people!”
“Your people?” Vincent mocked, amusement flickering in the squint of his eye. “I am always nice to Lisa when she visits.”
“If my mother knew how welcoming you’ve been to me,” she stated acidly, drilling an index finger into his jacket, “She’d chew you up and spit you out like a rotten sunflower seed. And I might take pity on you if Lisa finds out!”
Stunned by the way her finger bounced off the hard planes of his chest, Tracy raked a cool glare over his chest. A tingling sensation skittered over her skin causing her to tremble. His mouth pushed into a tight line. Beneath a layer of calm, she sensed his anger rising. The densely charged air sizzled between them.
A strand of her hair caught in a light gust of wind, sticking to her lips. Facing the breeze, she shook her hair loose, tucking the dark auburn strand behind her ear. His eyes followed the movement of he
r fingers, suddenly erasing the smirk he wore. Anguish splashed across his face. His dark brow bent and the angles on his face hardened.
Before she had a chance to contemplate why on earth he was so absorbed in her hair, Vincent turned abruptly and walked away. In one smooth angry motion, he opened the door.
Tracy stepped inside.
Suppressing any sign of discomfort, Vincent announced pleasantly through a stiff jaw, “I’ll be back in un minuto to take you on a tour.”
“Thank you,” she heard Lisa say before he shut the door.
Tracy circled her shoulders, straightening the kinks in her stance one vertebrae at a time. Closing her eyes, she drew in a slow calming breath, forcing herself to relax. Her thoughts drowned in a storm of grey debris somewhere off in space.
The sound of Tess clearing her throat captured her attention. “What?”
“What was that all about?”
“Nothing,” she grumbled rolling her eyes. “You!” Tracy flipped her finger at Lisa. “You should’ve warned me about these two men.”
“There’s not much to say about Vincent. He’s about as sweet and harmless as your favorite teddy bear.” Pure innocence sugared her tone.
“Teddy bear my ass! Are you kidding me? More like a…a…T-Rex or a flesh eating disease! The man hates me! He won’t even talk to me. Spitting nails would be more accurate.”
“I admit, maybe I should’ve mentioned Antonio. He is a bit of a hound-dog. But honestly, Tracy, you’re way too smart to fall for his shit, so I didn’t bother. He’s basically harmless other than the fact that he simply loves women…a little too much.”
Tess’ eyes widened in concern. “Lisa, is there anything else you need to tell her?”
“It’s nothing she can’t handle,” Lisa assured Tess. “He’s had several engagements, but they usually wise up far before the date is set. He just has a very bad flirting habit.”
Tracy acknowledged with a nod. “Yeah, I got his number, but that one…” She cast a sharp finger at the door as Vincent strolled toward them carrying two pairs of yellow muck boots. “He is an unredeemable jerk!”
A doubtful grin tucked into the curve of Lisa’s full lips as Vincent opened the door. He handed Lisa and Tess a pair of rubber boots. “The bikes are right around the corner.”
Tracy scowled. “What about me? Where are my boots?”
“I only have the two pair. Scusi.” He gave a modest shrug.
She ignored his apology, suspecting there were a dozen more boots where those came from. Miffed by his snub, she folded her arms over her chest. “I want to go. I haven’t seen the grounds yet.”
Vincent dared to drag a slow gaze down her body, pausing at her four inch black pumps. “I don’t think you’ll be able to ride in those.”
No way in hell was she about to give him the privilege of spending the day schmoozing her mom.
“I’ll go barefoot,” she grumbled in exasperation.
Following Tess out the door, Lisa snickered at Tracy’s stubborn insistence.
“You’re going to freeze.” Vincent whispered over her shoulder, his breath rustling her hair.
Tracy’s eyes narrowed in reply, shooting daggers at him.
Three bikes parked at the east end of the castle in front of Vincent’s office, two singles and a two-seater. All three of them took off their shoes. Vincent disappeared to store them in his office.
Tracy gripped the handles of a single-seater, backing the bike away from the metal stand. Realizing her dress fit similar to a pencil skirt, she planted her eyes on the ground beneath her bare feet. How the hell am I gonna get on? Refusing to be defeated, she gave a hard kick to the kickstand and started pinching at the fabric, hoisting up the dress near her thighs.
“Why don’t you ride with Vincent, sweetheart. That way you won’t have to pedal. Lisa and I will take the singles. Is that alright with you, Vincent?”
“Si`, Mrs. Clemmins.”
“Please, call me Tess.”
Their casual dialog slithered into a dense fog of her mind. Tess pried the handlebars from Tracy’s grasp. Another small breeze sifted through her hair, the scent of him still lingered. Tracy’s head tilted, pondering the sweet, musky scent. There’s something about his breath.
Vincent pulled the two-seater alongside her and brought her out of her daze. His dark lashes spiked upon his cheekbones in heavy crescent shapes as he slowly scanned down the length of her body to her bare feet. His penetrating study of each curve sent a rush of desire curling through her like the scorch of a branding iron.
Nerves set in. Tracy apprehensively rubbed her chilly fingertips on the warmth of her blushing earlobe, damning herself for reveling in the slightest thing regarding Vincent. His eyes lifted, skimming over her body until reaching her face, locking on the evidence of her nervous habit. Their eyes connected in a burning stare.
Vincent eased closer reaching for her waist.
Letting go of her lobe, she jerked, swiftly crossing her hand in front of her midriff to block his hands.
Something happened in that instant. He staggered back a step. A stunned expression ghosted over Vincent like a wave of darkness rolling up on a long shallow beach. She sensed his sorrow, heavy and deep. Reflective sadness wove into the fine lines of his forehead. An aching weight gathered in her chest. Vincent turned away from her prying eyes, reaching for the bike.
Tracy rested her hand on his arm, urging him to face her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to slap at you. I’ve been warding off your brother the last few days.”
Tiny muscles of his face tensed as his jaw clamped shut. Her comment only seemed to irritate him further. Vincent shook his head vehemently, expelling a long harsh breath. “I am nothing like my brother.”
No matter how flustered and aggravated he made her feel over the last week, Tracy never intended to hurt his feelings. Seeing the pain in his eyes stabbed at her. She motioned toward the hem on her slim-fitting dress. “I could actually use some help.”
There was no change in his expression, but the severe harshness faded from his handsome face. Vincent propped the bike against his hip for steadiness. Tracy placed her hands on his shoulders for support, the contours of solid muscles noticeable beneath his heavy jacket. He reached inside her cardigan, gripping around her waist and lifting her with ease.
Her breath caught as she felt the strength of his long fingers. He squeezed a ticklish spot at her ribs and she released a shaky giggle. Goosebumps chased up her spine, firing off pings of delight throughout her central nervous system.
A lopsided sexy grin lifted at the corner of his mouth, looking full and sexy, making her knees go weak. She pointed her toes, searching for correct placement on the aluminum tubing between the pedals, while her hands examined his well-defined arms and shoulders.
Relishing the feel of masculinity beneath her palms, she wondered for a second what he’d look like, what he’d feel like under the bulky layers of clothing. Overcome with the urge to touch his skin, her hands traveled back and forth across his shoulders, struggling not to slip the pads of her fingers into the collar of his shirt.
Grasping hold of his jacket, Tracy curled her fingers into the sherpa fleece lining, wiggling and scooting her bottom for the perfect adjustment on the seat. Managing a comfortable riding position, she glanced up at Vincent. His eyes burned of their own illumination, and a red hue dusted the bridge of his nose.
His gaze remained unblinking, blessing her with the sexiest smirk she’s ever seen.
Vincent covered his hand over hers, the rough texture stilling her blind groping of his chest. Laughter rumbling beneath her palm when he offered quietly, “If this is what’s permissible when you ride in the back, maybe we should switch places.”
Her eyes widened realizing she had been petting his chest. Tracy pressed her lips, biting back a grin. A rush of color ascended on her cheeks.
“I…scusi…I was…you’re so hard. I mean, you know…not hard.” Unable to locate the shut off valve for the em
barrassing babble flowing from her mouth like volcanic eruption, she rambled on like a skit on late night TV. “I mean…you must go to the gym.”
Her mom and Lisa inched their bicycles in reverse, one toe at a time, comically peering from behind the outline of Vincent’s impressive build. Their eyes and mouths popped wide open, watching as she spontaneously combusted.
Grabbing hold of the handles, he kicked a leg over, straddling the bar. “I work out.” He paused, glancing over his shoulder, watching for her reaction before adding, “Rigorously.”
He faced forward and began to pedal. Embarrassment flooded over her.
Lisa raised the back of her hand to her forehead mimicking a damsel in distress, mouthing Oh, you’re so hard.
Tracy’s face wrinkled at her own self-display of pathetic vulnerability. She shrugged, lifting the corners of her sweater over her face, attempting to disappear from further humiliation.
Lisa mercifully remained silent.
They rode in silence up a shallow incline. After a few nerve-wracking minutes of wondering how she would ever face him again, awkwardness subsided. Tracy relaxed, captivated by the serenity of the majestic view. The cool air bit at her cheeks, sitting sideways on the seat with her toes perched on the center bar. She scooted forward taking shelter behind Vincent. Her breathing fell into rhythm with his as they climbed to the top of the hill.
The vista opened wide, showing off a spectacular view of the estate. Acre upon acre of grapevines stretched out over the valley, following every rise and dip in the landscape. The tidy rows meandered lazily, creeping over the sweeping valley until reaching the steepness of the hills.
Vincent stopped at the crest waiting for Tess and Lisa to make their way leisurely up the hill. “The countryside is dormant now, but work continues in the pruning of the vines, ploughing of the fields and prepping for spring.”
“It’s beautiful. I can’t imagine what it looks like in summer and fall.” Wonder coated her words. Drawing a big breath through her nose, she took in the winter air.
