by Zuri Day
Fifteen
Cayden considered himself a sophisticated, successful man. But today he felt like that ten-year-old who thought Jake’s house was a hotel. For his trip to California, Derrick had generously given Cayden the use of his private plane. Flying in the sleek, fully customized Gulfstream 550 wasn’t new. He’d crisscrossed the country on business trips and gone on vacation with Jake and sometimes the other Eddington siblings at least a dozen times. But he’d never been offered solo use of the plane for business or pleasure and couldn’t wait to see Avery’s reaction upon learning that they were traveling to wine country in style.
He didn’t have to wait. The car service he’d sent to pick her up arrived on schedule. He instructed the driver to handle the luggage and opened the back door. Avery took the hand he offered and got out of the car.
“Good morning!”
“Obviously a very good morning,” she replied, her eyes scanning the airstrip before coming to rest on the plane. “I thought getting picked up in a limo was fancy. What is going on?”
“We’re flying to California.”
“We’re flying private?” Cayden nodded as they walked to the airstairs. “However you pulled this off, I’m impressed.”
“I didn’t have to go far and didn’t ask for the favor. This flight comes courtesy of Derrick Eddington.”
“You must make that company a lot of money. That’s a very generous gift.”
“Probably more like a pacifier for frustrating delays happening on the job. But I don’t want to talk about that. In fact, how about we make topics of work off-limits for the weekend.”
“Works for me.”
The pilot and flight attendant stood just inside the door. After introductions came the tour. Avery’s awe at the extravagance inside Derrick’s fly baby boasting the company colors caused Cayden to see them with new eyes. The plane was designed for multiple configurations, comfortably holding up to eighteen passengers and four crew. Because it would only be Cayden and Avery on the flight, he’d requested the L3 configuration that in addition to the calfskin-covered swivel seats up front included a living area with full-size sofa, dining section with minibar, full-size bathroom and sleeping quarters.
“I could easily live here,” Avery said as they sat and buckled up to prepare for takeoff.
“It would be the most expensive studio apartment ever rented.”
The flight attendant came over with mimosas. “This looks like a celebration so here you go, guys!”
“It is indeed.” Cayden held up his glass.
So did Avery. “To what are we toasting?”
“To a stellar and successful fundraiser, the woman largely responsible for making it happen and a relaxing, stress-free time in California.”
“Thank you, Cayden. You worked hard, also, so cheers to you.”
They clinked glasses and continued chatting casually as the plane reached cruising altitude and the flight attendant began the meal service.
Avery finished a bite of salad. “Will this be your first time in Napa Valley?”
“That’s not where we’re headed.”
“Oh, my bad. I thought you mentioned wine country.”
“Southern California’s wine country. We’re going to Temecula.”
“Never heard of it.”
“I’ve passed it when driving from Los Angeles to San Diego. But I’ve never been to the resort, which is supposed to be amazing. The wines produced there have received numerous awards.”
The dinner plates had been taken and dessert was on the way before Cayden broached the topic on both of their minds.
“We need to talk about what happened in the storeroom.”
“Okay.” Avery picked up her glass of sparkling water and took a sip.
“Are you still angry about it?”
“I was never angry, to tell you the truth. I was stunned, confused, really turned on...but never angry. What you heard when I went off on you that night was fear. A rule at the club says that we can’t date or go out with clients. On a more personal note, I definitely feel an attraction. That scares me, too.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s nowhere for that feeling to go. Point du Sable is too small for casual hookups, and even if it weren’t, I’m not that girl.”
“I’m not that guy, either. Definitely not a fan of the gossip mill. But who says this has to be casual? You’re attracted to me. I’m feeling you, too. Perhaps we should go with those feelings and see what happens.”
“Just because something sounds wonderful doesn’t mean it’s wise.”
Cayden grinned. “That sounds like something Miss Kay would say.”
“Hey, where was she this past weekend? I’m surprised you didn’t invite her to the ball.”
“I did. She’d already made plans to visit her sister in Michigan.”
“That’s where she’s from?” Cayden nodded. “Detroit?”
“Kalamazoo.”
“I was surprised to see your friend from Northwestern at the gala.”
“No more than I was.”
“You didn’t invite her?”
Cayden shook his head. “Her date, Bruce, also went there. He’s a good friend of mine. As I said before, I hardly know Teagan. She would never have received an invite from me.”
Someone else had stopped by the club that night, someone he’d never wanted to see again, let alone invite anywhere. Cayden hadn’t been happy to learn that Brittany was in town and wanted to talk, even though he’d agreed with Jake that perhaps she’d grown a conscience and wanted to apologize for the hell her lies had put him through. Did Avery know her friend was back in the Point? Probably so, but she didn’t mention it and Cayden didn’t ask. The last person he wanted to talk about during this vacation was Brittany Moore.
The conversation shifted. He pulled up the website for Drake Wines Resort and Spa. Checking out their amenities, activities and attractions got both of them excited. By the time the plane began its descent into French Valley Airport, they’d mapped out a rough itinerary covering all three days. Avery seemed lighter, freer, than she did when they’d boarded the plane in Point du Sable. It felt good to see her relaxed and carefree. Her enthusiasm was contagious. It took his mind off Brittany and the unfortunate timing of her visit. He decided not to worry about it. As long as there was no contact and she kept his name out of her mouth, he’d successfully complete his SOMA probation and everyone would get along fine.
Sixteen
Avery wasn’t unaccustomed to luxury. She’d stayed in her fair share of five-star hotels. But from the moment the limo turned onto the tree-lined road leading up to Drake Wines Resort and Spa, she knew this was about to be a different experience with a type of opulence she’d never seen. A deft landscaper had managed to make one feel as though they’d entered a personal paradise far away from the hubbub. In fact, they were within the city limits of Temecula, a town that according to the Drake Wines website was home to over a hundred thousand residents. The rolling hills and tall, mature trees behind a white picket fence that gleamed in the sun was as calming as it was picturesque. She relaxed into the soft, rich leather, allowing the tenseness created when they’d discussed “the incident” and Teagan to fully dissipate. There was a lot to unpack from that conversation. She’d do so later, when alone in her room. Now, she wanted to stay present and enjoy every inch of this wonderful place.
“Thanks again, Cayden, for inviting me on this trip. I can’t get over the beauty here.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” the driver informed her. “Sorry to eavesdrop, but it’s the truth.”
The driver was right. They pulled up to a structure as grand as any she’d seen. Fountains and artfully cut shrubbery lined the cobblestone round the limo pulled into, along with a statue of a man working in a vineyard. A smartly dressed attendant opened her door an
d extended his hand.
“Welcome to Drake Wines Resort and Spa,” he sang in a Caribbean-tinged accent.
Avery exited the car. “Thank you. I love it already.”
Immediately after a wave of heat rolled over her body she felt the cooling breeze of an air-conditioning vent from some unseen but heavenly source. In Chicago’s hot summer months the humidity could be unyielding. She made a mental note to inquire about whatever system they used and see if the same were feasible for the Point’s outdoor living spaces.
“May I have the name on the reservation, please?”
Cayden joined them on the car’s passenger side. “Barker. Cayden Barker.”
“Thank you, sir.” The attendant motioned to a porter standing just inside the rotating doors. He grabbed a luggage cart and walked to the opened trunk.
“If you will proceed to the reservation desk directly ahead, one of our front desk personnel will take it from here. Enjoy your stay at Drake Wines Resort and Spa.”
The receptionist smiled warmly as she greeted them. “Mr. Drake sends his regrets at not being able to personally greet you, but has extended a dinner invitation for tomorrow evening, if you’re free. A card bearing the details has been placed in your suite, along with other welcome amenities. You’ve also been assigned a personal butler who will work to ensure your every comfort. His name is Gustav. He will ring you shortly, then come up for a proper introduction.”
Avery’s head was spinning before seeing the room. Personal greetings from the hotel owner, and a butler to boot? She was living in rarified air. As they crossed over to the elevators, a thought hit her.
“Did they give you two key cards?”
Cayden pulled a second gold card from the pouch and handed it to her.
“You only booked one room?”
“Yes, but don’t worry. It’s a two-bedroom suite. If after seeing it you still would prefer completely separate accommodations, I’ll have Gustav take care of it right away.”
The luxury suites were all named after wines. Cayden stopped outside “Burgundy.” Once inside the cavernous space, Avery thought of her concern of one room, one bed and laughed out loud. The suite was almost the size of her two-bedroom condo with two matching master suites separated by a living room large enough to comfortably hold a grand piano, a full-size kitchen and formal dining room. On the dining room table was a welcoming basket wrapped in transparent gold foil and tied with a burgundy bow. Avery released her luggage handle and walked into the dining room.
“This is lovely,” she said over her shoulder to Cayden. “Want to see what’s in it?”
He walked up next to her and reached for the card pinned to the bow. “It’s from Donald.”
“Donald Drake, a guest at your party.”
“One and the same. He says, ‘Dear Cayden and Avery, Welcome to Drake Wines Resort and Spa. Please accept my apologies for not being able to personally greet you by joining my wife, Genevieve, and me for dinner tomorrow evening, followed by a special concert you won’t want to miss.’”
He tossed the card on the table. “Want to go?”
“Sure, why not?”
Avery continued pulling items from the basket. Cayden looked on. Gourmet chocolates, smoked salmon and caviar with toast points, a variety of cheeses and bottles of alkaline water were perfect complements to a bottle of the vineyard’s finest champagne and two crystal flutes. Thoughtfully designed with the traveler in mind, the silk-covered rectangular design of the collapsible basket allowed it to be easily packed away as a memento.
Cayden picked up the bottle of champagne. “This looks like good stuff. Should we pop the cork?”
He wriggled his brows in a way meant to be funny but had Avery’s insides feeling butterflies.
“It needs to chill.” So do I. “Doesn’t the tour for first-time guests start soon?”
“In about an hour, I think.”
“Then I’m going to get unpacked and freshen up. Meet you back here in, say, forty-five?”
In a totally unexpected move, Cayden pulled her into his arms for a hug that for Avery was both too long and not nearly long enough, and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too.”
Avery eased out of the hug and made a beeline for her luggage and master suite. Her thoughts—not to mention hormones—were all over the place. She needed to get a grip. As soon as she’d closed the door, she pulled out her phone and called Lisa.
“I was just thinking about you,” was Lisa’s greeting. “How’s it going?”
“Like a dream that I don’t want to wake from. What about you?”
“Just endured a nightmare. I saw Brittany.”
“Really? Where?”
“The Upscale boutique. She was all hugs and smiles and gushing over Amanda, as though she hadn’t dropped me like a sack of rotten potatoes ten-plus years ago.”
“Dang. Bitter much?”
“Who, moi?” The sisters laughed. “I don’t hate her. I just see through the fakeness and don’t want any part of it. I guess you don’t, either, since she said you still haven’t called.”
“I know. I need to.”
“Does Cayden know she’s back?”
“I don’t think so. He didn’t mention her.”
“But he knows the two of you used to be friends.”
“Yeah, we talked about that.” It’s what they hadn’t discussed that now worried Avery. Even with the questions she still had for Brittany, Avery no longer felt so good about the part she’d played in Cayden’s scandal. “Look, sis, I need to run. Just wanted to let you know that we arrived safely.”
“Have fun, okay?”
Avery took a deep breath. “I’ll try.”
“Shouldn’t be hard. He’s a good-looking man.”
“That he is. I love you, Lisa.”
“Love you, too.”
Avery walked into the living room determined to forget about the goings-on in Chicago and enjoy this paradise. Cayden made that easy. He stood on the balcony looking exceptional in a short-sleeved baby blue button-down and a pair of white shorts that showed off his tan. She didn’t even try to stop the flutters. He must have felt her eyes on him because he suddenly turned around and came into the room. As he took in her floral baby-doll mini and comfy sandals, a smile slowly lit up his face. The perusal was sensuous. Almost as sexy as him.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Yes. For anything.”
They met the tour guide in the lobby and for the next hour, along with several other couples, were shown what made Drake Wines Resort and Spa an award-winning location. Aside from learning everything about winemaking, guests could swim, play tennis or miniature golf, hike, ride horseback, fish and take advantage of any number of indoor activities. Everyone was friendly but Avery noticed how they all gravitated to Cayden, who was entirely adorable just being himself. During the tour, a camaraderie developed between them and a married couple who lived in South Carolina. The husband, Owen, was an investment banker. His wife, Violet, designed jewelry that she sold on the internet. They were funny and down-to-earth. By the end of the tour they felt like old friends. So much so that when Owen suggested they check out the nearby casino the tour guide had mentioned, Avery and Cayden agreed.
What a great idea! Neither Avery nor Cayden were big gamblers. They had much more fun watching Owen at the blackjack table and Violet yell at the slots. After a few rounds of win-lose-win, the couples ate dinner at the casino and then headed toward the sound of a live band playing remixes from the early 2000s. Cayden pulled Avery on the dance floor.
Pumping his hips to the beat, Cayden inched closer to her. “Do you remember what happened the last time we danced?”
“How could I forget?” That kiss and the afternoon in the storeroom was often the mental images t
hat accompanied her to sleep.
He laughed and ran a finger down her cheek. His eyes smoldered. She knew what was on his mind. It was on hers, too. Still, Avery didn’t want to rush into bed with Cayden. Something told her that once she experienced the full extent of his pleasure, he would be a hard habit to break. Owen and Violet shimmied and shook their way next to them, breaking the spell Cayden was weaving around her. Violet danced like a video vixen. Owen was a goof. Great fun, but after several songs Avery began feeling the effects of the early rising.
“I’m going to text the service,” she told Cayden, referring to the complimentary car the resort provided. “It’s time for me to call it a night.”
“I’m ready, too.”
They left their newfound friends grooving on the dance floor and in no time at all were back within the confines of their beautiful suite. Avery wasn’t a chicken, but she knew she needed distance from Cayden right now.
“Tonight was awesome.” She stretched and yawned. “I feel jet-lagged, though, and believe I’ll head toward a good night’s sleep.”
Cayden walked over and reached for her hands. “Are you sure? I was thinking about going down to that game room, maybe play a round of pool. See how well you handle a stick.”
By the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes, Avery knew exactly what he meant.
She couldn’t help but flirt back. “After a good night’s sleep, I’ll be ready for anything.”
He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. “Promise?”
“Don’t want to make one I might not keep.”
“I can respect that. All right, then, angel—” he kissed her forehead “—sweet dreams.” He slid his mouth to hers and covered it. The exchange quickly deepened as tongues touched and swayed. This time it was Cayden who pulled back.
“I’d better stop before this gets out of hand. Not because I don’t want you, Avery. But because of how much I do.”
