Hope All Is Well

Am good @Kenvee6 and all is well @Nuel45.

CHAPTER 14
Tailed


  



"When you win every hand, someone can figure out you're cheating," Dad gripes, sulking while leaning back as I toss down my perfect twenty-one.


"Of course they do, but they can't prove it. That's the part that matters," I joke, reminding him of the speech he used to give me when I'd accuse him of cheating.


He grins and shakes his head as I deal out the next set.


"Next time, I'll deal."


"Nah," I mutter, grinning. "You're a recovering addict. It's best if you don't."


He laughs as he glances at his cards. "Hit me."


I toss him a card, and he holds up a hand to let me know he's staying. I check my cards and grin at the two tens and an ace. He never learns.


"So you're still with him?" he asks as I reveal my perfect set once more.


He rolls his eyes and groans as he tosses his cards back at me.


"Yes. We've been together for three weeks now. He's taking me to some vineyard that's about an hour away today. I'm supposed to meet him at three."


Dad glances at the clock on the wall and then back to me. "Does he treat you good?"


Better than good. In the past three weeks, I've damn near fallen in love. I keep telling myself it can't happen this soon. It's hard to listen to my inner voice of reason when Kade goes out of his way to make each day with him seem like a fantasy.


"Yeah. Real good," I murmur with a sheepish grin.


"Glad to hear it," he says with his own salacious grin as he leans back. "They say I'll be getting out earlier than planned, since Brody has been pulling some strings for me. I'm assuming you won't be coming to live with me?"


I frown a little. I've gotten used to waking up in Kade's bed with his arms around me. I realize it's stupid to start living with a guy when you first start dating, but we were already living together, and we found out it was impossible to sleep in separate rooms when we knew the other was so close by. Now, it'd feel like we were moving in reverse if I moved out. Wouldn't it? So confusing.


"I haven't really thought about it as much as I probably should. But we'll see. I need to get going," I murmur while standing up.


"Are... Am I... Will I get to meet him?" Dad asks as he stays in his chair, doing his best to keep the angst out of his tone.


My heart almost breaks. "Of course you will. I just have to find the right time to... explain you. You're my father. I love you. You'll definitely meet the guy I've been living with."


His bright smile returns and he stands while the guards come to escort him back. "Soon, Raya. I promise I'll do my best to make up for all the time we lost."


I smile and wave while walking out, letting the guard escort me in the opposite direction. My life is starting to come together, and I just got a job offer from Silk, the club that was for members only. It recently opened to the public full time, and now I'll be waiting tables for extra cash, making myself a little more self-sufficient. It's another new start, and I'll be there as soon as next Monday.


Since I was a little girl who stood crying on the sidewalk as men in black suits wrestled my father to the ground, I haven't had peace. He was bloody and beaten when they cuffed him, and he never deserved a bit of that. He never fought them, yet they acted as though he'd resisted arrest. I was forced to watch it, and I think it hurt him more than me to know I witnessed it.


He'd never physically harmed anyone, and though he was a con, I always considered him a Robin Hood sort of thief because he never took more than someone could afford. He didn't rob from the rich and give to the poor, so I don't consider it noble, but I don't consider it unforgivable either. Maybe I'm warped for feeling that way.


I know what he did was wrong; I'm not an idiot. But I also know the impossible feat it is to be perfect. I don't feel guilty for loving my father in spite his faults, just as I no longer feel guilty for being the daughter of Ray Drivel.


Now that peace I lacked is filling me, making me whole. Maybe it's because I'm about to have my father back, maybe it's because Kade and I are so lost in each other, or maybe it's a little bit of both. I'm almost certain Kade is the main reason. I feel... accepted, wanted, needed, and desired. It feels good.


When I walk out of the prison and into the blinding light, I see the rear-end of a Audi pulling out. That's... odd. I saw that same Audi at the bus station. I remember it because it has the same darkly tinted windows my eyes couldn't penetrate. And the license plate is the same: HUPRIDE. I don't know what it means, but it stands out enough to remember.


I pull out my phone and dial the number I never wanted to have to use. When your father is helping put dangerous conmen in prison, there's always the fear of retaliation.


"Brody Sparks," he says into the phone, seeming distracted. "Hey, Brody, it's Raya."


"Well, I'll be damned. I've been hoping you'd call to say you're moving in with your old man. I could use all the help I can get to keep him out of trouble."


I'd smile, but it's hard to focus on anything right now. I really can't drag trouble into Kade's life.


"Um... can you do me a favor?"


"Yeah, sure. What's up?"


"Will you look up a tag for me? I think I was followed here, possibly. With Dad helping you out... I just want to be safe."


"Shit. There shouldn't be any link from your father to the cases he works, but I'll check it out."


I spell out the tag for him and watch as the black Audi disappears into the heavy traffic just down the road.


"I'll look into it, but, Raya, I have to ask... Have you done anything that might have... I don't know, drawn unwanted attention?"


Imagine that; the daughter of a con being accused of doing something unsavory to piss someone off.


"Call me if you can help; otherwise, I'll deal with it myself. You're not the only one with resources to finding out tag numbers."


I hang up before he can say anything. I shouldn't get so pissed when people assume the worst, but there comes a time when it just gets old. What happens when I tell Kade?


Trying not to dwell on the endless possibilities, which all seem bleak, I head out to the taxi that is waiting to take me to the bus station. Brody could take days or weeks to get back to me. I know someone else; someone who won't care to bend the rules and help me out.


Though I'm not overly fond of the gray area I usually avoid, Kade is more important to me. I can't take any risks.


I dial the number that my father would kill me for using this way. He answers on the third ring.


"Joey here," his gruff voice says, making me smile.


He always sounds like he's ready to kill someone. I suppose I'm twisted to find comfort in a voice like that.


"Hey, Uncle Joey. It's Raya."


"Raya? Well I'll be damned, girl. What're you doing?"


I tell the cab driver where to go, and then I lean back in my seat. "Just got finished visiting Dad. I think I had a tail. You care to check into the tag for me?"


"Damn straight I will. What was it?"


I spell it out for him, feeling more confident in getting answers than I did before.


"I think I actually have an app for this," he says, relieving me. That's awesome. So it's not illegal. "It might be tomorrow though. I'm in the middle of hac-"


"Don't tell me," I chuckle out, and he snickers as well.


"Sorry. I don't usually slip up like that over the phone. I've missed you, kiddo."


"I've missed you. How's Sindell?"


"She's the same. In and out of trouble. Since she turned twenty-one, I've aged ten years. I wish she'd take a note from you."


I sigh out, thinking about my wild cousin, Sindell, who had a rougher life than I did, since she knew all the scams her dad was and is still pulling. At least my father sheltered me the best he could, and I had my mom to guide me better. Sin makes me look like an amateur with card tricks and pool cues. It was always fun to watch her work a room and leave with stacks of cash, but I couldn't ever do it myself.


"Thanks for doing this, Uncle Joey. I suppose I'll be seeing you soon... when Dad gets out?"


"You better believe it. As long as that dick Fed doesn't come hang out with us. I don't need him looking into my business."


I chuckle. Definitely don't need Brody around Uncle Joey. I'm surprised he's stayed out of jail. He doesn't have a tenth of Dad's IQ, but Dad always pulled bigger jobs, drawing in more skilled FBI agents.


My father and Uncle Joey were raised differently than most people. My grandfather is still a con to this day, and he's good at it. I don't condone it, but I still love them. It's all they know. I'm just thankful I was able to break the cycle.


The question is... can Kade accept it the way I have? Because I can't change where I come from. No one can.

CHAPTER 15
Too Soon


  



"There you are," Kade says with an adorable grin as I walk into the house, still worried about the Audi that tailed me.


I spent the entire bus ride staring out the window, tense with trepidation and dread. It had to have been a tail. There's no other reason it would have been at the bus station and the prison. I looked for an app, but you have to pay for the information, and I don't have a debit or credit card. I'll have to wait on Uncle Joey.


I wrap my arms around him and he hugs me to him. I didn't realize how badly I needed to be held until right now. It feels so good.


"You okay?" he asks when he feels my tense body pressed against his.


"I am now," I mutter softly, inhaling his scent like it's home.He starts trailing kisses down my cheek until he reaches my lips, and then the fire sets in when his tongue presses through my parted lips. My fingers twist and tangle in his soft dark hair as he slides his hands under my rear and lifts me up.


Just like that, my bad day has been shattered, and a cloud of euphoria comes to settle in place of the dark cloud that had loomed.


"I love you," I blurt out, instantly wishing that had stayed inside my mouth.


Shit. Shit. Shit. No. No. No.


He stills against me, and the kiss that had been heated is broken. Very slowly, he lets me slide down from his body. I've just ruined this. I didn't mean to say it. It's too soon. Hell, even I know it's too soon, but I do. I can't help but love him. I quite possibly fell in love with him before we started dating.


I start to back away when he jerks me to him and crushes his lips against mine, claiming me and banishing all the angst that had settled on my chest like a heavy weight. I feel the wall at my back before he lifts me back up.


I don't hesitate to wrap my legs around his waist. Suddenly, I wish I had worn a dress. This would be so much better if I was in a dress.


I grip his shoulders to keep my weight better divided, but he treats me as though I'm weightless when he carries me out of the living room and into the bedroom. I can't catch my breath. It's all happening so fast.


The kiss is almost too hungry, too devouring. It's as though Kade's switch has flipped. I wish I knew how to make him be this way all the time. Damn this is good.


My clothes come off in swift motions, and words are lost amongst the heavy breaths and excited moans. It's all I can do not to unravel before we even start. Aggressive Kade is hot. Very hot.


"I want you to stay here," he murmurs softly, kissing and nipping at my neck as he slips out of his jeans.


I tug his shirt over his head, almost forgetting he finally said something... Even though it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear. In fact, it's confusing.


When his devilish tongue slides into my mouth, and the sound of a foil packet tearing resonates in my ears, I forget we were talking at all. I become greedier with the kiss, taking all he'll give, and giving all he'll take.


He sinks in until he's completely buried inside me, and then he starts moving, finding an incredibly merciless rhythm. He slams into me so hard a grunt springs free from my lips, and that forces a low growl to emerge from him.


I don't know what is going on, but I frigging love it.


With each perfectly executed thrust, he pushes me closer to that peak I'm begging to fall over.


A ragged moan and his name tear through my lips in unison, and the violent, mind-blowing release I feel sets him off, making him grunt loudly as his eyes roll back in his head.


He collapses to me and almost crushes me with his solid weight. I chuckle when he lets out an exaggerated exhausted breath, and then I run my fingers through his hair, relishing his hard breaths on my chest.


I keep waiting for him to acknowledge what I said, because I'm sure as hell not saying it again until he tells me he feels the same. I'm so stupid for letting my emotions run free. I rushed this. What was I thinking?


"I mean it, Raya," he breathlessly releases. He means what?


"Hmm?"


I'm almost scared to move my lips after my accidental slip. I don't trust my mouth to say the right things.


"I want you to stay here. I don't want you leaving at the beginning of the semester."


That's a long way away. So he's not freaked out by my confession... I guess.


I smile, though it's weighted. We're apparently not going to address what I said. It's fine. He needs more time. That's completely understandable. So why do I feel a little hurt?


"I won't leave," I say without thinking. That's not a promise I should be making.


"Good. Now how the hell am I supposed to drive to the vineyard after that?"


I giggle when the conversation lightens, and he smiles while lifting his head to kiss me. Those blue eyes will haunt me forever if this doesn't work. I really do love him. I can wait on him to feel the same.


  



With the top down, I was forced to wind my hair up on my head to keep it from beating me to death on the way here. I love Kade's convertibles, but they wreak havoc on a girl who doesn't have short hair.


"So... this is it," he says as we pull in.


His grin is ridiculously huge. He's excited... very excited. I don't know if I've ever seen him so giddy about anything.


"Colton Wines?" I ask when I read the sign. "This is your family's?"


He nods, letting his grin grow bigger. "My grandfather's. My dad's dad."


I look around at the enormous vineyard that stretches on farther than I can see. My mouth falls open. This is where Paul Colton came from? And they thought he was poor? Shit. They must think I live in the gutter.


"So not what I was expecting, considering the way everyone has depicted father's upbringing."


He laughs as we idly make our way down the hellacious long drive.


"It wasn't like this when Dad lived here. My grandfather owned the land, but he hadn't planted on all of it. He didn't have the manpower he needed back then, and he didn't have the funds to make his dreams come true.


"Granddad sold wine that should have been worshipped, but he was a small businessman with few clients, so the prices were extremely low. This land is so fertile that it's ridiculous, and he found the gem others overlooked. But he couldn't capitalize. Mom and Dad changed that.


"When Dad met Mom, he brought her a bottle of wine, not really thinking about it being something so fabulous it would change Colton Farms - the name at the time - forever. Granddad made more money off tomatoes and cabbage than he did on wine before that day.


"Mom was amazed, and she accused Dad of spending too much money on wine when she knew he couldn't afford it. She didn't want him trying to impress her. When he explained it was from his dad's farm, she was shocked. She came out, brought her parents, and then from there... Colton Wines became a brand in every rich household.


"Most people don't associate it with Dad because he's the fashion capitalist. Dad loves this place, but he loves the challenge the world of fashion presents more. He has to stay on his toes to keep one step ahead, and he loves it. The vineyard is a lot of work, but it's not really a competitive edge sort of thing... at least not with my granddad's wine. "It's the best. There's no competing. If you don't have his wine at a function, people snub you. They've gotten spoiled. More pride and heart goes into the bottles than people will ever know. That's what makes it so good."


I've never seen him so excited to talk about anything. He's like a child on Christmas right now. Then it dawns on me. How did I miss this?


"This is the business you'll be taking over?" I ask, not really meaning for it to be a question.


"Yep. People assume I'll be taking over Burndell Industries, but I could care less about all that boring shit. This... this is me. It's my home. When I came out here as a kid, I couldn't get enough of the farm. Granddad taught me about the grapes, the lands, and the farming portion of the business. The older I got, the more I came out here. I'm here once a week usually. It's been a little longer since I came out here... since I haven't been able to tear myself away from you since you moved in."


His smile makes my heart flutter, and he pulls my hand to his lips to kiss it just before we stop in front of a beautiful chalet sort of home. There are windows lining every wall, and each bit of rich cedar only adds to the appeal. It's so perfect.


"Wow," I murmur as he steps out of the car.


He takes quick strides to my side to open the door for me, and then he helps me out while I gape at the beauty surrounding me.


With it being the off season, the grapes aren't in bloom, but everything is still... amazing. I can only imagine what it'll look like when the grapes are dripping over the large fences built for their clingy vines.


The wrap-around porch has hand-carved rocking chairs that look so inviting. This is so peaceful. I can picture Kade here. So much about him makes sense now. He loves this place. I don't know that I've ever seen him love anything.


"There's my boy," a raspy voice announces, drawing my attention.


Kade grins as he leaves my side to head over to the older man who doesn't seem to have a problem getting around. I've seen Kade with his mother - stiff hugs, soft smiles, and polite gestures. I've seen him with his father - no physical contact, stale conversation, and the same polite gestures. With his grandfather, he greets him with a real, genuine hug, a warm, incredible smile, and a carefree abandon that makes me tingle.


It's like he's a different person here. I already loved him. I don't know if I can be around him here for very long. I may very well ask him to marry me. He's so happy right now - so real and unguarded. His grandfather claps his back as the embrace ends, and he lets his eyes find me before letting out a low whistle. "How the hell did you convince a pretty girl like that to ride out here with you?" he teases, making Kade laugh as he jogs back toward me.


He laces our fingers together as he starts tugging me toward the man who is grinning at our connection.


"Granddad, this is Raya Capperton. Raya, this is my grandfather, Thomas Colton."


"That's the best you can do?" Thomas pokes. "You're supposed to introduce her as who she is to you as well. That's how it works. Friend? Girlfriend? Fiancée? Wife?"


I laugh as Kade rolls his eyes. "You'd know it if I got married. This is my... girlfriend?" he says, sounding more like it's a question.


"Are you asking or telling?" Thomas prods, making Kade laugh nervously and squirm uncomfortably.


"I suppose... telling?" he asks again.


I'm not used to seeing Kade so nervous. Is it me or his grandfather that's making him act so awkward?


"I swear, boy. If you have a girl that looks like her, you say 'girlfriend.' You don't stumble around like an idiot who's waiting on her to clarify. Be a man."


I burst out laughing when Kade turns red and shakes his head.


"Be a man," I tease, poking at him while I have the chance.


"Don't encourage him," he groans, making both me and Thomas laugh louder.


He leans over and kisses me lightly on the lips, making my smile grow. He's different with me in front of his grandfather than he is with me in front of his parents. He doesn't ignore me by any means, but during our stay in Aspen, he only acted this affectionate when they weren't around.


I didn't expect him to maul me in front of his parents, but I thought it'd be different. He's not the same in front of them. He's a different person most of the time. He keeps some fences up, as though he has to separate different parts of his life. I'm glad he's not that way when it's just the two of us.


"Come on in. Show her around."


We walk into the enormous building that is loaded with wine bottles, beautiful fruits and vegetables, and numerous jarred goodies. It's like a colorful explosion of tasty treats. I'm almost salivating.


Wine glasses hang in various places, adding elegance and function - considering the wine-tastings. A cedar staircase leads to a loft that has a view to overlook the vineyard. It's breathtaking, all of it. It's spacious, and despite the built-in wine racks, it's not cluttered. The counter at the front reminds me of an old malt shop; not a fancy wine place. Each room holds a new selection of wines. Glamorous signs hang to explain the different tastes, awards won, and foods the wines best complement.


Even a rookie like me could walk in and find the right wine. I'm amazed at the range in prices. Some sell for a hundred dollars, and some sell for ten thousand. I tuck my hands in the pockets of my jeans to keep from accidentally breaking something I can't afford.


"You good?" Kade asks, running his fingers through my hair.


"Paranoid," I murmur as I back away from a Merlot that screams expensive.


He chuckles lightly. "If you break something, I'll try to talk to the owner about giving you a pass. We're pretty close." I shake my head while letting a small laugh free. My hands aren't coming out of my pockets.


"The Merlot is my favorite. They said Napa was the best for the grapes, but there are plenty of clay spots here that are perfect for growing the Merlot grapes."


He's so cute when he's excited.


I knew he was a wine connoisseur, but I didn't realize why until now.


"Cabernet?" I muse, offering him a chance to tutor me more.


"Ah, red wine. Yes. The Cabernet actually dethroned burgundy in the mid-1960s. By the late 1980s, Cabernet was the generic term used for red wine."


From there, he lectures me on all the origins of the wines. Each time he speaks about a new grape or different fermenting process, his eyes light up. This really is his niche. It makes me want to study up on every wine just so I can be a part of his passion.


"I need to go check on a large order we're supposed to ship out tomorrow. Care to hang out for a minute?"


I smile and nod as he kisses my cheek before rushing off to play Mr. Important.


"He's a go-getter, that one," Thomas says from behind me, startling me a bit.


"I've never seen him so happy."


He smiles as he moves around the room with his hands behind his back. "That's funny, because his parents told me the same thing - after seeing him spend a week with you in Aspen a few weeks ago."


The crazy flutter returns to my heart.


"Come on, blushing girl. Let's show you the good stuff."


I grin bashfully as I follow him to a large stairwell that leads underground. We're going to a basement?


"The wine cellar and all the good stuff is this way."


He smiles up at me once before returning his view to the stairs. My mouth tries to drop open. It's massive down here, and it doesn't look anything like a basement.


Tuscany thrives in this underground paradise. It almost looks like the pictures I've seen of Italy with all the stucco surfaces, warm cobblestone-inspired floors, and the art that hangs proudly helps the feel as well. Then the barrels catch my eyes.


There are at least thirty barrels on one wall, and then there are at least thirty in the middle, creating aisles to walk down. Large stainless-steel containers descend from the ceiling with numerous dials and instruments on them.


"What are the barrels for?" I ask, curious.


"Fermenting the wine. It takes several weeks to do it in the oak barrels, but it's well worth the wait. The taste is so much purer. These big bastards speed it up, but it kills the best flavor," he says, pointing toward the stainless-steel containers. "This was Margaret's project. She wanted mass production for the lower-cost wines. The high-dollar stuff comes from the barrels. I don't know. I never did this for the money. I did it for the love of my land and the love of the plants. But I enjoy the fact more people get to enjoy the stuff."


"I was expecting you to be a poor man, and then we got here... I was surprised."


He chuckles. "I've been many things in my life, Raya, but never poor. I may not have had a whole lot of money, but I had a woman most men would cut their heart out for, a son no man could be prouder of, a grandson I couldn't have imagined would be so amazing, and a life most would envy. I've always been a rich man, Raya. Always."


I must be hormonal or something, because tears well up in my eyes. That was beautiful.


"When this place started going crazy with business, I decided to set up a trust fund for Kade. I knew his other grandparents and his parents were perfectly capable of such, but I only needed a little money to survive on. I didn't care for the excess of it. I also wanted Kade to start out life easier, hoping he wouldn't have to work so hard like I did; like his father did. But that boy is going to outwork us both, I believe. He never slows down. I think the profits have tripled in just a couple years' time because he has marketed the place so much. You'd think he was already in charge."


The twinkle of pride in his eyes is unmistakable. I can't stop grinning, because I love how amazed and heartfelt he speaks about Kade.


"Here, look at this." He motions to a selection of wine on a special rack. Each bottle is tagged differently than the others.


My grin almost splits my face when I see what it says.


"Kade's Pride," I read aloud, careful not to touch the bottle. "Kade's Touch. Kade's Luck." There are so many, and I smile as I read some silently.


"That's the year he was born. Those were the best the grapes ever produced. To this day, those have been the best wines I've ever tasted. All of them. White, red, dry, sweet... Everything turned out amazing that year. It was like I was doubly blessed with a grandson and a thriving vineyard."


He picks up a Merlot and holds it out to me - the one that said "Kade's Pride."


"This one is the best out of all of them. It's special because it's one of the two I have left. I... I want you to have it. Save it for a special occasion."


My eyes widen in disbelief, and I take a step back, refusing to touch the bottle that holds more sentiment than the ridiculous price. "I can't. I couldn't possibly. Thank you so much for even offering, but I can't."


His grin grows as he pushes it toward me again.


"I've waited on the day when Kade would drive up with a girl in his car, holding her hand, and sharing this with her. Until today, that's never happened. You're special to him, and that makes you special to me. Take this. Put it up somewhere until you find the perfect day to pour it."


He's lost his mind.


"Please don't make me, Mr. Colton. I'd feel terrible."


"Terrible?" he laughs. "Girl, you don't understand. I may not ever get this chance again. Kade took his sweet time bringing a girl around here. I could be ninety before it happens again. I'd rather this thing be in the hands of someone now so I can quit worrying about what happens to it."


I laugh a little, and for no real good reason, a small tear falls from my eye as I stare down at the bottle in his hands. I slowly reach up to take it, careful to be gentle, and then I cradle it to my chest as though it's an infant.

A proud grin spreads over his face as his lip trembles, and unshed tears glisten in his eyes as he studies me intently.


"I'll be damned. You're in love with him. That's perfect."


How did he know?


I wipe my eyes, laugh, and sniffle all at once, while keeping the wine tucked close to me.


"I'd rather you didn't go announcing that to him," I mumble, making him laugh again as his eyes continue to water. "You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear someone loves my boy. This is all going to be his one day. In fact, I originally had Paul deeded parts of the property, but Kade has proven himself, so I had a new will drafted just yesterday. I plan on keeping it a secret and surprising Kade with it in a few months."


I start to say something else, but the ancient relic of a phone on the wall rings loudly, drawing his attention. I glance around at the other bottles in the room, amazed at all the hard work that has to be done to produce wine.


A picture catches my attention next. It piques my curiosity because of the fact it's a fraction of a centimeter off the wall. It's hiding a secret. I know hidden secrets.


With his back turned, he doesn't see me when I tilt the picture out to take a look behind it. The Annex Goliath safe. Unbelievable. I know that safe because Annex is my father's old cohort in crime. He turned over a new leaf and started designing unbreakable safes. I find humor in the fact a con is keeping Kade's grandfather's secret treasures safe.


I let the picture fall back into place, and I turn to face Thomas just as he hangs up the phone. He smiles at me, but it's weak. I'm not sure what just happened during that call, but it has dampened his spirits.


"Come on. Let's go find Kade. I'm sure he's already sold half my stock by now. The boy needs a life, and you're the right woman for the job."


I chuckle lightly and follow him.


"So is this where all the wine is fermented?" I ask, hoping to bring back his real smile.


"No, dear," he chuckles out. "This is just where I make my favorites. There are two other buildings on the property designed just for fermenting. Several men work the fields, and my manager oversees the production."


As we top the stairs, a guy with salt-and-pepper hair walks across the room while holding a clipboard. He looks to be mid-forties, and his goatee matches his time-dusted hair.


"Well, speak of the devil," Thomas says with a grin.


The man looks up and smiles at both of us, letting the clipboard drop to his side as he clutches it with one hand. "Thomas, you have a guest."


"This is Raya. She's dating Kade."


"It's about time that boy made time for something other than this place."


Thomas chuckles. "You're one to talk."


"I'm old," he jokes. "I'm supposed to be wrapped up in work."


Thomas turns to me and holds a hand out to gesture to the guy. "This is Harry Talbot, my manager. He keeps the place running like a well-oiled machine."


I shake his hand just as Kade walks in with a balding man who is half Kade's height. Well, maybe not half, but he's short... very short. Especially compared to Kade.


"And that's Leonard Mars, my lawyer who keeps all the licenses, contracts, and legal things running just as smoothly as Harry keeps the farm."


"Vineyard," Kade interjects, smiling.


"It's a farm with a vineyard on it," Thomas says, swatting at him.


Kade walks over to me and pulls me in his arms before delivering a chaste kiss on my lips. I keep the bottle of Merlot tucked against me, and he looks down to see what I'm holding.


"I gave the girl a gift. I told her I might not ever get this chance again," Thomas says with a salacious grin. Kade smiles until he sees what I'm holding, and then his eyes widen in shock. I really want to give this back.


"The '93 Merlot? Have you lost your mind?" he gasps.


Yep. I need to put this back. This feels so wrong.


"My mind is one of the few things I haven't lost yet," Thomas teases, never letting his smile waver.


Kade swallows hard as he wraps an arm around me. "We're about to head out. We've got class tomorrow, but call me if you need anything," he says to his grandfather.


I have a feeling we'll be discussing this damn wine bottle the second we get in the car.


"Just worry about getting good grades and taking her out on special dates. There aren't too many like her. I can already tell."


He gives me a wink, and I blush when Kade looks back at me. He seems... confused?


Thomas walks over and gives me an unexpected hug, that I carefully return without losing a grip on the wine.


"Take care of him," he whispers, offering me a small wink when he pulls back.


I smile and nod. Then Kade steps in to say his farewells as I make my way to the door. I go ahead and pop the trunk to his car, trying to think of the best way to secure the wine.


"I've got it," Kade says, suddenly right beside me with a pile of bubble wrap and a straw-filled crate.


He wraps it up like a priceless gem, and then he secures it in the small crate before covering it in the straw and sealing the lid with several latches.


"I can't believe he gave you the '93 Merlot. What did you say to him?" I can't tell if he's angry or dumbfounded.


"I didn't tell him anything. I don't want the wine though. You should keep it. After all, it would mean more to you than to me."


"I've already got one. This one and mine are the only two left."


He bites back whatever he wants to say. I really don't want the frigging wine at this point. I never did. I knew it was too precious to give to me.


"Please keep it."


"If he wants you to have it, then you should keep it. It's his wine to do with as he pleases."


I sigh as he closes the trunk and heads to the driver's side. He's not even going to open my door the way he normally does. He invited me into his world to show me a glimpse, and I somehow dove in without permission. I didn't mean to.


This day started out with promise, but it has ended in complete failure. The story of my life. This trip, unlike the ride out here, goes on forever in silence. I'll be sleeping in my room tonight. I know I'm not the perfect girl, but I did nothing wrong. I'll be damned if I let him punish me for receiving a gift from a persistent old man.

Updated @Kenvee6 and Nuel45

Thanks for the update. Pls do well to update as often as you can. You've got a new fan

Chapter 16


Broken


  



"I'm sorry," Kade says as he kisses my cheek, rousing me from my sleep. "Come to bed with me."


I lazily open my eyes to see him hovering over me in my bedroom. What time is it?


I glance over and groan when I see the clock says three.


"Just go to bed. We'll talk in the morning," I mumble, huffing as I turn back over.


"Tell me I can take you to my bed, and I'll shut up."


"There's nothing wrong with my bed. I want to sleep in here. We'll talk in the morning. When there's light out."


The bed dips as he crawls in beside me and wraps his arms around my waist to pull my back to his front. Soft lips start trailing down my neck, to my shoulder, then back up. I can feel the heat of his skin and the firm touch of his chest grazing my few pieces of shown skin. Of course he's shirtless. He wouldn't dare make this easy on me.


"I said I'm sorry," he murmurs again while nuzzling my neck with his smooth face.


I huff out as I turn over to face him, unsure if I'm even mad or not. I'm hurt.


"I didn't ask for the wine. In fact, I damn near begged him to keep it. He was insistent. I don't know why you're pissed at me. I told you to keep the frigging bottle. I don't want it."


I turn back over, and his arms tighten around me as his leg comes over to wrap me up.


"I know, Raya. That's why I'm apologizing. I was a jerk. It... it just caught me off guard. You should definitely keep it. It's obvious Granddad noticed how special you are, too. He has... cancer, and when he gave that to you, I wasn't mad at you... It just made me realize he knows he doesn't have a lot of time left. It just... it really struck a nerve, because I'm not ready to lose him."


The emotion in his voice is raw and heartbreaking. I've never heard him like this. That's all it takes to make me roll back over and throw my arms around him. I can feel the tears in his eyes, which makes it hard for me not to cry.


He tightens his hold on me, and his cheek rubs against mine affectionately. I want so badly to stupidly tell him I love him again, but I bite it back and just hold him. His grandfather seemed fine. He didn't look to be hurting or dying. He seemed fresh and happy.


"Come to bed with me. I hate sleeping upstairs," he murmurs while kissing my cheek.


"Okay."


I go willingly this time as he pulls me up. His fingers thread through mine as he guides me down the stairs. As soon as we reach his room, he turns me face him and starts backing me up as his lips come down on mine.


I don't know what he needs right now, but I'm willing to give him anything he wants. Slowly, I slide my arms up his chest and clasp them around his neck just as the backs of my knees reach the bed.


Perfect trails of kisses are forged around my neck as we both drop to the soft mattress. He's been gentle, he's been rough, but this... this is so much more. It's as though I'm the only person in the world right now, and he's worshipping me with every touch, every kiss, and every breath.


My breathing hitches when he pulls my shirt over my head and presses tender kisses down the curve of my neck. With very soft, unhurried motions, we UnCloth each other until we're bare and comfortably entwined.


He pulls me to be on top of him, and I lower my mouth to his. It doesn't matter if he doesn't tell me he loves me; right now I can feel it.


His hands gently tangle in my hair as he kisses me harder, letting me feel a need he's not usually vulnerable enough to show. I don't bother digging for a foil packet and ruining this real moment with superficial barriers.


I've been on birth-control since my first boyfriend, and I know Kade doesn't sleep around. It's probably not smart, but I love him. I want to have all of him, and I want him to have all of me.


I slide down on him, letting him feel the skin on skin, and he moans in a way that sets me on fire as he fills me. He doesn't stop me or question what I've just done, because he trusts me as much as I trust him.


Then I start moving my hips, rocking against him as he runs his hands up and down my hips, pulling me to him with each falling motion so that our bases rub against each other.


He sits up as I control the motions, and he kisses me as we slowly and deeply claim each other with our connected bodies. I'm on another level right now. It's so... honest, so real.


"I love you," I whisper, not meaning to, but not able to hold back.


He pulls me closer, making it hard to rise and fall against him, as his tongue slips into my mouth. Sweat forms on both of us, my hair dampens, and his body melds more to mine as everything intensifies.


When his breaths grow rasp, I feel the build trying to unfurl deep within me. I push down harder, move a little quicker, and use his shoulders to offer me leverage as I work hard to carry us both over that edge.


It's not merely mind-blowing when I finally find my release, it's earth-shattering. His name flows through my lips like a worshipping prayer, and my name falls out of him just the same. And we just sit there, holding each other, lips entwined, tongues in play... hearts in love.


  



I've had butterflies in my stomach all day long. After Kade woke me up last night and made love to me like I never thought possible, I haven't been able to stop smiling. Now he wants to take me somewhere special. This could be it. This could be the night he tells me he loves me.


He's been different ever since he woke me up at three. He barely let me get to class this morning, and he has sent me at least a dozen texts telling me he misses me.


My goofy grin only grows. I start to text him when my phone buzzes in my hand. I look down to see Brody's name on the screen, but I put it back. I don't want to talk to him right now. I want to go fall into Kade's arms and enjoy the night I pray changes everything.


My stomach flip flops as I grow closer, but then it crashes to the ground when I see the black Audi car in the driveway of Kade's house. License plate: HUPRIDE. My phone buzzes again, and I scramble to answer it.


"Brody, that car is-"


"It's Uncle Joey, Kiddo. I was calling to tell you I have a name for the tag you gave me. Courtney Hughes. You know her? 'Cause she's been asking a lot of questions about you back in Springton."


I swallow hard as I lower the phone from my ear, and my world tries to disintegrate in front of my eyes. No. I was supposed to get to tell him. Not her.


I tremble as I make my way to the door. I can only imagine what will happen, but I have to hope he loves me enough to overlook my roots. He's not going to judge me like the rest of them. He can't.


With a shaky breath, I finally push through the door, dreading what's waiting on the other side. Hushed voices reach me from the living room, and the lump in my throat doubles in size.


When I round the corner, I see Kade sitting on the couch beside Courtney. She looks up to meet my eyes, seeming cold and angry. Kade's head is down as he leans forward with his elbows on his knees while he stares at the floor. His hands are clasped together, his body is stiff, and I can tell my hopefulness is going to be doused with reality. He's going to be like everyone else.


"You need to go. Now," Courtney says, a bitterness to her tone I'm accustomed to.


Who the hell does she think she is?


"I'll let Kade tell me what to do," I mutter calmly, digging deep to find those extra-thick layers of skin I put away.


Kade doesn't move, but his low voice comes out cold. "Go, Courtney. I need to speak to Raya alone."


I swallow hard, almost choking on that knot now. Courtney shakes her head. "No. Kade, she's a con. She can easily manipulate you into making another mistake."


My heart drops to the ground and shatters. Another mistake?


"Just go, Courtney!" he growls, making her jump.


She stands and brushes the wrinkles out of her fitted blue dress. Several files and photos are scattered across the glass coffee table. I don't have to ask what they are. If she's been digging for information in my home town, everyone was more than likely happy to oblige. If he chooses to believe those hypocritical fools who turned on my father while locking all their dirty secrets up in a closet, then he doesn't love me like I thought.


I glare at her as she walks by, and she holds my gaze with just as much passionate hatred. Right now, I wish my father had been violent. Then I'd know how to beat the hell out of her.


She finally breaks the eye contact as she walks out, leaving her messy trail behind for me to clean up. I can tell by the frigid temperature in the air, it's over. I won't let him judge me wrongly. If everyone wants someone to hate... so be it. I'm sick of defending myself.


"So you're a con?" he asks, slicing my heart out. "That's what all this was? You show up, find a way to weasel yourself into my house, and then what? Make me fall for you? Take everything I have?"


The tears that brim his eyes match the ones I'm holding back. Not again. I won't be that girl that crumbles and breaks again. I knew this day would come. I hoped for the best, but I prepared for the worst.


"My father is a con. I'm just his daughter. But I think you've already made up your mind about me. There's nothing I can or will say to try to change your mind. I've seen that look before."


"Deny it, Raya. Can you at least do that?" he hisses. "Can you say that you didn't play me? That you didn't work me over real damn well? And my father? And my grandfather? I should have fucking known he wouldn't have handed that bottle over for just any reason. You poured on the charm and he fell for it just like I did. Like we all did."


If you cut my heart out with a dull spoon, it wouldn't hurt this much. Still, I hold onto my tears, refusing to let him see me break.


"Yeah," I murmur coldly. "I talked those frat boys into bulldozing my house just so I could move in here. I cunningly whispered in your father's ear to plant the idea in his head. I conned him into buying me clothes and bringing me to Aspen. Is that what you want? I told your grandfather I love you just so he'd give me a bottle of wine he treasured. Happy? I told you I love you because I wanted to steal everything you have and disappear into the wind. There. Now you can feel good about doing this."


I turn on my heel, disgusted and broken. I've told myself before I'd never be loved by someone like him. Why I let myself fall is beyond me.

"Fucking unbelievable. Just deny it, Raya. Damn it. That's all I'm asking," he barks behind my back, but I ignore it. I don't want to hear any more cruelty spewing from the lips that loved me last night.


Hurt? I wish. I'm not hurt; I'm destroyed. I never conned him into loving me. I conned myself into believing he'd be different.

Chapter 17


Conned


  



"Raya, you need to grab the steaks for me, please," Dad yells as I jog down the stairs.


"Yeah," I mumble, wiping my eyes.


I really wish I could stop seeing Kade at school. The icy glares he gives me are painful. I do well to act unaffected on campus, but the second I'm home, I fall apart.


You'd think after two weeks, I'd be dealing better. But not so much. If anything, it keeps getting worse.


"I've got to be at work in an hour," I mutter as I grab the steaks from the fridge and carry them outside.


Brody is talking on his phone in the yard, and he lifts his eyes to meet mine once I'm outside. I still haven't forgiven him for his judgmental comment. I hate them all. The only ones who believe I'm good are the cons. And people think they're the villains.


"Here," I mutter, handing Dad the large container full of raw meat.


He frowns when he takes in my wet cheeks and tear-stained eyes. I've lost my ability to care if everyone sees me as a mess when I'm not at school. I just refuse to give Kade the satisfaction of seeing me broken.


"Is he hassling you? Are his friends giving you problems?" Dad asks, letting his jaw work into a clenching motion.


"No. We don't speak. His friends are probably too scared to mess with a conman's daughter. They don't know you weren't violent."


"That would change if they mess with you."


The anger lacing his tone makes me believe him. I need to defuse the situation before he does something stupid. He's a good man, but he lives in the gray area where normal morals and what he thinks is right don't mesh well.


"I'm fine. I promise. You guys have fun. I need to get to work."


Dad grumbles under his breath, but he begrudgingly lets me go without further inquiry.


It's odd having my own vehicle, but my dad insisted he buy me a car. I would have settled for a used piece of crap, but he wanted me to have a flashy new ritzy car. We met in the middle, and I got an Escape.


He's trying too hard to make up for time lost, and I'm trying too hard to assure him he doesn't have to. We'll eventually get comfortable with each other.


Ember's number comes through on my phone, and I connect the call with a touch of the steering wheel, chuckling a little. "Are you dancing at Silk tonight?" I ask, bypassing a hello. She always gets nervous when she dances. Silk is Burlesque meets stripper pole. I simply wait tables. Ember has the confidence for the stage.


"Um... No. Raya, Kade's grandfather was admitted to the hospital early this morning. He's in an induced coma right now. It's possible he won't make it much longer."


I swallow hard. I've been dreading this because I don't know what to do. I hate Kade right now, but I love the bastard, too. His family was good to me, and though they might hate me now, I don't feel right about not going and offering my condolences.


"Thanks, Em. For calling me."


"No problem. Are you going out there?"


I stop at the red light that forces me to think about which way to go. Taking a right will lead me to Silk. Taking a left will lead me to the hospital. A literal crossroads. Shit.


"I'll talk to you later," I mutter while turning left.


  



Paul Colton is the first person I recognize, and I tense up as I watch him pace back and forth, looking devastated and broken. He's always so poised and pulled together. Seeing him like this... makes me all the more worried about seeing Kade.


I won't be able to touch him, console him, or even try to talk to him. I have no idea what I was thinking by coming here. This was stupid. I can't do anything but make the situation worse.


I turn around and slam into a hard chest. Strong hands steady me, and I look up to see Tag with a weary expression replacing his normally chipper one.


"Raya. I'm surprised but happy you're here. Kade could use someone," he says softly.


My heart breaks more. He will need someone, but he won't let it be me.


"I shouldn't have come," I say in a hoarse rasp, clearing my throat directly after.


He sighs out heavily. "We know you weren't conning him. No one here is going to say otherwise. Kade needs someone."


Tears threaten to drip out. Does Kade think I wasn't conning him now? Has he changed his mind?


"Raya," Paul's relieved voice says from close behind me, and I swallow down the emotion as I turn to face his disheveled appearance.


"Mr. Colton. I'm sorry. I just came to tell you I'll do anything you need me to. I... You can call me if you need me." How I manage to not break down and bawl, I don't know. But this can't be about me right now.


"There is something you can do. Go see Kade. He's not so well," he says wearily.


His eyes are sunken in, his hair is a mess, and his suit looks to be three-days-worn. I've never seen him look so... lost. He always looks so in control.


"Yeah. Of course," I mutter softly, patting his arm as I walk around him.


I head down the hall, and I hear the familiar voices guiding me to the room as Wren, Melanie, and several others gather around a fragile old man who looked so sprightly not too long ago.


As I grow closer, I see Kade in the corner with his head in his hands, and I start to ache. It's almost painful to see him so broken. My shattered heart breaks even more when I see a familiar body walking toward him. Courtney Hughes.


She puts her hand on his shoulder just as Wren notices me. "Raya," he says, making Kade's head snap up.


He looks just as tragic as Mr. Colton, and my lip tries to tremble. I start to walk toward him, deciding to explain all my past bullshit later. I want to be here for him right now, comfort him. But when I see the way Courtney looks at me, I remember who I am. I remember who he is.


He wants a big business - a reputable business without any worries that something will soil its good name. The name his grandfather is leaving behind is clean, perfect, and full of respect. Mine... I'm still a conman's daughter. Nothing has changed. After staring at each other, both of us uncertain about what to do, I turn to leave, but Kade jumps up, letting the chair scrape across the floor.


"Raya, wait," he says breathlessly.


"I-"


Before I can finish, I'm interrupted by yelling from down the hall. Kade brushes by me, letting his hand trail down my arm as he passes to go investigate the scene. That one touch has damn near made me say to hell with my resolve, but the argument brings me back.


"You can't be serious," Paul yells, pointing his finger in the face of Leonard Mars, Thomas Colton's lawyer.


I only met him once that day at the vineyard, but I remember him. Though I can honestly say I have no idea who the woman with him is.


She's tall with dark blond hair, and appears to be in her mid to late fifties. She looks elegant, with her wavy hair swept perfectly to the sides, but there's a familiar air about her... She's trying to look elegant. I know that rags-to-riches stance. Someone wants so badly to feel prominent, so they fake it. I've known many girls around here try to achieve that goal but to no avail. That means this woman is new to money.


"I'm sorry, Paul. I really am," Leonard says, seeming exhausted.

Paul curses and swears as they lower their voices, continuing the conversation in hushed whispers. Kade's jaw clenches as he shakes his head, suddenly looking livid and disgusted.


"He'd never do that!" Kade yells, pointing back toward his grandfather's room. "My grandfather only ever loved one woman. He hasn't even dated anyone since my grandmother died, let alone got married. This is bullshit."


What?


"It's true, Kade," Leonard says wearily. "I was there six months ago when they went to the courthouse. So was Harry. We both served as witnesses. Thomas didn't want you to know. I'm sorry. And he had me nullify his will, which now leaves everything to Henrietta. I know this is hard, but it's true.


"With him in an induced coma, he's unable to handle his estate. Essentially, since she's deeded everything, she has almost the same rights as someone with power of attorney. The vineyard is hers, the winery is hers, and the farm is hers."


This doesn't make sense. Thomas told me he had just had his will-


"That's bullshit, because my father just had his will redone not long ago. My lawyers handled it because I felt it was too important to leave in your hands," Paul barks. "Kade is the only one who is supposed to get anything. She has no rights, and she'd better stay the hell off my father's property."


A flash of surprise crosses Leonard's face, and my eyes narrow. Holy fucking shit... This... I can't believe it. This is a con.


"Do you have the will?"


"No. My father kept it, but I'm sure my lawyers can send you a copy real damn soon." Paul walks away, and Leonard turns to text someone. I watch, pretending as though I'm only mildly amused, while Kade follows his father. Leonard's phone buzzes, and whatever he sees forces him to relax. That's not good. A relaxed con has an ace in their pocket. A skilled hacker could easily access and delete those files.


"Let's go, Henrietta. Now's not a good time to visit. I'll bring you back later."


She dabs her fake tears on a tissue and nods while following behind him. One of two things is going on. Either she faked the marriage, and an authenticator will quickly dismiss the certificate, which will make whatever will they have suspicious. Or she actually conned Thomas Colton into marrying her.


Considering their confidence level, she tricked him into marrying her. And as his lawyer, Leonard, could have easily manipulated the old will. They're pros. Paul won't get the new will. Not through his lawyers. There's only one way he'll ever see it. There's only one way Kade will have his vineyard - the one his grandfather wants him to have.


I walk away, giving everyone some privacy. It's crazy to think I was looked down upon for my roots, but yet a con has been right under their noses this whole time.


I almost leap into my car and speed out of the parking lot. I already told Dane Sterling I'd be late. I hadn't been expecting to talk to the damn owner when I called in to work, but he was nice enough. Now I'll have to call him and tell him I won't be there for at least two or three days, if all goes according to plan. I'm not so sure how nice he'll be after that.


I bring my car to an abrupt halt, and I hop out before the engine even has time to register I've cut it off. Dad jumps a little when I barge through the door, and I scour the space for Brody, making sure he's nowhere around.


"Raya?" he asks worriedly. "What's wrong?"


I spot Brody through the back window. He's perched up on the palm tree while he smokes. That's plenty far enough away.


I turn back toward my father, feeling serious, ready, and a little pissed. "I need your help."


"Of course. What's going on?"


I take a deep breath to utter the words I never thought I would.


"We need to set up a con."

updated @Judette

Ak86:
updated @Judette

Thank you sir. Nice work.

Chapter 18


The Conman's Daughter


  



The look of pure shock on my father's face would be funny any other time, but I don't feel like smiling right now.


"Raya, I can't help you run a con. You can't go down the same path-"


"Kade's family's vineyard is being stolen from them as we speak," I say to interrupt, rolling my eyes. "I want to steal it back."


He visibly relaxes, making me frown. I can't believe he thought I just wanted to swindle away some cash.


"Then that's a different story. Give me the details."


Very quickly, I toss out everything I know in short, rushed spurts, keeping an eye on Brody the entire time.


"What sort of security do they have?"


"State of the art, but I think we can run through it with a simple hack."


"And you think his will is in the safe?" Dad asks while jotting down different key points.


"I know it is, but it's an Annex Goliath. A decoding device will send it into total lockdown. If I don't manually get the code right on the third try, we'll need drills-"


"Absolutely not," Brody interjects, startling the hell out of me and making Dad groan.


I just checked on him like two seconds ago.


"You have me bugged, don't you?" Dad growls, glowering at the FBI nuisance who's fucking with my plan. Brody just smirks while cocking an eyebrow that screams smug bastard. Then Dad continues, "I can't believe I didn't pick up on them."


"I'm better than the others," Brody releases with his haughtiest tone. Then he turns more serious while looking toward me. "No drills, no breaking through the security system. If you want to do this, I'll set up a sting operation, and we'll do it legally. Your father can't afford to get a strike this early on, and he'd happily go back to prison just to fix this mess your boyfriend is in."


"She's not breaking in to rob the place. She's stealing it back," Dad says in my defense, making Brody groan.


"Raya, make him understand," Brody says, looking toward me to be the voice of reason.


I cross my arms over my chest and offer him what has to be an incredulous look. "Make him understand what? I don't understand either. We're not breaking the law; we're upholding it by keeping the bad guys away from the good guys' stuff."


Brody scrubs his face with his hands as if he's exasperated, but I'm confused. How are we doing anything wrong? "Look," he groans. "If the marriage certificate is real-"


"It'll be real. They were too confident for it not to be," I bitch, interrupting him.


"Then legally it's hers unless there is a will proving otherwise. If you break in, then you're going to be the one brought to justice, not them. So do this my way, and get your boyfriend's vineyard and winery back. Then I'll handle the bad guys - the real bad guys. Trust me."


"How am I supposed to break into a safe legally?" I hiss.


"You have three codes, right? Pick the right one. I can't say you didn't know for sure what the code already was."


"I have three tries in an endless array of possible combinations. You can't be serious," I screech, looking at him as though he just grew two extra heads.


"Then figure out which numbers meant the most to him," Brody says with a shrug, as though this is a simple task and not an impossible feat. Jerk.


I look toward Dad, but he gives me an I-know-he's-fucking-impossible glare. Great. As if this wasn't going to be hard enough. Now this simple break-in just turned into a full-on con. I'm so screwed.


"So, Paul Colton tells me the vineyard-slash-winery has a major deal going on with Davis Marlone. He's new to money, and he has a daughter getting married. She has pictures plastered all over the web, but you can pass for her if you wear sunglasses, red lipstick, and grab a sexy red wig," he says while looking at his phone. "I'll send you a picture of what kind of hair style to get it."


"That's a lot of info very quickly," I mutter, slightly impressed.


"I work fast, babe. That's how I keep your dad from doing something stupid." He winks, and then returns to reading from his phone. "Marlone is sending his brother, Garret Marlone, who has some pictures on the web, but he looks dangerously close to your father if he dies his hair silver."


Dad grumbles and shakes his head. "Wig."


Brody laughs and rolls his eyes. "Fine. Grab a wig. And grab some cheesy, over-the-top designer suits that poor people think rich people wear, because that's how this guy dresses."


"I actually think I have all that handy," Dad mutters with a casual, one-armed shrug.


Of course he does.


"We need a four man team," Brody says, ignoring the last part my father said. "Two women and two men. We have three out of four. I'll be your loving fiancé, Bradley," he says, grinning at me. "And your Dad will need some hot piece of ass hanging on his arm. We'll need to look like new money." "Who are we going to get for the fourth person?" I ask, going back to his "four man team" comment.


"Do you have any sexy friends who could stand to earn some extra cash. I'm sure your father could afford to hire an actress." Brody casts a smirk toward my father who grumbles something about the government being cheapskates.


"I know a girl," I say with a grin.


"Good. Call her and fill her in. All she has to do is act enamored by your father."


"How are you planning on us showing up at this meeting instead of the real 'new money' clients?" I ask. I'm almost ashamed of how excited I feel.


"Leave the details to me. Your concern is the will," Brody says, earning a glare from my father.


"I do the details," Dad scoffs, and suddenly they begin bickering about who is in charge. All I can think about is how destroyed Kade must be.


I stare at my phone, uncertain if I should call. I'd be devastated if Courtney was with him. Instead, I text Paul.


Tell Kade not to worry, and keep him away from the vineyard. If he does something stupid, they'll have him arrested.


My phone buzzes almost immediately with a response.


Don't do anything. The FBI contacted me just a few moments ago. These people could be dangerous.


Could be and probably are. That's the only reason I'm okay with Brody going.


I know. Keep him away. He's mad, and he's likely to do something stupid.


It buzzes again, but this time Paul promises to keep his son away. He won't be able to do it for long. I just hope our con works. With the way Ember is fidgeting beside me, I can't tell if she's nervous or excited. I'm just happy she agreed to do this. Sindell would have been ideal, but the less Brody knows about her existence, the better. She's still in the game, and having a FBI agent around would cramp her style, or land her in prison.


I may not agree with what the rest of my family does, but they're still family. I won't get them locked up.


"So, you're sure the people we're pretending to be aren't going to show up here?" I whisper, acting as though someone can hear me as we drive down the lengthy driveway.


Brody and Dad both chuckle at my paranoia, but Ember doesn't find the humor. This is just another day for the two pros who have been conning cons for a while together. My heart is trying to pound out of my chest and beat out my eyeballs. Ember's whole body is tense beside me.


"Positive," Brody says. "I explained the situation to Paul Colton. I went over there last night after the lawyers called to tell him their servers crashed, and they lost numerous files. And, coincidentally enough, they couldn't find the physical copies of the files either. I was expecting that though. Colton messed up by showing his hand. He shouldn't have told them about the will."


"He didn't know they were pros. He was emotional and completely distraught," I say in Paul's defense.


Brody ignores me as he surveys the landscape, acting like a cop. "Alright," he says as we slow to a stop. "Show time."


Brody climbs out and walks to the back to open my door for me. I'm not sure where he rented the Mercedes, but at least we look wealthy enough. I'm surprised he didn't go more ostentatious with an outrageous canary yellow or candy-apple red Lamborghini. Of course, then we wouldn't have all fit.


"Come on, Sweetheart," Brody teases, pulling my hand in his.


My heart beats faster as the thrill of a real con consumes me. No wonder Dad got hooked. I'm terrified and giddy at the same time.


I see Henrietta, or whoever she really is. She waves at us through the window while keeping a fake smile plastered to her face. The red wig is very firmly attached to my knotted up hair. It's a little jarring to see such a bold color in place of my chocolate locks, and that's with the sunglasses taming down the hue for me.


I'm not accustomed to wearing dresses this short. I've only worn something this revealing a time or two in my life. I feel like I'm walking around in someone else's body right now. I'm praying no one notices me. Of course, with this brazen choice of red lipstick next to the already scarlet hair, I don't see that as a problem.


"Come in," Henrietta says cheerily, acting as though this is really her home and not the one she stole.


I sound hypocritical for hating her so much right now, since my family is full of cons, but no one has ever done what she has. I still can't believe Thomas ended up married to her. I was so hoping she was making it up, but the certificate was authenticated, just as I feared it would be.


Dad makes our false introductions, while Ember hangs on his arm, looking like a trashy gold digger who is beyond bored. Good girl.


While he rattles on about the vineyard and the beauty of it, and how we need to discuss where exactly to hold the wedding, Brody stays attentive, smiling and nodding. I scour the scene, trying to find out the best way to make it to the underground cellar without being noticed.


"Would you like to take off your sunglasses, dear?" Henrietta asks, interrupting my plan of escape.


I freeze. I've prepared myself for this. I rehearsed my lines over and over, but the words refuse to escape the moment I'm tested. I'm a terrible con.


"My fiancée has a migraine. Too much of the Kinderton Merlot," Brody says gently, as if he's being sympathetic to my fake migraine.


I'd thank him, but I'm still experiencing stage-fright. Instead, I groan - sounding authentic - and lean against his arm.


"Oh goodness," Henrietta chuckles, making my head actually hurt with her annoying laugh. "Would you two like to sit down in the great room? It has a beautiful view. My lawyer is in there right now."

Shit. She may not recognize me, but Leonard might.


"Actually, can you point us in the direction of a restroom?" Brody asks. "It was a long drive out here."


"Of course. Take the first right down the hall. In the meantime," she says, turning back to my father, "I'll show you the place for the reception."


As Henrietta leads, my father and Ember follow. Brody waits until the clicking heels disappear from sound before he says, "And... action."


An involuntary grin quirks up on my lips, and I stifle a ridiculous giggle as the excited tingles consume me.


"You'd better not even think of making this a habit," he grumbles while tugging my hand, but before we can reach the cellar door, Leonard walks around a corner with Harry, the manager, just barely missing the sight of us before Brody rips me away and back around the corner we just came around.


Brody almost shoves me into a side door that leads to a large stock room full off office supplies and crates.


"Shit," he hisses.


"I thought you were supposed to be good at this," I whisper, wondering why he's panicking.


"You didn't tell me Harold Cole was in on it, and I didn't have enough time to research this as thoroughly as I needed to."


Harold who?


"Who is Harold Cole?"


"The guy with Leonard Mars. He's a big time player in the game, but no one can ever find any evidence to prove his guilt. He's been lying low for the past five years. I guess I know why now," he says, making sure to keep his voice low.


"Harry Talbot is Harold Cole? He's the manager here. Has been for a while."


"Damn it. I knew this was rushed, but your father would have done it on his own if I hadn't hurried."


The voices carry through the door, forcing us to stop our whispered conversation.


"It's all taken care of. We need to hurry up and get this charade of a meeting over with," Harry... or Harold says.


"We have to keep up appearances. Paul Colton is a vicious man with too much money and influence. If it looks like we're running the business into the ground, he'll start using it as an angle in court. We have to make it look as though Henrietta loves this place as much as Thomas. We've just gotten started."


Like every cliché fucking movie I've ever seen, I move wrong and a stupid box falls from a perch and claps to the floor. Brody slaps his forehead in exasperation before he starts fumbling with his belt. What the hell is he doing with his belt?


"Check it out," Harold says, not bothering to whisper.


I don't know what the hell happens, but suddenly I'm against the back wall, my legs are wrapped around Brody's waist, and his lips are on mine. His pants are opened, my dress has risen up, and he's grinding against me. Oh hell no. I start to push him away and slap the hell out of him, wondering where the crap his sanity has gone, when the door swings open.


Brody moans as though he's doing more than simply grinding against me, and I realize what's going on. A few chuckles emerge from behind him, and I start playing along. Of course, the kiss gets sloppy and terrible when I tighten my lips and refuse to allow his tongue access. Tongue is really not necessary, in my opinion. The door shuts back and the chuckles continue as they start walking away.


"Let's go help Henrietta with the clients. Apparently half of them already like the place," Leonard jokes from farther away.


I break away from the wet kiss, and slap Brody. Albeit it's a pathetic girly slap, but I felt some reaction was warranted. I'm not really well versed with violence. My attempt to inflict pain merely provokes a low snicker from him.


"You could have warned me," I hiss as he puts me back down and starts redoing his pants.


"Action was all we had time for. Not spoken plans and warnings. Come on. We've got a short window."


I follow him out of the storage room, still considering slapping him harder. I'd probably earn another chuckle instead of doing any real harm. Jerk.


When we reach the cellar door, he motions for me to go in.


"You're not coming?" I ask, turning around.


"I can't. I can't watch you type in codes on a safe that doesn't belong to you."


What?


"I thought this was legal," I gripe, pissed that I left the drills behind now.


"It's not... legal. But it's not illegal. It's in a very gray area, considering this place doesn't rightfully belong to her but technically it does. Just go down there and take care of what you need to. I don't need to know the details. Then call me when you're coming back up. I'll find a spot to hide until then."


"It would have been nice if you had informed me of this before we came."


He rolls his eyes before giving me an incredulous look. "Really? Then you would have packed every tool for breaking in you could fit in the car. No way. I can handle a gray area. I can't handle it being straight up illegal."


A few choice words enter my mind, but he shoves me forward and shuts the door before those words can spill through my lips. Coward. I really wish I had at least one or two drills. Dad has the best equipment... even though he's out of the game.


I quickly remove the treacherous heels I'm wearing before I even attempt the stairs, and I hold them in my hand while I creep down, possibly plotting Brody's punishment. If this doesn't work because I don't have the proper equipment, I'm kicking his ass.


It's possible the drills wouldn't have worked either. It's Annex's after all. He's a tricky bastard, so he might have a booby trap set up that would make the safe even more inaccessible if I had drilled wrong. Considering I haven't done anything like that since I was twelve, I definitely might have messed up. Drilling safes was only ever a pastime thing for my dad and me. It's not like I'm a pro.


I drop the heels to a table on my way over to the painting with a secret. I smile when I remove it and find my salvation. I know that will is in there. It has to be. Kade might hate me, but at least I'll be able to give him one hell of a parting gift to remember me by.


Taking a weary breath, I go to type in the first, most obvious code. The annex is designed to accept numbers only, so I count the placement in the alphabet for Kade, along with 1993, but before I can press enter, I hear something I never in my life thought I'd hear so close to my head... the click of a gun.


"You should have stayed away from here," a familiar voice says as the barrel of the gun presses against the back of my head, making me visibly tremble.


Where have I heard his voice before? It isn't Harry... or Harold, rather, and it isn't Leonard either. Obviously this manly voice isn't Henrietta. I guess we weren't the only ones with a four-man team.


"I... um... got lost?" I stutter out like an idiot, slowly raising my hands in the air as a show of surrender.


A heartless chuckle taints the air when he finds humor in my poor attempt to come up with a lie. I'm actually much better at lying when I'm not in the middle of a con... ironically enough.


"Sure you did. At least now I know where the old man is keeping the will. Thanks for that," the grizzly voice says, and suddenly it dawns on me who it is.


"You're the... judge," I gasp, keeping my eyes on the safe as the gun presses harder against the back of my head.


"And you're the trailer-park trash that should have run back home to mother when Kade's friends bulldozed your house." He sighs out heavily, and then mutters, "I really hate to do this, but you brought it upon yourself."


I need to keep him talking and figure out a way to disarm him, but I have no clue about how to do that. Unfortunately, my father isn't a fighter, so he never taught me any of those skills. Damn it.


"You're going to..."


I can't get the words out. I can't cry, gasp, or even feel anything besides helpless. Surely a judge wouldn't-


"Kill you?" he laughs, finishing the words I couldn't. "What other choice do I have? I've been waiting twenty-three years to get revenge on Paul Colton. Twenty-three. Long. Years."


Keep him talking, Raya.


"Paul Colton? This is Kade Colton's inheritance, not Paul's." "Ah," he says, leaning down closer to my ear. "And Paul loves his boy. I've tried and failed many times to ruin Colton Fashion industries. He has that pretty little business packaged too well to be brought down. But this place... he didn't lock it up as well as he should have, and bringing it down is even better than bringing down his own empire. This is his father's - the man he adores. This is his son's - the boy he never knew how to relate to. This is the only thing that connected the three of them. Now I'm taking it."


Breathe, Raya. Breathe.


"So all of this is because you have beef with Paul?"


"Beef," he sniffs. "It's more than that. Paul Colton married the one and only woman in this world I've ever loved, and he didn't deserve her. He still doesn't. She and I had just planned a date when he met her. He didn't give a damn about me or the fact I had been desperately trying for months to get that date. I had to go through her father just to set it up.


"My family had money, my life was on track, and Paul was the poor boy who should have never crossed paths with her. All he did was use her and her contacts to build his father's business into something ridiculously wealthy. Used her," he says, repeating the last two words with a snarl. "Then he trapped her with a kid, just to ensure that she didn't wise up and leave him. That son of a bitch."


I've heard of women going crazy after being scorned, but I didn't realize men were just as bad. Frigging psycho.


"So then... you decided to get a group of cons to do this job? To steal this vineyard and exact revenge?" I ask, sounding stupid. But I have to stall, damn it. Where the hell is Brody?


He chuckles... again, managing to make it sound even eerier this time.


"Sorry, sweetheart. That's all the divulging I'm willing to do."


I tense up. "Are you sure?" I ask in an unusually high octave, rushing the words out so fast it almost sounds like one word. "Because it really sounds like you need someone to talk to."


The second click of a gun strikes me with more fear before I have time to register it as curious. How did he cock it twice?


"Actually," a saving voice says from behind, making my whole body almost jitter with relief, "I think Judge Higdon will have plenty of people who want to hear his story."


"Bleep," the judge says as the gun pulls back away from my head. But then he quickly starts trying to dig his way out. "This is Henrietta's property, where I too live, and this girl is trespassing. I was simply defending myself. You have nothing to prove otherwise."


I hear a rattling, as Brody most likely disarms the creep, and I tremble heavily before turning to face the judge for the first time, happy to see him without a weapon and his hands raised high in the air. He's bald, short, and not at all attractive. Add in the fact he's completely psychotic... I understand perfectly well why Kade's mom chose Paul.


Something hits me and makes me roll my eyes. "Judge Higdon. Roy Higdon. The Justice of the Peace who signed the marriage certificate for Thomas and Henrietta."


So the judge moonlights as a JOP. Why didn't I figure that out sooner?


Brody nods, his smile growing. "You mean forged?" he asks, winking.


"You have nothing to prove that," the judge repeats, almost growling. "This is her property, and I rent here. I'll have you both arrested for assaulting me in my own home."


Thank goodness Kade's grandfather didn't marry some troll without telling him.


"Unless I, as a man of the law, stumble across something in plain sight that could contradict that. Right, Judge?" Brody asks, making the growling man even more furious. "I think you've got an open safe to deal with," Brody says, covering his eyes with one hand and pressing harder against the back of Roy's head with the gun.


"That safe is not open! That's private property! You can't touch it!" the judge yells in objection. Yeah. Like I'm going to listen.


I quickly press the enter button to see if the code I pushed in earlier is correct, and my smile of wonder grows when a loud beep emerges, allowing the door to pop open just a hair. First damn try. Hell yes.


I quickly pull the door all the way open, delighting in what is right on top of the pile. "Oh look," I mutter, feigning innocence. "A document inside a very widely opened safe. And it looks like a will."


I turn to Brody who takes the will happily. "It seems you've found evidence that this property doesn't belong to the people who can now be considered trespassers. That's enough for me to hold them for now. It won't take me long to gather the rest. Good job, Raya."


I almost giggle like a silly girl, feeling the claws of adrenaline sinking in, but I refrain, coughing back the ridiculous outburst that was seconds from spilling out, and I offer a respectable smile and nod instead.


Brody rolls his eyes as he cuffs the judge, and then he looks at me once more. "You'd better not be hooked."


It was a thrill, a scare, and then a thrill again, but I'm far from hooked. There's only been one thing I've ever been hooked on and thoroughly addicted to, and... well, it was a person. In reality, I suppose I was just hooked on our game, because that's all it would have ever been - a game.


"Let's go," I mutter somewhat sadly, my euphoric cloud shattered by reality.


Brody frowns, but he starts shoving the handcuffed judge up the cellar stairs. I hear sirens going crazy outside, distorted voices coming over speakers, and shuffling feet going crazy. I whip my head around to find Brody smiling bigger.


"I might have called in backup. I suppose I had a little faith in you," he says with a shrug.


I sigh contently, happy it's all over, until we reach the outside and I see my father being pulled around by men in suits. His hands are cuffed, his curses are flying, and his claims of innocence are being ignored. Suddenly I'm twelve again, and my heart almost strangles me when it lodges in my throat.


"Unhand me you crazy sons of bitches!" Dad demands.


"Ray Drivel, you're under arrest for the-"


"Not him!" Brody yells, laughing almost hysterically. "He's with me. It's the other three," he says, motioning to Harold, Henrietta, and Leonard, who are all face down in the grass with their hands behind their heads. Poor Ember isn't far away, and she's doing the same thing. I really owe her one.


"And this one," Brody adds, shoving the judge off the porch and making him stumble to the ground with a loud umph.


They release my father, and my breath returns. He's finally one of the good guys. Well, good enough. I'm sure he'll always be a little bit bad.


"You okay?" Brody asks, reaching over and touching my shoulder.


"And it's Ray Capperton!" Dad screams, interrupting any lie I was about to tell Brody about how fine I am.


Dad rubs his wrists as he scowls at Brody. "You swore I could keep Ray Capperton. It's my favorite alias."


A snicker actually comes out, and Brody rolls his eyes before pulling out his wallet and handing Dad a license. "Here, Ray Capperton."


"Finally," Dad grumbles, ripping away the license and shoving it in his wallet.


I just smile as they embark on a candid conversation. Even when Ember joins us, I remain lost in my own world.


My phone buzzes, and I get a little sick when I see Kade's name flash across the screen. I'm sure by now he's already heard. His father has more than likely filled him in on what little he knew, and there are police here on their phones. I'm almost positive one of them is talking to Paul, briefing him on what has just transpired.


My finger hovers over the two options I have, but I wisely select ignore. My heart settles heavily in my chest, exhausted from holding its pieces together.


I've heard there's a reason for everything that happens in life. I've been searching for a reason for all this pain and madness. Why would I fall so hard for a man I can never have? But here it is. This is why Kade and I met. I was meant to do this. Otherwise he would have possibly lost everything. It's not closure, and it doesn't help alleviate the ache I feel, but it's nice to know that it wasn't for nothing. Maybe that'll be good enough to help me move forward... one day. Today's not that day.

Chapter 18


Running and Hiding


  



"Raya," Dane Sterling, the club owner, says from behind me.


"Yes, sir?" I ask, turning around to face the man the women in here drool over.


He's only twenty-something, but he owns a ton of Sterling Shore. Which makes sense, considering he's related to the Sterlings - the ones who founded the city. Oddly enough, he never seems to pay attention to all the women who adore him. He's a lot like Kade - too busy with the future, I suppose.


"There are at least fifteen dozen roses for you at the front door. You have to talk to the guy before he fills my club up."


My heart breaks a little. Since Brody returned the vineyard to him two weeks, Kade has been doing his best to thank me. He's called nonstop, hounded Ember for my address, and tried his best to catch me outside my classes. Sadly, I've managed to start sneaking out windows at school. Ember has refused to hand over my address. But he managed to find out where I work, and he stalks me here more than anywhere else.


I always hide, the other girls lie and tell him I'm not here, and I work around it. I even have the bouncer looking out for his car... or cars, rather. But that doesn't stop him from sending heaps of flowers.


"Sorry, Mr. Sterling, but I really can't."


"Dane, Raya. It's Dane. I feel ninety when you call me Mr. Sterling. I'm not that much older than you. And you have to do something. Otherwise, I'm going to have to kick his ass at some point."


The playfulness in his tone lets me know he's kidding, and I sigh out heavily. He forces a sympathetic smile.


"I know Kade and his family. Do you want me to go talk to him? This really isn't like him. I've never seen him obsess over anyone."


I let an exhausted laugh free. He's so far off base.


"He's not obsessed. He feels bad for judging me, but not because he thinks he was wrong, and not because he misses me. I did him a favor a couple of weeks ago, and it has him confused. It wouldn't have ever worked out. We're way too different. He'll remember why he left me soon enough, and all this will stop."


Dane's eyes become alight with intrigue. Crap.


"Why did he leave you? Since you brought it up."


I glance around the club at all the waitresses preparing for the soon-to-be-here customers, and I motion to them. "Because I'm one of them. Not one of you. As a matter of fact, I'm not even good enough to be one of them."


His eyes darken and a flash of anger comes over his face. "He left you because of your financial status? You're serious?"


I huff and quickly shake my head, dreading the mess I've just made. "No. He knew I was poor before we started dating. He was great, but I have baggage. Baggage that could wreck his future plans. It's a long story. I really need to get back to work. My boss will kick my ass if I don't."


He smiles at my playful ending note, but it's forced. And I retreat quickly when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Kade. Again. He's relentless. It'll have to stop soon.


  



The club is beyond packed. The dancers on the stage are getting catcalls, money tossed, and marriage proposals. What am I getting? Crappy tips and a groped ass. I picked the wrong job.


I head outside to take a break from all the loud music, dancing fools, and touchy customers. The sand finds my heels, and I strip them off to allow my toes to press into it. The ocean sprays the air, making everything seem fresher than it is. It always helps to deal with the madness. And with a view like this, it's easy to forget my problems for a few brief seconds.


Strong, familiar, warm arms wrap around my waist as a small kiss finds my neck, while someone nuzzles their face against me. My heart almost explodes as the contradicting emotions stir a storm within me.


"I've missed you," Kade says, making my first tear fall.


I try to pull away, but he has his arms locked around me, and his soft, perfect lips start making a trail from my ear to my jaw. "I'm sorry, Raya. I'm so fucking sorry. Please forgive me. Come back."


I cry harder. It was hard to read things like this on his cards that were attached to the flowers, but now, hearing it aloud... this is torture.


"Kade, you don't really want me back. You're confused because I saved your vineyard."


"No the hell I'm not. Raya, I've wanted you back since you walked out. I'm a jerk. I'm an idiot. I'm every form of stupid there is. I made the biggest mistake of my life. Please, please come back. Let me make it up to you."


I try to break free again, but his hold is too tight. It only loosens for a second, but that's simply to spin me around to face him. Oh damn. I wish he hadn't done that.


Those beautiful blue eyes that have haunted my fantasies, my dreams, and my life are now staring into mine. It almost hurts to have to see the man I love, especially when I know he's here for all the wrong reasons. "Kade," I mumble, feeling my lip tremble as tears drip from my eyes. "You don't... you don't want to be with me. I'm a conman's daughter. Your business, your dreams, and your name can't be tainted by a girl-"


His lips find mine, halting my objection, and he grips me tighter, pulling me to him to further drive me crazy. It'd be so much easier if I hadn't fallen in love like the fool I am.


When his tongue sweeps in, it takes all my strength to force him back. My tears storm my cheeks harder as he stumbles and almost falls, and I grab the door to jerk it open before he can regain his balance.


"Just go home, Kade. Please leave me alone."


I run in, deciding to call it a night, and I head toward the front, desperate to escape the man who is probably already coming after me. Dane is going to kick my ass for calling in, but I can't help it. Kade needs a few days to digest things. After last night, I'm scared of seeing him at work again. It'd be too easy to give in.


A loud knock at the door draws my attention, and I walk over to the window. The covered porch hinders me from seeing who might be knocking downstairs, but it doesn't block my vision from the Range Rover I know too well.


"Damn it," I whisper to myself, tensing up.


"Coming," Dad yells to the door.


I rush to intercept him, but I barely make it halfway down the stairs before the door opens.


"Yes?" Dad asks, completely unaware of who he's talking to. Thank God I can't see him.


All I can see is the open door and my oblivious father. "I need to talk to Raya, please," Kade says, sounding exhausted.


"And you are?" Dad probes, but by now he probably has it figured out.


"Kade Colton."


I almost get sick. How did he find out where I live?


"I think you know by now she doesn't want to see you. You should go and forget this address."


Dad starts to shut the door, but it thumps and stops against something, most likely Kade's foot.


"I really have to see her, Mr. Drivel. It's-"


"Capperton," Dad interrupts, almost growling. "It's Ray Capperton. I don't use Drivel."


"Sorry," Kade says, almost sounding amused. "Mr. Capperton, I'd really like to have a chance to apologize. Raya is wrong about us. I-" "You hurt her," Dad says simply, interrupting him again. "She trusted you and you hurt her, because you, like all the other morons she meets, judged her based on my actions. She's a good girl. She has a heart like you'd never understand. She's the most forgiving, understanding, and compassionate person I've ever known, and you hurt her. She doesn't want to talk to you."


Tears fill my eyes as I sit down and draw my knees to my chest like a scared little girl.


"I didn't judge her. Mr. Capperton, I bleeped up. You don't understand. If you'd just let me-"


"What? Let you in? Let you stalk my daughter more? You're lucky I'm not calling the cops. Believe it or not, I've actually got a few friends in that department. You have your vineyard, your plans can move forward, and your life will be as fucking shiny as you like it. You're the one who doesn't understand.


"You didn't Bleep up because of what you said once. It's what you've preached about. Your life is supposed to be perfect. You want that. And you've made Raya feel as though she's inferior. My daughter is a better person than you'll ever be. Ever. She doesn't deserve to feel as though she's a lesser person because of decisions I've made, because of the money she didn't have handed to her, or because of where she came from.


"She's strong, and you damn near broke her. Now, go. The Bleep. Away."


Kade's feet move loudly across the porch and Dad slams the door. He takes several deep breaths as though he's holding himself back. Then he looks up to notice me for the first time, and tears are gathered in his eyes just as they are in mine.


He starts to speak, but there aren't any words. Instead, he nods once to me, and I nod back as a silent conversation passes between us. Then he walks away, leaving me to sob on the steps. Maybe now Kade will just leave me alone.


A loud thud in my room and a slight groan startles me, and I rush back up the stairs to find Kade climbing back up from the floor under the window. How the hell he did he get in here? That tree is almost five feet away, and it's the closest means of climbing.


"I knew you'd be on the top floor," he mumbles, rubbing his side as though it hurts.


"Kade, are you crazy?" I gasp, ignoring the pang of desire I feel when his eyes meet mine.


He shakes his head as he dusts his clothes back into place and he heads over to the door to shut it, letting his body brush against mine along the way.

"Crazy?" he asks, turning back around, looking as weary as I feel. "Raya, I passed crazy a long damn time ago. I've done everything I know to do. I'm not letting you go. I can't. Not unless you can tell me you don't give a damn about me at all. Can you do that? Because judging by those tears in your eyes, you still want to be with me, but you're just too fucking stubborn to listen to me."


His tone is attempting to be even, but his exhaustion makes it come across as frustrated. He takes a step toward me, and I take one step back, keeping the distance between us.


"Your father is right. You're so much better than me, too good for me. You're the most incredible person I could have ever found, and I'm the biggest jerk in the world."


He's being too loud. Dad has to be able to hear him. Maybe he'll come up and toss Kade out... through the downstairs doorway, of course. Not my window.


"He didn't phrase it like that," I softly interject, trying not to sound as breathless as I feel.


Kade smiles, and my heartbeat speeds up even more. He keeps himself between me and the door, cutting me off from any escape. The window is out of the question. I still don't know if he jumped from that tree, but I'll kick his ass if he did. Well, I'll try to kick his ass.


"He should have," Kade says, taking another step toward me and making me step back again.


"Please go, Kade," I almost whimper.


"Not this time, Raya. Even if you forced me out, I wouldn't give up. I'll jump from that fucking ridiculously scary tree everyday if you make me. Just try to leave the window up for me from now on. It's hard to hang on and force a window up." His playful grin doesn't match his serious eyes. Another step forward for him, and another step back for me. This time, my back hits the wall, ending my room for retreat, and Kade smirks before taking another step toward me, keeping that predatory gleam in his eyes.


"You don't feel like you're good enough, and that doesn't make a damn bit of sense to me. I couldn't give a Bleep about your father or what he did. I wouldn't give a damn if you had done the same thing," he says, destroying any illusion of strength I thought I had left.


Be strong, Raya. Please be strong.


"My father is a con. Even if he's not out conning the world the way he used to, his past will haunt you just as it does me. No one in this society will ever back you if you have me and my reputation tethered to you. They'll whisper, gossip, and run your name through the ground. Just like they did mine back home. It'll catch up with me here. I'm sure Courtney is already spreading the word. You need to-"


"I need to be with you. That's all I need. My father's name holds more weight in this town than Courtney's or her family's. Even if it didn't, so what. I don't care what anyone thinks. I've spent my life worrying about the opinions everyone else has. I've spent too much time playing some stupid, elaborate game that I don't care about anymore. I was hooked. That's all.


"I was hooked on the game... just like your dad, Raya. I'm nothing more than a con. I don't have a single genuine friend outside my family. I realized that almost as soon as you left. I'm the one people should look down on. I'm the one who could tarnish your name. But I won't be this way anymore. Bleep it all. I want real friends - people who are there for me when I need them, just like my family. Just like you were." More of my tears heat my cheeks as they trail free, but I'm paralyzed. I can't move to wipe them away, because he's shocked me into a frozen state. I should say something, probably, but I can't. What in the hell could I possibly say?


He takes another step, and then another, until at last he's close enough to touch me. And he does. He tilts my head up with one hand, and then cradles it, while his other hand moves to be at my waist.


"You were all I wanted to see when Granddad went into the hospital, and you came. Even after all I did, you came. After the way I treated you, you risked it all to help me. I lost more than my girlfriend when I pushed you away. I lost the only friend I had ever made on my own. I don't want to lose you, Raya. I can't. I'm not hooked on the game anymore. I'm simply hooked on you. I love you," he murmurs softly, leaning down and brushing his lips against mine. His confession of love melts every bit of lingering strength I have, and my arms fly up around his neck to pull him down to me, deepening the soft kiss. His daring tongue sweeps in, and my fingers thread through his hair when I start losing what little control I have.


I hear the front door open and shut, a car crank and pull out of the driveway, and then I feel Kade's smile. We're all alone. Dad apparently knew what was about to happen.


Kade jerks open the button on my shorts, and I don't waste any time pushing them down, letting them take my panties with them. He rips me up, and my legs wrap around his waist as his glorious tongue ring makes me think back to all the delicious things he can do.


The only sounds in the room are our torrid moans and clothes dropping. At last, we're both naked, but still entangled as he presses my back against the wall. Without warning, he's suddenly buried inside me, and I gasp as the feel of his bare erection makes my eyes roll back in my head.


"Bleep," he hisses, tugging at my lower lip with his teeth, and then he starts moving when he needs more.


His unkempt, ravenous strokes start pushing me forth, making me reach for that peak he loves to push me over. I kiss him almost desperately, not caring how loud I get as he owns my body with his. He pulls back just enough each time to slam back into me, pushing me against the wall each time with a thump.


I claw at his shoulders when I feel the tightening in my stomach. My legs reflexively clench tighter to his waist, telling him I'm close, and he growls low in his throat as his motions quicken. A pathetic whimper comes out before my ungodly scream that doesn't even sound like me, and Kade surges in hard one last time as we both fall over that glorious edge.


He pulls me away from the wall as we attempt to kiss, but we have to give up on that endeavor when our need for oxygen wins out. Instead, he presses his forehead against mine as we both form a panting melody.


He crashes to the bed with me still in his arms, and he pulls me to him as he cradles my body against his. "I'm glad your dad left," he chuckles out before kissing my forehead.


I smile for so many reasons, not just what he said, and I snuggle as close to him as I can get.


"Me too."


"I meant it, Raya. I love you. I'm sorry I didn't say it the second you told me. I was... scared. That doesn't mean I didn't feel it. Christ, I felt it. I was... well, an idiot." My grin only grows as I start kissing along the side of his neck.


"I love you," I murmur softly, pushing my leg over his waist.


"Then we have a lot of making up left to do," he says with a salacious grin before his lips claim mine. "But, first things first," he adds while drawing back.


He jumps up, pulls on his boxers, and before I can even register his actions, he's jogging down my stairs. I hear the door open and close, and I sit up, pulling the sheet over my bare body. What's he doing?


After a few seconds, I hear the car door shut and then the front door opens and shuts again before I hear the sound of his feet start rushing back toward me.


When my door opens, he's wearing a smile and carrying a crate. My crate. My wine crate.


"I left that on purpose," I murmur softly. "It should stay in your family." He shakes his head as he opens the top, and I look over to see two bottles packed very safely inside.


"Raya, Granddad thought you were family. I'm sure he still does. This is yours. He'd kick my ass if I kept it."


I almost smile at that thought. It'd be nice if Thomas could wake up and kick his ass.


"This one is mine. And I've been saving it for a very special day."


My eyes widen when he pulls out two wine glasses from the same crate. I almost gasp when he pulls out a corkscrew. He can't... no.


"Kade, don't be ridiculous. I can't drink that wine, and you can't-"


Before I know what's going on, he's already pulled out the cork, making it too late.


"Have you lost your mind? What are you doing?" I gush.


"Putting away the corkscrew," he says while tossing the pigtail looking tool into the crate. Smartass. "Now I'm pouring our wine."


His eyes glisten with a teasing hue as he pours the first glass.


"Kade, this wine-"


"Was meant for something special. I happen to think telling a girl I love her for the first time in my life is pretty monumental. So, you'll drink my wine with me and you'll enjoy every sip."


Tears fill up in my eyes. Him doing this... it says more than the words. I know how special that bottle of wine is to him, and it almost leaves me a mushy puddle at his feet.


He hands me mine, and he clanks the side of my glass with his before kissing me softly. I almost lick my lips in anticipation as the first drop of the wine graces my mouth, and an involuntary moan comes out when I fall in love with a damn drink.


I'm not sure when my eyes closed, but when I open them, Kade is smiling, staring at me.


"Is it good?" he asks, leaning over to kiss my shoulder.


Good, I scoff inwardly. I almost roll my eyes. It's not good; it's divine. No mortal should ever have something so smooth, fresh, and completely delicious.


"I think I'm hooked."

Epilogue


  



Three months later…


  



"I'll only be a second," I groan, but I'm unable to stifle my girly grin when Kade pulls me back for another kiss.


"Can't you just quit over the phone?" he pleads, pulling me closer.


"No. Dane has been so good to me," I mutter against his lips.


He snorts as he pulls back. "He better not have been too good."


I roll my eyes while letting my lips trail over his neck. "I think he's gay."


He bursts out laughing, and I tilt my head to the side to question that little outburst.


"Dane Sterling?" he chuckles out. "Gay? That's like saying Tag Masters is gay. Dane is just more discreet in his affairs. Believe me. I know. He used to be best friends with my cousin up until he most likely screwed her and then screwed her over."


I frown. "Well, he's never said anything out of the way to me, and I should be a big girl and quit face-to-face. Unless you'd rather find someone else to help you out."


"Uh-uh. You're not getting out of this. You are incredible at selling wine, and I don't want to be away from you. It'll be hard enough to deal with you at college. Now go quit."


I chuckle and kiss him once more before I head inside. Dane is talking to one of the new waitresses who is almost dissolving in front of his eyes.


"Dane?" I murmur sweetly, drawing his attention.


"Raya. It's your day off," he says, confused, dismissing the girl who almost expires.


"I sort of need to talk to you," I mutter uneasily. Maybe I should have been a coward and done this over the phone.


"You mean you came to tell me you quit," he says evenly, but a smile creeps up when my eyes widen. "I assumed Kade would haul you off. You sure that's really what you want?"


He props against the bar while he studies me, as if he expects me to beg for his help to escape. He really doesn't have a lot of relationship experience - not good relationship experience anyhow.


"Positive. I love him, and he's paying me double," I say with a wink, which prompts him to roll his eyes.


"Very well, be careful. I assume the two of you are on your way to his family thing."


I cringe. I really hope it gets off to a better start than my family cookout. I should have known better than to take my rich boyfriend around a bunch of heathen cons. "Yes."


He laughs when he sees my dread, and then he turns to walk away. "Don't worry, Raya. Paul makes them behave."


I'm not really all that worried. I've met most of his family, so it's not like I won't know anyone.


I rush back outside, and Kade sweeps me in his arms before offering me a sweet kiss I'd love to turn into more.


"Behave," he mumbles, even though his body protests.


"You don't mean that," I tease, making him laugh.


He opens my door for me, and he quickly takes his seat behind the wheel before driving us toward his family's house. Of course... it takes a little longer to get there than we originally expected.


When we arrive, the first familiar face I see is Tag, and he walks toward us while carrying three glasses of champagne.


"And you two are here just in time to see me leave."


"What?" I ask, glancing at my watch.


We're just two hours late. Totally Kade's fault.


"It's Raya's fault we're late," Kade says, earning a glare from me.


It's not my fault he couldn't wait until later tonight. He's the one that pulled over on the side of the road, and then pulled in behind the college, and then decided we had to go back to his house one last time after we had left Silk.


Kade smiles at me, and I lose my mock anger.


"Well, anyway, I have to head out. The girls are drunk. I don't mess with drunk chicks, so I need to go prowling for someone sober."


"You're prejudice against drunks?" I muse, finding that a little curious.


He laughs while shaking his head. "I'm prejudiced against taking advantage of a drunk girl. I've got morals, Raya. Don't act so surprised."


I actually am a little surprised, but judging by the hurt in his expression, I shouldn't admit that.


"Well, have fun stalking your prey," I murmur as he claps Kade on the back.


"Always do," he jokes, but I forget all about Tag when Kade's lips find mine, and then his incredible arms wrap around me.


Thomas made some improvement today. Everyone is celebrating. He's still breathing on his own, and he wasn't supposed to be.


"Let's skip the party," he murmurs against my lips. "I'd rather enjoy the night by simply holding you in our room."


Before I can say anything, Billy Prize walks out, seeming pissed on his way to his car.


"Leaving already?" Kade drawls, not really seeming to care. I really wish I knew why everyone seems to hate Billy. He's nice enough.


"Yeah. Ash has a problem I'm about to deal with once and for all," he growls.


He rips the door open on his BMW and drives away before Kade can say anything else.


"I don't think she's real," Kade says with a shrug, prompting me to chuckle.


I just lean into him as we make our way toward the back where everyone is laughing and joking around. A poker table is set up, and Paul waves us over.


"You two up for a game? Billy and Tag just left, so we have two open spots."


I start to object, when Kade says, "Deal us in."


I glare at him, but he shrugs. "It's not like they don't know what they're getting themselves into."


I roll my eyes as he leads me over to the table.


"Kade tells us you're good," Wren says before taking a sip of his beer.


Good? These people use the word good at all the wrong times.


"I'll go ahead and tell you that you won't win. Not even one hand. Are you sure you want to play me?"


Paul's laughter climbs free, Wren grins huge, and another guy I haven't met shrugs.


"Let's see what you've got," the unknown guy with sandy blonde hair says. "I've been playing poker a while. The name is Rye Clanton."


"Just don't say I didn't warn you," I mutter, grinning, just before placing the first bet of the night. Kade's soft lips press against my neck as Rye deals, and I lean into him, relishing the feel of his breath on my skin. I hope I'm always this hooked.

Hooked on the game has ended. Thanks to those who has been following d story even when I went on a small haitus so I am moving to the next one on the agenda Tagged and Ashed continuous of the Sterling Shores series hoped you had fun while it lasted.

Ak86:
Hooked on the game has ended. Thanks to those who has been following d story even when I went on a small haitus so I am moving to the next one on the agenda Tagged and Ashed continuous of the Sterling Shores series hoped you had fun while it lasted.

Thank you for this great story. Pls mention me when you begin the next story

Awwwn just done reading