A moot point, really. They were long over. Still, Rogen would be lying to himself if he denied she was the reason he didn’t date any more seriously than Vin did. Both men had been hooked on her in one way or another since they were kids. And both men knew all that had ever brought to either of their lives was more complication.
Vin didn’t typically speak of Jewel, and Rogen respected his privacy on the matter. Rogen had no idea what had happened between the two of them after he had been sent to Trinity, a year after the dispute over the untouched land had flared. The exile from California had happened right around the time Rogen and Jewel had fallen in love—a huge source of contention for their parents, who’d proven they would do anything to keep the two away from each other. And had succeeded, for the most part.
Rogen had his suspicions as to how Jewel and Vin’s friendship had progressed after he’d left but wasn’t really sure he wanted to know the actual details. Vin’s intensity when the subject came up was a loud and clear warning for Rogen to avoid the topic entirely. Vin clearly felt the same. Hence the scowl.
Rogen said, “I’d better get around. I’ll see you in a little while.”
“I’m taking one of the limos to pick up Holly. We’ll be along shortly.”
“Don’t get that particular party started without me.” He grinned.
Vin chuckled again, on his way out the door. Rogen hit the shower and shaved. As Chief Operating Officer of Angelini, Inc., which housed its auxiliary offices within the estate, Rogen was usually on the clean-cut side. But he didn’t mind the scruffy jaw when working the vineyard or doing his soil testing.
He dressed in an Armani tux, then raked a hand through his hair, making it stand a little on end. He took an all-terrain Rhino to the service entrance of the mansion and joined the festivities as they were getting under way.
He grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing server. There were numerous food stations and seafood towers, plus hot- and cold-passed hors d’oeuvres. Free-flowing champagne and the distillery’s top-notch cognacs.
A pianist and a harpist were set up in one of the courtyards. A steel-drum band played in the gardens. An eighteen-piece orchestra took requests on the event lawn. And a contemporary band rocked the grand ballroom.
Tree trunks outside were all lit with clear twinkling lights. Candles burned in hurricanes and decorative lanterns. Inside, the chandeliers glowed brilliantly, sending glittery rays across the cream-colored marble floors. All of the rooms designated for entertaining flowed into one another, making it easy for groups to mix and mingle.
Rogen greeted guests, accepted pecks on the cheek, shook hands, and chatted everyone up as he moved toward the spacious great room by the entryway. There he dropped off his empty glass and was served another before strolling closer to the foyer to ensure there was a welcoming committee at the front door.
He drew up short when he caught sight of a striking blonde wearing a one-shouldered sparkling dress in ice blue that set off her sapphire irises. She stood on the landing of the steps that led down into the great room, adjacent to the twin staircases that stretched and curved to the second floor and beyond to two more floors.
Rogen did a double take. He absorbed the sight of her from head to toe, including the slit in the left side of her dress that started at her slim ankle and ran clear up to the top of her shapely thigh, where a diamond-encrusted brooch was pinned.
&nbs
p; His cock sprang to life. His pulse shot through the roof.
It was her.
Rogen handed over his crystal flute to another server and worked his way through the crowd, his heart hammering. He took the three steps up to the landing and asked, “Are you a mirage?”
Jewel gave him a beautiful bright-white smile. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“Because I’ve fantasized about you appearing out of thin air when I least expect it.”
“Sorry to catch you off-guard. It couldn’t be helped.”
“Do you hear me complaining?”
Her smile softened. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me showing up.”
“Like I just took a dive out of an airplane and am free-falling without a chute.”
“Interesting.” She stared up at him, her big blue eyes shimmering under the chandeliers. “I know the feeling.” Her voice was low and evocative. Breathy.
“Good.” He mentally shook his head. Maybe it wasn’t so good they still reacted so strongly to each other. Especially after what Vin had said about the thorns. Rogen changed the subject. “I don’t recall seeing your name on the guest list.”
“Nor would you. I’m crashing. For a good cause, I promise.”
“I don’t care that you’re crashing,” Rogen said with conviction in his tone. “It’s fucking incredible to see you, Jewel.”
So much for changing the subject …
But, damn—it’d been seven long years since he’d last seen her.