She pulled in a deep breath. Exhaled slowly.
Okay. Now turn off the car and get out.
She didn’t. Instead, she gave up her primo parki
ng spot and drove away.
* * *
“Jewel’s not meeting us,” Rogen announced as he plopped into a chair on the patio and set his phone on the table.
Vin glanced up from the menu.
“Says she needs more time,” Rogen told him.
Vin’s brow quirked. “To have her nails done, or to be seen in public with us?”
Rogen smirked.
“Ah. The latter.”
A cute brunette swooped in to take their orders, all perky and flirty, batting long lashes. Vin considered doing her the huge favor of telling her to save it for her other male customers. Neither he nor Rogen would nibble on the lure.
They each selected a burger and iced tea. Then Rogen said, “I get that it’s probably different for a woman in this particular scenario. Especially in a town where you know so many people.”
“She’ll come around,” Vin assured him. “Jewel’s never been one for letting others’ opinions derail her. This is just a unique situation and one that came about quickly. Unexpectedly. You and I are still working through it, right?”
“I don’t know what’s to work through anymore,” Rogen admitted. “Even slugging you on a regular basis wouldn’t change the fact that I’d give her whatever she wanted, including a relationship that involves you.”
“I’m not sure whether to be flattered or offended,” Vin deadpanned.
“Come on. This is what you and I want. There’s no reason to beat around the bush. Sure, it irritated you when you thought she’d gone back to me years ago. It pissed me off to learn the two of you had been an item while I was gone. But the bottom line is and always will be that we want one woman who’s ours. Yours and mine. And that woman is Jewel.”
All the more reason Vin was unsettled that she’d bailed on lunch. He could understand it. But he worried over her being off somewhere convincing herself to call off the ménage.
Or being with someone—like her mother—who would do the convincing for her.
Yet he clung to his previous belief that Jewel might suffer self-doubt, but she didn’t let anyone else tell her what to do and how to do it. So he had lunch with Rogen, who then headed back to the office.
Vin stuck around. He caught up on e-mails and texts on his phone. Made a couple of calls. Was just about ready to pay the check and leave when Holly strolled over.
“All alone?” she asked in her husky southern drawl. “I can’t imagine why Jewel Catalano would let you out of her sight.”
Vin sat back in his chair. His temper simmered. “I didn’t have lunch with Jewel today. I’m surprised you don’t already know that.”
“Now, Vin,” she said as she slid into the seat across from him that Rogen had vacated. “I didn’t mean to spill the beans on your new love life.”
“Really?” He gave her a don’t bullshit me look to go along with the one that no doubt warned: I protect my own. “Because that’s exactly what you did.”
“I was having cocktails with Francine Hillman, who’d seen the three of you together, right on this very patio. I had too much to drink and one thing led to another.”
“Let me give you a piece of advice.” He leaned forward, folding his forearms on the table. “The people of River Cross know Jewel and her reputation much better than yours. She might be feeling the digs at the moment, but I promise you, she’ll bounce back twice as strong. You said of her grudge toward me, Hell hath no fury?” His gaze narrowed. “When it comes to Jewel, you’re right. So I’d watch my back, if I were you.”
She gaped.
Granted, Vin knew perfectly well Jewel would never stoop to slandering Holly to even the score. But Holly didn’t know that.
For good measure, Vin added, “You don’t have a clean slate yourself, Holly. You wouldn’t want your own reputation dragged through the mud, now, would you? Since you seem to be playing the high-and-mighty card. Rogen and I can attest to how you like it in the bedroom.”