“I’ve been working on arranging that meeting for the deal you wanted to discuss. I finally got them to commit to Thursday of next week. You’ll be back by then, right? Please tell me you will be. I’m tired of playing phone tag with these guys.”
“Yes, I’ll definitely be back by then,” I said.
But part of me didn’t want to be.
What the fuck was that about?
“I’ve got the rest of your calls on hold, though you’ll have a ton to come back to. And the latest batch of wine needs about three more weeks on it, or so I was told to relay to you.”
“That’s fine. It’s not due to bottle for another six,” I said. “Tell those guys to stop giving you the runaround and that I’ll be there for the meeting. They don’t need to know I’m out of town.”
“I never tell them, Mr. McDonald.”
“Would you call me Grayson already, Maria?”
“Not a chance. How are things going with the estate?”
“More tedious than I thought, but I’ll get it done,” I said.
“Anything you need from me?”
A massive dose of cold water over my head would be nice.
“Nope. I got it under control. You just keep doing what you’re so good at doing,” I said.
“You flatter me, but I’m old enough to be your mother.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re not beautiful, Maria Lopez. We’ll talk soon.”
“Mhm. Talk to you soon, Mr. McDonald.”
I hung up the phone and my mind ripped me right back to the house. What the fuck? After that kiss, all I wanted to do was bury myself deep inside my sexy houseguest. I wanted to know what she sounded like cumming around my cock. But it wasn’t right, and I knew it wasn’t right. I knew if I did, it would be the second thing I ever did that really disappointed Anton. And I couldn’t do that to him. Not to his memory, not to myself, and not to Michelle. She was a good woman. A sweet woman. A beautiful woman and a treasure to behold.
She deserved better than to be fucked around with by some guy from out of town.
Anton had taken her in. She was one of his strays, so she obviously had baggage. And I wasn’t looking for baggage. If anything, I was looking to unload some. To get this town off my back for good. We were also grieving. I saw her tears at dinner. How easily they flowed when she talked about the old man. I couldn’t take adv
antage of her grief and gratitude that way. I didn’t want her to think she that had to fuck me for a place to stay.
Holy hell. That would be insane.
I didn’t need to attach myself to this place. I was leaving in less than a week and never coming back. And I knew if I attached myself to Michelle, I’d want to come back to see her. I’d want to find myself back in Illinois just to be around her.
And that shit wasn’t happening.
When I parked my car, I looked at where my mind had taken me. And of course, I was back in front of the shitty bar in the middle of town. I figured I could use a cold beer. Or two. Or four. Maybe they would help me with my raging erection. I got out of my car and walked in and my ears were automatically assaulted by his voice.
Andy’s voice.
“Get me another beer, beautiful! And a round for everyone here!”
“Yeah!” everyone exclaimed.
My eyes caught his and he held his arms out.
“And your finest beer for my best friend, Grayson,” he said.
“Hello Andy.”