Josie and I have a meeting with a potential client in about thirty minutes, so I should really head back to my office soon. I needed a breather after a rough client this morning. I have an inkling she’s going to be a bit of a bridezilla, and I’m already not looking forward to her wedding. Never mind the fact that it was a rough morning for Presley.
I’m about to head back up the stairs when I hear the creaking of the door opening and footsteps coming down the stairs. I’m expecting to see one of the vineyard workers,or maybe even a lost guest, but to my surprise, it’s Jason who comes around the corner.
His eyes are curious as he takes me in, glancing up and down my body with an unexpected hunger. “Hey,” he greets, voice low and thick. “What are you doing down here?”
“Taking a break before a meeting. I needed a minute.”
“Is everything okay?” Jason asks, stepping toward me.
I shrug. “Rough client this morning. She’s going to be a tough one, I can already tell, and then throw in Presley having a rough morning, and it made for a perfect storm.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind my asking?” Jason questions.
“I don’t mind. Every once in a while she struggles with the pain she has over her dad not being around.”
Jason nods. “I’m sure that’s tough on a young kid. Does she remember him?”
I shake my head. “Not really. At least I don’t think so. I think she more so remembers the idea of him, and that’s what hurts. It’s always hard to leave her when she has these times. Usually something triggers it, but I can’t think of what it might have been today. Last winter, they had a daddy-daughter dance at school, and it absolutely gutted her she couldn’t go. The following few days were really rough. She was really clingy to me, and I couldn’t even blame her.”
“They really don’t have an alternative for kids that don’t have a male figure in their lives?” Jason asks through gritted teeth.
I shake my head. “Isaac offered to go with her, but at that point, she wanted nothing to do with it anymore.”
My chest hurts from the pain of leaving her today, so Ichange the subject. “What are you doing here? There isn’t a wedding or anything today.”
“Isaac asked me to stop by and I wanted to have a meeting with my bartenders here.” He shrugs, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels. He looks sexy in his worn jeans and tee. His hair is tousled today, growing longer on the sides. “And when I didn’t see you in your office, I saw Josie and she told me you like to go for walks sometimes.”
My mind goes blank as I try to process why he went in search of me. “You went to my office?”
He glances up, his chocolate brown eyes locking on mine. “Yeah.”
“Why?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer, looking down at his feet again.
“Jase,” I state his name. “Tell me.”
“I wanted to make sure you were still okay with how we left things the other day.”
“I’m fine,” I mutter, a little irritated. “Why didn’t you text me that?” I shake my head. “Never mind, I should get going. I have a meeting of my own.” I start to walk toward the stairway, but as I’m passing Jason, he stops me with a hand on my wrist.
“Jason?” I breathe his name, internally hoping he might say something, anything, to keep me down here with him, while at the same time wantingout.“Can I get by, please?” I finally ask when he doesn’t make a move to let by.
“No,” he mutters. I don’t fully see what’s happening, because my gaze is still at my feet, but Jason steps toward me until we are standing toe-to-toe. “You need a hug.”
And then his arms are around me. My arms go limp at my sides. I wasn’t expecting a hug from him. Annoyance tricklesthrough my veins. He’s like a freaking sour candy. Sour, then sweet. The hot and cold I’ve experienced with him until this point has been fucking with my head, but the strength of his arms around me is so good that I let myself give in once more.
Jason holds me tightly, and the internal wall crumbles. The walls holding back my emotions of the pain Presley experiences over the lack of answers about her dad crumble to dust. I’m overwhelmed by the pain I have that I can’t make it all better. I’d give anything to make her pain go away. Longing for the man holding me, even though I know I shouldn’t. Silent tears stream down my face. I let myself be held by this man. His large hand cups the back of my head, stroking my hair gently. I don’t care that he’s probably making it frizzy, or messing with the loose side braid I have it in. I only care about the way I react to him.
I sense a loss of control around him, and yet, he grounds me, all at once. His other hand is around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. My own arms lift from my sides, wrapping around his soft torso, and pulling myself even tighter against him.
It’s one of those moments where you don’t realize what you need until you have it. Apparently, I really needed a hug.
He holds me until the silent, soul shaking tears stop. In all reality, I don’t even think the tears were from today. I think it was a combination of the last few years of my life.
When I drop my arms from him, he slowly steps back. “Better?” he asks.
I nod, because while I do feel immensely better, now, the embarrassment starts to creep in. “Sorry,” I say, taking a few rapid steps back, my heels clicking on the stone floor.
