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Jewel let out a soft laugh, despite her tension and the sensitive topic of conversation. “Daddy, I’m twenty-eight years old and we’re not currently amidst polite society. It’s acceptable for you to ask if we’re all sleeping together.”
Oh, but hearing those words out loud ratcheted the roiling of her insides a few notches.
“I’m not exactly interested in learning the gory details, Jewel. Just answer the question, so I know what we’re dealing with here.”
“I’m not sure exactly what Mother’s friends told her, but Scarlet informed me of the rumors and I can verify that the gory details are fact. For the most part. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some embellishments. But Rogen, Vin, and I are sort of … dating.”
“All at once?”
“Yes…?” She cringed.
Her father set aside his glass of tea. He said, “Appearances are very important to your mother, Jewel. You know this. She doesn’t like gossip that involves our family.”
Now Jewel turned a bit exasperated. “Daddy. Your feud with the Angelinis has practically burned the rumor mill to the ground over the past fifteen years. Especially of late, with Rose-Marie hosting parties and making it publicly known Catalanos aren’t invited. Gian gets a kick out of shunning us and having it come across as though he’s sparing his guests from the bad apples.”
“Yes, well.” Her father let out a long breath. “In some respects, we are bad apples.”
Very cryptic. Her brow knitted.
Anthony got to his feet. He hadn’t finished his meal, either.
Jewel was running her family off?
“Daddy, stay and eat,” she said as she pushed out of her chair, emotion swelling in her throat. “I’ll leave.”
“No, Jewel. Have some lunch. I have work to get back to.” He gave her a quick kiss and sauntered off.
Jewel’s heart sank.
Damn that Holly McCormick and her big mouth.
But then again, what had Jewel expected?
No, she really hadn’t thought the threesome through beyond their international excursion. Now that they were in River Cross, what was to become of their new relationship? And exactly how were they supposed to justify it to everyone?
Not that Jewel typically subscribed to the need to explain herself. Yet her family did hold a high standing in the community, in River Cross society. As well as in San Francisco society. And yes, image was very important to her mother. Sophia was a very meticulous person who served as trusted friend, gracious hostess, dedicated volunteer, and a one-woman welcoming committee at the visitor’s bureau numerous hours a week. That was all when she wasn’t mingling with the tourists who stopped at the Catalano winery.
How must it look for someone like Holly McCormick, somewhat new to town since she’d reportedly been in Savannah the past several months, to be relaying tidbits about Jewel’s love life? And outright claiming Jewel, Rogen, and Vin were engaged in a three-way sexfest?
Likely her mother feared for not only Jewel’s reputation but also her own—and that of the family and the winery.
Fuck.
Jewel bypassed lunch and went in search of her mother, finding her on the tennis court, aggressively taking swings at balls flying out of the machine twenty feet away. Jewel waited off to the side while her mother got some of her angst out. Then Sophia pulled the tiny remote from the pocket of her white skirt and turned off the machine. She hadn’t quite broken a sweat yet, but Jewel brought her a towel.
“Daddy told me you’ve heard the gossip about me,” she said without preamble. What was the point of dipping a toe in? Might as well jump in with both feet, because she couldn’t dispute what she’d learned thus far of Holly’s ramblings.
“You realize we don’t approve of you seeing Rogen.”
“I’m a little too old for that directive, Mother,” she gently said. “And neither of you ever took exception to him prior to the feud erupting. You were also both very fond of Vin.”
“That was a long time ago.” Sophia dabbed at her neck with the towel.
“They’ve turned out quite nicely. Very upstanding and handsome, and pretty much everything you’ve ever wished for me when it comes to a date.”
“Jewel.” Her arm lowered and she glared. “What I heard this morning isn’t that you have casual flirtations going on. It is specifically implied that the three of you spend your evenings together.”
Jewel’s ire sparked. “Okay, that absolutely cannot be validated by anyone other than me, Rogen, or Vin. Just because Vin took Holly home and didn’t follow her inside, instead returned to the Angelinis’ gala, doesn’t mean he joined me and Rogen. No one knows anything about our relationship besides the three of us. Well…” she amended, “Scarlet and Bay now know. But that’s it!”
