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Perhaps that was a good thing. Get it all out in the open.
The past pains. And current desires.
Except that Vin drained his Cristal, set the flute aside, and stood. “There’s nothing to discuss here. That land is going to remain deadlocked until the two of you inherit it, and then you can decide what you want to do. Leave me the hell out of it.” To Jewel, he said, “Go back to San Francisco.” His attention shifted to Rogen. “I’ll see you at the estate tomorrow morning.”
Then he sauntered off.
Rogen shook his head. Yeah, there was definitely something going on that he’d turned a blind eye to
for far too long. He wasn’t one to bury his head in the sand as a rule. He didn’t mind confrontation, always chose to stand his ground. In business and with his parents as well, now that he was an adult and they didn’t have a say in how he lived his life—or what woman he ended up with.
But sharing Jewel with Vin?
He bit back a disconcerted growl. First, he’d punch Vin in the face. Then … well, then he didn’t know what the fuck he’d do.
Because the thought of the three of them together together had been on his mind since the party. Yet it was a notion wrapped in prickly feelings and risky complexities. Too volatile a subject to ever broach.
Jewel finished her champagne before getting to her feet. She smoothed a hand over her short skirt while holding her small handbag in the other. She said, “I really have to be getting back.”
So Vin and Jewel wanted to keep playing the avoidance game, too. How smart was that, really? Aside from maintaining the peace amongst them? For the most part, at any rate. It was obvious there was still something wrong between Vin and Jewel.
Rogen said, “I’ll walk you out.”
“No, that’s fine. I’m going to make the rounds in the bar and say hi to whoever might be there so I don’t appear anti-social. France already caught me in the hallway.” She pulled in a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and attempted a smile, though he could see that the corner of her mouth quivered with emotion. “See you around, cowboy.”
She left him. Rogen let her go.
No easy feat.
But sometimes holding on too tight didn’t get you where you wanted or needed to be and letting go was necessary to preserve your sanity. And your friendships. Even if all the signs screamed that Rogen wasn’t the only one in love with Jewel Catalano.
Which could lead to one seriously explosive situation—in a lot of different ways.
* * *
Rogen beat the hell out of his punching bag Sunday afternoon. Immersed himself in work Monday and Tuesday. Cornered his father Wednesday evening, when Gian had returned from a quick trip to the Tuscany operations.
Rogen dropped a file folder on his father’s desk in his massive study and said, “Our highest-end cognacs are now on the premium lists at the Bellagio and Caesars Palace. Three more country clubs in Santa Barbara, Dana Point, and Palm Springs. That’s just this week.”
“Excellent,” Gian told him with a nod of approval. “We want to maintain exclusivity with the new line, but we do need to be hitting those VIP rooms. Create a buzz.”
“Ha. Puny.” Rogen smirked.
His father didn’t look amused.
So Rogen simply said, “Agreed.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and got down to other business. “I spoke with Jewel. She thinks we’re going to sell the land to her.”
Gian didn’t glance up from the paperwork he perused. “I have no intention of relinquishing that property.”
Rogen’s gaze narrowed. “She seemed pretty confident you’d come to terms.”
“I let her buy into that. Clever girl, that one. She knew better than to just come at me with a check and a smile. She’s located a vintage brand of scotch from our family’s first distillery that I haven’t been able to acquire. She’s convinced she can secure it, and damned if I’m not a believer. Clever and tenacious.” He whistled under his breath.
“Pretty ballsy, too, to have come here without her father.”
“It’s her own deal, I think. But again … I’m not selling.”
This confused Rogen. It didn’t surprise him, yet … “What about the scotch you want?”
