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Jewel pretended not to notice. “I was pleased to hear that you were entertaining. Your parties have always been the talk of the Valley.”
“I plan to host them more regularly.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Though the conversation was cordial, there was no mistaking the underlying hostility on his parents’ part, the contained aggression and bitterness exuding from them. It infuriated Rogen that they directed their angst toward Jewel. Like him, she was but a victim of circumstance when it came to the dispute.
But Rogen’s admiration for her surged as Jewel squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She boldly told his father, “I only need a few minutes of your time. Then I’ll leave.”
Rogen didn’t like the sound of that. Though he was dying to know what business Jewel was here to discuss, he was mostly agitated that she intended to make a hasty retreat.
Hoping to stall her exit, he suggested, “Why don’t I get us all some champagne?”
He headed off for a tray of glasses, his mind whirling over how to get Jewel to stick around awhile longer.
This was the first time since he’d returned to River Cross that he’d had the chance to see her, to talk to her. He sure as hell wouldn’t let the opportunity to spend more time with her slip through his fingers.
His family and a fifteen-year feud be damned!
TWO
Jewel gave herself a quick mental pep talk to try to bring her anxiety down. She wasn’t sure what was more unnerving—Rogen looking too stunning for words in his tux, the fact that he’d kissed her and he exuded raw, sensual male heat, or the stare-down from his parents.
Deep breaths, Jewel. You can do this.
She respectfully asked, “May we step into your office, Mr. Angelini?”
Mrs. Angelini looked on the verge of protesting, but her husband raised a hand to stop her and said, “Ten minutes are all I can spare, Jewel. I have guests.”
“Of course.” She slid a glance to the matriarch of the family, her wheat-colored hair elegantly styled, her attractive face perfectly made up. Rose-Marie Angelini was a slim, statuesque woman who favored blue dresses and always dripped diamonds. Her husband was a sturdy sort, as tall as Rogen, with dark blond hair that had grayed at the temples. Gian Angelini was handsome in his own right but didn’t hold a candle to the rugged good looks of his son.
That man had an earthy quality to him that made Jewel want to strip him bare and crawl all over him.
But that was currently neither here nor there.
Focus!
She’d won the opportunity
she’d brazenly come for. She couldn’t afford to spoil it by getting lost in thoughts of Rogen naked and sinking deep into her.
Which spawned a dull ache and a slow burn that spread from her belly to her core. Her pussy clenched with memories of being filled and stretched by Rogen as he set a sexy, enticing pace that always made her lose herself in the feel of him, the smell of him. Her love for him.
But that was all in the past.
Come on, Jewel. Pull yourself together.
She fought the allure of Rogen. Her sudden need for him. Fully realizing that, indeed, she had made a tragic mistake by coming this evening. She danced much too close to the flame where he was concerned. But at least she’d scored an audience with Mr. Angelini.
That was the ultimate goal—not ending up in Rogen’s bed at the end of the night.
Because that would never happen, she told herself. No matter how tempting he was.
She made another apology to Mrs. Angelini for the interruption and followed Gian through the maze of marbled corridors to the back of the mansion.
The last time Jewel had been here was right after nine-year-old Taylor Angelini had died. The funeral service had been heart wrenching, most of it spent with Jewel standing graveside between Rogen and Vin, the three holding hands, not even trying to fight back tears.
During the wake in this very house, they’d left the adults and the other kids to escape to Rogen’s room and put the bleak atmosphere behind them. As always, they’d settled on the big bed, Rogen and Jewel listening to music, Vin reading a book. Vin was always reading a book.
