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She placed the glass on the table and inched closer to me, lifting her arms around my neck. “You’ll never have to ask because the decision has already been made. I’ve already chosen you, Ezekiel, and my choice is never changing.”
Her eyes were intense and her resolve felt unwavering. I could have fucking killed the young man who tapped on the door interrupting our moment. I backed away from Jhorie and pulled the door open, allowing him in with the cart carrying our dinner. I had her loyalty and she had mine, nothing else needed to be said.
nineteen
Jhorie.
The next morning I awakened feeling a dull throbbing in my temple. I felt a dip in the mattress then Ezekiel’s presence. He leaned over, kissing my forehead, and a blend of citrus and cedar enveloped me, bringing a smile to my face even in my groggy state.
“You’re dressed.”
“I can only put my life on pause for so long before demand kicks in and my presence is required.”
There was a canceled meeting the night his mother had shown up and he’d completely cleared his schedule to spend the day with me at Divine Vines. I released a sigh, knowing I had plenty of work needing my attention that I’d also put on hold.
“I guess that means I have to get back to work too.”
He eyed me introspectively for a long moment and smiled. “If you feel up to it. You enjoyed your time at the winery.”
I groaned. “Translation, drank way too much of that damn port wine.”
“You had quite a bit, but I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, which was the intended goal.”
“You sure the intended goal wasn’t for me to enjoy the wine and for you to enjoy me?”
He chuckled and placed a hand on the side of my face, allowing his thumb to graze my skin. “Possibly both. Take your time.”
His eyes flickered to the table beside the bed and mine followed. I found a bottle of water and aspirin. “I left that for you, just in case, and you need to eat.”
“Thank you but if you really want to help, you can come back to bed and spend the day with mehere.”
He sighed pragmatically. “If I do that, you get one day but might not see me for another week after. I’ll have to make up for the time I’m already missing and then some.”
“Fine, but I’m also going to need you to move.” The muscles in his jaw tightened and I grinned, scooting closer and nudging him. “Wine in, wine out.”
The urgent pang of my bladder increased when I acknowledged its existence. Ezekiel lifted and I tossed the bedding off and hurried across the wood planked floors, which were pleasantly warm, toward the bathroom.
After a steady flow I felt better but the pulse behind my eyes from the pending headache increased, causing me to groan until I felt his presence. I lifted my eyes to find him studying me with unblinking, narrowed eyes.
“Are you sure you’re going to survive the day?”
“Yep, just a mild hangover. I’ll be fine.” I wiped, yanked my panties up, and flushed before heading to the sink. As I washed my hands, I watched him through the mirror. There was a sharpness in his gaze, assessing as he stared at me for a moment longer.
“I’ll try to meet you for lunch but my day is pretty full.”
“It’s fine, what about dinner?”
His brows pinched a little. “Might be late but I’ll do my best.”
“I guess I can’t complain since I had you all day yesterday, but you’ll be making it up to me. Add this to yourdo anything to make her happylist.” I winked and his smile surfaced incredibly slow. Paired with the dark gray suit fitting perfectly over every inch of his frame, the visual was very GQesque.
“Mentally noted.” He entered the bathroom, draped solid arms around me, and lowered his face into the curve of my neck. I felt the warmth of his lips on my neck then my jaw, followed by his minty breath fanning over my skin. “Enjoy your day, Jhorie. I’ll see you this evening.”
“You sure will.”
I grinned and watched him through the mirror as he left then began the process of pulling myself together so Icouldsurvive the day.
After a quick breakfast the chef prepared for me based on Ezekiel’s request to make sure I had something to settle my hangover—an egg white and veggie omelet and whole wheat toast—I was on my way to an office I rarely visited, a suite provided by Samiya. As soon as I reached the massive six-car garage where my Jetta was parked, I ran into the one person I hadn’t expected to see.
