“I’m so glad you are here, sweetheart.” Cain clutched me close to him on the dock.
I had made it to Mobile in record time and spent the day enjoying a BBQ at his parents’ house. Most of the guests at the party were his parents’ friends with only a few of Cain’s fraternity brothers and a few friends of his sisters friends.
“I’m glad to be here.” I smiled at him.
It was dark and we were waiting for the big fireworks show to start any minute. Most of the party was scattered on the lawn and back patio. Cain and I walked down to the dock to have some privacy.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered into my ear just as the fireworks show began over the water.
I watched intently as the bright lights streamed across the sky in intricate patterns. I was mesmerized watching the beauty above me.
“I have a question to ask you, Jenna,” Cain said beside me clearing his throat.
I looked over at him and he was down on one knee next to me. My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach and then began to race out of my chest.
“Jenna Estelle Middleton, will you marry me?” Holy shit I can’t believe he’s proposing?
I stood completely still. I tried to get my brain to process what was happening but it couldn’t. I knew I wanted to be a wife. I wanted to share my life with someone and commit to that person forever. And I knew Cain loved me and I loved him. So I did what I thought made sense.
“Yes!” I exclaimed hugging him tightly and at that exact moment Jamieson Wellington’s face flashed before my eyes. I should have realized then that even my subconscious was trying to tell me what a monumental mistake I was about to make.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Jamieson stop!” I squealed trying to duck away from his grasp. “I need to finish my makeup.”
“Fine,” he grumbled and left the huge master bath to enter his walk-in closet.
Since the night of our date weeks ago I have stayed in his room every night. Things had quickly gone from taking it slow to hot and heavy in one night. I tried at first to back away and put some distance between us, but Jamieson refused to let that happen. He was relentless until my barriers completely fell away. I guess I could lie and say that I was upset about that fact, but the truth was I wasn’t. Jamieson and I had found our way back to each other and we were blissfully happy.
“What are your plans today? Are you riding?” he inquired.
I still hadn’t found a job yet; instead I decided to help my sister more permanently at the farm until the baby was born. I was disappointed I was still completely shut out of my career, but on the other hand I was really enjoying riding full time. I knew I wouldn’t be doing it forever but for the time being it was just what I needed.
“No I have today off, but I did agree to Sunday dinner at my sisters.” I told him.
“Do you want me to go with you?” he asked peeking his head around the corner of the bathroom.
“No I think it’s best if we ease my family into this.”
I did want to bring Jamieson with me, but the problem was that I wasn’t sure how his presence would be received by my family yet. They knew I was living with him of course and I had recently told them that we were working on our relationship, but I hadn’t exactly come out and said we were together again. I planned on talking to them about that tonight.
“You know I can handle your family, Jenna. It’s my mess to clean up. I wish you would at least give me the opportunity to try to fix things.”
“I know just let me prepare them first, okay?”
“Alright,” he replied glumly and went back to the massive walk-in closet.
I instantly felt bad about hurting his feelings. I wasn’t trying to hurt him, I just needed more time before I brought him around my family again.
I followed him into the walk-in closet.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized wrapping my arms around him from behind.
He patted my arms on his chest with his own. “Nothing to be sorry for baby. This is just more fall-out from my mistakes.”
I leaned my forehead gently against his back hugging him tightly to me.
“Can I take you somewhere today?” He asked in an upbeat tone clearly trying to change the mood.
“Where?” I asked curiously.
“It’s a surprise. I have something I want to show you.” He spun me around to face him.
I was only in my bra and panties and I could tell he appreciated my choice of outfit for the morning. His eyes were hooded with lust. I leaned forward to kiss him and he met my lips with a frenzy.
We kissed for a few minutes before he broke free from my hold. “Go get dressed. Wear something somewhat warm; we will be taking the Ducati.” He said swatting me on the butt for encouragement.
I yipped in response and ran to my room to change my clothes. I was excited to find out what Jamieson wanted to show me.
“We’re almost there,” he yelled over the roar of his sleek Ducati’s engine.
Jamieson revved the engine once again as we raced down the highway. I loved riding on the back of his motorcycle clutching tightly to him, it made my adrenaline pump excitedly.
We turned off the highway and down a couple of old country roads before we pulled onto a long driveway lined by large dogwood trees on either side. There was a massive gate in the distance I could see that was propped open slightly.
Jamieson maneuvered the bike expertly through the gate and we pulled up to a massive barn. There was a small cottage just to the right of the barn.
I pulled off my helmet as Jamieson dismounted the bike.
“Where are we?” I questioned him.
“Come on. I will show you.” He held out his hand for me.
He rolled open the massive wood doors of the sleek modern barn. He flipped on a switch illuminating the interior. There was a beautiful carved wood bar in the corner and a cluster of round wooden tables. In the back there was row after row of huge wooden barrels lining the walls.
“Welcome to Wellington Winery.” He smiled brightly.
“Oh wow.” I breathed, walking around the barn taking it all in. The barn was huge and beautiful. It had stamped concrete floors and beautiful Mason jar light fixtures throughout.
“This is great, Jamieson.”
“Thank you. Would you like to see the rest of it?”
“Of course I do.” I smiled brightly at him.
“Come on then,” he said holding out his hand to me once again.
He led me out back to the rows of grapes. They stretched for as far as the eye could see.
“How many acres?” I asked.
“Eighty so far,” He explained proudly.
“How long have you been working on this?”
“Two years. We also have a vineyard in Italy. That is why I traveled there recently. I was checking up on the crop for this year.” He informed me.
“I’m sure the addition of wine will only strengthen the Wellington whiskey brand,” I told him.
“Oh this is separate project. Ethan and I purchased the vineyard and this property ourselves.”
“What did Uncle Phillip have to say about that?” I wondered out loud.
“Let’s just say he is not happy about our recent acquisitions,” he said dryly.
“I can only imagine, but everything is okay with the company isn’t it?”
“Yes, Wellington Whiskey is stronger than ever. But I decided a few years ago I needed to have something of my own, that I created and that I controlled.”
“Well I think it is great and I’m sure it will be a huge success.”
“Thank you, that means a lot.” He returned my smile. “Do you want to see the cottage now?”