Wanted A Real Family(33)
“There are a lot of things between my father and me. You’re not one of them.”
She heard the sadness in Jase’s voice and wished she could do something about it. “I really should find Marissa. We made a pact not to stay too late. We don’t want to take advantage of Kaitlyn. She’s used to kids in her practice, but handling a four-year-old and a one-year-old for hours at a time could be a bit wearing.”
There was a look in Jase’s eyes that said he wanted to kiss her again. Instead, however, he held out his arm. “Come on, I’ll escort you upstairs. Maybe I can convince you to have a glass of wine before you leave.”
Maybe he could.
* * *
“I heard what Lisa Campbell said. She noticed that dress Sara Stevens was wearing was a Carzanne! He dresses stars on the red carpet.” Jase’s father had confronted him as soon as everyone had left around midnight.
After Jase loosened his tie, he yanked it off. “I’m sure Sara didn’t purchase a Carzanne from the designer. The Mommy Club has been helping her, and my guess is that someone loaned her the dress.”
“Then why didn’t she say that when asked about it?”
“Would you have told someone you were wearing a borrowed suit?”
His father seemed to think about that, then grudgingly admitted, “Maybe not.”
“Marissa loaned her the shoes.”
“You know this how?”
“Sara told me. I made some comment about Cinderella.”
Ethan gave him an odd look.
“What?” Jase asked.
“Nothing. I just don’t like where you seem to be headed.”
“You said the same thing when I began traveling from one refugee camp to another. Look how that turned out. I won a Pulitzer.” As soon as Jase said it, he knew he shouldn’t have.
“You also almost lost your life.”
His father’s voice held a trace of something Jase hadn’t heard there before, not even when he’d been flown back here from Africa and ended up in a hospital in L.A. His father had been waiting there when Jase had been wheeled in. Back then, he’d been efficient, talking to doctors, making sure Jase had the best care. He’d wanted his son to stay there for in-house rehabilitation. Jase had wanted to be at Raintree again, smell the scent of ripening grapes, feel the cool night air, hear the birds sing.
Thank goodness he’d come back, because he’d met Sara and she’d helped him put his world back on its axis.
In a way, however, so had his father.
Changing the subject, Ethan untied his own tie and let it hang around his neck. “You’re doing a fine job as general manager of Raintree. You know that, don’t you?”
“Profits are up, distribution channels are opening wider and the wine club is growing. So, yes, I can see progress.” He remembered how he’d savored praise from his father in his first years after he’d arrived here. That praise had always seemed to center around work on the vineyard. Ethan appreciated anything that made it thrive.
“Liam has added more life to the wines, too. He’s inventive.” Jase had to give the man his due.
“You were watching him closely tonight. Were you concerned he’d make a pass at one of our married clients?”
“You never know with Liam.”
What Jase had been watching for was Liam putting the moves on Sara. Jealousy gnawed at him at the thought. He had no right to be jealous. Yet Sara had seemed comfortable with Liam when they were talking. An instant connection?
Shedding his tux jacket, Jase tossed it over a chair. “I’m going for a walk.”
“Toward the cottage?” His father wanted to know.
Jase tossed him a look that told him it was none of his business.
Chapter Seven
Yes, he’d taken a walk toward the cottage. It seemed he and Sara always had something to settle. Or was he just making excuses to see her, to kiss her again?
More than likely, she would have already turned in.
Jase’s pulse raced a little faster as he spotted a light burning in her living room. Insomnia? Worry about her and Amy’s future? Or racing thoughts like the ones scrambling in his mind for dominance?
He opened the screen door and rapped lightly. After all, she might have simply forgotten to switch off the lamp.
Within a minute or so, the outside light came on and her door opened. She obviously hadn’t been in bed, but...she was dressed for bed.
The innocent-looking yellow cotton gown and robe could have been sedate on any woman, but on Sara—
His heart sped up a little more.
To her credit, she didn’t ask why he was there. They were drawn to each other and fighting the chemistry magnet. But she did tie the belt on her robe a little tighter. An indication her guard was up and she wouldn’t be giving in to desire?