“William,” she said in that sultry tone of hers I’d once loved so much; now, it only grated on my ears. “Good to see you. It’s been, what…four years?”
“Five,” I corrected.
“Too long regardless. How have you been? How’s that little job in Michigan?”
“Thatlittlejob is great,” I gritted out. She could take pot shots at me and my character all day. That I could handle. But I wouldn’t stand for her insulting my job, nor the family that had given it to me—especially not with one of those people standing next to me. “Recently released a line of canned cocktails in collaboration with the CEO, curated a menu for a new distillery that opened locally, and orchestrated construction on a community garden. Plus the grapes are off to a great start this season. I think our 2026 vintage will be our best yet, don’t you, Wildflower?”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Ella said, one corner of her lips twisted up in a subtle smirk.
“Oh!” Mellie gasped, bringing a hand to her chest as she acknowledged Ella for the first time. “Forgive my rudeness. I’m Merlot Renault, but you can call me Mellie.”
“Pleasure,” Ella said. “I’m Ella Delatou.”
“Delatou?” Mellie cut a look to me. “Isn’t that the family youwork for?”
“Sure is,” I said proudly.
“Well…” she trailed off, brown eyes darting between me and Ella. “Seems some things haven’t changed after all.”
I knew the barb would come when she learned who Ella was, and I was glad I’d had the foresight to warn Ella about Mellie’s attitude. Neither of us reacted, though internally, I was deeply annoyed with Mellie for saying such a thing.
The situations could not be more different. Mellie and I had been so young when we got together. Punch drunk in lust, experiencing puppy love. Inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, ultimately only serving to show me what I didn’t want.
What Ella and I had was…everything. She was my soulmate. The woman I’d move heaven and earth for if she asked. The one I wanted by my side for the rest of my days.
“Actually,” I told Mellie, “everything has changed.”
An emotion I couldn’t name flitted across her eyes, there and gone in a flash, but I knew it only meant one thing: trouble.
“We’ll see about that.”
In response, Ella shifted toward me so she could wrap her arm around my waist, her heels making it as simple as leaning in to press a kiss to my bearded cheek.
“C’mon, Wills,” she said, running a hand up my torso and gripping my tie. “I think it’s about time you buy me a drink.”
Anything to get the fuck away from these people.
Liam’s grip on myhand was borderline painful as I led us through the crowd toward the bar, unapologetically pushing my way past people to reach it as soon as possible. I needed some alcohol in my system, something to take the edge off the rage coursing through me.
I understood, in a sort of detached way, that my family wasn’t exactly the norm. My parents were disgustingly obsessed with each other, even after over thirty years of marriage, and my sisters were my best—and, let’s be real,only—friends.
But to see people who shared the same blood flowing through their veins be so blatantly cruel and cold toward each other had me wanting to start tearing limbs from bodies in Liam’s honor. I’d never felt this way about anyone—never imagined I could kill a person with my bare hands.
For Liam, I’d do it, though. I’d do anything I could to never have to see that pain flash across his eyes again.
At last, we bellied up to the polished wood bar, and I raised ahand to flag the bartender down. His eyes landed on me quickly, and I recognized the perks of having a great set of tits. No bartender could resist serving me immediately, much to the annoyance of those around us, who shot me dirty looks and whispered unkind remarks behind their hands.
“Helloooooo gorgeous,” the bartender said when he approached. “What can I get you?”
“Baby?” I said to Liam, who appeared at my side. I grinned as the bartender stumbled back a step.
“Buffalo Trace,” Liam said. “Neat.”
The bartender nodded, eyes shifting to me, though much less appreciatively now. “And for you?”
“I’ll have the same.”
When he disappeared to do his thing, I glanced up at Liam, whose brow was raised.
