“So who made you God?”
I laughed. Her directness was gold. “No one.”
Suzette shook her head, tipping beans into the grinder. “You know, the only person you can ever have any say over is you. That includes kids. I’ve been blessed with being a stepmother to Carina’s two, and it’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done, or still do. I’ve seen them grow their wings and flutter round, back to the nest and away from it again, worried about branches in the breeze, but knowing we’re still here to be that stability. Carina tried to be a helicopter parent at one point — that lasted two minutes. People are made to walk their own roads, Jesse. That includes you and Jerrica. Don’t try and clip anyone’s wings but your own, and before you do that, ask yourself why.”
“It’s too fucking early for this conversation.” It was a weak response.
“So have it with me over wine and cognac tonight.”
“I might just do that.”
Footsteps halted our conversation, blonde hair and green eyes making my focus be solely on her. Jerrica looked awake and bright, her smile beautiful when she saw me.
“Is that coffee? I usually drink tea, but the smell of coffee woke me up.” She looked hungrily at the cafetière.
Suzette smiled warmly and glanced at me. “Why don’t you two sit outside and I’ll bring you a pot and milk. Half an hour and we’ll have fresh pastries delivered for you to try, too.”
“Sounds divine.” Jerrica looked at me. “You’re up early.”
“I wanted to make the most of the day.” Which wasn’t a lie. I did. But if I’d stayed in that bed any longer, I would’ve made a choice I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
We ate breakfast, made by Suzette, and sat outside on the terrace, an area set in the newly established garden, the nearby pool rippled by the soft morning breeze.
Carina joined us, apologising once again about the rooms. I was relieved when Jerrica reiterated that it had been fine and we could make do, adding in something about sleeping better when she wasn’t on her own anyway. How true that was, I didn’t know — she’d never mentioned anything about it before — but Carina started to smile again.
“Shall I still tour you round this morning? I can show you the chateau and the grounds and explain the next phase with the outbuildings.” She topped up my coffee. I’d drank more of it this morning than I’d done in the last three months.
“I’m looking forward to seeing it,” Jerrica leaned forward, taking another slice of watermelon. “Are we touring the vineyards too today?”
Carina gave a firm nod. “Late this afternoon. There’s wine tasting and we’ll serve you dinner in the building we’ve refurbed down there. It’ll be a twelve-course tasting menu — we’re letting the chef we’ve appointed have a practise. It should be good.”
“Are we okay to use the pool this afternoon?” Jerrica glanced at me. “I know we’re exploring, but I really fancy a lazy day.”
I couldn’t help but smile. She’d mentioned a few times on the way here that she was looking forward to lounging in the sun, and to be honest, I was looking forward to seeing her lounging in the sun.
Maybe I was going to hell, but at least I’d have some good memories to think about when I got there.
“The pool’s all yours. The work being done at the moment is focusing on getting the rest of the rooms ready inside the chateau and the carriage house at the back. The barn we can use as a wedding venue amongst other events, and that’s almost finished, so any work that’s happening today won’t be around the pool area. You should have peace.” Carina’s smile was content and bright now. “Just tell me what time you want your first Aperol spritz.”
Jerrica laughed. “I’m so looking forward to today. Just being here is lovely. The décor in the chateau is amazing — I didn’t get to notice much last night.”
I didn’t follow much of the conversation that followed. I was too busy noticing Jerrica. Her shorts were cotton, exposing almost all of her thigh. The top she was wearing was strappy, showing more skin. Skin that was tanned and smooth.
I pictured her lying naked on the big bed, her blonde hair fanned out across the pillows, tanned skin contrasting with the white of the sheets.
I wondered what it would be like to run my mouth over her curves, to taste and tease, to find those sensitive spots and see how I could make her whimper in the best possible way.
Determination and self-control made me pull my attention to the pool, trying to take in the construction, the design around it, which had been really well done. Carina and Suzette were after investors to help finish some of the third phase of the work, and get the staffing off the ground, as well as expanding the distribution of the wine. The offer was promising, a ten percent stake for what wasn’t a huge chunk of change, and it included a stay here each year too. They only wanted three investors, my manager Guy already one of them. Nate had said that if I was in, he’d join in too. He’d seen plans for one of the outbuildings that would have its own pool, and he’d been all over that as somewhere to stay with the kids and Amber.
That was what I was here for. Not to perv at his sister and imagine what it would be like to feel her tighten around my cock.
I was starting to consider exactly what decisions I wanted to make.
The tour of the chateau and the grounds took a couple of hours, the setting idyllic and lush, despite the gradual rise in heat. Carina showed us photos of the works as they’d progressed, the two staircases that were statuesque in their design, the inspiration behind the themes for the different suites and the curated pieces of art that fitted the air they were going for.
It was impressive.
What was also impressive was how Jerrica asked about different aspects, not just the choices behind the décor, but also their business model and marketing plan. I shouldn’t have been impressed; I knew she was a lot more than most people already, but in all the conversations we’d had, we’d never talked about anything serious business-wise. I knew about her writing, or the little she’d told me. Jerrica didn’t want to talk too much about what she was writing; when I’d asked her about it, she’d said the bare minimum while being polite and I hadn’t pushed for any more.
