Page 28 of The Billionaire's Obsession

“Good woman. So she should as well. Owning a place like this isn’t just about having a great view and a good product. It’s about the community around it.”

“I invited the Chiaravelli’s too.” My casual admission made Charlie’s eyes shoot up.

“You’re biggest competitor? My, they do business differently where you’re from, don’t they?”

“They aren’t a competitor if I’m not competing. I’m a tech guy. This is my budding passion. Sales are just the icing on the cake. Besides, Riley thinks I should try and have more friends.”

Charlie laughed. “I should have know it would be Riley’s influence. Isn’t she bringing some big city girl up here for the harvest?”

“Hm, her friend, Ella. The real one.”

I’d told Uncle Charlie all about the real first time I met Riley. Now we were married, and had made our home at the vineyard, with Charlie, I didn’t want to keep secrets from him. He’d laughed until he was red in the face.

“Well, that’ll be interesting.” Charlie was beaming.

“You look like you plan to enjoy it.”

He grinned. “What can I say? There’s so much to look forward to these days.”

I found myself nodding. “Yes, there is, isn’t there? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and visit a certain resident artist.”

I leftCharlie and Joe to enjoy the sunrise and headed toward the back of the property. We’d fixed up an old outhouse, and by fixed up, I mean I’d ploughed money into it, making sure it was warm, comfortable, and good enough for my wife. We still stayed in the house in the Hollywood Hills when we visited LA, and I sometimes stayed in my penthouse in the building I’d make my office in downtown, but whenever we could, we stayed here. Napa had become home.

I entered the studio quietly. I hated to interrupt Riley when she was in full flow. Luckily for me, she was cleaning up her workspace, and setting a stool in the centre of the floor.

“Oh good, you’re here.” Her grin did things to me, just like when we’d first met.

“I’m here, as promised.”

She eyed my clothes, folding her arms over her chest. “I don’t have to point out that you’re wearing far too many clothes, do I?”

“No, you don’t.” My hands went to my sweater, grabbing my t-shirt at the same time, and I pulled the entire lot off. She smiled appreciatively at my body as I stripped off, wrapping a towel around my hips. Ever since we’d been to Florence, she’d been itching to sculpt something different.

A nude male sculpture.

Today was the day.

“Now, Miss Preston, I don’t have to remind you of the terms of our agreement, do I?” I cocked my eyebrow at her, making a faint blush rise in her cheeks.

She shook her head and pointed at the stool.

“I get to stare at you, sculpt you, for as many hours as I want, and in return… you get to do whatever you want to with me, for the same amount of time.”

“That’s right, sweetheart. Now, let’s get started. I can’t wait to get to my turn.”

The sun rose gradually past the windows that lined one wall, showcasing the dramatic drop of vines that rolled away from the estate. The distant sound of laughter and chat from people on their way to work drifted by us. The light caught Riley’s hair, lighting her up in a blaze of red.

It was the start of another, perfect, ordinary day, in a life I couldn’t wait to live.

I dropped my towel and sat.

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