Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
I need time to convince Zoya that I'm the man she wants, not her little boyfriend. I can't do that in Los Angeles with paparazzi breathing down our necks.
"The whole goddamn world is curious about Nadia and Teo right now. Just imagine what having the wedding there will do for business," I say, dangling the carrot I know he won't be able to resist.
"Fine. I'll make it happen." He pauses. "But you owe me."
"Name your price."
"Not likely, you dick," he says with a grunt. "You'll know when I'm ready to call in the massive favor you now owe me."
I grin, not really surprised. No one negotiates like Bastian. It's the only reason no one really complains about him being in charge even when he's a pain in the ass. He knows his shit. The vineyard is thriving under his care, just like it did when our parents and uncles ran it. It'll be a multi-billion-dollar business soon.
I haven't told him yet that this is the last time I plan to tour. If it weren't Nadia, I wouldn't be doing it at all. I'd be back home doing what I promised to do when we took over for our parents. But Knox Mikhail asked me to look after his baby girl, and I intend to keep my word to the man. As soon as Zoya realizes that it's me she wants, I'll be looking after her for him, too. He won't have a goddamn thing to worry about.
Six weeks, I tell myself. You'll have her right where you want her in six weeks.
Christ, it can't come soon enough.
Chapter Two
Zoya
The dining hall is loud and crowded as I hurry toward the table that my best friend, Connor Anderson, and I claimed as ours almost four years ago. He's already there, his baseball cap pulled down over his eyes as if that's going to keep anyone from noticing the way he's checking out Jessup Joyner, the quarterback, who is seated two tables over with several of the guys from the football team.
Maybe it works. We're graduating in a few months, and no one has caught on to the fact that their favorite pitcher is gay. Half our classmates think he's committed to someone back home. The other half thinks we're secretly dating…which is precisely why I need his help now.
My world is coming unraveled at the seams. Seriously. My sister's quickie wedding has officially become my own personal nightmare.
After reconnecting at her concert three months ago, Nadia and Teo finally worked their shit out. They're getting married two days before Christmas. I think they're rushing it because she's pregnant. I've been totally on board with this plan…until approximately half an hour ago, when she detonated a bomb in my life by changing the venue. To Jareth's winery. Where he'll be for the entire two weeks I'm there.
I haven't seen him since I lied through my teeth a few weeks ago before their show, but I was desperate. He looked so damn good. I wanted to climb him and pick up where we left off in Los Angeles.
Nadia still thinks I cut my trip to LA short because of everything going on with her and Teo. It's a dirty lie. I cut it short because I was terrified that I'd end up alone with Jareth again. I wasn't at all sure I'd be able to keep myself from falling into his bed if that happened.
Four months later, I'm still not sure. If I learned anything when I saw him a few weeks ago, it's that I am weak for the man. So weak! He's on my mind far more often than he should be…far more often than is healthy. My attraction to him has turned into a sick obsession I can't shake.
And very soon, I'll be on his vineyard for the entirety of my winter break. There's no way I'll be able to avoid him.
Like I said, my world is coming unraveled at the seams.
Connor is my only hope of not falling head over heels into something that'll probably crush me as well as Jareth's fancy machines do his grapes.
"Ordered your food," Connor drawls as soon as he spots me, pushing a burger and fries across the table toward me.
"Thanks." I slide into the chair across from him, out of breath from my mad dash from my dorm to the dining hall. Only one of us at this table is an athlete. It definitely isn't me. He runs marathons for fun. The only time I run is from my problems. "I need a favor."
He tips his head back, his blue eyes narrowed with suspicion when they meet mine. "Last time you asked me for a favor, you nearly got my fine ass arrested, Zoya."
"I did not!" I protest through a shocked laugh, tossing a fry at him.