Leah I looked at myself for the umpteenth time today. I was definitely good enough, my body was banging according to British tourists I met in Chile. I could get with anyone I wanted. So why was I still looking across the lawns to see if Xander came back this morning? Why was I so keen on getting hurt? Because that's what he does, over and over again. Maybe I was immune to it, maybe I loved getting hurt because I keep getting myself in these impossible situations. Ugh! I couldn't even blame him though. If the girl I was attracted to was promised to another man and didn't tell me, I'd be pissed. My guess was as good as any as to how he found out. I mean, it's not like my dad told him, why would he? It doesn't matter how he found out, he believed what he heard and didn't even give me a chance to explain. I can't help but analyze the moment over and over again. My poor misguided heart searched for expressions on Xander's face that didn't make him the woman eater he portrayed to be,
Leah Monroe I was standing on the stairs of the cellar, breath choppy from the walk down. Xander was standing in front of me, wearing a look on his face that I can’t pinpoint and I just about had enough. “What are we doing here, Xander?” I asked. He didn't say anything for a while, he just stood there looking at me. And just when I felt like I was going to lose my mind from the silence, he decided to say, “You look so beautiful in that dress.” I felt my heart falter in my chest at the compliment. There was something about being seen by this man, it made me feel like I was floating on air. Like I was the only girl in the world. Like gold lined the floor I stood on. But I was hurt two times too many to not put on armor for his charms. “No.” I shook my head. “We are not doing this, you can’t just discard me one minute and want me the next. What the hell is wrong with you?” He flinched at my tone, genuinely looking hurt. Well good. His fists clenched by his side but he doesn’t speak
Leah~ The blades of my suitcases echoed through the majestic halls leading up to my room. Any louder and it could wake the dead. It has only been an hour since I got back to this place and all I could think about is to escape again. Its existence and my presence in this house are nothing short of suffocating. The air feels toxic and heavy, even with its nice white walls. I should be glad to be living in a mansion like this, any twenty-two-year-old woman would, but all I want to do is hitch a ride back to the airport and hop on a plane back to Chile. At least there was no judgment there and no pressure from my father. I was shitting bricks when he called grandma yesterday and told her that my "little getaway" was getting out of hand and I needed to return to the vineyard, with no questions asked. He didn't even ask me if I was ready to come back home, I'm the one who just lost a mother and was falling apart. And I'm the one with the future of one of France's most expensive wine produ
My limbs felt numb, brittle even. Stuck in the same position that man left me in. Or maybe I dreamt up that face, that touch. God knows I've been dreaming lately.Just as I was about to sit on the plush oversized chair on the balcony- which I should've been sitting on in the first place- a pair of small hands wrapped themselves around my body. I peer up to find Hayley wearing a radiant grin, spanning from ear to ear. I whirl around completely to face her. I release a small gasp, my anxiety dwindling away as I took in her beautiful ombre features and shocking blonde hair. I throw my arms around her, almost throwing us both to the floor "Oh my God, I missed you so much. Don't you ever leave me in his place by myself again." She all but screamed in my ear. "Gosh, why are you all wet?" She pulled a face as she took me in.Because the hottest man in all of France just save me from falling and I dunked myself in wine and him. Wait, did he get wet?None of that comes from my mouth, "It was a
Xander Hayes The door slammed, echoing against the morning silence as I hopped from the driver's side of the Audi A8 L, Peter Monroe's preferred vehicle for transport. Three months into this job and I still can't get a hang of not being early. I guess it's just stuck with me after spending all those years in my line of work. Besides, I know firsthand not to keep bosses waiting. It's seven something, close to the time for Peter to make his rounds to his famous French cafe in the quarter. It surprises me how this man has half an acre of kitchen at his discretion and still doesn't eat at home. After breakfast, was a big meeting with a fundraising committee for an event that was going to be held at his compound. Should be a smooth day. I flicked my wrist to look at the time and propped up against the car. Maybe being early wasn't so bad, after all, the field workers weren't out yet. That gave me plenty of time to admire Lavigne and all its natural glory. And most importantly, I had a hi
Leah MonroeI drew my brush over the blank canvas slowly, edging, hoping the invisible lines would give some inspiration. But it doesn't.I knew it. There's a crack somewhere in me and I thought a small part of it would mend if I escaped this place long enough. But it was still there, maybe even wider. Who was I kidding? This vineyard was only a grim reminder of her and that will never change. And it didn't help that I was in the very spot where she gave me my first paint brush. She said I had a knack for it, just like her, and it was an easy breakout from reality. Now I can't even do that. I fell back on my chair and placed my focus on the legacy my great-grandparents built some 200 years ago. It was somewhere I cherished, called home, but there was no way anything could go back to how it was. Not when she's gone.Over my board I saw the familiar black Audi drive in, and my pulse raised. Xander was back, he drove out this morning before I could thank him for what he did last night.
Leah MonroeA flash of white headlights jolted my eyes open. Shit! I squinted just enough to see my father hopping out of the car with Xander holding the door for him. I slid down onto my seat, making sure they didn't see that I was in my car. As soon as I made contact with the ground, a pain shot through my lower back. Maybe all of that waiting got my body tight. I glanced at my phone, it was almost eleven, so Xander must be heading out. He climbed back into the car. I expected him to park somewhere on the compound but he didn't, instead, he headed toward the exit. I thought drivers took their own car home in the evenings. I can't believe how careless dad was, throwing around an Audi like that like it was nothing. For all I know, Xander could be waiting for the right moment to pawn it off or scrap it down. I wasn't one to judge people but he definitely didn't deserve my benefit of the doubt. I waited before he got a safe distance before I started my car and drove after him. He was
Xander HayesI walked away from Leah into the alleyway and made my way into the cub. A popular International music started blaring through the speakers, rattling the ground beneath my feet. That meant the show was about to start.Before the door slammed shut, I glanced over my shoulder to take in Leah's appearance. Her burnt-ruffled locks tumble over her shoulders complimenting that little green dress she had on. Damn.No wonder those men were on her like that. It was just a thin scrap of satin that showed up every indentation of her body. Every point, down to the pinprick nipples of her prefect globes that rose and fell to her every breath. That dress on her was sexy as fuck, I had to will my dick to settle with every move she made, even as I had her lock against the wall. And if I had to do that, I don't even want to think what all those pussy depraved, blue-balled men surrounding her would’ve done if I didn't step in.When I saw her car and heard the commotion outside I knew she was