Pure Seduction by Frank, Ella (first ebook reader .txt) 📕

actually, I’m trying to find Jake. I thought I saw him out here with you.”

Ryan nodded as he dusted off his hands. “You did. He was helping me for a bit, but, uh…”

It was unlike Ryan to beat around the bush, but suddenly he looked uncomfortable.

“But what?”

He sighed. “He has a bit of an attitude today. Was being kind of rude and—”

“Surly?”

“Yeah. Not like him at all. I told him to go and walk it off.”

I rubbed at my forehead. This wasn’t good. Jake was never rude, especially to Ryan. He’d always looked up to Ryan, and this showed just how in his head he was.

“I’m sorry. He’s dealing with something right now, and I know that’s no excuse, but he’s going to feel horrible later for treating you like that.”

Ryan chuckled. “Hey, it’s no problem. He’s a teenager, and let’s be real, Jake’s more responsible than half the men I have around here. Maybe that’s why it was such a shock. He’s allowed to have an off day.”

Off was definitely one way to put it. Angry, betrayed, and disappointed was another. “Do you have any idea where he might’ve gone?”

“He was heading in the direction of the old cabin. That’s where I like to go to clear my head.”

“Okay, thanks. And again, sorry about all this.”

“Laurel, it’s fine, really.”

It wasn’t, but since I wasn’t about to lay all my problems at Ryan’s feet, I turned and headed off in the direction of the cabin. I opened the gate to the west vineyard and made my way down one of the long rows of vines.

It was a beautiful afternoon, which seemed ironic considering the mood I was carrying with me, and as my heels sank into the dirt beneath my feet, it occurred to me that this probably wasn’t the best idea I’d ever had.

I wasn’t about to let a little mud get in my way, though. I needed to talk to Jake and I needed to do it now. When I reached the bottom of the west hill, I saw him disappear inside the broken-down structure.

I took a deep breath of the clean, fresh air then huffed it up the hill to the very top. When I reached what would’ve once been a front door, I stepped over a broken plank of wood and stopped to look around.

It’d been years since I’d been up here, as it wasn’t really part of anything winery related. But as I scanned what was left of the dilapidated pile of wood, I knew it wouldn’t be long before the rest of the framing fell to the ground.

Hopefully, that wouldn’t happen today. Or at least not until I’d found Jake and the two of us were safely outside—away from potential falling hazards.

I tiptoed precariously across what was left of the floor, and as I made my way around what I presumed was a corner, I spotted him. Jake was sitting over on an old built-in window frame. As I moved closer, the click of my heels alerted him to my presence.

He glanced over his shoulder, and instead of the welcoming smile he’d usually aim my way, his face remained impassive as he went back to staring at the rows of vines below.

I took a fortifying breath and made myself put one foot in front of the other, and when one of the floorboards cracked and I stumbled forward, Jake whirled around automatically to catch me.

Well, on the plus side, he still cared whether I broke my neck.

“Thanks.” I squeezed his forearm, and Jake shook his head.

“You shouldn’t have come up here in those shoes. It’s not safe.”

He was right: my heels weren’t exactly the smartest footwear for trekking up a hill and traipsing through a pile of rotting wood, but I would’ve crawled up here if I’d had to.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

When Jake was satisfied I wasn’t about to fall over, he turned back to his original position. “Well, I don’t really want to talk to you.”

Those words from him cut deep, and while I knew it was my fault he was feeling this way, I was determined to get through to him.

I took a seat on the window beside him, and as we stared out into the vast valley ahead, I clasped my hands in my lap and waited. This was his show, his timetable, and if I had to wait five minutes, five hours, five days or years, I would wait.

As it turned out, five seconds seemed about all he needed.

“Were you ever going to tell me?”

There was no question as to what he was referring to. I nodded. “I was. I just… I was trying to work out how and when it would be right for you. For him… I…I never expected to see him again. Not that that’s any excuse, but there’s a lot more to this than—”

“The golden boy who just rolled into town being my dad?” Jake shot to his feet and began to pace back and forth. Then he stopped and glared down at me. “Or maybe the fact that I’ve worked for my uncle for the past two years and didn’t know?” He shook his head. “Well, at least I know why Harry used to treat me like a fucking pariah now.”

I didn’t bother calling him out on his language, considering the gravity of the issues at hand. He was angry and had every right to be. I got to my feet and reached for him, but Jake took a step away.

“Don’t,” he said, turning his back on me, and the rejection was as good as a slap.

I wrapped an arm around my waist and fought back the tears that threatened. “I should’ve told you.” My voice was soft, barely above a whisper. But it was all I could manage for now. “I should’ve told you the minute he got here. Before he got here, but—”

“But what, Mom?” Jake said as he turned to face me again. “What could possibly have stopped you from