Simply Irresistible Read online

  “I don’t think hiring managers are playing by the three day rule,” Rose said, looking amused. “But you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. Are you still applying for other jobs?”

  Jules reluctantly nodded. “I keep sending out applications, but nothing is as perfect as this. They’re based in Boston, so I would be able to visit all the time, or even work from home here in town… ”

  Rose’s eyebrows shot up. “So you’re staying? That’s great! I’m biased, of course, but I don’t want you leaving. Not least because orders in the store are through the roof since you started all my accounts,” she added with a grin.

  “I’m thinking about it… ” Jules’ gaze drifted over to where Reeve was chatting at the bar. She was still biting back all questions about their future, not wanting to interrupt the blissful summer haze, but he was getting along so well with his dad, Jules found herself hoping he might change his mind and decide to stick around. If he was here in Sweetbriar Cove, and she was just a couple of hours away in Boston…

  Well, that could be something real.

  “Don’t say anything,” she added hurriedly, as the guys made their way back to the table. “About me staying. I haven’t brought it up with Reeve.”

  Rose winked. “It’s between us.”

  “What’s between you?” Rose’s new boyfriend, Scott, dropped into the seat beside her. He was a lanky, dark-haired guy who volunteered with Noah at the fire station. He had an easy smile, and seemed nice enough, but Jules couldn’t shake the feeling that he didn’t adore Rose the same way that she clearly adored him.

  “Just girl talk,” Rose replied, smiling up at him.

  “About you.” Jules added, teasing. “What else could us girls possibly talk about when you’re not around?”

  “I was guessing world domination, but sure,” Reeve grinned, scooting in beside Jules.

  “I’m still just quietly losing my mind over this job,” she explained.

  Rose smirked. “Quietly?”

  “Hey!” Jules tossed a peanut at her, laughing. “If I’m going to suffer, you’re all suffering with me.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  Jules quickly explained to Scott about the travel magazine, and her work. “Social media?” he repeated. “I don’t have any, on principle. I think it’s rotting our minds, all that meaningless chatter, like any of it contributes.”

  There was a pause.

  “Well, here’s hoping that meaningless chatter will keep paying my bills,” Jules said brightly.

  “Jules has been helping me out at the florist,” Rose spoke up. “I got a big order the other day from someone who saw my Instagram—”

  “Damn, I forgot to order those fries,” Scott interrupted her. “Babe, would you mind?”“Of course.” Rose bobbed up, and looked around the table. “Anyone want anything else?”

  Jules shook her head. As Rose wove through the crowd, Scott relaxed, taking a sip of beer. “So… How did you two meet?” Jules asked him, trying to be friendly. “Rose said you’ve known each other for a while.”

  Scott nodded. “I moved out here a few years ago to work on my novel. I’m a writer,” he added proudly.

  “That’s great,” Jules said. “There’s another author in town, Poppy Somerville. Do you know her?”

  Scott smirked. “We don’t really run in the same literary circles,” he said. “She writes romance novels.”

  He said it with a faint note of disdain, like it was a dirty word.

  “I’ve had a couple of short stories published,” he added. “And several agents are interested in seeing my novel, when it’s ready to show. I’m still polishing,” he added. “It’s a very complex literary work.”

  “Mmhmm.” Jules took a sip of beer, and tried not to judge. He had to be nice, for Rose to be so head over heels. Maybe he just needed to warm up around strangers.

  “He’s an amazing writer,” Rose gushed, returning with the food. “I don’t know much about literature, but he’s going to be a huge success, I can tell.”

  “Success isn’t the point,” Scott corrected her gently. “You know I’m not interested in selling out.”

  “Of course,” Rose agreed.

  Jules exchanged a look with Reeve. “How about a game of darts?” he suggested quickly. “Scott, you and Rose can be a team.”

  “Sounds good.”

  They made their way over to the dartboard, and Reeve drew Jules aside. “Just remember to aim at the board, not his head,” he murmured, and Jules stifled a laugh.

  “I’ll try.” But when they made it across the room, they found a cluster of Danish tourists hogging the board.

  Rose looked around. “Don’t get me wrong, I know they keep the lights on around here, but I wish there was a square inch of this town not packed with tourists in summer.”

  “And winter,” Riley agreed, clearing empty glasses nearby. “Christmas is even busier than this, if you can believe it.”

  “You should come by the vineyard,” Reeve said. “We’ve got plenty of room.” He paused, and then a slow smile spread across his face. “You know what? We should have a party there.”

  Jules stared at him. After everything she went through getting him to agree to the bachelorette party? She playfully pressed a hand to his forehead. “Are you feeling OK? Who are you and what have you done with the real Reeve?” she teased, and he laughed.

  “I mean it. A big potluck, like my mom used to throw. Good times, plenty of wine… And no tourists allowed.”

  “Do I qualify?” Jules asked.

  “Always.” Reeve kissed her. “What do you say? Think it’ll be enough to keep you busy, and not obsessing over the Sojourn people?”

  Jules felt a wave of gratitude. “It’ll help,” she admitted, touched that he was trying to take her mind off things. “But… Riley, you wouldn’t have a problem with it?” she asked, not wanting to steal his business. “You’re the main watering hole in town.”

  “Are you kidding?” Riley replied. “I’d love the night off. When were you thinking?”

  “Sunday?” Reeve suggested.

  “I’ll be there.”

  “And I’ll get to planning,” Jules said, already thinking a mile a minute. “We’ll need music, food, decorations... ”

  “We don’t need to hire in a ten-piece band,” Reeve reminded her, looking amused. “It’s just a casual potluck.”

  “I know.” Jules kissed his cheek. “Casually amazing. Just you wait.”

  13

  Jules threw herself into planning the big bash. She only had a few days to pull it together, but she was determined that it would be a party to remember, so she set about finding a local food truck to come set up out front, and raided the Town Hall basement for ticker-tape and old festival decorations. She even found a guy who moonlit as a clown to make balloon animals, to keep the kids occupied if any parents wanted to relax.

  “Jules… is there something I should know?” Evie asked, as she arrived at the vineyard on Sunday afternoon. Jules had been up since dawn, and the place was looking festive, with streamers and balloons bobbing in the breeze, and a big area out back cleared into a makeshift dance floor.

  “Like what?” Jules asked, brushing sweaty hair back from her forehead and waving hello to some other guests arriving.

  “Like, is this secretly a surprise birthday party, or an elopement?”

  “What? No!” Jules laughed. “Did you bring your potluck dish?” she asked. “Aunt June said she was handling the spreadsheet signup.”

  “Noah’s bringing his famous potato salad later,” Evie said, still looking around with a thoughtful expression on her face.

  “Where should we hook up the sound system?” a guy interrupted them. He was in his sixties, wearing an old leather vest and sunglasses, with a truly impressive grey beard. “The band’s all here,” he added, nodding to a pack of similarly grizzled, tattooed old men.

  “Great!” Jules beamed. “There’s a power cable out back, I’ll come show
you in a second.”

  She turned back to Evie. “What do you think?” she asked. “Poppy gave me a tip about a group of local musicians who like to jam out, every chance they get. They’re happy just playing for beer and burgers.”

  “I think something’s going on.” Evie studied her suspiciously. “I know you like to go all-out, but this can’t be just about staying busy. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.” Jules insisted. “I just want everyone to have a good time. Can you grab some more of those streamers? The hallway’s still looking a little blah.”

  Jules bustled off to greet the rest of the new arrivals, and make sure everyone was getting set up with beer and wine. She wasn’t exactly lying to her friend: She did want everyone in town to have fun. But there was another reason she was devoting so much energy to this casual, backyard event.

  Reeve.

  He’d said it himself, some of his happiest memories of the vineyard were the parties his mom used to throw, back in the day. Even telling Jules about them, his face had taken on a nostalgic glow. If she could remind him how it felt to be a part of things, hanging out with friends and neighbors… Maybe he’d want to stay and be a part of the community here in Sweetbriar Cove.

  Maybe he’d forget about California for good.

  Jules watched as Reeve helped the band set up overlooking the vines. They still hadn’t talked about the future, even with her feelings growing stronger by the day. Soon, she told herself. After the party, she’d find a way to ask what their plans were going to be. Summer was flying past, and the real world was still waiting for both of them, their old lives they’d left outside the Cape. And although Jules had never been one for big plans or schedules in the past, she knew, she needed one now. There was only so long she could stay suspended here, in this sun-drenched vacation haze, before that whisper of uncertainty in her head turned into a shout.

  Only so long she could spend the night blissfully tangled up in Reeve’s arms, without whispering those three little words into the dark.

  He looked up, and saw her. “I thought I said ‘casual’,” he teased, strolling over to meet her. “Half the town is already here, and the other half are on their way.”

  “I know, isn’t it great?” Jules looked around proudly. She could see Cassie and Wes over by the food truck, Poppy showing her toddler around, Aunt June already flirting with one of the musicians… There was smiles and laughter all around. “If my career in social media stays a bust, maybe I can switch to party-planning.”

  “Oh, hush you.” Reeve quieted her with a kiss. “They’ll call. And if they don’t, someone else will. They’d be fools not to want you.”

  She relaxed a moment, savoring the warmth of his embrace. She hoped he was right. She couldn’t keep crashing with Evie forever, not least because she was going to need a real A.C. system before the weather got any hotter.

  “Where’s your dad?” she asked, glancing around. “No more feuding over property lines, I hope?”

  “No. Frank’s in heaven,” he added. “Some of the bridge club showed up early, so he’s off giving a guided tour of the vines.”

  “Ooh, that’s a great idea,” Jules brightened. “I should put that on your Instagram. I bet tourists would love the VIP experience.”

  “Don’t you start, too,” Reeve groaned, but he was smiling as he said it. Then he drew back, and took her hand. “But I do think you need another tour… ”

  “Really?” Jules teased, catching the wolfish gleam in his eye. “I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every inch of this place.”

  “Then you’ll just have to take a second look.”

  “But what about all the guests?” Jules protested, as he led her away, around the side of the building.

  “They can take care of themselves. While I take care of you.” Reeve pulled her out of sight of the crowd, pressing her back against the wall and finding her mouth in a slow, sinful kiss.

  Jules melted. She couldn’t resist him, even if she tried. Every kiss slipped through her, sweet as molasses. Every touch pulled her deeper, as if the two of them were the only people in the world.

  But they weren’t, not today. Voices drifted from the party, too close for comfort with his roving hands, so she stumbled back, finding an open door that could lock behind them.

  “Romantic,” Reeve teased, and Jules realized she’d yanked him into a storage closet, crammed with old paint cans and lawn equipment.

  “Do you want the grand tour wandering in and joining us?” she countered.

  “Good point.”

  Reeve found her mouth again, hot and hungry this time, and Jules tumbled headlong into the rush of sensation, the giddy thrill of adrenaline coursing in her veins, and oh, the way her body leapt to his touch. Reeve’s hands skimmed over her hips, pulling her closer, and she arched against him, loving the hard mass of his body and how he held her up, even when her head spun and her knees went weak.

  He steered her backwards. “Watch out!” she yelped, as they came dangerously close to a lawnmower blade.

  Reeve paused. “I have got to get some privacy around here,” he said, with laughter in his voice. Jules’ heart leapt at the hint of future plans, but then his mouth was on her again, and all visions of serious conversation went scattering from her mind.

  She couldn’t think straight when he was doing that with his hands.

  “Reeve,” she gasped, her voice already high-pitched with need. She buried her head against his shoulder as his wicked fingers stroked between her thighs.

  How did he do this to her? It had never been so good with anyone before. Not even close. Jules marveled, needing him with a sharp, empty ache. “Please,” she gasped, as his rhythm turned torturously slow. “Reeve… ”

  He drew back, watching her, his eyes glittering in the shadows. “Shhh… ” Reeve whispered, teasing. “Someone might hear.”

  Jules bit on her lip to keep from crying out. Music had started, somewhere nearby, and she knew that there was a whole vineyard of people partying just a few feet away. But still, she couldn’t stop arching against him, chasing the bright rays of sensation he was sending through her body. “Oh God… ” she murmured, as his fingers dipped inside her and she hurtled closer to the edge. She gripped his shoulders tighter, holding on for dear life. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

  She didn’t want him to ever stop.

  And Reeve didn’t. He took her over the horizon, freefalling into the hot rush of pleasure as her body shook and her mind shattered and all that was left was the two of them, and his mouth, tender on hers.

  And Jules knew, all the parties and job applications in the world couldn’t distract her from the fact she was falling wildly, passionately, headlong in love with this man.

  Then a sharp knock burst through the haze, and Rose’s voice came, laughing. “Umm, Jules? And/or Reeve? There are people are looking for you. I said you were probably getting supplies, so, um, whenever you’re ready!”

  Her footsteps receded, as Jules caught her breath. “We should get back,” she said reluctantly, and Reeve slowly smoothed her skirt down. “But… What about you?” she asked, hooking her finger over his belt.

  “Later,” Reeve said, voice low like a promise. His eyes were still hot on hers as he pulled her in for one last breathless kiss. “Come on.”

  “You go first,” Jules said, straightening her clothes. “Otherwise they’ll know exactly what we were just doing in here.”

  He laughed. “I think they know.”

  Still, she shoved him out the door ahead of her, and then detoured the other way around the lodge, stopping off in the bathroom to smooth down her hair. She paused, taking in her reflection in the mirror: the sparkle in her eye, and the happy flush in her cheeks.

  Jules smiled. Had it only been a month or so since she’d made a far more bedraggled sight in this same mirror? Driving out of Boston in failure after her breakup, getting caught with that flat tire in the rainstorm… Somehow, all those miserable accident
s had conspired to bring her right here. To the start of something wonderful.

  If she’d known how it would turn out, would she have done things any differently? Jules didn’t think so.

  Except maybe wearing a better bra.

  She grinned, and breezed back out onto the patio. The party was in full swing, with people dancing to the band, and chatting up a storm. It was a wonderful sight to see, especially when she remembered how dusty and desolate the vineyard had been when she’d first arrived. But now there were no signs of cobwebs and gloom, just happy faces everywhere on the locals she now knew as friends. Even Reeve looked to be in a great mood, off talking with that British guy, Nick. They both seemed happy and animated, nodding in agreement and shaking hands.

  “What’s up?” Jules joined Rose and Evie, grabbing a bottle of water to cool off. “The party is going better than I ever imagined. You think I can talk Reeve into making it a regular event?”

  “I think you can talk that man into anything.” Rose met her eyes and shared a conspiratorial smile, but she didn’t breathe a word about Jules’ storage closet shenanigans.

  “We were just taking bets on which member of the band Aunt June has her eye on,” Evie said, nodding to where the older woman was flirting up a storm.

  “Who says she’ll settle for just one?” Jules joked, and they all laughed.

  “Don’t say that where she can hear,” Noah advised, joining them. He wrapped his arms around Evie from behind, resting his head on her shoulder. “Otherwise she’ll tell you all about the time she joined Def Leppard on tour. And let me tell you, you won’t listen to ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ the same way again!”

  * * *

  Afternoon spilled into evening, and the mood shifted to something more relaxed as the heat of the day mellowed and people sat around, enjoying the wine and the view—and the extravagant spread of potluck dishes.

  “I can’t eat anymore,” Jules groaned, finally pushing her pie plate away. “Why didn’t you stop me before that fourth slice of blueberry?” she asked Reeve.