“It is. I like doing weddings, but I plan a lot of different events. Personal, charity, and corporate.”
He leans closer to her, casually draping his arm across the back of her chair.
“Really. Well, then, maybe you could help me. I’m thinking I’d like to hold a private event.”
“How many people?” Ariela asks.
“Very private,” Knox flirts. And he is good at flirting. Ariela even blushes when he winks at her.
“That sounds fun,” she says.
Aiden nudges my knee under the table, getting my attention, and then darting his eyes toward Riley.
Riley is now staring straight at Knox. He’s gripping his knife and fork so hard, I’m surprised they haven’t broken in half.
I give Vanessa a pleading glance.
She elbows Knox and says, “Knox, give her a break. She’s off the clock.”
Knox ignores her, turning his full attention back to Ariela, leaning almost directly in front of her and looking very much like he’s going to kiss her.
I close my eyes tightly, hoping he doesn’t take it that far.
“Oh, it will be,” he says, laying his hand on top of hers and gently stroking it. “Lots of candlelight. Music. And very intimate.”
Riley shoves himself back from the table, anger raging in his eyes.
“Leave her the fuck alone, Knox! She’s fucking married!”
“Sit down, Riley,” Jennifer says, running her hand down his arm. “It’s really not any of your business.”
“Shut the fuck up!” he yells at Jennifer, shaking off her hand. “This isn’t any of your business.”
“It is my business when you bring me here on a date only to ignore me, because it’s driving you crazy that Knox is flirting with your married ex-girlfriend. So, you fuck off!” she yells, pushing back from the table and running out of the room in tears.
Riley shakes his head and curls his fists into tight balls.
He leans across the table, looking at Ariela in disgust. “This is your fault. You don’t get three weeks. I want you out of here now!”
“Riley, stop it!” Aiden and I say. But it’s too late.
Ariela bursts out the front door in tears.
Grandpa pushes his chair back from the table and stands up with a presence. He walks around the table and grabs Riley by the scruff of the neck.
“You will not talk to any woman in this house with such disrespect. Not to mention with such foul language. Apologize. Now.”
Riley shuts his eyes tightly, takes a deep breath, but doesn’t say a word.
“If that’s the way you want it,” Grandpa says, dragging him out the French doors to the courtyard.
“I knew there were gonna be some fireworks when he showed up, but I didn’t expect all that!” Dallas says, laughing and trying to make light of the situation.
Knox gives us all a smirk and puts his napkin on the table. “Well, if you’ll all excuse me, I think I’ll go console Jennifer.”
“He totally did that on purpose,” Vanessa says, squinting her eyes in realization.
“It’s easy to prey on a desperate man,” Grandma states.
Keatyn & Aiden’s home - Asher Vineyards, Sonoma County
RILEY
I’m pissed.
No, I’m beyond pissed.
Why the hell is Knox flirting with Ariela?
And why the hell does she seem to be enjoying it.
They’re talking softly.
Going on about weddings.
Like Knox gives two shits about weddings or any kind of wedding planning.
Then he puts his arm around the back of her chair.
I’m going to fucking kill him if he doesn’t stop it.
I was trying to make Ariela jealous earlier by flirting with Jennifer and insinuating something was going to happen between us tonight.
But, then, Knox starts doing that thing he does.
The smile, the flirt, the dimples.
I’ve seen him put the moves on girls everywhere.
And the beauty is they don’t even look like moves.
He asks them questions about their life and pretends to be interested in their answers. It makes him look caring and sensitive.
And I can see him doing it now.
How is Ariela falling for his bullshit?
Especially when he starts talking about having her plan an event for him. His last event involved four cases of tequila and a local college’s dance team.
He found glitter in his house for weeks after.
Then.
He puts his hand on Ariela’s.
I lose it.
I don’t know what I say when I stand up. It’s a blur of fury.
Until Grandpa grabs the back of my neck and drags me outside.
“What the hell was that?” Grandpa says. “You need to go back in there and apologize to everyone.”
“Fine, I’ll go back in there,” I yell.
“You can’t go off half-cocked.”
“I don't even know what the fuck that means,” I say, spitting out the words. As soon as the old codger lets go of me, I might just punch him.
But the man is strong. He pushes me down to my knees.
“Don't go off half-cocked means don't go off all pissed when you don't know the facts. But, in this case, it means you need to calm yourself down. I'm ashamed of you, son.”