Free The Winemaker's Dinner: Dessert (The Winemaker's Feast) by Dr. Ivan Rusilko Page B

real kicker, she doesn’t tell you what she’s done and instead takes you to her parents’ house, people you instantly fall in love with. Then she proceeds to fuck you after she’s been with another man and carries on as if she hasn’t a care in the world. This is a girl you would have done anything in the world for…” He paused for a moment to stare at the table.
    “I probably could’ve forgiven her if she’d just been honest with me up front,” he finally added. “That’s all I ever asked of her. But no, she couldn’t even do that. She jerked me along for God knows how long, screwing me and fucking him.” Removing his sunglasses, Ivan set them on the table and stared into Micky’s eyes. “Let me ask you this. Would you give a damn about her after everything she did, and would you listen to some bullshit story about how she was sorry?” Ivan silently dared Micky to respond, but he said nothing. “I didn’t think so!”
    The men stared at each other across the table, and Ivan reveled for a moment in the fact that he felt better, lighter after vocalizing six months of pent-up frustration and anger.
    “But you know what?” He dropped his head in defeat. “My problem is that I do give a damn, and I hate myself for it. I still love her more than I should, and I’d probably still do anything for her if I let her get close. But I don’t think I’m strong enough to suffer another blow from that woman. That’s the reason I can’t talk to her—not because of anger or spite, but for fear she would crush me…again.” Ivan sank back in the chair and put his glasses back on.
    “You feel better, man?” Micky asked after a moment.
    Ivan started to chuckle. “Yeah, man. Well played. I didn’t think you were that clever.”
    “What the fuck does that mean?” Micky asked with narrowed eyes. But he was smiling.
    “Nothing,” Ivan said with a laugh. “Thanks, man, I needed that. It felt good.”
    Micky sat back in his chair, smiling. “We aren’t all Superman, my friend.”
    “No, we’re not.”
    “But that doesn’t mean we don’t all have kryptonite to deal with.”
    Ivan blew out a heavy sigh.
    “You did a good job practicing on me, but I suggest you talk to the person you really need to talk to,” Micky encouraged. “I think maybe it’s time you give her a call back.”
    Ivan reached for his glass of water and took a long sip. “Maybe I should, man. Maybe I should.”

Chapter 13
    “Keep On Loving You”
    “L EAVE I T A LONE ! E VERY D AMN T IME I T RY to do your hair you end up ruining it.” Tasha smacked Jaden’s hand away from the curls at the back of her head. “I’d think you’d be used to this by now. Don’t you have people doing your hair all the time?”
    “Sorry. I’ll stop,” Jaden huffed. “I guess I’m not as afraid of you as I am of Kat.”
    “Ha. Don’t push your luck,” Tasha countered. “I could be scary if I needed to be.”
    Tasha set back to work, feverishly pinning curls in place, and Jaden tried to get her mind on the night ahead. She’d been back in Miami for nearly two weeks, but she hadn’t been particularly successful at turning her mind off to recharge just yet, so it was just as well that Kevin was already scheduling her for events. Tonight’s gala, hosted by Jaden, would feature a who’s who of fabulous Miami restaurants, each showcasing their signature dishes.
    “Are you excited or are you nervous?” Tasha asked. “Why aren’t you saying anything? I can’t wait to see you in action, but I’d be a nervous wreck if I had to speak in front of all those people. They have you plastered all over the invite, and I bet the after-party will be awesome too.”
    “It’ll be fun, I hope. Maybe it’ll be the distraction I need. I should focus on my professional life for a change.”
    “That’s a fantastic idea, and in light of that, I have one rule for tonight: Ivan is not to be thought about, spoken about, or even mentioned.” Tasha slurred