The Rebound Pact (6 page)

“Gabs!”
Max jumped up from the couch and grabbed her in a big brotherly hug.

“Oh my God, what are you doing here?” Gabrielle
squealed, pulling back to make sure she wasn’t completely nuts for seeing her brother in the flesh. She’d missed him fiercely. Only being a couple years apart they’d spent a lot of time together as kids, and they’d always been close, even if he was overprotective.

He looked so debonair in his designer clothes, his dark hair cut short, face smoothly shaven. She imagined their father had looked just like Max as a young man. He grabbed her up in a bear hug and twirled her around.

Max laughed. “Glad to see me, huh? Dad called me and told me about Len. I came home to kick his ass.”

Standing up to greet her, her father rolled his eyes. “Come here and give me a hug.”

A jumble of thoughts ran aimlessly through her mind—namely the fact that she’d just agreed to sleep with Max’s best friend. For fun.

Gabrielle wrapped her arms around her father, glad to be home, to feel comfortable in the familiar.
And loved. She was never without that here.

“I’ll get your bags.”

Before she could stop him, Max went into the foyer and promptly shouted. “What’s this?”

Gabrielle had an idea of what he was talking about. She walked grudgingly toward the foyer and prepared how she could explain the bottle of wine.

“Been to see Holden already?” Max narrowed his eyes and held the bottle in the air like it was a mutant alien.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. “First of all, I didn’t even know it was Holden’s winery. Secondly, are we not
all adults? I mean it’s not I like walked into the vineyard, stripped down and asked him to give me a
special
tasting.”

Max cringed. “
Ew, Gabs. Ew.”

Dad walked into the foyer and patted them both on the backs. “Just like old times. Making spaghetti and marin
ara, who’s in?”

Both she and Max grumbled their agreement. Grabbing the bottle of wine from Max, Dad sauntered into the kitchen leaving them alone.

“Look, I know you aren’t like that, Gabs, it’s just… You two always had a thing for each other, and Holden is a player. He’ll only break your heart and after dealing with Len, the last thing I want is for you to get hurt again.”

If only Max knew how wrong he was… That she was the one who’d hurt his friend. That she really had sauntered into his winery,
and while it hadn’t been her intention, sex was the main topic at hand.

“Don’t worry, Max. There’s nothing between Holden and I, and there never will be.”

Holden’s doorbell rang breaking his thoughts. He clicked off his computer and headed for the foyer. Just a flash of auburn hair caught his eye through the glass strip surrounding the door.

Gabrielle
. It had to be.

Holy shit.
The rebound pact was on.

Only, it wasn’t Gabrielle. Nope. Max was bending over wiping something off his pants.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Holden said, a huge smile on his face. He’d not seen his best friend in ages.

Max gave him a back-clapping hug and shoved him aside. “Nice place,” he said, walking back toward the kitchen.

“Thanks. What gives? You didn’t even call,” Holden said with a pretend whine.

Max laughed.
“Came home for Gabrielle. Some dick totally screwed her over.”

Holden nodded, pretending not to know anything about it.

“I here you saw her this afternoon?” Max sounded nonchalant, but Holden knew his friend well. Beneath that calm exterior was a ferocious beast about to go crazy on his ass.

“Yeah, she stopped by to get a bottle of wine.”

“What happened?” Max tried to stare him down.

It didn’t work. “Nothing man.
Gave her a bottle of merlot on the house.”

“On the house?”
Max looked so damn suspicious it was funny.

“Look man,” Holde
n held up his arms in surrender. “Nothing happened. Nothing will happen. Chill. Want a drink?”

“Nah.
I’m totally jet-lagged, got here a few hours ago. Just wanted to make sure you weren’t planning on doing anything stupid.”

Holden shook his head. “No worries, man.”

“All right then.” Max clapped him on the shoulder again. “I’ll catch you later.”

“Absolutely.”
Holden showed his friend out. As soon as the door was closed he let out a string of profanity likely to raise the dead.

Chapter Four

G
abrielle shifted on her feet, nervous as hell.

After Max came home from wherever he was and went to bed, she’d claimed she needed to go to the gym. Run off some steam.
No one saw her leave—hence no questions about why she wasn’t dressed in gym clothes. And now, she once again found herself at a door where Holden stood on the other side—but this time, she knew it was him. And the single thing she had on her mind was getting naked and repeating history.

She sucked her lower lip into her mouth and reached once more for the doorbell. Maybe he wasn’t home. She should go.
Now. Maybe he was already asleep. Or maybe he already had someone over. Her heart stopped for a moment. He probably had all sorts of women offering up their bodies for a night.

She whirled around at the same time the door flung open.

“You aren’t leaving, are you?”

Shit.

Gabrielle slowly turned back toward Holden. “No, I… Well, I didn’t think you were home, so…”

He spread his arms wide and smiled down at her. “I’m home, and you are most definitely welcome to come in.”

She forgot to breathe. Did he even realize how incredibly enticing he was? Dressed in a pair of jeans and a white tank, the muscular shape of his legs captured her fascination, but was soon replaced by the curve of his sculpted arms. Already her body started to hum and quiver. She clutched her purse tight and smiled even though her heart raced and she felt more like running. He knew exactly why she was here.

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you.” He ushered her inside, his warm palm touching the small of her back. The fabric of her short, purple silk, sundress was so thin, she felt as though he’d touched her bare skin. He flashed an appreciative glance her way. Exactly what she’d hoped for when she put on the seductive silk.

Her heels clicked softly on the wide
, wooden floor planks. She turned in a circle taking in the old design. Thick, ornate oak circular stairs. A hallway went straight back and arched entries on the left and right led to other rooms. A window above the door let in the moonlight.

“This is beautiful, Holden.”

“Thanks. The previous owners left it in a bit of disrepair, I had the chance to visit a few vineyards in Tuscany and Provence when I decided to take on this venture. Some of the owners let me see their houses, so this is based off of a few I saw there. Come on into the kitchen, I’ll pour us some wine.”

She followed him into a large, modern kitchen. The counters were dark grey granite, and the stainless steel appliances gleamed beneath excellent lighting. Racks overhead held copper pots of every size.
Fully stocked with every cooking accoutrement. She was jealous. Running her hand over the smooth granite she set down her purse and leaned her hips against the counter.

“Impressive. Do you cook a lot?”

Holden laughed. “No. I actually have no idea how to cook. I’m half starved, can’t you tell?” He held up his arms and turned in a circle.

She shook her head. “No, you
look fine.” Her voice was husky. Her mouth watered. He didn’t look starved at all. He was a succulent specimen that she wanted to sink her teeth into and devour all night long.

He chuckled and grabbed a bottle of wine from a glass enclosed fridge beneath the opposite counter.

“Another Belle Ami?”

“Of course.
” He winked at her. “Wouldn’t want to promote anyone else. Although,” he leaned in close enough that she could smell his cologne, “if I show you my wine cellar you have to promise not to tell anyone what you see.”

“And what
would that be?”

“A lot of other wine.”
He laughed and took two glasses from a rack beneath the upper cabinets. “I got a visit from Max not too long ago. How did you get out from under his surveillance?”

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes. “So
, that’s where he went. I was wondering.” She waved her hand in the air, trying to dismiss Max from both their thoughts before she lost her nerve and left. “He went to bed. Jet lag. Hits the man like no other.”

Holden laughed. “Let’s hope.”

“What did he say?”

“Really wanna know?”

She shook her head. “Not really. I’m sure it was along the same lines as what he said to me.”

“Do and die?” Holden said with a wink.

“Exactly. But I never was one to listen to what my brother had to say. We’re natural enemies.” She snickered and offered a wink of her own.

Holden
uncorked the bottle and poured a tiny bit in her glass. “What does that make me?”

“Hopefully not running away?”

“Nah. I like you both.”

Gabrielle felt heat fill her face. Oh God. Why did he have to say that? This was supposed to be casual…

“This one’s our signature, just won a national award. It’s a Cabernet-Sauvignon blend. You’ll get a hint of blackberries and a smoky flavor from the barrels along with our secret ingredient.”

Thank God he changed the subject
. She didn’t want to think about her brother while she was here. Not when she knew exactly what the reason for coming here was.

“
I want to see if you can guess the secret ingredient. Care to test it out?”

Seriously?
She’d do anything he asked, as long as he kept looking at her with that naked hunger in his eyes. “Yes.” She took the glass, shivering when his fingers brushed hers. She swirled the wine in the glass, then took a tiny sip. The flavors exploded onto her tongue. No wonder it won an award.

“What do you think?”

“I love it.”

His lips curled in a crooked smile, and he gave her an appreciate nod. “Excellent.
Now about that secret ingredient?”

“I taste some vanilla.”

“Keep guessing.”

She swirled the glass, inhaled deeply.
“Spicy.”

“Mmm-hmm.”
He clicked a button along the wall beside the glasses and soft music started to play from all around.

She took another sip and watched as he walked around the counter, his eyes had darkened. She turned around to face him, taking another sip of wine.

“Allspice?”

He shook his head and placed his hands on the counter on either side of her hips. He was close. So close…

He pressed his hips to hers and she almost dropped the glass.

“Take another sip,” he said softly.

With a trembling hand she brought the glass to her lips and took another sip. When she finished, he took the glass from her. But she had no idea what he did with it because at that moment he pressed his lips to hers and everything around her melted away. Her arms tentatively wrapped around his middle, touching the muscles surrounding his spine. The flavor of the wine mingled intoxicatingly with his own taste. Their tongues snaked over each other’s in a winding, sensual dance. Every nerve strained for his hot touch, reaching out to grasp him close.

Then she figured out
the mystery flavor—cloves. “I think I know,” she murmured against his lips.

“
Oh, yeah?” he drawled, sliding his lips to her chin, then her neck.

Her head fell to the side, allowing him better access.
Her pulse beat a wicked staccato. She gripped his waist to keep herself steady. Her spiky heels suddenly not at all appropriate as she couldn’t keep her balance.