Embrace My Heart

Qasim worked the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. “You don’t understand.”

“You’re right. I don’t. I mean, what’s the problem?” Minka claimed a spot on one of the sofa arms. “Vectra’s gorgeous, funny, smart. The men who work for you make a point of stopping by the office when they know she’s in the building.”

The news didn’t set well with Qasim if the muscle flexing wildly along his jaw was any indication. He lowered his hand, letting his elbow rest along one of the chair’s wide arms. He looked toward Minka with keen interest and much humor. “Is that why Will really stopped by?”

“No.” Minka laughed. “He really does need those signatures.” She reached for the folder she’d brought in with her. “It’s probably a good thing that he decided to drop by.” She went to hand her boss the paperwork. “It’s become a lot more expensive to host charity events these days.”

“Hmph.” Qasim opened the folder. “When there’s a charity that brings in millions, everyone wants their cut.”

“So you agree it’s a waste of money?”

“A waste of money for a good cause,” Qasim countered, sleek brows united to form a studious frown.

“So who says we have to waste it? Why don’t you just have the thing at your place?”

“Not big enough.”

“Says the man living in the two-million-dollar condo.” Minka shook her head. “How about your place at Sea Cliff?”

“Don’t like it.”

Minka gasped. “Says the man living in the four-million-dollar house!”

“All right, then.” Qasim smiled indulgently. “I admit I just don’t want the aggravation of it. There’s a certain convenience in not using your own place as the venue. Besides, neither of those places is right for accommodating that many people for a long weekend, hence the reason I always use hotels for this.”

Qasim’s midyear charity event was a highly anticipated gathering that benefited the summer camps he held each year for deserving high school football players. Thanks to the funds raised by Qasim’s Wilder Warriors Foundation, deserving students and senior athletes were able to receive all-expenses-paid educations following graduation.

Qasim watched his assistant, who didn’t seem to be in full agreement with his reasoning. “Hell, Mink, are the rates that bad?”

“I believe so. Yes.” She waved toward the folder he studied. “The venues we have in mind are even more outrageous than usual.”

Although Qasim wasn’t above paying any cost to fund his events, Minka saw to it that her boss’s generous heart didn’t bankrupt him. Her policy was to see to it that all charity expenses were paid from charity money allotted for such spending instead of directly from Qasim’s personal accounts. She had successfully made that happen since the onset of Qasim’s goodwill endeavors.

“The rates aren’t deal breakers, but...”

“So go for it,” Qasim urged.

“It’s just—”

“Are the expense accounts well-funded?”

“More than. Only...” Minka trailed off, watching Qasim reach for a pen to sign the documents up for debate.

He smiled, noticing that his efficient assistant had already included a drafted document for the legal department to review regarding Will Lloyd’s decision-making authority for the foundation.

“Very nice,” he commented upon scanning the page.

Minka slipped off the sofa arm and took a bow. “Thanks and for my next feat, I’ll get things straightened out between you and Vectra.”

The easy expression Qasim was working to maintain began to waver. He clenched a fist and groaned. “I don’t think there’s any trick that good.”

“Sim—”

“I appreciate the effort, but there’s a lot you don’t know. It’s not my place to discuss it.”

“So you deny going after the woman you love and deny any other man the chance to go after her.”

Qasim shuffled through papers on his desk without really seeing them. “I don’t want to think about it.”

Minka walked over and took the folder from his desk. “She may not give you a choice.” Waving the folder, she turned on her heel. “I’ll get this finished.”

Qasim fixed his gaze on the fist he’d clenched before he slammed it onto his desk.

* * *

Vectra had never been one to take hints exceptionally well. She usually had to be hit right in the face with something before she got wise to the situation. She couldn’t help but think that was the case now. His words and demeanor were giving off the distinct impression that there was someone else.

Boy, wasn’t that the literal truth, she thought while speeding down the winding dirt road leading to Carro.

Named for Vectra’s parents Oscar and Rose Bauer, Carro was a remarkably breathtaking wine-country estate in Saint Helena, California. It was Vectra’s home and her oasis—a place for rejuvenation and meditation. A place to hide? She shook off that difficult truth and then thought, What the hell? So what if she wanted to hide? It was time to retreat a little.

She’d had her fill of humiliation. Qasim Wilder was a man who didn’t want to be friends with her. Fair enough. Fair enough. Only... Well, jeez, he had to know she wanted more than that. She should’ve told him so long ago. Now, she was happy that she hadn’t. Humiliating, indeed, once he had given her such a polite brush-off. Of course, there may not have been someone else had she not been too much of a coward to tell him that she’d wanted their friendship to take a more beneficial turn.

Vectra parked her luxury crossover a short distance from the turnoff leading to the main house. Leaving the vehicle, she walked a few feet to the wooden fencing that marked the entrance to Carro’s lush vineyards.

Unmindful of her pumps, Vectra propped a foot on one of the planks that constructed the massive fencing. Resting her elbows on the top plank, she bowed her head and made a weak attempt at working the kinks from her neck. She inhaled, at once comforted by the fragrant air kissed by the plump, sweet fruit that clustered about vibrant green vines.

The Carro land had been in Vectra’s mother’s family for centuries. Rose was a descendent of the Pomo Tribe, one of several Native American tribes that called Sonoma home. Rose had come from a family that understood the value of their land and defended their right to keep it.

That very land had been the dowry Rose Wolf had brought with her when she met and married Oscar Bauer, a young African-American agriculture consultant who had been making a name for himself among area farmers. He’d brought his skills from the North Carolina farm country he’d called home. In time, he built a respected business that thrived and diversified once he and his wife joined forces to cultivate the property.

The Bauers had managed to cultivate more than a respected vineyard for themselves and their surrounding neighbors. They’d cultivated what many would call an enchanted life for their two children. Vectra never had a shortage of friends, primarily the children of the adults who worked her family’s land.

It had been Vectra’s athletic, outdoorsy personality that had brought her more male than female playmates.

“Right...” Vectra inhaled deeply, willing the air to work more of its magic on her mood. “Outdoorsy, yes. Athletic... Not so much now,” she criticized herself, but felt comforted by the fact that she still had her friends. At least, she considered them friends. Qasim obviously disagreed.

The visit to his office had gone nothing like she’d planned. For weeks, she’d wanted to confront him about withdrawing from their relationship, but had resisted the urge. Discovering the way he’d threatened one of their friends had given her courage to confront him. She’d hoped to get him to tell her why he’d done it and in turn spark a discussion about what more could exist between them.

Sadly, the conversation had derailed and she had no idea how to get it back on track. At least she’d gotten out of there without making an even greater fool of herself. He’d met someone. Someone he was interested in being more than friends with.

A horn honked and she looked back, a sunny grin appearing when she spotted the Jeep behind her car and the man inside. She waited, watching her brother hop out from the driver’s side.

Oliver Bauer glanced at her car. “Are you on your way in or out?” He opened his arms wide to greet his baby sister and gave her a hug.

“Just getting back from the city.”

Vectra relished the embrace but reminded herself not to lean in to the reassuring hold for too long. She didn’t need Oliver questioning her mood. Her brother and father already worried too much over her.

“All the way from Frisco? Gallery business?” he asked, referring to one of two galleries Vectra owned.

“Just went to see a friend.” She shrugged. “Needed to shop for Robb DeWitt. His birthday party’s tomorrow night, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah, I got an invite.” Oliver nodded, rubbing his jaw as he spoke.

“Who are you taking?” Vectra kicked at a loose thatch of grass and dirt, attempting faint interest.

“Not sure I’m even going.” Oliver rolled the sleeves of a black denim shirt over heavily corded forearms. “Guess you are?”

“I am.”

“Good for you.” Oliver gave her a sidelong glance. “You good?”

“Yeah...yeah, yeah.” She shifted her weight and cringed. “I just waited too long to get a date. I may have to go solo.”

“Solo.” Oliver made a face and moved past his sister to recline against the plank fence. “So all the good guys were taken, huh?”

“Not every good guy.” Vectra joined her brother, bracing her elbows against the fence and gazing up at him with an adoring smile.

Oliver grunted a laugh, his light, deep-set eyes reflecting more vibrancy in the sunlight. “The flattery, while true, will get you nowhere.”

Vectra rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”

“What about Qasim?”

She did a double take, put distance between her and Oliver. “Where’d that come from?”

Oliver merely shrugged off the question.

Vectra reciprocated the gesture. “I already asked him, anyway. He turned me down.”

“Seriously? He really turned you down?” Oliver looked incredulous.

Vectra’s smile reflected sympathy. “He really did, but it’s fine. I understand why he had to. He’s seeing someone.”

Oliver’s incredulous expression seemed to intensify into devastation. “He told you that?”

“He didn’t have to, Olive.” Vectra slapped her hands to her thighs and turned to take in the view beyond the fence once more. “He doesn’t want to be friends anymore—told me so himself—said he couldn’t be. Isn’t that male-speak for ‘I’m seeing someone else’?”

“I don’t know, Vecs... I think you might be way off.”

“Well...” Vectra dismissed the issue with an airy wave.

“So? Are you still gonna go even though no one asked you?”

Vectra accepted her brother’s good-natured ribbing with a laugh. “I already told Robb I’d go, and I’m having a new gallery event soon.” She shrugged, inhaled the fragrant air and sighed. “It’ll be good to get out and be seen before that.”

“New gallery thing, huh?” Oliver nodded approvingly. “That’ll be good for you. We—me and Dad—were wondering what your plans were for the place. You haven’t been spending a lot of time at either location.”

“Guess I have been a little preoccupied,” Vectra admitted. She kept quiet about the fact that it was because she’d been more interested in being available for Qasim Wilder whenever he called.

Oliver nudged her elbow.

“I suppose I could lower my standards yet again and take you since I haven’t had the time to get a better date.”

“Well, I appreciate your sacrifice!” Vectra laughed. “I’ll be sure not to depend on you for a ride home, though.”

“You offend me, Vecs.” Oliver planted a hand to the middle of his chest. “So it sounds like we have a date, but let me know if you get a better offer.”

“Doubtful.” Flashbacks of her chat with Qasim came to mind. She pulled back from the fence. “I’m heading to the house. You coming?”

Oliver gave a theatrical sigh while strolling with his sister. “Since I got nothin’ better to do.” He groaned upon receiving a shove for his honesty.

“I’ll meet you at the house.” Vectra tugged Oliver with her as she headed to her car, but her steps slowed the nearer she drew to it. “Olive? Why are you out here? Just in the area?” Her brother lived in San Francisco.

Oliver shrugged beneath the shirt he sported. “You’ve got your ex-friend to thank for that. Sim called me.”

She stilled. “Why?”

“He told me you guys had a not-so-nice conversation. Didn’t tell me what it was about, but he said you were upset and he wanted me to check on you. I was up at the marketing park,” he said, referring to the administrative offices for Carro Vineyards, “so it didn’t take long to drive over.”

It all still triggered Vectra’s curiosity. “That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”

“He’s protective of you. I get that.”

Vectra smiled, albeit sadly, understanding her brother’s meaning. “You and Dad have reason to be protective—even if it does drive me out of my mind.”

“Qasim isn’t like that bastard who put his hands on you, Vec. I don’t profess to be able to read the man’s mind, but I don’t think he’d ever put his hands on a woman that way.”

Vectra entwined her fingers with Oliver’s. “Neither do I,” she said, feeling a slight chill as memories of an unfortunate and long-dead relationship came to mind.

“He doesn’t even want to be my friend. Why bother?”

“Maybe the friendship role isn’t the one he was aiming for.” Oliver winked, leaned in to drop a kiss to his sister’s cheek. “See you at the house.”

Vectra watched her brother sprint over to hop into the Jeep and drive away in a flurry of dust. She leaned against the hood of her ride and delved into a bit of deep thought.

He doesn’t want to be my friend, doesn’t want any of my other friends to call or even take me out. He has my brother drive over to check on me afterwards... What the hell kind of game is he playing?

She was more than familiar with the protective—well, overprotective—element, being a direct recipient of it from her father and brother. Not wanting her to go out with anyone else, though? That held traces of possessiveness that she knew could be signs of other things...

She shook her head, reaching around to massage the knotted muscles at her nape. Qasim wasn’t like that. She knew him well enough, had enough...past experience to know that wasn’t in his nature.

There was something up with him, though, and she was too curious about what it was to let fear of humiliation stop her from getting to the bottom of it.

Chapter 3

“Great.” Vectra veiled the murmured phrase behind a tight smile. She found herself in San Francisco again the next morning, having arranged to meet her father for breakfast. She hadn’t expected to find him with his investment banker.

Qasim caught sight of her before Oscar Bauer realized his daughter had arrived. Whatever Qasim had been saying was silenced midsentence and he purposefully scanned Vectra’s body, which was encased in a curve-hugging magenta frock.

Vectra had but a moment to flash her father a greeting smile before he was completely eclipsed by Qasim when he approached her.

“Are you okay?” He’d invaded Vectra’s space, sending her back until her shoulder brushed the wall she stood closest to in the bar entryway of the bistro.

Her tight smile returned. “I’m all right,” she lied.

“Baby!” Oscar Bauer pulled his daughter into a crushing hug and then set her back to give her an adoring once-over. Satisfied, he reached up to clap Qasim’s shoulder. “Have this guy bring you to our table when you’re done.” He shook hands with Qasim then. “We’ll get together for drinks next week.”

“Sounds good, sir.” Qasim dropped his free hand over the one shaking Oscar’s.

“Thanks for sending Oliver out to check on me,” Vectra said once her father had walked on. She observed him closely, waiting to glimpse his response and hoping she’d taken him enough by surprise to get an honest reaction.

Qasim only offered the barest hint of a smile. “You’re welcome.” He offered her his arm. “Your dad’s waiting.”

She refused his arm. “That’s it?”

The smile ghosting around his alluring mouth gained definition.

Vectra blinked owlishly. “Is that a thing men do for women they don’t want to be friends with?”

She never knew whether he’d planned to respond. They were interrupted when a slender, attractive, dark-blond man jostled Qasim.

“Sorry, guy, thought I’d be late,” the man explained, his expression softening a bit further when he saw Vectra. “Well, well, what’s up, pretty lady?”

Vectra left off the budding tension-filled conversation to greet Austin Sharpe with a hug and cheek kiss.

“What’s goin’ on? How’s the fam?” Austin kept an arm about Vectra’s waist while making his inquiries.

While they chatted and carried on like the old friends they were, Qasim worked to keep his temper at bay. Jaw clenched, he hid a fist in a deep trouser pocket.

“...and I wanted to talk to you about putting together a cocktail party at your gallery,” Austin was saying.

Vectra’s cocoa eyes sparkled. “I like it. It’d be a perfect segue for an upcoming show I’m planning. You might want to send someone over to check the place out, make sure it’s right for what you’ve got in mind.”

“Actually, Vec, it’s the Miami gallery I’m interested in.”

Her eyes were positively luminous. “Now you’ve got my attention. Why don’t we get together and discuss it?”

Austin patted the small of her back. “I’ll call to see what your schedule’s like. Are your numbers still the same?”

“They are. How long will you be around?”

“I’m trying to work about three deals.” Austin smoothed a hand across his close-shaven jaw and grinned sheepishly. “That’s why I’m meeting with this guy.” He jerked a thumb in Qasim’s direction. “Killing all my birds with the same stone and I’m even heading out to Robb’s party tonight.”

“Me, too.” Vectra slapped Austin’s arm.

He eyed her speculatively. “Guess I don’t need to ask whether you’ve got a date already?”

Vectra used a flippant shrug as her response. “Hope that doesn’t mean you won’t come? I’ll be there, and I’m sure my date won’t mind us talking for a while.”

“Mr. Wilder?”

Qasim, Austin and Vectra turned toward the host who had interrupted.

“Your table’s ready, sir,” the man announced.

Austin squeezed Vectra’s arm once the host had moved on. “I’ll take what I can get. See ya tonight.” He kissed her cheek, clapped Qasim’s arm. “See you at the table, man.”

“Shall we?” Vectra looked from Qasim to the dining room and back again.

“You’ve got a date to Robb’s party?” he asked.

Smug, Vectra leaned close, pretending to straighten Qasim’s tie. “Guess you didn’t get around to scaring everybody away from me.”

Qasim brought his hands to her waist, cupping her hips firmly enough to keep her still before him. “Don’t play this game with me, Vectra.”

“It’s not a game I started, Qasim, and since games aren’t my style, consider this as me coming clean.” She moved closer, silently commanding herself not to swoon over the feel of his hands on her body.

“We were friends. Good ones. I wanted more—by more, I mean that I wanted to sleep with you. You had to know that.” She searched his bottomless eyes for a moment before she continued. “Yeah...I believe you did, and you withdrew anyway. I can accept that, but then you tell everyone else to stay away from me like I’ve got the plague? No, Qasim, I’m not playing a game. I only have questions. I’m guessing the answers aren’t all that easy for you to give.”

She glanced toward his hands, smothering her waistline. “Excuse me?” She waited, walking away when he released her.

* * *

The attentive server smiled engagingly while Austin Sharpe praised Qasim for his banking skills. She then laughed good-naturedly when Qasim told her that given all the money he was making Austin she should expect him to leave her an outrageous tip.

“Seriously now, man, about these investments. Should I buy stock in all three?” Austin queried while adding a wealth of cream to his coffee.

“Not all three.”

“Uh-oh.” Austin grinned. “So which one didn’t make the cut?”

Qasim stirred his preferred black coffee. “None of them made the cut.”

Austin stilled, the mug halting halfway to his mouth. “You’re kidding?”

“No...but I could if you just really have a need to throw good money away on worthless stock.”

“Forget I asked.” Austin sipped on the beige-hued coffee.

“So what’s goin’ on in Miami?”

“New investors I’m trying to woo.” Austin pushed at the shock of blond hair that consistently fell across his forehead. “I want a mixer that’s off the beaten path, hence me wanting to use Vectra’s gallery in Miami Beach.”

“I didn’t know you knew her that well.” Qasim managed the comment in spite of his clenching jaw.

Austin nodded amidst a chuckle. “I was an intern for her dad’s company—the man’s brilliant. I have a lot of respect for Oscar Bauer.”

“Second that,” Qasim added.

“Hmph...for all the good it did me.” Austin sounded playfully distressed.

Qasim tilted his head. “How so?”

Austin shrugged. “Well, it’s important to bond with the father of your intended,” he smiled, “but that was useless since I fell into the dreaded realm of friendship.” He looked up as if to measure Qasim’s reaction. “You know what I mean.”

Qasim toasted the man with his mug. “Explain it to me.”

“Look at her, Sim.” Austin nodded across the sun-strewn dining room where Vectra sat with her father. “I mean, what guy in his right mind would want to be ‘just friends’ with her?”

Qasim felt his eyelids grow heavy beneath the weight of unexpected agitation and knew a bit more effort was warranted to maintain his cool. “Are you telling me that if you had the chance, you’d show her why she was making a mistake putting you in that category?”

Austin’s expression changed to one that was unwaveringly serious. “As much as I’d enjoy a physical relationship with her, I’d never want her afraid to have me as a friend.” He shook his head, sending the blond shocks of hair tumbling across his brow again. “She trusts me. I’d never do anything to jeopardize that.”

Qasim barely nodded. “That’s good to hear.” Beneath the table, he unclenched the fist he hadn’t realized he’d made.

* * *

“Just put one of those little packets on the side.”

“Daddy. No.”

“What’s it gonna hurt?”

Vectra looked at their waitress. “Thanks, Kelly, that’ll do it. No salt packets for my dad.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Kelly Dawes hid a smile as she scribbled something on her pad. “Sorry, Mr. B.,” she quietly tacked on before hurrying off to place the breakfast orders.

“Party pooper,” Oscar Bauer grumbled. “Now I remember why I rarely ask you out to eat anymore.”

“Hmph.” Vectra pretended to pout. “And I thought it was because you preferred my home cooking.”

Oscar snorted. “That, too.” He grinned and pulled his daughter close for another hug and kiss.

“So tell me about this trip of yours.” Vectra propped her chin on the backs of her hands. “Did you even take a little time out to just play around?”

Some of the light doused in the man’s long, expressive gaze. “You know playing around doesn’t have the same punch it used to when I had your mother to do it with.”

As far as Oscar Bauer was concerned, there was no woman he craved by his side other than his wife, but Rose had passed eight years prior.

“So did you give in to your obsession to acquire more land, or were you able to resist?” Vectra asked, eager to pull their thoughts away from sorrow.