Page 54 of Twin Babies For The Grump

“You’re the one who said that Napa Valley isn’t cut like the business world,” I remind her.

“No, I told you that the people who workedfor youweren’t. Grapefest is a huge deal. If we come in last, it’s going to negatively affect sales for a long time.”

“Tess,” I start.

She doesn’t let me finish though, pulling her hand away from mine. “We can’t do this.”

“What are you talking about? Can’t do what?” I frown, but she’s already heading for the bedroom, walking quickly. I follow her, watching as she strips out of my tee shirt and gets dressed in her own clothing.

“Any of this,” says Tess, shaking her head. “I have to go, okay? I need to try and think about things, think about what’s going on, and just—”

She shoulders passed me, buttoning her jeans as she heads for the door.

“Tess.” I keep following her, absolutely reeling as the nice, pleasant morning comes crashing down around me.

Tess stops at the door, just long enough to sling the strap of her bag over her shoulder. Her eyes are bright with tears, and her lower lip is wobbling, just a little bit.

She blinks hard, clearly struggling to stop herself from crying. “I’m sorry. I should have known that getting involved while there were so many cameras around was a bad idea. I just… I really like you.”

“I’m not about to stop being with you just because Macy went and ran her mouth,” I tell her, hotly. “We’re expecting akid, Tess. Everyone was going to find out anyway.”

“I know, I know! I just!” Tess waves a hand through the air. “I might need to resign—”

“What? No. That’s not happening. You earned this position. Besides, it’d be like admitting that everything that Macy said is true.”

Tess stares at me. “I just can’t think about thathere. I have to go home, okay? We’ll talk later, I just need to clear my head.”

Tess turns and leaves before I have a chance to say anything else.

I stand in the doorway, watching as she hurries down the steps. Tipsy pushes out between my legs and takes off at a trot for his favorite morning sunspot.

I pull the door shut before the other three dogs can make a break for it too, turning to find that they’re all sitting there looking at me. Blanc wags her tail, just once, before turning and slinking away, smart enough to know that she’s not going to be let out.

The two visiting dogs continue to sit there and beg.

“Fuck,” I say, raking a hand through my hair. “Fuck all of this.”

I turn, stomping into the living room. Bear and Bubbles follow me, the bigger of the two dogs winding around my legs and trying to herd me back toward the front door to let them out. I ignore them and sit back down on the couch, heavily, groaning.

“This wasnotsupposed to fucking happen,” I say. “Things were supposed to go well from here on. I was supposed to be having agoodlife!”

The news report has already ended, at least the coverage on the winery has. I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do about this whole mess, but I know that I’m not about to let Tessresignover it.

And I’m not about to let this ruin the winery’s chances at winning the Grapefest, either.

It’s time for me to perform someseriousdamage control, and fast.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Tess

MissGreenhadanaffair with the new owner of the winery. Ill-timed pregnancy... Position based on her relationship with the owner...

The words still echo in my head as I take another turn, not really paying attention to where I'm going.

I don't have a destination, just a desperate need to get as far away from the winery and the shame that is clinging to me. My eyes are burning with unshed tears.

How I wish I was with Owen on the motorcycle right now. All these thoughts would be gone just like that.

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