“Sabrina Jones speaking.”
“What a professional greeting,” chuckles the man on the other end. “And here I thought we were friends.”
Smiling to myself, I lean back in my chair.
“How are you doing, Mr. Henderson?”
“A dagger through my heart, Sabrina,” he jokes. “How many times do I have to ask you to call me Leo? Mr.Henderson makes me sound like my father.”
“Now you’re just setting me up for a ‘daddy’ joke,” I tease.
Leo’s laughter echoes through the phone.
“Perfect, I’ll let Paul know to keep an eye on you around all the old men.”
A pit forms in my stomach at the mention of my ex-fiancé.
“Actually,” I pause, pinching the bridge of my nose as I force myself to say the words. “Paul and I aren’t together anymore.”
After a brief pause, Leo speaks up again.
“So, am I supposed to congratulate you, console you, or just move on awkwardly?”
I let out a tired laugh. “Well, considering I’m the one who called off the wedding, went on the honeymoon alone, got pregnant and moved back home to work with my parents… I think congratulations would be appropriate. Or we could just move on to the reason I set up this call.”
Leo lets out a hesitant chuckle. “Okay then. Much to my girlfriend’s need for gossip details, I’m going to say congratulations but also awkwardly move on to asking; what can I do for you?”
I open my notebook and dive into telling him about my parents’ winery and how his investment could benefit us both.
“Send me those numbers you mentioned and your location information. I’ll have my assistant schedule a time for me to come check things out in person before we sign any contracts. Everything sounds good so far.”
“Great. And while you’re here, why not make it a romantic weekend for you and your girlfriend? Book a suite at the Honeywell Inn & Spa. We can do some business during the day while she enjoys a massage, and then you can have a romantic weekend with her.”
Leo hums in agreement. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”
We say our goodbyes and I hang up the phone, taking a moment to catch my breath after the chaotic events of the day. Just as I’m saving a reminder in my calendar to have dinner with Noah, my phone rings again and my heart sinks.
Of course it’s Paul calling. Despite feeling guilty for ignoring him, I know that talking to him right now is not something I have the energy for. Plus, there’s nothing left for us to say to each other at this point.
I quickly shove my phone into my purse and head out to meet Tucker.
NOAH
“Did you ask her to dinner?” my brother asks impatiently before I can even sit down in my truck.
“Should have just left you at the farm,” I mutter while buckling my seatbelt.
Ignoring my comment, Connor twists around in his seat to face me as I back out of the parking spot.
“So, was she there?”
“Yes,” I answer with a grimace. Bri and her parents hadn’t noticed me at first as they walked towards the tasting room. Hearing her mention my name with such happiness and ease stirs memories of that day—the way she glowed from a day in the sun, wearing that beautiful floral dress. For a moment, I felt a surge of pride as she said my name.
That is, until it became clear that her parents didn’t know about us yet.
“I walked in just as she accidentally revealed to her parents that I’m the father.”
“Aha, so that’s why her dad stormed out looking like he wanted to punch someone.” Connor nods knowingly before turning back to face the front. “So...?”