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“I can show you around tomorrow.” She smacks her forehead. “Oops, I forgot I have to babysit my niece. I can show you around the vineyard if you’d like instead. Reese is only five months old, but she loves walking around here.”

“Sounds good. I have to drive into Flagstaff in the morning, but I’m free in the afternoon.”

“Perfect.”

We eat and get to know each other. She tells me she’s in college for business management so she can help her parents with the vineyard. I don’t open up much, but when she asks if I’m dating anyone, I tell her I just got divorced recently.

Chapter Five

RYKER

SEPTEMBER

Istare across the group of people and shake my head at my cousin Lance, who also happens to be my lieutenant. He’s insisting I participate in the elementary school fire safety day.

“You’ll be in full gear, with your mask on and air tank, so the kids can hear what you’d sound like in the event they had to be rescued. I’ll be there too, but as you’re the rookie this year, you’re the star of the show. It’s tradition.” He chuckles, enjoying every bit of this.

“Yeah, whatever.” I’m distracted when I spot Rowdy, my other cousin, walk out of the bay and approach his woman. I can’t believe Rowdy finally settled down. His girl, Coral, is cute and reminds me of Lyn.

Ever since the morning I woke up alone, I’ve been looking for her. I go to the store and scan the aisles, hoping to spot her long blond hair. I can’t stop wondering what happened to her. When I talked to Gus about her, he seemed protective and only said that if he were younger, he’d take a chance on her. I wanted to drag his old ass across the bar and deck him, but I didn’t.

“Want to go to the bar tonight?” Flora asks me, and I shake my head.

That’s something else that’s changed. I haven’t been to the bar much since the night with Lyn. I paid Gus and the bouncer to let me know if she returns, but I haven’t gotten a call. Part of me wants to ask my brother, Logan, if he’d run a search for her, but without a last name—and the fact I want to keep our night to myself—I won’t do that.

Besides, Logan’s been helping Rowdy with issues Coral is having, and I don’t want to distract either of them. Rowdy looks like he could be our brother instead of our cousin. It probably has to do with the fact that our fathers were identical twins.

A group of single girls who just showed up wave at me, and I turn my back on them.

“Nope, not interested.” I walk into the station and check my schedule before making an exit. I’m not interested in any of the local girls anymore, and I don’t want a one-night stand. I think that last one broke me.

When I pull up to my house, tucked away in one of the corners of the massive acreage that makes up our family’s vineyard, I see my little sister’s car in the driveway. It can mean one of two things: she’s in trouble and doesn’t want anyone else to know, or she’s using my dock by the small pond out back. It’s one of the few on the property, but mine is the best. I have it set up for water games and fun. I usually throw parties here all summer long, but this summer, I haven’t felt like it.

It could be because I’m working two jobs now, but it could also be because I’m just not in the mood. As soon as my boots step onto the deck, I hear her.

“Down here,” she calls, and I head to the lower level that opens up close to the water’s edge and the dock. She’s lounged back in one of the chairs with a glass of wine. Maybe I shouldn’t have given her a key, but Isa and I have always been close. Ourolder brother’s job was to keep the boys away by beating them up, while mine was to soothe Isa and reassure her everything was okay.

I can tell she hasn’t been up to the parents’ place yet by the tank top and shorts she’s got on. Dad would freak out if he saw that much of her legs on display. Her shorts are tiny, and honestly, I’m not too happy about them either.

“What the fuck are you wearing, Isa?” I bark at her, and she rolls her eyes.

“When did you become the monk?”

She calls Logan a monk. Since his engagement failed and he ended up becoming a single dad, he hasn’t slept with anyone.

“When you dress like that, I will be.” I wave at her.

“Jeez, get over it.” She sighs deeply, and I plop down in the lounger next to hers, taking the wine glass from her.

“How much have you had already? You know you can’t drink yet.”

She huffs. “I’m less than two months from my birthday. Give it a break. Besides, it’s too late.” She reaches over the side of her lounger and pulls up the empty bottle of wine. “I’ve had plenty.”

“What’s going on, little sister?” I take a sip of the wine. As the sweetness of the grapes bursts on my tongue, an image of Lyn fills my mind.

“I think my friend Meadow is in trouble.”

“This that girl you befriended at school?”

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