Page 43 of A Taste of Chardonnay

“I didn’t—”

“He sent a group text. Don’t even get me started on why you didn’t think you could call me.”

“I didn’t want to take advantage.”

“Stop being an idiot and bring the damn animals to me. Is Ron okay?”

“I… don’t know.”

“I’ll meet you outside. How far are you?”

I didn’t want her to meet me outside. I didn’t want her anywhere near Ron. “There’s too much snow. I don’t want you to slip. I’ll come to the door.”

“I’m pretty limber. I proved that last night.” A smile tugged at my mouth. I couldn’t believe that less than twenty-four hours ago, I had been wrapped around her naked body. Now I was in a truck with a dog, a cat, and a man I never wanted to be near, let alone helping. It was like the start of a bad joke.

“I don’t want you to feel obligated because of—”

“Drop the damn animals off, Brady.”

“I’ll be there in five minutes. Don’t come out. I’ll come to you.”

“Fine.”

Five minutes later, I pulled into Chardonnay’s driveway and opened the door. Ron woke up, his hand slamming on the seat. “Where am I?”

“You’re in my truck. We’re heading to the ER.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No, you inhaled propane.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Okay.” I held my hands out. “Give me the cat.”

“No.” He hugged the cat to his chest as if he needed to protect it from me. “The cat can’t come to the hospital with us. I’m leaving it with a friend who will take good care of it.”

“I don’t know that.”

“I do, and I’d trust her with my life. More than I’d ever trust you with mine. Now give me the cat, so we can get this over with.”

He held onto the cat for a few seconds longer before placing a kiss on its head and handing it over. I exhaled, taking the cat in my grasp. “Jack, let’s go. You, stay here,” I said to Ron, not wanting him anywhere near Chardonnay. “I’ll be right back.”

Chardonnay had a cleared path right to her steps. I went to knock on the dark wood when the door opened. Chardonnay stood there with her hair pulled tightly in a bun. Her face was bare of makeup and she never looked more beautiful. She was in a navy-blue matching sweatsuit set and a pair of brown suede slippers with a fur lining. Jack immediately walked into her house and sat, waiting for attention, which Chardonnay didn’t hesitate to give. She dropped to her knees and took his face in her hands, kissing his snout. It was almost odd to see her not so prim and proper. To see her so relaxed, but then she grabbed a towel from the coat rack and wiped his feet, and the Chardonnay I knew was back.

“I almost didn’t recognize you out of your pantsuit,” I said with a smile.

She ran a hand over her hair. “I wasn’t expecting to see anyone today.”

“You look good.”

Her hand stilled, and she caught my gaze. “Thanks.”

Fanny twisted in my arms, and I almost dropped the blasted thing. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be.”

She took the cat from my hands and held it close to her chest. The damn cat nuzzled Chardonnay and purred.

“The winery is closed today. I got through as much as I could on my to-do list.” Chardonnay nuzzled the cat back. “The roads will be slick once the sun goes down, so please be careful.”

---