Page 72 of Lighting Up Christmas

He’d texted her last Friday, thanking her for the four seasons of dragons and asking if he could commission her to createmore scenery to complement each of the dragons. The price he’d named had been ridiculously high, and even if she hadn’t already had sketches and ideas percolating, she would have made the impossible possible for that price.

Riley had enjoyed the challenge. Zhang had been at his office in California, and each day that had passed had made her more and more anxious. Sure, he’d texted the night of the Christmas Market thanking her for the dragon display, which had filled her with relief and a happiness that was disconcerting in its power, but he hadn’t called or texted about anything personal, and it was getting harder and harder to not worry about that.

His product tease party was tonight, and she wondered what he thought of her additions to the light garden and also the surprise permanent display she’d created inside his winery. She’d hoped to see him Friday afternoon while she and her crew and some of her community college students finished up even as the caterers, DJ, and party planners had been setting up around them.

But no Zhang. And no message.

“He’s busy,” she’d said to try to bolster her mood, but those reassurances had long ago worn thin.

Riley showered and pulled on some sweats. Not glamorous, but she was clean, less achy but awake enough to want to address her hunger.

What was Zhang eating tonight?

She needed to stop thinking about him. He might be back together with Brin. Or not. He’d given her no indication he was looking for more from her other than a work-related relationship. She needed to accept that. She needed to focus on her life and business. Zhang had provided a tremendous work opportunity, a portfolio boost to her resumé, and a large infusion of cash to her company bank account. She needed to be content.

But for once, business didn’t trump her personal feelings. She’d felt they had a connection for something more. Much more. How could she have been so wrong? Riley wandered into her kitchen to forage, trying to remember the last time she’d hit the store.

Her phone beeped with a message. She tried to stifle the ping of hope. It was likely Sophia wanting to go out. It was the last weekend before Christmas Eve and both of them had been working flat out.

The dragons look fierce. I wish you were here to enjoy them with me.

Zhang. Her heart did a happy hop. She was no longer tired. He was back. Home. And maybe too shy to ask her to come over.

But wasn’t the party totally work-related? Or maybe tonight was the party and tomorrow was the work event.

Her mind ping-ponged. He wanted to see her. He was shy. He was nice. She had no answers, but he’d reached out.

Stop. She all but put her hand out like she was a school crossing guard. She was doing exactly what Sophia said she did—denigrating herself, not believing that a man would find her attractive, datable, not relegate her to the friend zone.

“I’m going to do this.”

She marched to her room, grabbed a pair of flared, black slacks and a metallic silver tank top. She had a black cashmere wrap sweater that she’d splurged on when she and her aunt and stepmom had gone to San Francisco for a weekend last year.

She would head to Zhang’s. Say hello and see where the night went. Riley even slicked on some lip gloss and spritzed some sparkles in her hair. Win or lose but at least she wasn’t a coward, and she’d have something to brag about next week at the tamale-making party at Sophia’s. It was an annual event and a great way to celebrate Sophia’s cultural traditions and catch up on gossip. This year Riley would have something to share.

Or commiserate about.

Riley tucked the boxed dragon into her purse. She’d made a few specialized modifications on the dragon, to personalize it for Zhang and Fire Ridge Winery, and she’d decorated the box and added a silver bow.

She squared her shoulders and ignored the voice of caution trying to reassert itself.

Go big or go home. Her brothers used to shout that at each other—usually when they were about to do something stupid, but Riley had been playing it safe with her heart for too long.

*

“I am allin on this winery now.” Jackson held up a glass of 2017 Tempranillo, Zhang’s first red. Tess has explored the cellar and declared that he was hiding treasure. With his curious consent, she’d invited a handful of tasting room managers in the area as well as some friends in the industry and opened bottles and asked for their opinions on his wine library.

“It’s how we get the word out,” she’d told him, accepting his eccentricities, much like Riley had, and gently nudging him out of his comfort zone.

It was clear she thought he was hiding from the industry and the world. And he had been. Riley had shown him that. She’d shown him so much. He looked at his phone. She hadn’t answered. Dumb to think she’d wait around for a text from him. There’d been so many times this past week he wanted to call or text but hadn’t known what to say. He wasn’t good like that, and he’d made the excuse that he was too busy and Riley, adding to the light garden, was likely too busy too.

Clearly, he’d made the right call. Riley must have worked flat out to build the light garden to this extent. The Ice Dragon emerged from a mountain. The Spring Dragon sprang out of abouquet of flowers. The Summer Dragon swam up out of a river, and the Fall Dragon dove into a field of pumpkins. The displays lit up the night.

“Zhang, I’m serious.” Jackson brought him back to the night and the pre-event party about to commence. “I’m thinking of buying some property near here. Hook me up.”

He laughed. “You’d last one night.”

“You spend weeks up here sometimes. And now that things are heating up back at the office, you’re still here half the week. I could learn to hang here. We could work here. I could be a part-time vintner. Or a land baron.”

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