Page 13 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

Stacey sat back, her brows tight. “Uh, okay.”

“Bye.”

“Goodnight. I love—”

Seth ended the call.

He couldn’t deal with it right now. He inhaled, staring out the window, and let out a heavy breath. He set the phone down and leaned back.

Stacey had attended Sonoma State and earned a degree in winery management, as well. He hadn’t dated her until they’d been working at the Henderson Estates for a year, although they’d been acquainted all that time. They’d been a natural fit in many ways—similar interests, passions, and goals for the short term.

He played with the paperweight sitting on the desk and glanced at the laptop. How was he going to handle her moving here? Just the thought of it was making him squirm. This was nothing like when he’d dated her there.

In Sonoma, they’d been on equal turf. Both of them had gone to that particular region for their own reasons. But her only reason for cominghereinvolved him.

What if she didn’t like Wisconsin as much as she thought she would? And what if things between them didn’t work out? What then?

He stared out the window for a few minutes at the evening sky, the setting sun giving a pinkish glow to the sky over the cherry trees. He tried to imagine their future together, but he couldn’t seem to do it. He just couldn’t picture her here. He wasn’t sure he wanted to anymore, either.

How could he break it to her that her moving here didn’t feel right to him? That he wasn’t excited? Maybe he ought to suggest she visit first? But even that thought almost made him sick. What was the matter with him?

It was too much to think about. The festival needed to be his priority right now. He shook off the troubling thoughts and brought his focus back to the laptop.

* * *

The waiter leftwith the check after dinner, and Gia walked to the parking lot with Tom and Kira. Outside, they waved as Nick pulled away in his Jeep. Courtney waved from the front seat.

Kira turned to Tom and Gia. “I’ll see you kids later.”

“Adios, Nash.” Tom had an affinity for last-name nicknames. “Hey, Gia, wait up a sec.”

Gia stopped and turned around, switching her purse from one shoulder to the other. “Sure.”

Tom walked over.

“What’s up?”

“I’ll walk you to your car.”

“I’d love that.” Gia smiled and put an arm through his.

They reached Gia’s white Chevy Malibu and she unlocked it. Tom leaned against the driver’s side door and took a deep breath. Gia leaned against the car next to him. Was something wrong? This wasn’t the usual Tom.

He glanced off into the distance. “Hey, so I just wanted to say I know I joke around a lot, and you might not realize it when I say it…” He looked back at her. “But I’d really like to take you out sometime.”

Gia’s eyes shot wide. “Wow, I, uh...”

“I know this is out of the blue, and I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just—I just don’t want it to go unsaid. I’d have to kick myself if I never got up the nerve to ask you seriously, especially now that you’ve met someone.”

Gia shrugged, still startled. “Well, I wouldn’t call him asomeone. I mean, I just met him, and he hasn’t asked me out. We’re just working together.”

“Well, he should’ve, and he probably will. He’d be an idiot not to.”

Gia recovered from the little shock and gently took his forearm. “Tom, that’s so sweet of you. I appreciate your honesty. You know I think the world of you—

“—Just not in that way.” Tom looked away.

Gia cast her gaze to the ground. “I didn’t mean it like that.” She looked back up at him and he met her gaze. “It’s just that—we’re friends, and I don’t want to ruin that by dating you. I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m so sorry.”

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