Page 111 of Love Among Vines

“You’re not worried about getting back to the winery?”

He shook his head. “I think the crew can handle it. Most of the foot traffic is down here anyway. Don’t make me second-guess it.”

“No, no,” she said hurriedly. “Let’s go.”

They packed the remainder of the wine into the truck. Silence fell as they buckled their seatbelts. How would she even begin to unpack what had just happened?

“I’m sorry about the Nate thing,” she said.

Maybe that was what had temporarily rendered him speechless.

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re apologizing again.”

Shit.

“Right—uh, never mind. Events transpired today, and I won’t apologize for them because they weren’t my fault.”

“Exactly. It’s not like you asked him to come.”

She considered the ripples on the water as they rounded the tip of the lake. “I would have sooner invited my Great-Aunt Mildred who was notorious for turning a day trip into a month-long stay.”

Rett smiled. “As annoying as it was to see your ex-boyfriend today, I was really glad to hear some of the things you said to him.”

“What do you mean? I mostly just threatened him with violence.”

“You said you were worthy of love and partnership. That’s what I wanted for you to remember.”

“Well, you’ve ruined one-night stands for me. Now I want a relationship again. Do you know how much harder that’s going to make my life?”

“It’s what you deserve,” he said quietly.

“A difficult life?” She raised an eyebrow.

“No. Love.”

Her heart staggered in her chest. He wasn’t saying what she thought he was saying. Was he?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

JADE

“Damn it, Penny!”Jade called after the dog.

Penny zoomed away, hotdog waggling from one corner of her mouth.

Rett turned away from the grill. “It’s fine. We have plenty more.”

He was wearing a Kiss the Cook apron, which Tom seemed to have taken as an open-ended invitation.

Jade raised an eyebrow. “You say that now, but when she has catastrophic gas later you’re going to change your tune.”

She took the platter and moved it to the picnic table where it would hopefully be out of reach.

“Sorry we’re late,” Elena called. She and an older woman appeared around the side of the house. “Abuela insisted on defrosting some arepas.”

She dropped a Ziplock bag on the table and helped her grandmother sit in the lounger Rett had parked at the head of the table.

Jade rushed over with a pitcher of iced tea and a fresh glass.

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