Page 142 of Love Among Vines

“It’s yours,” he said again. “You have a learner’s permit now. You need a safe car to learn how to drive. And I don’t particularly want my truck to crash through the wall of a Wegman’s.”

“Are you insane?”

A new laptop was one thing. But a gifted car was absurd.

“It’s for purely selfish reasons. I worry about you on the bike,” he said with a glance at the bike rack. “It gets really foggy, and people drive like assholes on the lake road. Plus it’s going to be freezing here soon.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he shook his head. “I don’t want to hear another word about it. It cost me nothing, and your safety is priceless.”

She reached over and shoved him. There was no use arguing with him.

“You’re impossible, Everett Rhodes.”

He shrugged. “You’ll learn to ignore it.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

RETT

It was here.The party that could decide the winery’s entire future. Rett surveyed the room. Invited guests milled around glittering cocktail tables. Tiered trays of cupcakes he had stress baked the night before waited on a banquet table. He wasn’t satisfied with his icing technique, but they had been a welcome distraction. The sparkling wine was labeled and chilling in ice buckets in the storeroom.

Thankfully, there had been no sign of Chris or Alexa.

The door opened, and Jade and Margie walked in. He almost staggered. Jade was stunning in a glittering gold gown with a sky-high slit up the leg. She smiled, and her eyes lit up when she saw him. His heart lifted.

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. A realization hit him like a meteor crashing through the roof. He was in love with her. But that was insane. He couldn’t be. They had barely known each other for two weeks.

She came over and wrapped him in a hug. “Everything looks amazing. How are you feeling?”

He shook his head, and slowly his ability to speak returned. “Nervous. But there’s nothing I can do about it now.”

She pulled back and straightened his bowtie. “Your grandmother would be so proud. Seriously.”

She leaned in to kiss him, and there was a gasp.

“I have to admit, Everett, I thought you were lying to us.” Rett’s dad, Gerald, adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and smoothed his salt-and-pepper hair.

“Pleased to meet you, Jade.” He reached out one hand. It jostled his tie, which had music notes on it. She shook his hand firmly.

“I regret to inform you I am very much real,” she said with a smile.

“Jade, darling.” Rett’s mother, Teresa, glided over like she had snuck in wearing ice skates. She pulled Jade in for a hug, then drew back to look at her.

“It’s so nice to meet you. Rett’s told us so much about you,” Teresa said.

“Has he?” Jade said with a teasing glance at Rett.

He swept his arm out, and she ducked underneath it. He tucked her into his side and she pressed a hand to his chest.

Teresa squeezed his arm. “I’m so happy for you both. Rett says you’re an artist?”

“I am. Normally you could tell by my nail beds, but I made sure to scrub thoroughly for such an important event. Rett’s worked so hard for this.”

“Come have a chat with us, dear,” Gerald said, offering his arm to Jade. “If you have the time.”

“I have nothing but time.” Jade accepted his arm and followed them to one of the glittering cocktail tables.

The calm that had washed over him at her appearance dissipated. Her absence was like a wound. He strode through the gift shop, straightening bottle labels and finding a small bit of order in this chaos.

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