Page 3 of Love Among Vines

Crack. Their gazes dropped to Jade’s hand. Two halves of a graphite pencil clattered to the island.

Kenya reached over and squeezed her shoulder. She smiled sadly.

Great, everyone pitied her. The wedding would be even worse—she had no date, and she had gone from talented artist and girlfriend of Nathan Astor to washed-up has-been who couldn’t produce anything more artistic than a signature.

This weekend was her last hope. Maybe witnessing her ex getting married would deliver a catharsis that finally unblocked her. If it didn’t, she would be homeless at the end of December.

Jade swept the pieces into a trashcan and grabbed the bottled water. All she had to do was survive the next three days. Thenshe could get back to figuring out what to do about her dwindling funds.

CHAPTER TWO

RETT

Buzz.

Everett Rhodes drew his phone out of his pocket and sighed. Wasn’t it too early in California for his parents to be checking in?

“Hi, Mom.” He fought to keep an exasperated note out of his voice.

The last thing he needed was more interruptions this morning. He had two displays to update, a batch of Chardonnay to quality test, an infernal social media post to make, and a check-in with the viticulturist.

“Good morning, darling. How are you?” Teresa Rhodes’s voice rang through the phone like a middle C on a perfectly tuned flute.

“I’m fine. Just have a busy day ahead. Lots to do even without accounting for the party planning.”

The cash register chimed as he closed the drawer. Correct down to the last cent, as it always was.

“Oh, yes. Your father and I are so excited. Are you sure there isn’t anything we can do to help?” she asked.

“It’s all handled,” he said.

“I have no doubt. Your grandmother would be really proud, you know.”

An ember of anxiety stirred deep in his core.

“Would she?” he asked curtly.

The hardwood floors creaked under his dress shoes as he approached the last rack in the gift shop. Another thing he couldn’t fix unless business picked up.

He pulled a wine bottle out of the crate at his feet and slid it onto the shelf in front of him.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Business has always ebbed and flowed. This is just a temporary slowdown. And you know your father and I?—”

“I appreciate it, but that won’t be necessary, Mom. I have a plan.”

“If you’re sure, sweetheart.”

“I am. How is your day? Are you on set already?”

He glanced at his watch. It wasn’t even six a.m. in Los Angeles.

“Calling from hair and makeup,” she said brightly.

“Good luck today. Not that you need it,” he added.

His mom was a brilliant, award-winning actress. From the silver screen to Broadway, she dominated every production. It had meant that she wasn’t always around when he was growing up, but she had always been there when it counted.

“You’re too sweet. One more thing about the party,” she started.

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