Page 33 of Love Among Vines

“It depends what mood I’m in.” He came to a stop and looked carefully both ways before turning. “Can’t beat Louie’s for pizza. The Tavern for Italian or seafood. And if you like breakfast, Margie’s Café is unbeatable.”

“How’s the bagel scene here?”

He turned to her. “Bagel scene? Is that a thing?”

“I take bagels very seriously. Wars are fought over them in the city.”

He smiled. “I promise the bagels are great, but there’s so much more to experience here. Like eggs benedict that has made grown men weep.”

“Grown men? I assume you mean you?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny.” Rett turned off the highway and climbed the hill.

Her drunk brain was interpreting everything as sexual. The way his long fingers gripped the steering wheel, the fact that he had discarded his tux jacket for the ride home.Calm down, you horny idiot.

Rhodes Vineyard came into view on their left. The sight made her blood pressure inch up. They were almost at his house. What would happen when they got there?

Not that it mattered. She was going home tomorrow anyway. Wasn’t she?

Rett turned off on a paved lane marked only by a mailbox and drove toward the lake.

Lust warred with whatever amount of logic was left in her brain. If she didn’t find out what was going on under those clothes, she might actually go insane. But what if she made a move and got rejected? This wasn’t a random club hookup. And if he kicked her out, she and Penny would have nowhere to go. They would have to walk back to Ashley’s parents’ house and sleep in the party bus.

“Did your house belong to your grandparents too?”

Nothing killed libido like a dead grandma. Ignoring her raging hormones was almost certainly the safest course of action here.

He nodded. “They left it to me in the will. Kind of a package deal with the winery.”

“How kind of them.”

When her parents died, Jade had been forced to sell their family home and use the proceeds to pay off debt. Ashley’s parents had taken her in until she and Nate signed the lease. No place had ever really been home since.

One bay of a three-door garage opened in front of them. A mammoth structure that looked like a small castle stood to the right. Holy hell. Was that a friggen turret?

The truck slid smoothly inside. A dark SUV was parked in the corner. Penny sat up and immediately crawled across Rett’s leg. She shoved her nose against the window and inspected her new surroundings. Hopefully he had Windex, or that would be coming out of the dwindling experience budget too.

Rett jumped out and came around to her side while she fought with her seatbelt. Her fine motor skills were already suffering. He popped her door open and reached across her lap to release her.

“It sticks sometimes,” he explained.

He offered his hand, and she took it to jump down. She staggered on her heels, and he steadied her. His touch burned through the thin fabric of her dress. They made eye contact again. Something nameless passed between them, and a shiver racked her body. His hand rose, and her breath caught in her chest. Was he going to tear this stupid dress off right here in the garage? She’d never been banged against a pickup truck.

“I think you have…yep, that’s mashed potatoes.” He pulled something white from her hair.

“Oh.” She was an idiot to think he was interested in her. The kiss from the night before had meant nothing. He had probably learned all kinds of acting tricks from his Hollywood mom. “Thanks,” she added.

“Come on.” He led her inside.

Even the mudroom was fancy. Not like golden Dalmatian statues and crystal caviar dishes fancy, but quietly expensive. He put his keys in a dish on a console table and removed his shoes. She bent to do the same, but Penny lunged forward and she was still holding the leash.

She screeched and nearly hurtled to the floor.

“Whoa.” He caught her arm.

“Sorry. I can’t walk in these things.”

“Really? You were dancing in them just fine.”

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