Page 41 of Love Among Vines

The sun gilded Rett’s jawline. He looked like a friggen Adonis contemplating the earth.

Her eyes dipped without permission, taking just a glance at his waterlogged physique. Desire stirred in her again.

What the hell was she going to do? The need to stay was growing by the second. Would the lake grant her another burst of inspiration? But she had next to no money and frankly she didn’t know Rett well enough to stay with him for two weeks.

The city was safer.

“Shit. What time is it?” She patted her pockets, but her phone was still in the house.

“About seven twenty.”

Kenya would be awake any minute, ready to load up the bus.

“I have to get back. We’re scheduled to leave by eight.”

“Let me take you back to the city.”

She turned to look at him. “You want to take a spontaneous eight-hour round trip? Into downtown Manhattan? Don’t you have a winery to open?”

He hesitated, then shook his head. “I need to make it up to you. I wanted to help, not make things harder for you.” He gazed at the waterlogged paper.

His fingers landed on her arm again, and a shiver rocked her body. His green eyes were quiet today, serene like the lake behind him. Was she really about to climb into a car with someone she barely knew?

“You really want to take me back to New York?”

“I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’d like you to stay here. Look what you’ve done since you’ve been here.” He pointed at the runny watercolor. “But if you need to go back to the city, that’s where I’ll take you. Consider transportation a perk of our agreement.”

The idea of having another five hours to spend with Rett was very tempting. But how would she fill all those hours of conversation? There was only so much she could word vomit.

His thumb stroked her wrist.

“Let’s go to brunch. Then I’ll drive you back.”

Her stomach growled as if on command. She hadn’t even finished the incredible apple dumpling from the night before. Some brunch couldn’t hurt. And if it meant avoiding the awkward post-wedding conversation with the other bridesmaids in the party bus, even better.

“Okay. Just brunch.”

An hour later, Jade had made her excuses to Kenya, and she and a freshly showered Rett were in his truck.

“You’re going to love Margie’s,” he said. “The food is incredible.”

He hadn’t opted for a suit today but had still insisted on wearing a button-down with the sleeves rolled up. Was this part of his trick to convince her to stay? How badly did he need an artist-in-residence to do paint and sip?

If she was being honest with herself, she didn’t want to leave. But a paint and sip event wouldn’t cover even a third of first and last month’s rent on a new apartment. There was no choice but to go home to the apartment she was already paying for and look for a new job and place to live.

Rett pulled into a spot on the street and jumped out. Jade fought with her seatbelt again until Rett popped her door open and reached across her. The seatbelt retracted, brushing against her skin as it went. Great, now she was getting turned on by seatbelts.

“I really need to get that fixed,” he said as he offered her a hand.

She jumped down, and he steadied her with a hand on one hip. She stepped onto the sidewalk and took in her surroundings. Townspeople waved at each other as they ducked into shops. A group of elderly women power walked through the village green. Glimpses of the lake were just visible beyond the iconic gazebo.

“Come on. I’m sure you’re eager to get back.” There was a smirk on his face, like he could read her mind.

He led her across the village green to the turquoise building with the yellow door she had spotted on her run. Margie’s.

The second Rett opened the door, Jade could have levitated the rest of the way just from the scents drifting towards her.Savory pork and fried hash browns. Buttery muffins and flaky pastries.

She took one step inside and stopped in her tracks. “Holy shit.”

---