Page 44 of What She Deserves
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Rashad stepped onto the cabin’s balcony and filled his lungs with fresh air. Seeing the property in the daylight was an entirely different experience. The views were impressive, with rolling hills and trees as far as the eye could see.
Layla was already outside, her long, dark hair resting on the fluffy white robe, knees pulled into her chest on the lounge chair. She gazed out at the sunrise as she sipped coffee, smiling briefly at him as he pulled a chair next to her and sat down.
“I wish I could stay here forever,” she said. “It’s magnificent. I feel so relaxed.”
“Maybe you needed a break.”
“I think I did. I’m always going, going, going because of Ethan, and of course having five siblings means there’s always something going on—weddings, baby showers, gossipy group chats.” She sighed. “But this… this is nice. You should buy the winery for the view alone.”
“Speaking of your family, your dad is a trip.”
“He drives my mom and my siblings batty. If he followed the doctor’s orders, he’d get better faster, but of course he has to do things his way. He’s so stubborn.”
“So that’s where you get your stubbornness from?”
“Hey…” Layla cut her eyes at him.
Rashad laughed, but his gaze settled on her in a new way. She looked a lot like her mother—a well put together woman with the same tawny-gold skin, but her mother’s dark hair was shorter and contained strands of gray. If he had to guess, he’d say Layla’s personality was a combination of both her parents. She had her mother’s style and engaging personality, but she also had her father’s attitude when she was upset. She didn’t have any problem giving Rashad a piece of her mind or cutting him off, and from what he’d heard about Mr. Fleming’s courtroom style, those were his genes.
Listening to her parents last night had been nice and reminded him of the first iteration of their short-lived romance. Layla had always been generous with stories about her family, too, and he wished he also had happy, funny stories to share. His life hadn’t been completely miserable, and he knew there were people who had it worse, but since he never knew his mother, and his father had been a predator of the worst kind, he preferred not to think about those days, or the days he lived alone in that little boarding house. As far as he was concerned, his life didn’t begin until he turned eighteen. At college, he was reborn. A new man.
Rashad took Layla’s hand. Her fingers were warm from hugging the cup of coffee. He kissed her knuckles and rested his head against the chair’s back to enjoy the silence.
He wished Heather could have met Layla. He hated how she’d been taken from him and Alex, disease ravaging her body as she lay in the hospital. Life could be so unpredictable. She would’ve liked this place.
Though he strived to avoid pain and loss, somehow they always found him. One minute everything was fine, then the next a tragic event could suck away all the joy and leave you stranded, tossed about on a sea of emotion without a paddle. Navigating those tumultuous waters was difficult at best, soul-crushing at worst. He was very tired of soul-crushing.
That’s why he’d never been able to admit that he loved Layla. That’s why their relationship had been difficult and he’d tried to mitigate the damage before the universe saw fit to remove her from his life, but after last night’s near slip at dinner, he couldn’t deny his feelings. He loved her. More than he realized he’d been capable of loving a woman. Opening up to her still scared the hell out of him, but as he became more confident in the relationship, he suspected he’d become more courageous and share the more private parts of his life.
Maybe he could avoid pain this time. He wanted the world for Layla, and the fact that she already loved this place so much helped him make up his mind about turning the property into the next business venture for him and Alex.
He still had a lot to tell Layla, but for now he’d simply enjoy their time together.
* * *
After a big breakfast,Rashad and Layla went to the first appointment of their very full day of activities. They joined a group of ten in the cask room and cellar, where they learned how wines were made, and the guide explained about the different varietals and how the wines were stored before deemed ready for consumption. They also visited the wine library, a quiet, small space filled with artifacts that told the history of winemaking. Rashad mentally took note of all the information shared, as well as the professionalism of the woman giving the tour.
The group whittled down to six, which included two other couples, once they went out on horseback. The knowledgeable male guide explained the history of the property and about the types of grapes they grew, as well as the accolades they’d received over the years. The owners, along with staff, had planted ten thousand vines by hand, and Lion Mountain grew French grapes in the red Georgia clay, which was similar to the soil in France. The couple chose this location because of the sun exposure, which resulted in the ripest fruit possible, ensuring the highest level of sweetness and flavor.
On two occasions they climbed off the horses and experienced the property up close, walking among the vines and learning how to properly pick the grapes. Rashad took multiple pictures of Layla on horseback as well as posing among the vines. She took his breath away. He was addicted to her smiles, and the camera loved her.
When they returned to the main building, it was time for the afternoon wine tasting. They sat next to one of the couples they’d toured with earlier, tourists from out of town who happened to find out about the area through a hotel brochure.
“I think we have a new favorite place to visit on a regular basis,” the woman said, smiling at her husband. She had short dark hair and bright gray eyes.
“Definitely,” he agreed, in a heavy bass. He looked to be of Middle Eastern descent and much older than his wife by at least fifteen years.
“We’ve visited wineries in Napa, so I have to admit to being impressed by this location. Who knew Georgia had such great options.”
“A hidden gem, for sure. I’ll definitely be back,” Layla said, talking across Rashad.
They chose six pours, and each wine had a unique and delicious flavor. At the end of the tasting, they went into the retail store and Layla picked up several bottles to take back to Atlanta for herself and her best friends.
Later, after they’d showered and were dressing for dinner, Rashad asked, “So what do you think? You think me and Alex should take the risk?”
“I absolutely love this place,” Layla said, zipping up her slacks. “But what do you and Alex know about making wine? It’s a lot different from what you do now.”
