Page 58 of Bordeaux Bombshell
“Uh, yeah. Sure.” I’ve been tripping over my words all night, confused by the lack of irritation in his tone. “Thanks,” I add.
I know I was planning to be charming and polite, but with him also being nice, it feels like we’re playing pretend. Like I’m wearing shoes a size too small, and any minute now, someone is going to call a time-out so we can be normal for a minute.
Except, I kind of like how not angry I am right now. It would be nice to stay that way.
Maggie and Kel are wandering from table to table, chatting with people—well, Maggie is chatting, and Kel is smiling at her like a dummy—while the rest of us finish eating. My mom keeps glancing from Nate to me, then leaning over to whisper in Jackie’s ear.
The other “favor” Maggie did was seat the two of us with our parents, as well as Maggie’s mom and dad. I guess she hoped we would be on our best behavior around the real adults.
“How was Boston, Sydney?” Greg asks, leaning across the table to take the carafe from Nate. “You missed some beautiful weather here.”
“I heard. Boston was good. I did a lot of sightseeing in the city. Hung out with Lauren and Alfie once they got there.”
Greg smiles when Jackie rests a hand on his shoulder. “Glad to hear it. We missed you on Mother’s Day. Had a big event at the Ridge.”
“You just missed her being there to help run it, Dad,” Nate interrupts. “Sydney always was the best at making the charcuterie boards.”
My mouth dries up. Was that a compliment? “You mean I’m the fastest. Mother’s Day has always been the day we sell the most.”
“That’s because those kids know what’s best for them is taking their mom out for a nice afternoon in the vineyard. Actually—” Jackie turns to Nate. “I was talking to Sophie the other day, and—”
“Not just the fastest. The best.” Nate cuts his mom off, squeezing my thigh and distracting me from Jackie. “Hey Dad, I was thinking it might be time to give the website a refresh.” He doesn’t let go of my thigh, his thumb brushing along the outside and sending shivers down my spine. “I was thinking we should hire Sydney to look it over and spruce it up.”
Warning bells ring in my mind, but I can’t figure out if it’s from the conversation or Nate’s fingers drifting along my skin. “You know I’d do it for free, guys,” I croak out, my mouth gone dry. I snatch my water goblet and gulp half of it down.
“Nonsense.” Greg waves me off. “You tell me what your normal rates are, and we’ll work it out with Sutton.”
Jackie opens her mouth to speak, but my mom cuts her off this time. “Jackie, come with me. I need to go check on the kids.” Without waiting for a reply, Mom pulls Jackie out of her chair and down to the kids’ table, where Olive is holding court.
Before I can ask what’s going on, Nate leans close, his neatly trimmed beard tickling my cheek. “You okay?”
“I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone. Be normal.” My whisper is harsh, but he just grins.
“I am being normal.”
I roll my eyes, then lean closer as a server comes by to clear our plates. “No you’re not. You’re being far too…”
“Pleasant?” he offers. The hand on my thigh moves, sliding down toward my knee, then over to the inside of my leg. The knee-length hem of my dress rides up with the motion, and I gasp.
Shifting in my seat, I pull my leg out of reach before whispering in his ear. “Stop it, you Neanderthal.”
He chuckles, then drops his arm over the back of my chair, letting his fingers dance across the exposed skin of my shoulder. “There you are. I was wondering when the real Sydney was going to show up. I was afraid you left her behind in Boston.”
“The real me?” No one is paying attention to us anymore, so I turn my body to face Nate. “What’s that supposed to mean? Is the real me not polite and able to carry on a normal conversation?”
He shrugs. “The real you is absolutely able to do it. Just seems like you haven’t been able to do it in my presence for the last few years.”
Maggie floats up to the table, eyes and skin glowing as she pulls Kel along behind her. “I’m so glad you guys are here.” Letting go of Kel, who moves to stand beside Nate, Maggie pulls me out of my seat and into a bone-crushing hug.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Over her shoulder, I make eye contact with my brother. The smile on his face is so genuine, my heart swells in my chest. As soon as Maggie lets go, I grab him and pull him into a hug of my own.
“I’m so happy for you, Kel. You deserve only the best, and you got it in her.” There’s a lump in my throat and tears gathering in the corners of my eyes, but I keep myself under control.
“You do, too, Syd.” His quiet words accent the quick squeeze he gives me. Letting go, he slaps a hand on Nate’s shoulder. “How’s mybestman?”
Weird emphasis on that word, but I brush it off, taking a second to catch my breath by admiring the knee-length whitedress Maggie is wearing. The lace material hugs her waist, and tiny embroidered blue flowers line the sleeves and hem. She looks positively radiant.
“He’s being perfectly tolerable tonight.”
