Page 47 of Let it Breathe
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Iarrivedat Hennings number three early. I wanted to walk around the grounds a bit, get my bearings, and see if after what happened, I could still be around it. I took a walk over to the closest track of grapes and ducked under the fence. The grape buds were a month away, but the plants were waking up for the season. I leaned over and smelled the vine, imagining what it would turn into as I breathed in the aroma.
"I'm supposed to smell the vines, too?" His sexy voice hit me in the gut and then the heart.
I spun on my heels and reached out for the nearest vine to steady myself.
Donovan stood with his arms crossed resting on top of the fence a few feet away. His blue t-shirt and jeans were simple, but they looked stylish on his frame. His hair had grown out a bit, and he wore it shaved close to his scalp, at little longer on the top.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Oh, you know. Learning about wine. I got a taste for it a couple of months ago, and now, I'm hooked."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Okay, so full disclosure ..." he continued.
"It's about time ..." I said.
He narrowed his eyes, and I smirked. We stood facing each other, but even with a few feet separating us, I felt him. We stared, challenging each other in an unspoken game to see who would blink first. It was childish and stupid, but the hurt feelings had not gone away, and I missed him, which pissed me off even more.
I held on to the vine too tight, and the wood broke and poked me in the hand.
"Shit."
Donovan laughed.
I brought my hand up to my lips. When I looked back at Donovan, he licked his lips.
"You okay?"
I didn't understand the question. What was I supposed to be okay about? I changed the subject. "Full disclosure?"
"I'm the one you're meeting with. I'm David's partner in a new little destination vineyard he's starting."
I was not expecting that. I narrowed my eyes and stood with my hand on my hip.
"Did you ask him to give me a job?"
"No." He slowly shook his head.
"I don't believe you," I said.
"I don't care if you don't believe me." He sighed and looked away. "That's not true. I do care."
"Why didn't you tell me about my brother?" I dropped my arms. "Why did you lie?"
"I didn't lie per se ... I just didn't want to have to tell you about your brother being shady without really knowing the truth."
I jutted my chin out, ready to defend my brother even though he was right. I wasn't ready to give him that.
"He wasn't being shady; he just got in over his head."
"I know that. That's why I offered to bail him out."
"Oh, yeah." I lowered my arms. The tension killed me.
"You did that for me?"
