Page 16 of So Right
He moved to open the door for her. “You didn’t.”
“Good. I’m just so surprised at Cam being the first to be engaged and that you and Jamie are still living together. Honestly, your father and I gave you six months before you decided you’d had enough. Maybe you’re not as much of a loner as we thought.” She eyed him intently as a breeze stirred her blonde hair. She didn’t have much gray but was still careful to color it.
He laughed. His folks had always had him pegged. “Oh, I am, and I’m surprised I’ve lasted this long with Jamie too.” He winced. “I don’t know how much more I can take, though.”
“Oh no, is it bad? It seems like you’re getting along so well.”
“We are. It’s just a small house, and we have different…living styles.”
She reached inside the car and set the casserole tote on the passenger seat. “You were always much tidier. What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure what Icando. Good rental property in Ribbon Ridge is tough to come by.”
“True. Maybe it’s time you bought something. You can afford it, can’t you?”
He could. He’d dumped a lot of money into the winery two years ago, but he had enough to buy something small. If he wanted to. “I’m not sure I’m ready for those kinds of roots.”
She touched his arm. “What are you afraid of, Luke? You’ve always been so careful and so…uninterested in forming deep relationships. You never really had a best friend growing up.”
He couldn’t dispute anything she said, just as he couldn’t answer her question. “I don’t think I’m afraid. I’m just…here.” Waiting. Yes, waiting. Maybe that was it. He’d settle down, as she put it, when it was right. So far, it hadn’t been right.
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I love you. See you soon.”
“Love you too. Say hi to Dad.”
She climbed into the car with a nod. “Will do.”
He watched her fire up the engine and pull out of the driveway. Instead of going back inside, he inhaled the night air and started walking. When he reached Main Street, he paused, realizing he’d given zero thought to his destination. Or if he even had one.
He turned left and found himself approaching The Arch and Vine. Without hesitating, he walked inside and strode to the bar. George must’ve had the night off because it was another of their bartenders, Mick. He made a killer Moscow mule, so Luke ordered one.
“You got it,” he said, grabbing a copper mug from the shelf above his head. “What brings you in here tonight?”
“Just out for a stroll and thought I’d stop in.”
Mick mixed the drink with expert hands. “Excellent. So my wife joined your wine club the other day. She’s really excited about the dinner coming up.”
Right, their first wine club dinner was in a few weeks. “Cool. I’m glad you guys joined.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. You know how much I love pinot.”
Mick didn’t look like a wine connoisseur with his tattoos and piercings, but he had a fantastic palate and worked part-time as a sommelier for the wine-and-cheese shop next door.
Just then, Kelsey entered Luke’s line of sight. Or had he been looking for her? She took an order at a booth and turned toward the bar. He knew the exact moment she saw him. Her eyes widened slightly, and there seemed to be a hitch in her step.
He felt an answering hitch in his chest. Her beauty threatened to steal his breath. Hell, when had his mild interest in her become something more?
He didn’t know, but it had. He’d been utterly disappointed when she’d turned him down last night. And yet here he was, seeking her out—and yes, he could be honest with himself and admit that was exactly what he was doing.
She walked up to the bar. “Mick, I need a Crossbow and a Maid Marion.”
Mick set Luke’s mule in front of him before grabbing two pint glasses. “You got it.”
“Hey, Kelsey,” Luke said, picking up his ice-cold copper mug. He sipped the mule, the delicious ginger spice awakening his tongue.
“Hi, Luke, how’s it going?”
“Great, thanks.” This felt stilted. Awkward. He hated that. He never should’ve asked her out. Or maybe she should’ve said yes, a tiny voice argued at the back of his mind. He mentally told that voice to shut the hell up. “Working again, huh?”
