Page 45 of So Right
Chapter Eight
Kelsey parked in the lot at West Arch Estate and shut off the car just before eleven on Wednesday. She sat there for a moment and took a deep breath. She hadn’t seen Luke since last Saturday night when she’d kissed him. They’d texted some, mostly about today’s meeting with the archaeologist, but she’d held back a little. She couldn’t help it.
Crystal pulled into the spot next to her and waved.
Kelsey stepped out of the car and pocketed her keys. The day was cool, with thick clouds overhead. The forecast called for rain, but hopefully it would hold off until they were finished. Just in case, she’d worn her rain boots.
Crystal had done the same. As she came around her car to meet Kelsey, she pointed at their boots. “Same pair!”
Kelsey wiggled her toes. “I love these.” Living in the Pacific Northwest her whole life, she knew the value of good rain boots.
“Me too. I didn’t realize how important and fabulous rain boots could be until I started spending more time here,” Crystal said.
They walked toward the winery. “Is it hard to travel so much?” Kelsey asked.
Crystal lifted a shoulder. “I’m used to it. Mostly it’s here to LA, so it’s not terrible. Flying back and forth to North Carolina gets old, so I only go a few times a year. And usually for Thanksgiving and Christmas. My family gives me such a hard time if I miss the holidays. I haven’t told them yet, but I’m actually thinking of staying here for Christmas this year.” She winced. “Maybe. I have to decide if I’m up for the battle.”
Kelsey hadn’t spent the holidays with her family in years. Noah wouldn’t have let her even if she’d wanted to. And she’d spent the last two Christmases working. “That’s a bummer.”
As Crystal reached for the door, the sound of a car pulling into the lot behind them made them turn. It was a blue Prius. Kelsey didn’t recognize the driver.
Crystal turned from the door. “Must be the archaeologist.”
“Must be,” Kelsey agreed.
The woman stepped out of the car and waved at them. “Hi, I’m Dana Boyd.”
Kelsey and Crystal went to shake her hand and introduced themselves.
“Thanks so much for coming out here today,” Crystal said. “Can we help you with anything?”
Dana had shoulder-length brown hair and wore a stylish khaki cap with a narrow brim and a pair of glasses with a purple rim. Kelsey would say she was in her late thirties, but wasn’t great at guessing ages. Dana smiled as she reached into the backseat. “Nope, I’ll just get my bag.”
“Love your hat,” Kelsey said. “Can I ask where you got it?”
Dana frowned briefly, then pulled it off. “Had to remember which one I grabbed. I’m a total hat whore.”
Kelsey grinned. “Me too.”
“REI, I think,” Dana said, looking inside the hat. She found the tag. “Yep. But it was a few years ago. I like your hat too.”
Kelsey’s was a dark gray cap with a bit of a newsboy flair to it.
Crystal pivoted back toward the winery. “Come on, we’ll meet everyone else inside.”
“Sounds good.” Dana locked her car, and they moved into the building. Brooke, Cam, and Luke were waiting in the large main room, which was nearly finished—good thing since their wine club dinner was this weekend.
Crystal took care of introducing everyone. They had a good-sized group but were still missing some folks. Alaina’s daughter was under the weather today, so Alaina hadn’t been able to make it. Hayden was too busy, and Jamie had something else going on.
Kelsey had tried not to look at Luke as soon as she’d come inside, but couldn’t keep her gaze from wandering in his direction. He was looking at her too. She gave him a small smile, but he didn’t return it. His eyes were dark, sort of intense. She remembered his lips on hers and shivered.
Dana looked around at all of them. “Shall we head up to the alleged site of the homestead?”
“Yes, this way,” Cam said, leading them toward the staircase and the hall beyond that, which led to an exterior door.
Once they were outside, Dana opened her bag and withdrew a map, which she unfolded and perused. “Let me just get my bearings.” She looked out over the vineyard and then back to the map. Then she folded it back up. “Okay, so we’re heading up there?” She pointed to the top of the ridge.
“That’s what we thought,” Crystal said.
