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Chardonnay was talking about the next town hall meeting and taking down the jerks of Gold Crest as I caught Ben running across the parking lot into the warehouse.I glanced at the time.It hadn’t even been twenty minutes since I called him.Unfortunately, there wasn’t much I could do as far as setup until all the tables and chairs were put into place, which was why I was in my sister’s office, listening to her plan to mobilize the entire town against the unwanted expansion into Vine Valley.
Ever since the suits of Gold Crest showed up at the last town hall meeting with plans to expand into our territory, Chardonnay had been on an all-out mission to stop them.It had nothing to do with another vineyard coming to Vine Valley.It had to do with thisparticularone.Their current tasting room in the town over was a hot spot for loud music, unruly crowds, and DUIs.It was more of a club than a winery.
When they had first popped up in the area, Chardonnay and Laurent welcomed them with open arms, only to have the door practically slammed in their face and their good wishes ignored.These people owned another establishment in California and thought they knew everything and didn’t need to associate with the small-town folk.
Now Chardonnay was determined to ensure Vine Valley stayed rooted in the community and not commercial chaos, despite the mayor obviously taking bribes from the competitor.She had a great case, though, and I had no doubt she would be able to put an end to this madness.
“What are you looking at?”Char asked, and I snapped my head away from the window.
“Ben finally got here.I guess I should head down and get things ready to go for the garden ladies.”
“You need help?”
Char was only in the office to work on the case she’d be presenting in front of the town board at the end of the month.
“And take you away from you castle in the sky?”I asked, poking fun at the fact she and Laurent had offices on the second floor of the tasting room, away from everyone.I had my own office, but it was smaller, windowless, and directly next to the kitchen, so I heard every blender and dropped tray in real time.Not to mention the smells that tried to lull me in there.
Char glanced up from her PowerPoint.“Some of us like to think when we work and not have to mediate on who put too much lemon in the aioli.”
“And some of us like to know what’s happening in our building,” I shot back.
“Trust me, I know every single thing that happens in this place.Now go.”She peered over her screen.“And Sher.”
I paused at the door.“Yeah.”
“Don’t bite his head off just yet.People make mistakes.Hell, Rhone is late at least once a week.”
“Yeah, but I expect that from Rhone.”My baby brother was charmingly unreliable, in that way only the youngest of seven could be—forgetful, distracted, but somehow always forgiven.
Ben didn’t have that get out of jail free card.
He wasn’t my brother.He wasn’t even family.He was just some guy I let in, only for him to reject me.Maybe I was putting too much weight into the rejection, but it stung, and that lingering pain just wouldn’t subside.
Char’s dark brown eyes met mine.“Is there something else going on with you?”
“No.”
“I know you slept with him,” Char said.
I didn’t have to ask her how she knew.If at least one person in our family knew, it was only a matter of time before the gossip made it through the grapevine.
“He’s not the first guy I’ve slept with,” I said, trying to keep my voice even, like it didn’t matter.
The way Char’s eyebrow lifted, I knew I was unsuccessful.“True, but he may just be the first one you’ve looked like this over.
I could have lied, brushed it off, or excused myself to get down to the barn, but Char would see right through me.“I don’t know what’s going on.One minute we were… something, and then the next he’s pulling away and distant.”
She leaned in her leather chair, crossing her arms across her chest.Her white button-up shirt pulled slightly with the movement.“Take it from someone who has had her fair share of a very distant man.It’s not you.”
“That’s what Lainey said.”
“Smart girl, but she is dating our idiot brother, so she has experience.”Char uncrossed her arms and rested her forearms on the desk, her hands linking together.
“But what if it is me?”
Char’s expression softened.“You really think that?”
I hesitated, then shook my head.“No.I mean… maybe a little.It’s just… the way he looked at me before he left, like something was eating at him.Like he wanted to say more and just… couldn’t.I was too pissed to ask, but now I wonder if he’s okay.”