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“I don’t think that would be a good idea right now.”
“When are flowers not a good idea?”
Merritt was quiet.
“Whatever. Thanks for nothing.” He hung up, knowing it was rude, but the frustration was taking over. Why wouldn’t anyone tell him what was going on with her? They were giving him nothing. Not even scraps of information. But he was determined to use his lawyerly investigative skills to figure out where she was.
Everyone he spoke to the next day was tightlipped. He even attempted to talk to Gerard, but he was loyal to the Schultz family and wouldn’t divulge Skylar’s location either.
On his final attempt, he spoke to Skylar’s assistant, Joy, who told him Skylar was up north at the winery, working remotely, and would be out of the office until at least the end of August.
The winery! Of course.
He immediately dropped what he was doing, canceled meetings for the next couple days, and began making plans to head north. After work, he raced home, packed a bag, then called Merritt.
“Hello, Franky,” she answered. “I’m not telling you where she is.”
“I already know she’s at the winery.”
“What? Who told you?”
“Her assistant.”
“Ugh. Traitor.”
“I sweet-talked her a little,” Franky said with a chuckle, “and she knows Skylar is my best friend.”
“I knew you weren’t going to give up,” she replied.
“I need to know if she’s staying at the winery or elsewhere. I didn’t want to call around town, trying to find her, and tip her off that I’m coming. I want to surprise her.”
“Uh … no, she’s not at the inn.”
“Where’s she staying? A hotel?”
Merritt paused for so long, he thought the signal might have dropped. “She’s staying at Luca’s.”
Franky’s heart plummeted at this news. “What?”
“Franky, I really don’t think you should go up there right now.”
“She’s with Luca?”
“All I can tell you is that she needs this time away. Please let her have it.”
“Right. Got it,” he grumbled and hung up.
So, that’s what this was about. She was with Luca. He didn’t understand why she hadn’t told him about her new relationship or why it was so secretive, but all the worry he’d had over her flew out the window and was quickly replaced with another emotion of the green-eyed monster variety.
THIRTY-FOUR
The warm yellow glow of the late August sunrise colored the tops of the grapevines as Skylar walked along the dirt path, taking in the beauty. It had become a daily tradition for her these past couple of months, a new habit she knew she would miss when she returned to Grand Rapids. She could keep up the morning walks at home, of course, but it wouldn’t be the same.
Luca’s place, it turned out, was a loft apartment above the detached garage at his parents’ house, which was situated on a plot of land that butted up against the vineyard. The Zanettis had bought the land from Dad when the winery was new so they could live close to work.
The apartment was on the cozy side, but it was all she needed, and being able to get up, throw on a sweater, grab a mug of coffee, and walk out on the property was the best thing about it. It was the perfect escape for her this summer, and it had done her a world of good, though the ache in her heart hadn’t fully subsided.
As nice as it had been to get away and heal, she knew all along that this was only temporary. Soon, she’d have to face Franky and Ivy again. There would be no escaping them in the long term. Franky was like family. He was Bash’s best friend … her friend. Their parents were close. He chose Ivy, and they would be in her life forever. It was just a fact. One she’d have to find a way to live with.