Page 19 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)

Maddie

“Ready?” Wes’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

I’ve been waiting for him on the porch, reading and reflecting on last night’s break-in and what it means for my quest to uncover what happened to Nathan.

All his coded notes are gone. Why didn’t I decode them sooner?

Also, I haven’t been honest with my friends.

The thief didn’t take everything. Nathan’s poem and maps are still in my purse.

I’m not sure if they’ll lead me to answers, but I’m keeping their existence to myself for now.

Wes stands by the swing. Sleeves rolled up.

“I’m ready.” I close the book I’d been reading. “Hannah can’t join us. She needs to handle an issue at the shop.”

Hannah and I had agreed to join Wes for a wine tasting on the mainland—some fun to distract us from our island worries.

Spending time with Wes today seemed like a safe choice, a chance to learn more about his friendship with Nathan and a welcome distraction.

However, not telling Scott nags at me. Now, with Hannah backing out at the last minute, it’s just Wes and me on this trip.

Is that okay? How will Scott feel about it? What exactly are me and Scott, anyway?

Wes reaches out, his fingers curling in invitation. I hesitate for a moment before slipping my hand into his. He helps me off the swing, steadying me as I rise, then pulls me toward him. His grip is warm and firm.

“Good wine. Good company. You’ll feel better soon. Trust me.”

We head toward his rental Jaguar. I had no idea you could rent a Jaguar, but apparently, Wes can.

As we pull out of the driveway, he turns on his playlist. The tunes of Explosions in the Sky envelop us. The music is uplifting, cathartic.

Focusing on the road, he glances my way as we talk.

“What type of wine do you enjoy? Red or white? Sweet or dry?”

“I’ve never given it much thought. Maybe red? I’m not a fan of anything sweet.”

He laughs.

“What?”

“I figured you’d like sweet.” He pats my leg.

“I’ve never been to a wine tasting. Hopefully, I won’t embarrass you.”

“You couldn’t embarrass me if you tried,” he huffs. “May I suggest we order a flight with a regional variety? And maybe we’ll drink just one sweet wine to finish?”

“I’ll follow your lead.” The excitement of the trip is lifting my spirits. “This is fun. I never do fancy things.”

“You deserve fancy.”

We discuss various topics while driving, such as my veterinarian residency and our families, even though Wes is vague about his childhood.

It’s like his life began in adulthood. I plan to press him for more one day.

However, I sense there’s a dark memory from his distant past he’s trying to overcome and wants to forget.

I’ll give him time to share. Being in Wes’s company is easy, and I’m appreciating how genuine he is, away from the cameras and crowds.

No one can replace Nathan, but I feel light and free with Wes, like I did when I was with Nathan.

When we reach the vineyard, neat rows of grapevines stretch for acres. Near the vines, an elegant stone and wood building stands, with parking spaces in front. Two are filled, so Wes parks the car in the third spot and opens my door.

“Muscadine grapes are the varieties grown in this climate.”

“Aren’t those the ugly grapes?”

He laughs. “Yes, but they’re delicious in wine and juice. They also have a lot of health benefits.”

As we step inside, I absorb the romantic energy of the Italian-style winery.

The host greets Wes and leads us to a private tasting room.

We sit at a small table, a large charcuterie board in the center, accompanied by two tall glasses of iced water.

The rich aroma of cheese and cured meat makes my stomach rumble.

“Hungry?”

I give him an abashed look and sit down.

“Just relax and enjoy this.”

I take a sip of water and let my shoulders drop, allowing the atmosphere to soak in.

The sommelier enters with a cart full of wine bottles and glasses. “Mr. Harrington, Ms. Carter.” He bows. “Good afternoon, and welcome to Beau Fruit du Coeur .”

“Fruit of the Heart,” Wes translates.

“I’ve curated a selection of wines that showcase the regional beauty of our vineyard. If there is anything in particular you’d like to explore, please let me know.”

He starts with muscadine white and red wines, followed by a rosé and a semi-sweet blanc. Wes has let me tell all my wacky stories about growing up and diving. I fill him in on my diving adventure the other day and how much fun it was. Amused, he listens, enjoying the wine and food.

“Hmm.” He takes another olive and pops it into his mouth. When I raise my brows, he continues. “It’s interesting what’s on your mind. The past, the ocean, the project.”

“So?” I’m not sure what he’s hinting at.

“Well, I’m curious about what you want now. The animal clinic, your goals…”

“Finding out what happened to Nathan is the most important thing right now. I’ll get to those other things later.”

“Yes, well, a big part of life is learning to let go at the right time—so you can hold on to what you’re meant to. Right?”

“Okay, Aristotle.”

He winks and jumps back into the topic of wine, doing all the work for our host. I’m captivated by the history and essence of each variety and have immersed myself in the experience by the time we reach the dessert wine.

“We end with our Key Lime Dessert Wine, per your request, sir,” the sommelier says, with a slight bow to Wes.

As the expert I now consider myself, I eat a small cracker to cleanse my palate, swirling the wine and observing the thick, pale-yellow legs as they run down the glass. I inhale deeply, catching citrusy floral notes with a hint of honeysuckle. I take a sip.

“What do you taste?”

“It’s tart and creamy.”

“And?”

“Okay… it’s delicious.”

Wes smiles and gulps his down.

After returning to the inn, we relax in the living room, discussing the highlights of our day. We’re on the couch, and Wes leans in closer to me.

“You remind me of Nathan,” he says, a shadow of memory clouds his face. “Intelligence, curiosity—that quiet fire. You’re much stronger than you think.”

“I don’t think I’m much like Nathan at all. He knew what he wanted, and he was so fearless. I’m just… trying to figure things out. I feel pretty useless right now.”

Wes shakes his head, not having it. “Nathan believed in you. And I see why. You have so many great things ahead of you. You just need to take a breath and figure out what you want.”

He’s right. I have no idea what I want. The animal clinic? I should be excited about opening it and building a life here, but am I?

“I’d like to interview you.” His request comes out of the blue. “It’s a piece about Nathan and your time on the island. Tomorrow morning?” I’m a bit taken aback by the abruptness of his request, but I agree.

I hope I don’t regret it.

A noise comes from the kitchen—Garrett. He steps out, holding a glass of tea.

“Good evening.” He’s staring at us, curiosity in his eyes. “It’s quite late. Am I interrupting?”

Wes looks up. “Yes.”

Garrett snorts. “Excuse me, then. If you have a minute, Harrington, I’d like to discuss some business with you before you turn in for the night. I’ll be in the kitchen.” He frowns at Wes, then smiles at me. “Goodnight, Maddie.” Garrett walks back to the kitchen.

Wes rubs a hand down his face and breathes in through his nose.

“So, what’s next? Have you decided how you want to deal with all this?”

“I’m not sure what to do. Nathan’s research, Carter’s Drop, and the break-in are connected, but I can’t figure out how.” I pull my hair back from my face. “It’s like trying to finish a puzzle with half the pieces missing.”

“Well. If I can help you…”

“Why are you so nice to me?” The question slips out before I stop it.

“Easy. I respected Nathan.” His green eyes catch the light and hold it. “And I care about you.”

He means it, leaving me at a loss for words. This is friendship, but I’m confused by what he’s seeking. It seems to be more. But what?

“So… is there something going on between you and Scott?” He flashes a wicked grin.

I blush. “What makes you think that?”

“Um. The way he looks at you as if you’re the only person in the room.” His grin stretches wider. “It’s hard to miss.”

“It’s not like that,” I protest, though my racing heart tells a different story. “Scott’s been kind. We’re just… getting to know each other.”

“Fair enough. But for what it’s worth, Scott’s a good guy. He has some rough edges, sure, but he’s real.”

“Why do you guys hate each other so much?”

I need to know. They’ve been trading sharp jabs at each other since I got here. And if looks could kill, they’d both be dead.

“Oh, we go way back. I wouldn’t say it’s hate. We just…” he pauses for a moment. “Rub each other the wrong way, I suppose. Like the opposite sides of two magnets.”

“I wish you’d get along. You both are my people now.”

“Since you asked so nicely, I’ll give it a shot. Can’t vouch for Scott, though.”

We both laugh at that.

“Thank you for everything.”

He shrugs. “That’s what friends are for. Remember… whatever you need, I’m just a few steps away.”

Warmth blooms in my chest. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He playfully salutes before turning to leave, his relaxed stride taking him up the stairs, ignoring Garrett, who’s still waiting for him in the kitchen.