Page 16 of Love Among Vines

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

RETT

Rett, still kneeling on the floor, stared at the closed door.

This was definitely the first time this had ever happened to him—a beautiful woman, half-naked in front of him, slide tackled by a golden retriever.

If Penny hadn’t made an appearance, there was a strong chance he would have tested the waters.

He had been seconds from holding Jade’s long, lean runner’s body.

Feeling the quickening of her pulse under his fingers.

Pressing her against the wall while he explored every inch.

Their kiss from the rehearsal dinner burned in his mind. Maybe it was just because it had been awhile, but it had been electric, almost earth-shifting. Had Penny saved him from making a mistake?

Beyond the fact that Jade was obviously stunning, even in a rumpled dress, she was resilient, funny, acknowledging of her own flaws, and all-around intriguing.

But she was determined to leave tomorrow, and he wouldn’t see her again for two weeks. And after that? Maybe never. Getting romantically or physically involved would be a mistake. Especially with the winery in jeopardy.

Regardless, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that she deserved more than this.

She had mountains of potential, if only she could unlock it.

A few small changes—a driver’s license, a fresh resume, some financial literacy classes, a steady job—and she’d be unstoppable.

Their relationship would be much better as mentor and mentee, especially at a distance.

Would he be able to ignore that indescribable pull? She’d already been through so much. She deserved love and companionship whether she realized it or not. He couldn’t be the one to hurt her again, but maybe he could help her realize what she truly wanted.

His phone beeped on the dresser, and he snapped out of it. It was Elaine, reporting that everything had gone well and the winery was locked down for the night.

His heart stuttered in his chest. In the chaos of the evening, he had somehow forgotten about the winery. He logged in to their accounting software on his phone and checked the deposit. Not terrible, not great. Another lukewarm Saturday.

After a quick shower, he traipsed down the stairs and opened his refrigerator. Apple dumplings—last night’s stress bake—stared back at him. He whipped off the cellophane and popped them in the oven to warm.

The tip-tap of Penny’s nails on tile drew his attention, and he turned around. There Jade was, a slightly frayed NYU T-shirt draping down to her butt. Her left arm clutched her right, and she approached slowly.

Penny surged forward and planted her paws on his chest.

“Down, Penny.” Jade laughed. “Thank you again for the hospitality. The shower was great. You said you wanted to show me something?”

She was talking fast. Had their half-naked encounter in the hallway rattled her? His eyes drifted down to the hem of her shorts again, then snapped back. He wasn’t getting involved.

“Yes. Come with me.” He stepped into the hallway and opened the basement door.

She followed him. Was she nervous? Scared? They were barely more than strangers. Maybe a joke would help.

“Before you ask, I’m not bringing you down here to murder you.”

“No? It’s such a perfect setup. I bet no one could hear me scream.”

His dick hardened at the idea of her screaming his name, but he dismissed it immediately. Not the right time, not the right girl. He glanced at her. Well, not not the right girl.

They passed the family room and arrived at a bookcase. It was one of the only updates he had made to the house since moving in. With a half smile and an arch of his eyebrow, he pulled on one of the books.

The bookcase swung toward them, and lights flickered on in the room that lay beyond. Penny barked at it and hid behind Jade.

Jade gasped, and his smile grew.

“It’s…beautiful.” She stepped barefoot onto the brick floor.

He followed her. Her head swiveled as she took in the dozens of bottles in wooden racks. A bar stood at the back, decanter and glassware waiting. A small circular table with four chairs was positioned underneath a rustic-looking chandelier. Bricks arched above them in a curved ceiling.

“It’s one of my favorite rooms in the house. Sometimes I come down here just to read and have a glass.”

“You read?” She shot a glance over her shoulder.

“When I can.”

“Me too. I thought it would help my artist constipation, but instead I just got addicted to Nora Roberts. What’s this?” She paused at a bottle in a glass case.

“That’s a bottle from the first batch of wine my grandparents ever made.”

“Wow,” she uttered breathlessly.

“Pick something. We’ll have some with dessert.”

She straightened and looked at him. “You’ve done enough for me. You don’t need to ply me with wine to convince me to come back for the party.”

He shook his head. “That has nothing to do with it. I love to share my love of wine. It’s the lifeblood of my family. If you were staying, I’d do a personal tasting for you.”

She seemed to deliberate for a moment before pulling a bottle from the wine fridge. A five-year-old Gewurtzraminer. She held it out to him.

“Nice choice.” He took it from her and swept his arm toward the exit.

“Was that a test? It felt like a test.”

He chuckled. “Not a test. I don’t get to entertain very often. Indulge me.”

Her gaze moved around the room. “Why not? Are you waiting for a sixteen-person hot tub to be installed?”

“I work a lot.”

She made a noise of disapproval as they climbed the stairs. “It seems like a waste to have this amazing house and not have it filled with laughter and good food. And honestly probably a minimum of three dogs.”

He frowned.

“Sorry,” she said hurriedly, “it’s not my place.”

“It’s not that. That’s exactly what my mom says every time she visits. Except she normally mentions half a dozen grandchildren.”

Jade raised her eyebrows. “In this economy? I can see why you want to get them off your back.”

In the kitchen, he set the bottle on the kitchen counter and peered into the oven.

“Almost done.” He pulled out bowls and glasses.

“Can I help?” she asked.

“No. Sit.”

He poured a generous serving of wine into each glass and slid one across the island to her. She perched on a barstool, hair still damp from her shower, looking like she belonged there.

What was she thinking?

“So what smells so good?”

“Apple dumplings. We didn’t get to have any wedding cake,” he explained.

She tilted her head. “I’ve never had an apple dumpling. But it smells incredible.”

“Just you wait,” he said, opening the oven and sliding on a pair of hot mitts.

When he topped the dumpling with ice cream and set the dessert in front of her, her stomach audibly growled.

“Sorry,” she said.

“What did I tell you about unnecessary apologies?” he asked as he slid onto the seat next to her.

Pink rushed into her cheeks.

He held his glass up, ignoring the effect her expression had on his manhood. “To new beginnings.”

“To new beginnings,” she parroted. They clinked and drank.

She closed her eyes like she felt something deep in her soul. She tipped her chin to the ceiling and cocked her head.

Her eyes snapped open like she could read his thoughts.

“Is your tingle back?” he guessed.

“A little bit.”

For some reason, the fact that his wine had the power to return a muse to its artist was intoxicating.

“Try the dumpling.” He nudged the bowl toward her.

She dug in and let out a moan. If she didn’t stop making sex noises, he was not going to be able to stick to the plan. She was like a work of art herself, and he was having a hard time taking his eyes off her.

“This is incredible. Did you make these, or are they local?”

He hesitated. His baking hobby was not something he shared with the world. “Have you ever tried different kinds of food to fix your block?”

Jade laughed. “I wish I could tell you all the things I’ve tried to unblock myself. It’s part of the reason why I’m so poor now.”

His dumpling sat in front of him untouched. “Really? Like what?”

She took a sip of wine, and her body trembled for an instant. “Everything. I mean it. That’s been my whole philosophy since my brain shut down. I thought that if I just opened myself to enough new experiences, something would eventually click.”

She ticked items off on her fingers. “Cooking lessons, skydiving, every legendary dish from every restaurant in the city. I learned sign language, did polar plunges, took up CrossFit, started running, volunteered at community kitchens, rode roller coasters, took helicopter tours. I did everything short of throwing myself over Niagara Falls in a barrel.”

He paused with a bite halfway to his mouth. “When you say you’re poor?—”

“I mean I’ll be homeless in three months.”

His stomach clenched. How had she let the reins get so loose over the years? Sure, the winery wasn’t thriving, but they weren’t on the verge of shutting their doors.

He took a deep breath and searched for the right words. She didn’t need more criticism.

“I know I sound like an idiot.” That saved him from a response.

Her cheeks were pink again. “It wasn’t always like this.

I was actually making great money while I was in school.

But then my parents died, and I had to settle everything with their estate.

I used the life insurance to pay off the funerals and the mortgage and my student loans.

And of course I thought I was entering into a partnership where expenses would be divided and I would have some breathing room.

But then I was totally blindsided and locked into an insanely expensive lease by myself for a year.

I moved to a cheaper apartment, but I’ve been barely treading water ever since. ”

The right words still evaded him. His heart ached for her. Sure, she had stumbled into a few pitfalls. But she was a good person. He could help her if she’d let him.

“That’s why I have to go back,” she added, voice barely more than a whisper. “I have to figure out where to go from here.”

He laid a hand on her arm, and his skin tingled at the touch. Maybe some honesty would help bridge that gap.

“I think we could help each other,” he said gently. “The winery has been…underperforming.”

She raised her eyebrows and looked around the kitchen.

“I know it doesn’t look like it based on where we’re sitting.

I’m somewhat of an expert at budgeting, so we’ve absorbed a lot of hits.

But with all the competition in the area, we’re not making sales like we used to.

People who mean the world to me depend on me for their livelihoods.

I need to try some new tactics. If you stayed in town, we could do a joint project. What about a paint and sip night?”

Jade straightened up and looked indignant for a second. Then her shoulders slumped. “I couldn’t even lead a paint and sip. We’d all just stare at blank canvases for two hours.”

“Why don’t you sleep on it?”

“Okay.” She climbed to her feet.

She was going to bed already? He hadn’t meant right this second. But maybe it was better if she went to bed. Then he wouldn’t run the risk of losing control.

She brought her bowl and spoon to the dishwasher and whistled for Penny. She disappeared outside for a moment, then returned.

“Rett?”

He turned to look at her. She had paused with one foot on the stairs.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Everything. For coming with me tonight. For dessert. And for believing in me.”

She darted up the stairs without waiting for a response.

Warmth coursed through his body. She would see reason in the morning. He was sure of it.