Page 45 of Love Among Vines

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

RETT

“Thanks for visiting Rhodes Vineyard.” Rett waved as a customer left with a case of wine.

He buffed the countertop with a cloth and glanced into the tasting room.

Elaine was serving a pinot to a table of six.

Jade sat with Penny in the corner of the room.

She was frowning at something on the new laptop, glass of red virtually untouched next to it.

Hopefully she was studying for her learner’s permit.

Penny lifted her hand and nosed Jade, who snapped to attention. She secured the leash on Penny and led her outside with a wink at Rett. Jade lifted her face to the sun and stretched like she was drinking it in. She was a master of soaking in a moment.

Tom’s words from the day before filtered back in. While the girls were taking a walk, Tom had confronted him about why exactly he was letting Jade leave.

His heart faltered. She was supposed to leave on Sunday. One week left. There would be no more dates, no more mind-blowing sex, no more elaborate attempts to thwart her painter’s block.

More than anything, he would miss her companionship.

As chaotic as she could be, her presence was like a glass of champagne for his soul.

She was kind, beautiful, optimistic, sexy as hell.

The city didn’t deserve her, damn it. She couldn’t leave.

Hammondsport was her home. He could feel it in his bones.

But how was he supposed to convince her? She had been hell-bent on going back to the city, and it had taken a lot of convincing for her to stay the two weeks before the party. And what if she went back and met someone else? He wouldn’t stand for it.

“What’s wrong? It kind of looks like you’re trying to buff your way to the floor.”

Rett jumped and dropped his cloth. Unbeknownst to him, Jade and Penny had snuck back in. She studied his face, frowning.

“Nothing. Just thinking about the party,” he lied.

“But you’re still committing to drinks and dinner tonight,” she said with a look. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes. As soon as we’re closed.” He crossed his heart. The end-of-day could wait till the morning.

“Good.” She leaned across the counter and kissed him before retreating back to her table.

The tasting group dispersed and filtered into the gift shop, a welcome distraction.

He needed to see if her feelings had changed. Communication and truth-telling had been one of the rules of their agreement, after all. There was no sense in pretending like their fake relationship wasn’t starting to feel real.

Two weeks wasn’t enough time. He wanted—needed—more. He resolved to talk to her about it and went back to work.

“Where are we going?” Rett frowned. Jade was being very cagey and was giving him directions. They were headed east, in the direction of Seneca Lake.

“So grumpy.” She poked him in the cheek. “You’ll find out when we get there.” With a smile, she went back to staring out the window.

Hammondsport was at its most spectacular. The fall foliage was at its peak. Explosions of red and yellow dotted the hills. The air was cool and crisp.

“Fine. But you will answer traffic questions on the way. Tuesday will be here before you know it.”

“Do your worst.”

The truck crawled to a stop. “What does a double yellow line on the road mean?”

“No passing in either lane.”

“Good. Can we make a U-turn at this red light?”

“I think it’s fine as long as there isn’t a sign prohibiting it? And we’re in the leftmost lane?”

Rett nodded. “I’m taking you for your first drive when you get your permit.”

In the interest of not acquiring traffic tickets she couldn’t afford, they had decided to table driving lessons until her permit was in hand.

“I’m sure you’ll be too busy with party preparations. Besides, Margie already offered.”

He looked at her. “Margie has more fender benders than anyone in the tristate area. She’s not qualified to teach someone to drive a bumper car.”

Jade snorted. “Sorry. I mean—I’m not sorry,” she said when she saw the look he shot her.

He nodded and continued driving. Finally, they arrived at their destination.

Solera Taphouse, a hole-in-the-wall with the best cocktails and food this side of the lake.

He had stopped going sometime after the breakup with Alexa.

It was bad enough having his friends and family grilling him about his feelings, let alone his favorite barkeep.

“I haven’t been here in forever,” he said softly.

“Cindy said it used to be your favorite.” Jade hopped out of the truck, and he hesitated. Did Charlie still work here? Would he remember him?

It was exactly the same as he had left it. Scrappy, clean, and with the intoxicating scent of caramelized onions drifting out.

They ducked inside the building to find a charming, rustic atmosphere. Roughly hewn boards lined the walls and floors, and a handsome bar stretched the full length of the room. A tap menu was handwritten in chalk.

“Well as I live and breathe.” The gentleman behind the bar, a thirty-something in a flannel shirt and baseball cap, put a hand to his chest. “Is that Everett Rhodes darkening my doorstep?”

“Hey, Charlie.” Rett pulled out a barstool and gestured for Jade to sit.

She climbed up and perused the menu.

“It’s good to see you again. Where have you been?”

“Busy with the vineyard,” Rett replied. “How are you? How about the locals?”

“Oh, just fine. Hey, do you remember that time that guy came in with a crossbow strapped to his back?”

“Of course.” Rett leaned forward intently.

“He came back. Now he has a crossbow-wielding wife and baby.”

“No.” Rett slapped the bar. Good for him.

“I swear on my deceased Aunt Norma. May she rest in peace. Anyway, when are you going to introduce me to your lady friend?”

“This is Jade,” Rett said with a note of pride in his voice.

His anxiety had evaporated. It felt so good to be back in the warm little bar.

A spicy note of buffalo chicken dip mingled with the sharp scent of whiskey a stranger nursed two stools down.

And Jade had planned it all for him. He was supposed to be showing her what he loved about the Finger Lakes.

Instead, she had cared enough to resurrect an old favorite that he had all but forgotten.

And it felt like home. She felt like home.

“You are the most beautiful creature to have walked in here today,” Charlie said to Jade. “Except maybe for the dachshund I saw earlier.”

“Oh, well, in that there’s no contest,” Jade said with a smile.

“What can I get you folks? The usual?”

Rett nodded. Of course Charlie remembered. He had a memory like a steel trap.

“And for you, ma’am?”

“I’ll have the special,” Jade said.

“Spicy bourbon pumpkin smash? Nice choice. It’s made with local pumpkin.”

“There’s nothing I love more than a local pumpkin.”

Charlie left to make their drinks, and Jade leaned over.

“So what’s your usual?” There was a sparkle of amusement in her eyes.

“An old-fashioned.”

“You are such an old man.”

He glowered, but reached over to stroke her knee under the bar. Pink crept into her cheeks.

“I’m a man of simple pleasures. I have another question for you.”

“No more traffic questions. I’m ready.”

He cleared his throat. “If your house was on fire and you could only take three things with you, what would they be?”

She pressed her lips together. “Penny, obviously. There’s a photo album of my parents and me from when I was growing up. And I have a special set of brushes that my mom got me for my high school graduation.”

“Not that beautiful painting of the zoo?”

She shook her head. “I would still have the memory. What about you?”

Shit. He hadn’t been expecting a reciprocal question. Alexa had never asked many.

“To be honest, I’m not sure. Probably my fireproof safe. It has my passport and deed to the house in it.”

“That’s cheating. Too many objects.”

“Fine. I have a Playbill from the first Broadway musical I ever saw my mom in. It was Chicago . She was incredible.”

She smiled and leaned closer to him.

“And I have a notebook with handwritten notes on winemaking from my grandmother. That would definitely need to be saved. And then there’s the painting hanging in the downstairs hallway.”

“Which one?”

“Your painting of Penny in the vineyard, of course.”

He hadn’t been able to help himself. When he had collected the slew of paintings she attempted after their tasting, the one with Penny had called to him. She had captured everything so effortlessly. It would have a permanent place on his wall as long as she didn’t ask for it back.

She smiled. “I don’t remember giving you permission to steal it.”

“I will trade you one case of rosé for it. It’s already on the wall.”

“Two cases,” she countered. “Do you know what my paintings used to be worth?”

“Not as much as they should be,” he said smoothly.

Drinks landed in front of them, and Jade brandished her credit card before Rett had the opportunity to.

“Ha,” she said triumphantly as Charlie ran it through their POS system.

“Two cases,” Rett agreed.

She took a sip of her drink. “Charlie, this is so good.”

“I’m telling ya, it’s the local pumpkins.”

Bourbon washed over his tongue as he took a sip of the old-fashioned in front of him. It was perfect, as always.

“Any tingles?” Rett asked as Charlie walked away. He needed to talk to her about their relationship. This would be the ideal place to do it—away from the prying eyes of the book club—but something kept holding him back.

“Nah. It’s damn good, though.” She set it on a coaster and turned to him. She slid her hand into his. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“You have really, profoundly changed my life. I will forever be grateful for the day that Blake Chan grievously offended you.”

Rett smiled. He had almost forgotten their first meeting.

“I know I told you this before, but I felt something the day we came here. I thought maybe it was just the change of scenery, the promise of closing a painful chapter in my life. But is it crazy to think that maybe I was meant to come here? My mom always talked about taking a trip to the Finger Lakes. She had a whole dream board and everything. She loved wine and would occasionally spring for a good bottle. We were supposed to go as a graduation gift. Not here,” she said, waving a hand toward the parking lot.

“But Seneca. It was one of the reasons why I felt I had to see it. Let me show you a picture.”

She pulled her phone out and navigated to a picture—she and her parents crowded around a table. There was a sumptuous-looking cake with “21” written in candles, and a bottle of wine that looked strangely familiar.

He frowned and ducked his head closer to the screen. Could it be? He pinched his fingers and zoomed in before sitting up triumphantly. Even though the bottle was partially turned away from the camera, the label was undeniable.

“That’s one of my bottles.”

“What?” Jade leaned in. “Holy shit.” The look on her face suggested she had just had a major revelation. Hopefully one that resulted in her staying in town.

“Your mom really did have good taste,” he said with a nudge. “And by the way, I don’t think it’s crazy. I feel the same pull. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve never left for more than a few months. It’s home.”

“Home,” she echoed. Her voice was soft.

There it was. The perfect segue. Now all he had to do was?—

“We should go.” She jumped up from her seat and tossed the rest of her drink back.

He blinked in surprise. “Oh. Okay.”

“We still have to go to the store. Come on.” She tugged him back to the car.

When they emerged from the superstore an hour later, they were laden with bags of groceries—which Rett had insisted on paying for—and some mood-setting décor. Tapered candles, cloth napkins.

“I don’t want to hear any moping if your dessert doesn’t turn out. There was no reason to choose such a complicated dish,” Jade said as he pointed the truck toward home.

They had decided to tag team dinner—she would make the entrée, and he would make the dessert. It was going to give him a chance to try out that Baked Alaska recipe from the New York Times .

He straightened up and looked at her. “Baked Alaska is not that complicated.”

She shot him a dirty look. “Going forward, let’s assume that anything that you have to set on fire counts as complicated. And did we really need to make the ice cream and the cake from scratch? We’ll be at this all night.”

“That’s the plan,” he said, and his hand slipped between her thighs. “It seems like we might have some downtime,” he said quietly. “You know, while dinner’s in the oven and the cake is cooling.”

“Indeed,” she said.

His fingers slid higher, brushing gently over the lace fabric of her underwear. “There are a couple of really special bottles in the wine cellar I’d love to sample.”

Jade raised her eyebrows. “Another private wine tasting? Last time, I almost ripped the clothes from your body and mounted you on the bar. Are you sure you want to risk that? I can’t think of a reason we would need to practice fake bar-humping.”

“Maybe there doesn’t need to be a reason. We could just see where the evening takes us.”

At some point in the preparations, he would find the time to talk to her about staying. He had to.