By the time we get to the ceremony area, Marisol looks resolved, Matthew utterly charmed, Preston a little drunk, and Erica weirdly impatient.
“Finally, the restroom!” she exclaims when she spots the bridal tent.
“No!” I try to stop her, but she’s already through the tent flap before I can tell her that’sdefinitely nota bathroom.
She freezes, her body parting the tent flaps. “Dear god!”
Just over Erica’s shoulder, I see the beautifully carved chair decked with flowers that River made for Hannah, which he calls her throne. Ialsosee Hannah’s head thrown back against it, her long neck exposed, one golden brown hand tucked inside the bodice of her gown, gripping her breast. The rest of River is on his knees before her, head buried between her legs splayed wide.
Hannah’s head whips up, her eyes dazed with pleasure. “Oh,shit!” She scrambles to sit up, but River doggedly yanks her back to his face. He deigns to give the group of stunned onlookers a casual glance over his shoulder, with the purest example ofI-don’t-give-a-fuckenergy I’ve ever witnessed.
My eyebrows disappear into my hairline, and perhaps, space.
“O-kay,” I exclaim, “let’s give the newlyweds some privacy!”
We usher a stunned Erica toward theactualbathrooms. The crickets trill loudly as we stand in the darkness, waiting for Erica to return, when Laine busts out a single, booming laugh.
“I’m sorry, it’s just—” She wipes at her eyes. “That must’ve been part of his—hisvision!”
Marisol tilts her head to the side and considers for a second.
“That was a good vision.”
And then, we lose it. Welose it. Preston’s laughing so hard, his glasses fall off. Marisol appears to have an incurable case of the giggles. Matthew’s crying, and I am, too. Crying and laughing so hard, it feels like an exorcism. When we finally see the events team off for the night, rumbles of laughter still rolling through our group, Marisol pinches my cheek lovingly.
“This vineyard really does run on romance.” She winks at me, and my heart lifts on fluttery, happy wings. “We’ll be in touch.”
The moon is almost directly over the meadows, like a lone light bulb hanging over the dark world. It’s nearly midnight, but the band’s still playing though it’s long past the end of their paid gig. Couples are dancing, swaying softly to the music.
“Excuse me, boss, can I have this dance?” Laine appears to my left, startling me where I stand at the edge of the dance floor. She’s half in shadow, half in golden illumination, but her eyes shine brightly all the same.
“Do you really think it’s a good idea?”
The corner of her mouth curves up, showing her dimple. “I’m starting to think coming to Bluebell Vineyards is the best idea I’ve ever had.”
She extends her hand to me, and though I’ve been holding it half the night, I can’t get used to the warm strength of her grip, her confident touch. My breath catches as it tugs me into the light.
“That’s not what I asked,” I say to her back as she leads me into the crowd. I study the muscular line of her shoulders, the dip of her narrow hips, the solid ass and strong thighs gliding through this world like nothing’s too difficult for her. Not this dance, not this life. Not even me.
I wish I felt that sure, too. That optimistic.
“It’s what you wanted to know, though.” She turns, and I start to lift my arm to hold her hand when she slides her arms around my waist instead.
I swallow, draping my own arms around her neck. “So, we’re goinghigh school promhere, huh.”
“That all right, Chop Chop?” Laine smirks, and maybe it’s my imagination, but the heat in her fingertips seems to kick up a notch, as they find the divots in my hips and hold on tight.
“Okay, Beave,” I say through my rapidly drying throat. Does she fluster me like this on purpose? “Still your boss.”
“Right,” Laine says. “About that. I have a confession to make.”
My heart skips a few turns at, you know, keeping me alive. “What?”
“The red blends I’m working onaregreat,” Laine says, her eyes fully latched onto mine. “If you like the taste of old shoe.”
I huff out a laugh, which turns into a groan. “But you swore to the events team that they’re amazing!”
“Theywillbe amazing. They’re just not there yet.”
