“Congratulations on getting the showcase,” she says, each word like the individual blow of an ice pick to my skull.
“You do not mean that.”
“I don’t,” she agrees. “Just another thing you’ve stolen from me. You owe me twenty dollars now, by the way.”
I turn on her. “Me, steal fromyou? Are you fucking with me, or just delusional enough to think you came up with the idea for field day—”
“—oh,please—”
“—Lantern Fest, Water Wars, Books and Barrels.” I tick off each of the events that Rachel stole from me, repackaged, and subsequently ruined over the years. This could go on for a while, but then an arm wraps protectively around my shoulders, and Laine appears. She smells like sweat and clementines and looks ready to throw down.
“Is this relative bothering you, Zoe?” Laine asks. I shake my head, and she gives me a long, lingering kiss hello, which catches the entire family’s attention. I guess this is Laine’s way of announcing that we’re “courting.”
Direct, to the point. I like it.
Rachel’s face transforms into an open-mouthed frown. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her eyes flick to mine, hard and mean and strangely, reproachful. “Might want to rethinkthisbusiness strategy, Zoe.”
Laine breathes deeply through her nose but doesn’t look at Rachel when she addresses me. “I can’t come home just yet, boss. My folks are calling a family meeting after the tailgate today. Can I meet up with you tonight?”
“Absolutely, Coach.” I give her a firm smile, trying to show everyone here that I could care less about Rachel’s open disgust at us being together. It’s a little harder to ignore how Molly and Ezra are staring at us with dismay. Even Chance looks uncomfortable. It drives a cold wedge into my heart, biting into the warm parts of me all the way home. Ever since Laine came back to Blue Ridge, I’ve been fighting hard to feel like I’m good enough for her. That Bluebell Vineyards is good enough for her—hell, thatBlue Ridgeis good enough.
Does her own family disagree?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
It’s a long day in the tasting room, but I live for the busy season. Friends, townies, tourists of all types—from posh Atlanta gay couples to Georgia families that save up for their yearly trip to the mountains—Bluebell Vineyards is decked out with happy faces today. The sweet fizz of Electric Daisy and bubbling conversation, punctuated by the constant swing of our doors opening, has kept me so occupied, I’ve almost managed to forget the weird incident at the tailgate.
Almost.
I wish Laine would return and fill me in on this mysterious family meeting. On the heels ofEveryday Bon Vivant’s picking us to host the showcase, it makes me feel unsteady somehow, which is silly because while Rachel has zero qualms about fighting dirty, the rest of the Woods are above that. Plus, why would they loop Laine in if they were up to something unsavory? It makes no sense.
And yet, the weirdness bubbles in my stomach until closing when Laine’s strong arms wrap around my waist from behind, her nose nuzzling my ear. “Mmm,” she says into my hair. “Best boss ever.”
My eyes flutter closed as the wave of serotonin floods my system. “Laine,” I murmur back. She spins me around in her arms and presses kisses all over my face—the corner of my mouth, the hollow below my cheekbone, the tip of my nose.
“Are you angling for a raise or something?” I laugh as her kisses move down my sensitive neck, tickling me there. “Come on, tell me about the family meeting.”
She stops, chin tucked between my cleavage, to look up at me. “Now?”
“Please.”
Eyes still locked on mine, she licks beneath the rim of my low V-neck, giving me goose bumps all over, before extricating herself from my chest. A soft, contented smile settles on her face.
“My folks want to cut me into the family business officially. There’s money set aside that could fund something for me.”
My eyebrows rise. “Whoa. Rachel’s okay with that?”
“She was outvoted. It doesn’t matter if she likes it.” Laine brings my knuckles to her lips, the heat of her breath reaching deep inside me, tightening my nipples, dipping low into my belly. “I told them I’d think about it. That I wanted to discuss it with you first.”
I exhale shakily, my heart squeezing with suchlove, tears pop into the corners of my eyes. “You did?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Does this mean you’ll definitely stay in Blue Ridge after my dad comes back?” The idea of it flashes through me, the first glimpse of a long road ahead appearing through the trees.
“I … don’t know yet.” Laine kisses the palm of my hand, but it doesn’t hide the reluctance in her voice.
A kick of fear lands square in my heart. I pull my hand away.
