Page 55 of Taken Away

Aubrey turned back toward the bar to grab her bag, the dark green dress skimming over her hips as she walked away.

Savannah watched her go, then glanced sideways at Bennett.

“You know she knows you’re staring, right?”

“I’m not staring,” Bennett said.

“You absolutely are.”

“I’m assessing management.”

Savannah hummed. “Management has great legs.”

His mouth flattened. “You’re fired.”

“You can’t afford me,” she said, already pivoting back toward the steps.

Aubrey paused outside the tasting room doors, watching the organized chaos unfold under the soft vineyard lights.

The whole thing felt polished. Expensive. Established.

Not the charmingly modest, mountain winery she’d expected to inherit.

Not even close.

“You look confused.”

Bennett’s voice.

She turned.

He’d shrugged into a dark charcoal jacket sometime during the tasting, white shirt open at the throat, sleeves pushed back enough to expose the heavy watch at his wrist. The low lights and wine weren’t helping her think rationally around him.

“I’m realizing your supposedly struggling little vineyard operation is significantly fancier than advertised.”

One corner of his mouth lifted.

“We aim to disappoint people slowly.”

Savannah passed by with two forgotten glasses and paused long enough to glance between them.

“Oh, good,” she said dryly. “You’re both still alive.”

“Barely,” Aubrey muttered.

Savannah grinned.

“Try to keep the sexual tension below felony level while I load twelve distributors into luxury transportation.”

Then she vanished toward the vans before Aubrey could die of embarrassment.

Bennett looked entirely too amused.

“She likes you.”

“She’s deranged.”

“She worked here through three wedding seasons and a kitchen fire. That woman fears nothing.”