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“Shut up, you know it’s amazing.” Alanna stood to hug him. Speaking of handsome, Theo had certainly grown up into a heartbreaker. With his warm brown eyes, wide smile, and strong jaw covered in just the right amount of stubble, he was as close to Mr. Small Town Perfect as anyone would ever find. Too bad she couldn’t take advantage. Theo was like a brother to her, and that’s where things would always stay.
Alanna resumed her seat. “This place needs a makeover.”
Theo sighed. “My girlfriend says the same thing… pretty much every day.”
Girlfriend? Of course, a hottie like Theo wouldn’t be single. Alanna just hoped his girlfriend knew what a humble-yet-precious treasure she possessed.
She glanced out the window, and her eyes roamed down the rows of twisted grapevines.
“God, I never want to pick another grape again,” she said, “but I’m sure happy to drink them.”
Theo laughed and stuck his hands in his pockets. “My dad should have never hired you. You were, what, 15?”
“Fourteen, but don’t blame him. I begged for a job and my puppy dog eyes are legendary.”
Alanna leaned back in her chair, keeping her eyes on the vineyard. Her hands ached with phantom pain as she remembered how the sun beat down on her peeling neck. “He knew I needed the money. He felt sorry for me.”
“Still.”
“You were right there in the fields with me if I remember correctly.” She’d always respected the hell out of Theo for that. He’d never taken the family business for granted or only performed the easy, prestigious tasks. He’d worked every single job in the winery, from lowly picker on up.
“I wish your dad were here,” she said.
Theo’s eyes clouded and his mouth tightened. “Me too, but he’s still alive, in here.” He pressed a calloused hand against the wooden wall of the tasting room. “And out there.” He nodded through the window to the vineyard.
“I’ll drink to that.” Alanna raised her glass.
“Theo, can I go on break?” called the blonde server.
“Sure,” Theo responded.
“Don’t let me keep you,” Alanna told him.
“Good seeing you, Aly.” He knocked on her table with his knuckles.
“I hate that name.”
“I know.” Theo gave her a wink before heading to the bar to take the server’s place.
Alanna sipped her wine and sighed. Slow, peaceful moments like this were few and far between in her life. She’d start powering through her emails, texts, and calls soon. And, tonight, she’d start wading through everything that had ever been written about osteoarthritis.
But for one sublime moment, she wanted to close her eyes and drink the best damn malbec this side of California.
Before she could shut her lids, two things occurred.
First, Guy Next Door stood from his seat, his eyes on her. Second, her phone rang.
Renee’s picture filled the screen. Her executive assistant knew to hold her calls unless it was an emergency. Alanna answered her phone.
“What is it?”
“I just got fired.” Renee’s voice was soft, shell-shocked.
“What?” Alanna’s heart turned into a thousand pin needles. “Wait. No one can fire you except me.”
“Raul just came by. He told me to pack my things. Hiro and Mac are both out too. I saw Dessie crying at her desk. I think she’s also gone.”
Alanna’s mind whirled. Mac. Hiro. Dessie. They were her hires and her most loyal account leads.
