St. Helena Vineyard Series: Plumb Crazy About You Page 6

  She turned, a puzzled expression wrinkling her brow. Nope, she wasn’t going to wait. She was going to drop the question on him now.

  “I don’t understand. I thought Mac said you were a contract engineer. And then you said awhile ago you needed to get away from your father.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’m not following the logic here. Did you work for your father and go out on your own? Is that why you’re here?”

  He could not lie to her. She was starting to mean too much to him and he had a hell of a lot of respect for her. “No, Cassie. I still work for him. I’m taking my two week vacation.”

  She nodded but she didn’t smile. “You’re such a good guy you decided to spend your vacation working for your father’s friend?”

  “I told you I had to get away from my father and only you know why.” He took a deep breath. “I’m not a contract engineer. I’m temporarily in charge of Odyssey’s San Francisco office. But I plan to resign from the firm the minute I get back. I don’t want the silver spoon. I have to make it on my own.” He took a step toward her. “Isn’t that what you did? Leave your family to make your own way in the world? Only you had more courage than I did. You never were a part of their business. You made your decision and went for a different career. And you came here. Where you had to make friends and prove yourself.”

  It wasn’t working. Her eyes were full of suspicion.

  “So Mac brought you here…but it’s only for two weeks.” Her voice hardened and she folded her arms in front of her. “Or is it more? What is going on with you and Mac?”

  He put his hand out to touch her shoulder, and she flinched.

  “Do you want the truth?”

  “Yes, please, the truth. I’ve been tearing myself up with all kinds of doubts.”

  Shit, this was worse than he’d thought.

  He swallowed. It was time to come clean.

  “Mac and Maddie are my godparents.” He paused so the statement could register. “And before Mac left, we drew up a sales agreement. I’m buying the business.”

  ***

  His expression pleaded with her to forgive him, but all she wanted to do was punch something. Godfather? Odyssey? Sale? It was too much to take in. Tears filled her eyes and she turned her back. His breath stirred against her neck, and he touched her shoulder.

  “Please go away. I need to think.” Her voice was low and steady and she was so proud of herself. Showing weakness now would be fatal to the self-esteem that was already teetering on a precipice.

  Not only had he lied to her, the jerk had made her think they might have a relationship. She was falling in love, for Christ’s sake. She hadn’t fallen in love since the twelfth grade, and now she remembered why.

  It hurt like hell.

  The door leading into the hallway closed and she finally turned around. He was gone and it was safe to let tears run down her cheeks. She wasn’t a quiet crier. She sobbed and took great gulps of air and then sobbed some more. Times like this she wished she were home where there were always animals around to offer the comfort of soft fur to bury your face in.

  When emotion no longer pressed her chest, she rinsed her face in the bathroom sink and looked at the disaster staring back at her with red eyes and blotchy neck and cheeks. Her hair was wild and her freckles stood out like Botts dots on a highway.

  Pull yourself together. It’s not the end of the world.

  But it was. It was the end of her dream of independence, of being the owner of a thriving business at the age of twenty-seven, of being able to go home to Seattle for holidays and see pride in the eyes of her parents because she was a success.

  She took a quick shower, put on the long tee shirt she slept in and her fuzzy panda slippers. Her favorite playlist wouldn’t do tonight. Instead she streamed soft jazz and dug out a package of chocolate morsels once destined for chocolate chip cookies. Tonight she had a better use.

  She propped herself on the couch and took out her laptop. Nick Sebastian was indeed the heir apparent. But the pictures that tugged at her heart weren’t picture of him with women who looked like her sister. It was the one picture of him hugging a man in an Army uniform. The caption said “Captain Jonah Sebastian of the 220th Engineer Battalion (Reserve) bids farewell to brother Nick on eve of deployment.” The photo was dated over a year ago.

  Dreams were hard to give up, but she’d survive. Nick’s loss was greater. He’d lost a brother who’d meant everything to him.

  She’d been surprised when he shared his grief with her, his thoughts about his father, and his own need to be independent. She’d listened carefully because much of it resonated with her. Not the sibling part. She and her sister were as different as contestants in the Westminster Dog Show. It was the part about needing to find out who you were and where you wanted to be.

  She popped a handful of chocolate pieces into her mouth and let them melt on her tongue before swallowing. Her breath caught and the balloon inflated inside her chest again. She grabbed another handful and chewed, willing her eyes not to fill with tears.

  Damn it she was angry.

  She’d love to take Nick in her arms and squeeze all the grief out of him, but she hurt, too. Who would take all her pain away? Not Nick, a man who probably had the money to buy out Mac in his checking account.

  What about Mac? Why hadn’t he told her? She expected more from him. And wasn’t that the story of her life? She expected more from people she cared about. Her parents, Mac, and even Nick who’d been a joy to work with once they figured out the magic formula. She did surveys. He did designs. They collaborated, but allowed the other to take the lead in the area they knew best.

  All the while she’d counted the days until Mac returned, ready to go over the elaborate proposal she’d drawn up, one she’d worked on carefully over the last two months.

  Now it was headed for the trash file.

  She pulled it up and read it one more time, pleased her tears had dried and she could look at it without a sob escaping her throat. She closed the file and hit delete. She was resilient, smart, and by God she’d start over somewhere.

  Because I can’t do it here.

  White hot anger seeped into her body, replacing her anguish. She’d been played. Nick had known all along and had blatantly courted her, kissing her at Mac’s, looking at her like she was someone he might care about.

  It had been flattering and she had to admit, a change from her usual experience. All the while he must have been laughing at how easy it had been to convince her she was special, worth dating, worth…loving? No it had never gotten that far.

  But she was furious that she’d allowed herself to hope, to feel, to want what she’d denied herself for so long. She’d actually come to admire a man who used her while keeping her from the truth. The jerk knew what her hopes were because she’d told him.

  Tomorrow was an in-office day. Nick was getting close to finishing his preliminary design. She’d have to find a way to get out in the field, even if it was still raining.

  Anywhere. Because those big blue eyes and soft voice had a way of melting her resolve and she refused to let that happen…ever again.

  Chapter Nine

  Nick sat in front of his computer and punched keys. Had he done this part already? He glanced at his notes and frowned. Mac’s big utilitarian wall clock said eight thirty. Cassie was late.

  Cassie was never late.

  The door flew open and she strode in. She threw her backpack on her desk, pulled an enormous donut out of a white bag, and made herself a cup of coffee.

  “Morning.”

  She didn’t smile or acknowledge his greeting. “I’m going out in the field today. I want to check a couple of points. I don’t think they’re right.”

  “I can’t leave right now. How about this afternoon? We can grab some lunch on the way out of town. Eat in Bomber if it’s too cold. I want to talk to you.”

  “I’m going alone.” She swallowed the last of the donut and brought out the survey gear from th
e closet.

  “What do you think is wrong?”

  “I think the equipment was off.” She headed toward the door. “Or maybe it was the guy holding the rod.”

  He saved his document and tried to use a patient tone. “You promised not to survey alone.”

  “Promises.” She twitched her lips. “Easy to make and easy to break.”

  He jumped up with fists clenched at his side. “It’s not safe. It’s muddy from last night’s rain and the property is undeveloped and remote.”

  She bared her teeth. “My cell is charged. You’re not my boss. Fuck off.”

  She slammed the door behind her.

  Nick sat back down and swore. They needed to talk about what happened. He wanted her to understand, to know she would always have a job. Hell, she could have him if she wanted.

  He ached when he saw her. Her brown eyes flashed and her back was ramrod straight when she was angry. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her until she smiled again.

  But she didn’t want him.

  She wanted the business.

  Cassie had gotten under his skin like no one else ever had. She had been spot on when she got him to spill his guts about his brother. She was right. Sharing a burden lifted it from you.

  He’d gone home and verbally kicked himself for telling her that Mac had promised him the business. He couldn’t lie to her any longer.

  Mac should have told her before he left. He must have known how much it meant to her.

  They both wanted the same things and pretty much for the same reasons. They both needed self-affirmation, to know they were capable of success without being sucked into their family businesses.

  He rebooted his design and continued. Mac was due back in a few days, although he said he wasn’t coming to work until next week. He needed to get this design finished and deal with Cassie before then.

  The white donut bag was still on the counter. He got up and opened it. A second donut was inside.

  She’d brought one for him even though he’d caused her unbearable pain. The simple act nearly undid him.

  He sat at his desk and stared out the window. The day was overcast, but rays of sun filtered through the clouds.

  End this. End her hurt.

  He pulled out his phone and called Mac.

  ***

  Cassie walked cautiously past a large boulder. Reptiles, large and small, might be snoozing underneath. The rod and prism for the robotic theodolite was planted in the right spot. So why was it off? Hiking back to her equipment she cleaned the scope and lined it up again. That was better.

  After taking her final shots, she packed up the equipment and headed for the Jeep. It was still early afternoon. Maybe she’d take the rest of the day off.

  She turned the key. The engine whined and whirred, but didn’t turn over.

  What now? I just bought a new battery.

  The mechanic said Bomber wouldn’t last much longer but she’d been saving every single penny to boost her down payment to Mac. If she wasn’t buying the business, she might splurge and buy a new truck.

  “Sorry, Bomber. We might need a tow this time.”

  She called for a tow, but they couldn’t send anyone immediately. An accident was clearing and they didn’t have anyone available for at least two hours. She glanced at the sky. It hadn’t cleared, but neither had the rain started again.

  She’d have to call Nick.

  Swallowing her pride, she punched in his number. He picked up on the first ring.

  “Bomber died again. Can you come get me?”

  “Where are you?”

  “The back five near the creek. I called for a tow but they can’t come for several hours.”

  “Be right there.”

  She dug out a banana and sat in the cab. The days were getting shorter and the temperature cooler. The DeLuca vineyard was a golden vista spreading over the hills and into the valleys. It had been picked a few weeks ago.

  Moving out of St Helena was going to be hard, but she’d made her decision last night after her chocolate binge. It was time to go home, have a heart to heart with her parents, and maybe go to work for someone in the Seattle area. She could take up sailing again or volunteer at the animal shelter. Her parents would like that.

  Maybe Odyssey has an opening in their Seattle office.

  She winced at her little joke and stuck her banana peel in a plastic bag she kept for trash and climbed out to release some of her nervous energy. She walked down to the creek and found a flat rock to sit on, one firmly lodged in the soil. The stream was a trickle, but the sound of water bubbling over rocks was soothing. The air smelled of earth and crushed grapes, a St. Helena smell she would miss.

  Nick’s car moved slowly along the edge of the field near the DeLuca’s fence. It would take him another ten minutes to reach her.

  Most of her anger faded away last night after polishing off all the chocolate morsels and a pint of ice cream. But when she strode in and there was Nick sitting at Mac’s desk—where she expected to be—all the hurt had boiled up again and she’d lost it. Now she regretted her immature behavior.

  After a thorough analysis she had to acknowledge she was as much to blame as anyone else. She assumed she’d be able to buy out Mac. She assumed there weren’t any competitors. While she suspected Mac knew she wanted the business, it was her fault they’d never talked about it. She wanted to have the down payment in hand and a payment plan that made sense before she approached him.

  Nick’s subterfuge was the element that was not okay. The contract engineer business was stupid. He should have told her the truth. And he shouldn’t have played with her. He’d kissed her like he meant it and God help her, she’d kissed him back because she had meant it.

  She’d get over losing the business. It would be harder to get over Nick.

  The Beemer pulled past the jeep, turned around and lined up engine to engine. He got out, jumper cables in hand, and connected the two batteries.

  “Cassie.” He called out.

  “Looking for me?” She strolled over and got behind Bomber’s wheel.

  “Try now.”

  The starter whirred, but didn’t engage.

  “Try it again.”

  “It’s not turning over. It’s not the battery. It’s new.”

  He stowed the cables and stood by her window. “I know I’m the last person in the world you want to hear advice from, but it’s time to relegate Bomber to the junk pile. If it’s the starter, the repair is more than this vehicle is worth.”

  She hung her head. He was right, but it was hard to let go of even one more thing.

  He opened the door. “Get in my car. I’ll stow your gear in the trunk. You can come back out with a tow truck and get Bomber tomorrow.”

  She nodded.

  They made the trip back to the office in silence. What was there to say? She needed to download the information from the points she’d taken today, so she took a soda out of the refrigerator and sat at her desk. Nick stood next to his.

  “I talked to Mac today.”

  She looked up. “Is he back? I thought they were coming at the end of the week.”

  “Maddie’s sick. They’re coming back early.”

  “Is it serious?”

  “Mac said no. He thinks she’s homesick. For Jax and her garden.”

  She turned back to her computer. “That I can believe.”

  “Cassie?”

  “Yes.” She stopped and turned to look at him. His expression was grim. Maybe Maddie was really sick and he didn’t know how to tell her.

  “I told Mac I wouldn’t be buying the business after all.”

  Her heart lurched. She got up and stood in front of him. “Why?”

  “I thought about what you said last night, about each person handling their grief differently. You were right. I need to go down to L.A. and tell Dad I understand why he talks about Jonah so much. We both struggle to keep him alive. Dad does it by voicing his memories. I do it through
silence, by pretending Jonah isn’t gone.”

  He reached out with sadness in his eyes and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “So the business is yours, if you still want it. Mac’s not sure you’re ready, but I think you are. I’ll talk to him. I think he knows you want Plumb Crazy. When he offered it to me he made me promise not to tell you so he could be the one who did.”

  She looked straight into his eyes. “Funny, but I made decisions last night, too. My family was disappointed I didn’t follow the path they set out for me, but I know they love me. They’ll find someone to take over for them…not a Larkin, but someone they will trust to carry on the family legacy.”

  He smiled with his lips and eyes. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re trying to say.”

  She twined her fingers with his. “Your father loves you, Nick, and he’s heartsick because he thinks he may have lost you, too. Go to him, mend your fences, listen to his bluster then kindly tell him you love him, but it’s important for him to let you go…with his blessing. Perhaps you’ll want to go back and run his corporation one day. Six months is a very short time when you’ve lost someone you were close to. It may be clouding your judgment. In time, you will know. If not, he can hire someone, too.”

  His fingers tightened on hers. They were warm and strong. “What about you, Cassie. What do you want?”

  She wanted to say “you” but it was way too soon to know for sure. “I’m going back to Seattle.”

  He released her fingers and cupped her face.

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  She turned and kissed his palm. “Thank you for saying that, Nick. But I can’t stay. I don’t want to resent you and I might.”

  His eyes darkened and he traced her bottom lip with his thumb. “What if you get a better offer?”

  “Better offer?”

  He bent and brushed her lips with his own, his gorgeous long-lashed blue eyes open and intent. His breath was warm sending little tingles through her body.