I runinto Calder at the market three days later.
He smiles like he’s been waiting for me to show up.
“He’s miserable, you know.”
My heart stutters. I force a shrug. “He should be.”
Cal only grins wider. “Maybe. But he still misses you.” The smile fades, replaced by something softer. “More than I’ve ever seen him miss anyone. Including our parents.”
My heart tightens.
I give him a small smile and hurry inside so he doesn’t see how much his words hurt.
That night,thunder hums low over the valley.
I’m closing up the cellar when headlights sweep across the vines. I freeze, my heart banging against my ribcage.
Tristan steps out of the truck. No mask. Just him.
He’s holding something wrapped in canvas.
“I owe you this,” he says, moving closer. Dark circles shadow his eyes and the pain in them when they meet mine makes me ache.
He unrolls a new carved sign.
My breath catches.
Voss & Blackwell Winery—the old crest restored, our names side by side.
“I shouldn’t have scared you,” he says, his voice rough. “I wanted control.” His gray eyes burn with regret. “But what I really wanted was for you to be safe. And with me.”
Tears well, but I choke them back. I’m a trainwreck of conflicting emotions, unable to speak.
He swallows hard. “You don’t have to forgive me, but I need you to know—I love you. All of you. The light. The fight. The fire.”
My throat tightens. “You’re impossible.”
“Yeah,” he murmurs. “But I’m yours if you’ll have me.”
The rain starts again—softly at first, then steadily. The scent of earth and wine fill the air.
I step forward until I can feel his breath against mine.
“I hate that I still want you,” I whisper.
“Then stop fighting it.”
A smile curves my lips.
And that’s all he needs.
Tristan wraps me in his arms and kisses me with a hunger and yearning that leaves me breathless.
And this time, it isn’t fear or obsession.
It’s surrender.
We stand there for a long moment, rain sliding down our skin, the storm softening into mist. His forehead rests against mine, his breath rough against my lips.
