“On the other hand, we know we’re on the right track.” I stood and offered her my hand. “Come on. It’s getting late.”
She let me pull her up, and for a moment, we stood there, hands linked, close enough that I could see the flecks of gold in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “For today. For everything.”
“We’re partners, remember?”
She squeezed my hand once before letting go. “Is that what we are?”
I took a step forward and reached for her. “Saffron, I?—”
“I can’t do this.”
Before I realized what was happening, she sprinted from the records room. I raced after her.
“Saffron, wait!” I shouted when I saw her head out the main entrance.
“I need to get home,” she said over her shoulder when I caught up with her. By then we were halfway to her truck.
I stopped running and put my hands on my hips. “I thought you were staying for dinner.”
She stopped too and turned to look at me. “I’m grungy from being in attics and caves all day. Thank your mom for me.”
“Thank her yourself,” I muttered when she took off again. This time, I didn’t try to catch her.
Kick stood near the table, beer in hand, talking to Cru about something related to the vineyard blocks. When he saw me, he raised his bottle in greeting.
“Where’s Saffron?” he asked. “Ma said she was with you.”
“She left.”
His eyebrows rose. “What happened?”
I shook my head, not wanting to get into it here, with half the family within earshot.
He stood and jerked his head toward the porch. I followed him outside, where the evening air had turned cool.
“Talk,” he said once we were alone.
“Nothing happened. We were looking for Concepción’s notes in the caves, found her journal, and then Saffron just bolted.”
“Did you say something?”
“I tried to.” I held onto the porch rail. “She wouldn’t let me.”
“You know what your problem is?”
“I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”
He set his beer down. “She’s drowning right now, Snap. Her family’s about to lose everything, and you’re standing there asking her to figure out what you two are to each other.”
“Wait a minute. Aren’t you the guy who told me to tell her how I felt upfront? If I remember correctly, you said I should get it out in the open so there’s no question about where I stand.”
“You, Snap. Not her.You.”
I looked up at the sky. “I’m lost.”
“There’s a difference between saying, ‘Hey, Saffron, I’m crazy about you, and whatever you need, I’m your guy,’ and forcing her to think about things she doesn’t have the brain space to deal with right now.”
