“Metaphorically, of course. Most of the time,” she added, remembering a particularly raucous wedding Sundaram hosted a few years back.
“How do you know it’s not actually big?” Dulcie asked.
“Dude,” Collin said.
“She said it’s imaginary, maybe it’s not,” Dulcie pointed out. “Not that it would give him an excuse tobea dick, but you know, just curious how she knows.”
“Some people have a good gay-dar. I have a really good big-dick-dar,” she replied. James’s lips twitched again; Dulcie snorted. One of Collin’s eyebrows went up. “It’s not a superpower or anything. But it’s like the whole alpha-male thing, which I know is scientific bullshit, but in pop culture, it’s a thing. A true alpha will never talk about it. They justare. It’s the same with big dicks. Men who have themknowthey have them and don’t feel the need to swing them around. Metaphorically or otherwise.”
“Right,” Collin said, walking over and grabbing the four-packs. “Let’s go get those tacos.” He tossed a four-pack to Dulcie and the other to James. “I’ll drive so you can charge your car before leaving tonight, Lovell.”
“Perfect,” she said, rounding the bar and slipping her arm around Collin’s. “And you can tell me all about that bullet.”
By the time they arrived at the taco truck, Collin had relayed the events of the afternoon. The ones relating to the bullet, anyway. The experience would have left her shaking like a leaf in a storm, but after ten years in the military, spec ops no less, Collin wouldn’t have called his brothers down because of a break-in. They’d come to town for another reason. A reason they weren’t telling her. Probably something she had no right to ask. That wouldn’t stop her, of course. But she’d wait to catch Collin off guard. In her experience, surprising people had a better chance of leading to the truth than easing into a conversation.
They ordered their food, then grabbed one of the three picnic tables. The spot was popular with field workers, but they’d arrived between shifts, so while a few folks lingered, waiting for to-go orders, they were the only people sitting.
James handed a beer to everyone, and as she popped the top, the sun setting over the western mountains, she inhaled a breath of appreciation. Napa Valley wasn’t an easy place to live for a lot of people—housing was expensive, jobs were limited, the general cost of living high—but she had a job she loved, on land that had been in her family for decades, and now Collin was back. Plus, she was eating tacos. Life was pretty damn good.
“What’s it like being an event coordinator at such a big place?” Dulcie asked. “My younger sister works at a restaurant in Sacramento doing the same thing, but smaller scale. She’s always mega stressed when there’s an event going on.”
“I get that. I love my job, but it’s stressful. Even with the great team we have. Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a little smaller scale, a little more intimate. But it’s hard to complain about being the victim of your own success. Events your sister works, at restaurants, are different than the events we hold, though. Ours are usually part of a bigger celebration—a wedding or holiday party or birthday, that sort of thing. At a restaurant, the focus is almost entirely on the food and the dining experience. There’s no distractions if it isn’t perfect.”
James nodded, Collin studied her, and Dulcie smiled. “So you’re saying I shouldn’t tell her to chill?”
She snorted. “Has that ever worked for you?”
Saved from answering by Jose, the food truck owner, calling Collin’s name, Dulcie chuckled as he rose to retrieve their food.
They settled into comfortable conversation, occasionally punctuated by moans of satisfaction, when she spotted a familiar figure lingering in a group of field workers. Snagging Collin’s attention, she nodded to the man. “That’s Miguel,” she said. “Your vineyard manager.”
“My what?”
“He manages the care of the vineyard. Him and his team. Do you want to meet him? You’ll want to at some point, but it doesn’t have to be tonight.”
“I assume he’s good if Alessio keeps him on?” he asked.
She nodded. “He’s solid. The family had a little bit of a setback recently when his daughter got involved with the wrong kind of guy. Shook them up a bit, but they managed to get her out. She and her son live with her parents now.”
A little boy zoomed around the corner of the truck and launched himself at Miguel. “And there’s the grandson now.” Miguel set his hand on the boy’s head and smiled down at him.
“Let them be. I’ll meet him later,” Collin said.
“Helia?” All five turned at the voice calling from the far side of the food truck. “Oh my gosh, it is you.”
“Trish?” Helia said.
“It’s been years,” Trish said, hurrying toward her.
“What are you doing back in town?” Helia replied, hugging her old friend. She and Trish had met the first week she’d moved to Napa. They’d gone to different schools but played soccer together in the local premier league and stayed close growing up. They’d drifted apart during college, but still occasionally kept in touch via social media.
“I’m moving back,” she answered, smiling as she stepped away. Her gaze flickered to the three men before landing back on her with an exaggerated you-go-girl look in her eye.
Feeling like a teenager again, Helia laughed. Trish had always been boy crazy. “Join us?” she asked. Her three companions shared a look Helia didn’t understand and didn’t have the time to contemplate because Trish squeezed her hand and wiggled her eyebrows.
“Don’t mind if I do. Let me place my order and I’ll be right back,” she said before darting off. Helia watched her, noting how little she’d changed since high school. Still all long, lean musclesand gorgeous wavy black hair, Trish had definitely aged better than the average bear.
“Hope you all don’t mind? I figured we’re going to be here for a while, what with your second dinners and all,” she said, turning to the men.
