"We don't have history. We have... past unfortunate proximity."
"That's not a real phrase."
"It is now." Ashley drained half her margarita in one gulp. "Can we talk about something else?"
"Why? Because you can't stand him? Or do you have feelings for him?”
“Definitely the former.”
"Then why can't you stop staring at him?"
Ashley's head snapped back to face Emery. "I'm not?—"
"You absolutely are. And unless I'm reading this completely wrong, he's drooling over you too."
"He’s not drooling. Ethan Blackwell doesn't drool over anyone. He's arrogant and insufferable and thinks he's God's gift to women."
"Is he?"
"What?"
"God's gift to women?" Emery hid her smile behind her glass. "Because from where I'm sitting, he looks pretty gifted."
Ashley made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a groan. "You're terrible. And no. Well—maybe. But that's not the point. The point is, he's never looked at me as anything other than Walter Boone's annoying daughter."
"He's looking at you now.”
"Because he's shocked to see me here. We don't exactly run in the same circles, anymore."
"Why not?"
Ashley's expression turned complicated. "There's bad blood between our families. Pre-dates me and Ethan, goes back to our fathers. Ethan's dad claims my dad stole fifty acres from the Blackwell estate years ago, and that the loss of that land started their financial downward spiral. It's ancient history and probably not even true, but it's a well-fed grudge."
"That sounds dramatic."
"Welcome to Stone Bridge. We specialize in multi-generational feuds and wine." Ashley glanced toward Ethan again, then quickly away. "Besides, it doesn't matter. Ethan left two years ago. Just vanished without a word. I was..." She stopped herself. "It doesn't matter."
But Emery caught the hurt beneath the dismissal. "You had something with him."
"A summer fling. Nothing serious. Secret because of the family drama." Ashley's voice was casual, and she waved her hand around as if she didn’t care. Only, the gesture proved she did. "Then he disappeared. No goodbye, no explanation. So yeah, I'm curious why he's back, but not curious enough to care."
"Liar."
"Shut up and drink your margarita."
Emery was about to press further when Ethan started moving toward their booth. Ashley's spine went rigid, her entire body shifting from relaxed to battle-ready.
"Ashley Boone." Ethan's voice was deep and warm, with an edge of amusement. "Still the prettiest girl in the valley."
"And you’re...." Ashley's tone was cold as a glacier. "Still the biggest disappointment."
"Ouch." But he was smiling, unfazed by her hostility. "Mind if I join you ladies?"
"Yes," Ashley said.
Ethan slid into the booth next to Emery, his attention never leaving Ashley. "How have you been?"
"Wonderful. Thriving. Living my best life without you in it."
