Pine Valley is a beautifully quaint area, I'm told, and it’s been known to get a scattering of snow from time to time. History shows early December shouldn’t pose a problem, but I’d rather be prepared. Dustin offered to trade vehicles with me since he has a 4-wheel drive Jeep, and it’d do better than my compact, should snow or ice become a concern.
My friends hadn’t pestered me about my reasoning for needing to get away, but Remi was curious. Not surprising, considering I hadn’t willingly taken time off since I opened my place, Appetito Cafe, three years ago come January. I simply told her I was due; that I needed a breather before I started planning for my anniversary celebration which is in a month.
Only twice in those three years did I close the cafe. The first time was due to a torrential rainstorm that flooded the shop for a day and then took two more to clean up. The second time was last year when the AC unit in the plaza quit, causing shops to shut down for several days. Working in the heat of August without air conditioning would have beenmiserabileand a huge no thank you.
But even then, there really hadn’t been any down time. Regardless of not being in the shop, I was making plans for parties and catering, or I was experimenting with new recipes. There was always something to do when one owned a shop. When it’s my livelihood. When I had others also relying on me. And I’m not just talking about my two employees, Deedee and Taleah, but my customers. My friends.
For one of those days in August, the girls and I did spend time at the beach, enjoying the sun and water along withwatching plenty of eye-candy in the form of hunky men. San Diego has no shortage of that. With Ronni and Dustin pairing up, and something developing between Remi and Jamey – a Navy guy who’s currently deployed – my friends are looking at me, wondering when I’ll be next. In finding a boyfriend, that is.
Ha! Not what I need in my life right now. One of the biggest reasons for getting away this weekend really is to take a breather. Ignore any responsibilities, ignore calls or texts from my family, and especially put Roman Calderon out of my mind. The text moments ago was one in a string of texts and attempted calls from him over the past few weeks. Why he’s suddenly become so persistent is beyond me. And why I never blocked him before now is on me. But that problem is solved. Doesn’t mean he won’t find another way.
When I initially left Santa Rosa, he’d call or text until I flat out told him to stop; that I had zero interest in him. He threatened to come to San Diego, find me, and drag me home. As if. I told him I’d like to see him try, only to wind up in jail for harassment. Of course, the effort was too much for him and I never saw him nor heard from him since. Well, until three weeks ago. So what’s happening? I haven’t bothered to ask my parents because I don’t want them to mistake that for interest in him. And they haven’t been forthcoming with any news that’s occurring back home.
Is my relationship with my parents strained? I suppose it is. I love them, but their expectations of me were nowhere near what I had for myself. I had no interest in taking over the expansive and consuming business my father had built. And not that he was anywhere near ready to simply hand it over to me. He, like my mother, wanted me to marry and have my husband become the businessman.
Talk about antiquated!
Had I worked for my father at his winery and in his tasting rooms? Yes. I gained valuable knowledge and experience. But I always knew I wanted to run my own business after my failed attempt to convince my father to add a cafe to the winery. Who wouldn’t want a combination of coffee and wine along with delicious delicacies? My father, that’s who. He’d stick with what he knew,grazie mille, and advised me not to propose any changes to his business.
Was I hurt and disappointed? Absolutely. Hence my decision to let my father run his business while I began making plans and sought opportunities of my own. I never kept those plans from my parents, and they never kept their disapproval to themselves.
It wasn’t long after when Father introduced me to Roman Calderon, the son of a friend from the homeland who acquired a vineyard south of us. A failing vineyard, I might add. Roman thought he could swoop in and resurrect it, make it even better. And he did for a brief period. But when it began a downward slide, that’s when he came sniffing around, proposing a merger.
He was an arrogant braggart who had no business acumen whatsoever. And those he employed never remained long under his tyrannical rule. I know this because one of my girlfriends, Tricia, had briefly worked there as a manager, but Roman’s micro-managing, chauvinistic attitude, and risk-taking became insufferable. He couldn’t keep personnel long, and news of this circulated throughout the community. How my parents aren’t aware is beyond me. Or, they simply chose to ignore what they deemed as baseless rumors.
When discussion about Roman became nonstop along with talk of a marriage, I tried to convince my parents it would never happen. Well, they seemed to take that as a challenge and began inviting Roman over more frequently, finding ways to ensure he’d have alone time with me. Not only was I upset that myparents were forcing the situation, but also disappointed that they didn’t respect me to make my own choices.
Right from the start, Roman was cocky, disrespectful, and presumptuous. His entire demeanor set off alarms in my head. And stories from my friend only cemented those thoughts about him. Personality aside, he may be physically appealing to some women, but he was a sleaze in my eyes, and in no way did I want any association with him.
“Focus, Tiana,” I mutter to myself. “You’ve got a drive to make.” I finish packing and send a final text to Deedee who will be taking care of the cafe while I’m gone. She’s reliable and trustworthy, so I know all will be well.
Loading my bag and items into the Jeep, I cue up my audio book, get on the road, and wind my way through the city. Soon enough I’m on Highway 8 which will take me right to my destination. Well, nearly. From the highway, I’ll take a few turns to get to the cabin, but the directions seem easy and straightforward. And thankfully, they are, because just over an hour later, I’m pulling into the drive.
I keep the vehicle idling for a moment and concentrate on my book as a chapter is coming to a close. I can’t just stop it before I know what happens. As I stare blindly out the windshield, not really focusing on the view, I listen to the hero confessing his feelings for the heroine.
Tap-tap-tap!
I jump and screech at the sound of something, or someone, knocking on the Jeep’s window. When I look across the passenger seat, on the other side of the glass is a large man leaning down to look at me. He’s smiling, and there’s a hint of recognition. As I continue to stare, he smiles bigger and his crystal blue eyes dazzle. And those lips? Pink and plump and looking so kissable; surrounded by a dark blond mustache andneatly groomed beard. Damn! These romance books are really affecting me.
“Hi, Tiana.” The stranger knows my name. Then it clicks.
“Gavin?”
He nods. “I was asked to look at the heating unit. My vehicle is around back.”
I realize he’s talking loudly, and my audio book is still blaring. I feel my face heat as I reach over to turn down the volume before I grab my phone and hit pause. When I look over at Gavin, his smile is still in place. He’s frequented my cafe over the last year, coming in more recently last week, according to Deedee. I happened to be out at the time, so it’d been the previous week since I’d last seen him. And wow, does his facial hair grow fast. It looks good. Really good.
I lower the window. “Hi, Dragon Fruit iced tea spritzer. Making sure I’ll be warm this weekend?”
He clears his throat and chuckles. “Well, I’m making sure the furnace is working for you, which it is. Everything is good to go, so you shouldn’t have any concerns.”
“And if I do, you’re the guy to call?”
One corner of his mouth lifts as his brows dance. “I’m your guy.”
CHAPTER 2
Tiana’srich laughter rings out, causing me to smile again. Something I do a lot in her presence. The woman is stunning with an exotic look that’s model-worthy, yet her personality is so down-to-earth and approachable. Not that models aren’t down-to-earth. I wouldn’t know since I don’t personally know any.
