“Harp, you are never too much. I’m glad you’ve found a guy who makes you feel good and wants you exactly as you are. You deserve that. You’re amazing.”
She looked back at the phone and smiled. “Thanks, Addi. Anyway, he plans to stay with me the weekend after Thanksgiving and then fly me to him for Christmas. Since those boys own a plane and all, it’s pretty easy for him to hop around the country or to send me a plane.” She chuckled and shook her head. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the amount of money they have. He’s sending me a fucking plane, Addi!”
I barked out a laugh. “I know, it’s pretty insane. I can’t even imagine Dean in that world, because he is so down-to-earth and doesn’t flash his money around like a certain ex of mine. And Dean has more money than he does.”
“Ain’t that the truth. All right, girl, I gotta get going. I’ve got dinner with my mom, and I told Arch I would call him before I leave.” She blew a kiss at the phone.
“Tell your mom I said hi! And that I miss her.” I lovedHarper’s mom She was like a surrogate mom when I lived on the East Coast. “And go call your man,” I teased. I blew her a kiss back, and we ended the call.
I grabbed the bodysuit that Harper suggested from my closet and slipped it on. I put the jeans I was wearing earlier back on and pulled on my thigh-high suede boots. I walked into my bathroom to grab my brush and slicked my hair up into a high ponytail, then touched up my makeup a bit. Looking in the mirror, I turned side to side, very pleased with the result. I might not know where Dean and I stood, or even what I wanted, but that wasn’t going to stop me from looking good.
I made my way into the winery and popped my head into my mom’s office before heading to the bar where guests could do tastings. “Hey, Mom, just wanted to come say hey. I invited Dean and his brother to come check out the winery and have a drink.”
My mom looked up from her laptop and smiled, her same green gaze meeting mine. She got up from her chair and came around her desk to hug me. “Hey, sweetie, I’ll be sure to stop by to say hi on my way out. I’ve been wanting to meet this Dean,” she said with a wink.
I groaned. “Ugh, Walker got to you, didn’t he?”
She smiled and shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not.”
“Well, great. Anyway, I was going to grab a couple of bottles and make a little charcuterie board before they get here.Where’s Dad?”
“He’s already back at home starting dinner with Weston and Walker. I was just finishing up a couple of things here. I think Ava is still around here somewhere.”
As if on cue, Ava popped her head into the office. “Did someone say my name?”
I laughed. “I was just saying hey to Mom. Dean and his brother, Archer, are coming to check out the winery and have a drink or two. I was just going to the kitchen to make a charcuterie board for us and grab a couple of bottles. Do you want to join?”
Ava smiled. “Hell yes, I want to join! I’ll help you make the board. Sorry, Mom, I won’t make dinner tonight. I’ve got to get to know the new man that Addison has been spending all her time with.” She held her hands over her heart as I rolled my eyes. I mean, she wasn’t wrong.
We said our goodbyes to Mom and coordinated when to be over at the house for Thanksgiving tomorrow.
Now that the winery was closed, it was nice and quiet. I loved coming here after hours and just drinking a glass of wine while sitting on the patio overlooking the vineyard. It was peaceful. Ava followed me to the kitchen to make the board for the guys. As we were prepping everything, she looked over at me and bumped her shoulder against mine. “So, you going to tell me more about what happened last night with you and Dean?”
I smirked. “What do you think happened?”
“Yes, sis! So, was it good? It had to be, right? You can’t be that good-looking and not know what you’re doing.” Ava waggledher brows at me.
I barked out a laugh. “Honestly, it was unreal. Best sex I’ve ever had hands down. But now I don’t know what to do or where we even stand. He told me, like, a week or so ago that he doesn’t do relationships and we should just be friends.” I sighed. “But then the man proceeded to give me multiple orgasms, and I don’t feel like that’s what friends do. I also don’t know if I should even be getting into a relationship anyway.”
Ava’s eyes widened, and she laughed. “That’s a lot to process, but damn, sis, multiple? That’s the dream.”
“Yeah…it was something. Anyway, so I invited him and Archer here to see if I can get a read on him. Earlier today, he wanted to watch me ride Dahlia, so he stuck around after examining Cash. Then we went on a trail ride again together. It’s just so easy and comfortable to be around him. He actually cares and is interested in what I do. I can’t say I’m used to that.” I propped my hip against the counter, crossing my arms. “I’m also just terrified to get into another relationship. My dream is finally coming true, something I’ve always wanted for myself, and I don’t trust myself not to get distracted by him and risk the success of it all. I worry that it will eventually be like it was with Noah. He’ll grow irritated with the amount of time I spend riding, training, and showing, and will want it to be a hobby. He has the means to take care of me the way Noah did. I know a lot of men from that world. They want the girl that makes them the priority, that lives for them and what they want, for their dreams.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “I don’t want to lose myself in another guy, not to mention what would happen if we broke up. He’s the only veterinarian in town and, sadly, the best.” I gave a short, humorless laugh. “A bad breakup could ruin my sacred safe place that is Primrose Hill because he would be everywhere.”
Ava thought about it for a moment. “Your feelings are totally valid, but, Adds, Dean is not Noah. They seem pretty fucking opposite if you ask me. The biggest difference is that you and Dean share a love for horses. He also left his cush lifestyle to run his own practice. So if anyone will support you in running your own business, I’d say it’s that guy. There’s something there, and who cares what he said a week ago? Y'all didn’t have earth-shattering sex a week ago. Stop overthinking and analyzing it all, and go with the flow. If it’s right, it’ll happen. It doesn’t have to be him or your business. And please don’t start planning your breakup and the potential fallout when you haven’t even started dating yet.”
I bumped her back with my shoulder. “When did you get to be so smart, little sis?” I smirked.
She smiled and put the finishing touches on the charcuterie board. “I just want you to be happy, and I can tell that Dean makes you happy.”
Ava took the board to the back patio that overlooked the vineyard and set it on a table while I went to the bar to grab a couple of bottles of wine and four glasses before the guys arrived.
Like a couple of models from aGQad, the Adler brothers strode into the bar area where we were waiting for them. Ava leaned over. “Damn, you didn’t tell me that his brother was hot too,” she whispered so only I could hear.
“Down, girl. He’s Harper’s,” I whispered back.
“Do they have another brother? A cousin perhaps?” she joked.
Before I could respond, they were directly in front of us. I smiled at them both, giving each of them a hug, and then turned my attention to my sister. “Dean, Archer, this is my little sister, Ava.”
