“Everything will work out.” Allie cocked her head to the side, allowing her braids to fall forward. “Before long all this ugliness will be sorted and you’ll tell me we have tickets to her show during fashion week.”
My smile faded. Who knew how long it would be before it could happen. Not because Melissa wasn’t talented enough, but because my future was so uncertain.
We placed our coffee orders at the counter and made our way to a booth. “Hopefully, soon.”
“Listen.” Allie’s hand grabbed mine across the table. “There is no hurry. Tex will keep you safe. Whatever is going on, let the chips lie where they fall. There is no rush.”
“You’re right.” I knew she was. “I just miss…”
I shook my head, unable to finish the sentence.
Allie’s hand tightened. “I cannot replace whoever you lost in all of this. But I can be your family. I have a brother and a sister. And a mom. They’ll tell you I make a great sister. I make for great family.”
My head nodded even before my mind agreed with her. My own hand covered hers and then she placed her second hand over mine. She had no idea how much I missed my sisters. How much I loved having a girlfriend. Tears filled my eyes and I squeezed her hand even more. “Thank you for today.”
“You are very welcome.” She patted my hand and stood. “I know how to cheer you up.”
I wasn’t sure if it was even possible but I stood as well. “How?”
“Bernie.” She indicated to the barista who was walking towards us with our coffees. “We’ll take those coffees to go.”
The barista rolled her eyes but turned around and headed to the back of the shop. Before long we were sitting with to-go cups in our hands in the cab of Allie’s truck. As we drove back I told her a bit about growing up in Kentucky and she told me about the woes of being the middle child and the eldest daughter. I could relate to being the oldest daughter, but Julian had not been in our lives enough for me to be able to identify as a middle child.
When she took the turn off for the vineyard, I gave her a curious look. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” She smiled like she was up to something. “Besides, Rafe said he would meet us at the vineyard, remember. He was all,” She deepened her voice and formed a mock scowl. “Be careful, I will get you both at the vineyard.”
I let out a huge laugh. It had been weeks since I had laughed so hard. Between my dad’s death and Julian and ending up in Cypress Cliffs, there hadn’t been much to laugh about. “Does he ever smile?”
“Honey.” Her face softened, and I knew she cared about Rafe. Not in a cheat on her fiancé kind of way, but possibly in the same way I care about my sisters and friends. She cared about him because he was her fiancé’s best friend and he needed people to look out for him. “That man is carrying the entire town on his shoulders. He is the only person who supported Cal’s decision to make wine out here. He is a good person. And he needs good people watching out for him. When he laughs, it's a beautiful thing to watch. Come, check this out.”
She climbed out of the truck and I did the same. We stood at the edge of a small hill and my mouth dropped. Ten to fifteenmen knocking hammers and tugging thick ropes. “What are they doing?”
“Setting up for tonight. Some of the wives of the farm hands will set out food for everyone who helps. We hope it will be enough of an incentive.”
My mouth continued to hang open. Half the men were shirtless, Calvin included. “I can see how you would enjoy this.”
“Last year we had just started dating and it was quite a sight. Now I know what that man is packing, my mouth is positively watering.”
I allowed my gaze to wander to the other side of the staging area and I spotted Rafe hammering the frame of a floodlight to a post. He’d also gotten rid of his shirt. Muscles and scars and tattoos had my eyes wondering. “Whoah.” My eyes caught on the tattoo of a compass on his shoulder before I took in the rest of him.
Rafe didn’t have the body of someone who spent hours in the gym, his body came from hard work. I mean, I knew the man had a great ass. It was the only part of him his jeans offered. Watching the sweat drip down his torso, though, I couldn’t help but move my gaze lower. And suddenly I was wondering what he was packing.
As soon as the thought entered my mind, I shook it away. I had enough issues, I didn’t need to invite the grouchy rancher and whatever issues he was hiding in as well. My gaze lifted and found Rafe’s. His eyes bored into mine, letting me know I got caught ogling him. He picked up his shirt and started walking toward me. My heart started racing and my breathing was stunted. Maybe it was a few seconds, maybe hours before he stood in front of me. Still no smile, but it didn’t dampen the tension between us though. My panties were another story.
“It’s rude to stare, City.” My eyes lifted and met his. Heat and something I couldn’t name flickered in those dark grey orbs. Hemotioned me to his truck. “Let’s go. We’ll be back to pick tonight, they’ll need all hands on deck.”
My eyes dropped to his chest. To the angel wings on his left pec. The clearing of his throat got my attention and he raised his brows, the smallest smirk lifted his lips.
He flipped his shirt over his head before he allowed his hand to drop to the small of my back.
I looked up at him. “Why are we leaving now?”
“We’ll be up all night, best to get some sleep now.”
I nodded and turned back to the men still working over at the vineyard. Rafe was right, I needed some sleep. I needed my wits about me to deal with a full night of Rafe.
CHAPTER 5
