My mother’s attention pulls away from me and locks onto her instantly.
“Well,” she says, smiling. “Who do we have here?”
Lia peeks over at me for a moment and Eli intervenes, holding out his hand. “Mrs. Boone, it’s been a while.”
Mom shakes his hand. “Eli. Always a pleasure. Who is this lovely woman you have with you today?”
“Lia, ma’am,” she says. “Lia Parrish.”
Mom looks back at me before she shakes Lia’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lia.”
My father leans in and shakes her hand, too.
“Hi! I’m Amber,” Eli’s girl chirps from Lia’s side.
My father chuckles and he bends down to get eye level with her. “It’s been a very long time since we’ve seen you. You were just a baby swaddled in your father’s arms the last time we saw one another.”
“Oh, wow. That was a long time ago, then,” Amber says.
“Good to see you guys,” Eli says as he reaches out and shakes my parents’ hands.
I look over at Lia to try to clock how she’s feeling, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that she’s overwhelmed. My nostrils flare again, and sure enough, her scent is turning syrupy thick. Almost too sweet.
What a hell of a time for my parents to stop by for a visit.
A crunching sound comes from the hallway, and when I cast my gaze in that direction, there’s Knox. Out in the hallway. Grinning up a fucking storm while popping popcorn into his mouth.
I want to order him to get in here and help me defuse this situation. This kitchen has gone from spacious and ready to way too cramped within a five-minute span.
I’m ready to be alone with Lia again.
I close my eyes briefly, trying to steady myself against the scent of my girl that’s turning more acrid by the second. But when I open them, Eli looks at me.
Not accusatory. Just observant. Like he’s piecing something together I haven’t given him permission to solve.
My mother turns back to Lia. “So, what brings you to the vineyard on this lovely day?”
Lia looks over at me again. I have to give her an out. “Just looking at the kitchen.”
“Which we should get back to,” I say as I walk over to my parents. “Come on, I’ll walk you guys back to your car.”
“Now, wait a second,” my father says as he holds up his hand. “Are you finally renting these kitchens out like I told you to?”
“Renting?” Lia asks.
“Mom. Dad,” I say as I hold out my hand toward the kitchen exit. “I have a lot to get done today and you’re holding me up. You’ve stopped by to give your regards, but you’re going to be late for your reservation in Charleston if you don’t hit the road.”
“Ah, retirement,” Knox says from the hallway.
“Can it,” I say flatly.
Knox laughs, but Mom gasps. “Walker. Is that any way to speak to your guests?”
“Knox is hardly a guest, Mom,” I say. “Now, I really need to get back to?—”
“He’s given you a good price on this place, yes?” my father asks, his attention pointed right at Lia.
She shuffles on her feet and looks toward me, like she’s begging for an out. “Well, I can absolutely pay rent if?—”
