"You're sorry." Her tone was flat, but I could hear the irritation in it. "Juliet, I've been losing my mind. Your mother rings me every other day asking if I've heard from you, and there are stories everywhere and these photos." She stopped to draw breath. "Are you safe?"
"Yes. I'm perfectly safe, better than safe."
"With Nate Harrington?" She sounded doubtful. "I've heard things about him. We both have. You know what he's into."
"Do I?" Playing dumb would get a rise out of Bea. "What is he into?"
"You know, like, stuff with ropes and handcuffs and whips and shit."
I stifled a laugh at how flustered she sounded, then frowned as I recalled he did have a reputation for far kinkier things than he'd ever tried with me. Did I want him to whip me? No. Would it be exciting to be tied up and at his mercy? Now that was a different proposition entirely. I wondered how I could subtly introduce the idea to him.
"Juliet?" Bea prompted, and I realized I'd drifted into a daydream.
"I'm still here." I caught my reflection in the mirror above the sink. My hair was piled on top of my head. With cheeks flushed from the bath and a towel wrapped around me, I was a bit of a mess, but my eyes sparkled in a way they hadn't in months, years maybe. "Listen I'm here with Nate because it's where I want to be. He's a good man, and he's never once done anything I haven't wanted him to."
"But the articles…"
"Are a load of shit. Someone has photographed private moments and made them something they're not."
"You're sure you're okay?"
"I promise, Bea, I'm fine. Better than I've been in a long time. I love it out here."
Bea sniffed. "I have to admit you do sound happier."
"I feel it."
"Okay, I believe you. Now tell me about this vineyard you're staying on. Would I like it there?"
"Probably not. It's miles from the nearest town, and that doesn't have a single sushi bar or Japanese head spa."
"Hey!" my oldest friend protested. "I'm not that high-maintenance."
I snorted derisively. Since the moment we first met when we were seated together at an event our mothers dragged us to twenty years ago, I'd known Bea was into the finer things in life.Her idea of slumming it would be staying in a Presidential Suite with no hot tub on the terrace.
"You are, but I love you anyway. Now tell me about François. Are you still seeing him?"
"Who?" The confusion in her voice told me she wasn't. "Oh, him, no. He was so unfit. He couldn't keep up with me at the gym."
"The next guy will probably be too athletic." I couldn't help teasing her. This year alone, my friend had dated men she deemed too tall, too short, too bony, too muscular, too stupid, and too smart. She was like some sort of Goldilocks, constantly searching for a man who was just right.
"Yeah," she said with a sigh. "I don't suppose there are any hot men out there in the hinterlands?"
"I've never heard Alexander Valley described that way."
"Well you know what I mean. Do they even have running water out there?"
"Yes, I've just bathed in some. They even have excellent cellular service, as you may have noted. But to answer your question, the only hot man I've seen out here is Nate, and he's taken."
"So it's serious between you and him, then?"
I shrugged, even though she couldn't see me. "It's too soon to know, Bea, but for now, I'm happy, so please don't worry about me." Starting to get chilled now, I hugged the towel to my body. "Listen, I need to go, but we'll speak soon, okay? Love you."
Ending the call, I headed into the bedroom and set my phone down on the nightstand. I'd pretty much drip-dried, so I rubbed over my skin quickly with the towel to make sure no part of me was still wet, then dressed in jeans and my coral shirt.
Through the window, I could see Ramon's truck still parked down by the main building of the winery. It was almost seven thirty and he'd been out here since early morning. The man gaveeverything to this place. I understood why better than I would have a few weeks ago.
Knowing Eileen would have dinner underway, I headed for the stairs. I was halfway along the corridor when Nate stepped out of a room on my left. The expression on his face was one I'd seen before. Disappointment tinged with anger.
