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She smiled at the oblivious nature of his words.
“It’s not like paying them is going to solve the problem though. The Kasners will continue collecting. Why not take the money and start somewhere else, somewhere that’s completely yours?”
She shook her head. “We can’t leave, Leo.”
He sighed.
“This place, it matters a lot to us,” she replied. “To my dad, my mom. It’s our family’s legacy. We put roots down here long ago and there was never an intention to leave. Like you said”—she lifted her drink again, savoring the way he continued to watch her movements—“this place is magical.”
Leo responded with a sigh.
A whining howl came from the shed across the vineyard.
He tipped the rest of his whiskey into his mouth, then gingerly placed the glass on the ledge. “That would be Bear.”
“What a horrible dad,” she teased. She leaned her hip against a column and tilted her head. “You abandoned him all day.”
“Yes, well, we were too busy being social media stars.”
“I still think they should have gotten that shot of you working with your shirt off.”
“No. So tacky.”
“But it would have gotten so much engagement.”
“I don’t think selling my body is in my contract.”
“But would you do it for a small raise?” Alana pointed a thumb to the door. “We could get Freya and your contract now, make it official.”
His face flushed. “Stop.”
She grinned. “You’re embarrassed.”
“By the idea of showing off my shirtless body to the black hole that is the internet? Absolutely.”
“Don’t like taking your shirt off?”
“Oh I do, but only for certain people.” That slight smirk returned.
She pressed her lips together to suppress a grin. “I think Bear needs you,” she eventually replied.
“He’s going to need a run around the vineyard to tire out.”
Alana downed the rest of her drink. “Come on. I’ll help.”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to. He’ll be really energetic and need to play catch for ages.”
She walked around him and down the stairs. “I like playing catch.”
Leo followed her, catching up to her in three long strides. “Oh yeah?”
She shrugged. “There’s something about the chase. Gets me every time.”
He stopped walking for a moment, his face awash with surprise.
She turned and walked backward. “You coming?”
“Y-yeah. Yes.” He chased after her, and the metaphor of it all wasn’t lost on Alana.
