Chapter Twenty-Four
My to-do list was a little out of control, but it didn’t intimidate me; it invigorated me. I pushed the chair from my desk and headed to the tasting room. Nero stood behind the bar, sleeves pushed over his forearms, preparing for the day.
“How’s that sculpture coming along?” I asked, taking a seat on a stool.
“It’ll be ready for the spring reveal.”
We had already discussed it, but I want a progress report. I needed to make sure he was on schedule, his vision was clear, and I wasn’t about to let him put an eyesore in front of the Vineyard. “Do I get to see pictures?”
“I should’ve known you wouldn’t want it to be a surprise.”
“I hate surprises.”
“I know.” With a sigh of disappointment, he reached into his back pocket and grabbed his phone. He tapped the screen and swiped his finger a few times. A smile tugged at his mouth. “Not that. Lainey would kill me.”
“You better not have naked…” I held my hand up. “You know what? I don’t want to know.”
He laughed and continued swiping before stopping and staring at his phone. “It’s just the structure right now, so you’re not going to get the full visual.” Hesitation filled his tone and his body. He was super talented, but he never gave himself enough credit.
“I’ll wait,” I said, and his eyes widened in disbelief, then chin tilted, eyes narrowed.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine, thank you. But I can see it’s important to you that I wait, so I will wait. But if it turns out to be a monstrosity, there will be hell to pay. I’m trusting you.”
“Wow, Char. Who knew you just needed some Brady magic penis to lighten up?”
My head practically snapped off my shoulders. I was used to Nero’s ability to say the most outlandish things, but I did not anticipate that. He expected me to tell him to grow up or give him some sort of dressing down, but I could play this game too.
“It is kind of magical.” I smiled, tapped the bar and walked away, a smug smirk on my face as Nero stood there, mouth agape and shock flashing in his eyes.
Speaking of magical penis… I hadn’t heard from him since the Town Hall Meeting and that was… three days ago. No, that’s not possible. I’d been so wrapped up in gathering intel on Gold Crest Vineyards, and planning our next moves, that I’d completely forgot to text or call him. I assumed he was busy with his dad, since he hadn’t called me, either.
I added Call Brady to my to-do list and hurried off to tackle all the tasks, leaving Brady for last, so I could end my day on a good note.
The day flew by in a blur as each check required more and more energy and time. By six pm, I checked off everything, except for that phone call. I settled into my office chair, and Laurent popped his head in.
“How’s everything going on the Gold Crest mess?” he asked.
“Good. I called some of my contacts at the Chamber of Commerce to see if they have any complaints or business disputes on file. I also checked in with the County Clerk’s office to see if they have any lawsuits, liens, or unpaid taxes.”
“Good. I have a call with a friend at the State Liquor Authority, the TTB and the Vineyard and Winery Association. Franc has been in contact with his friend at the Department of Agriculture. But I know they have their main location in California, so Phoebe is reaching out to her contacts to see if they can lead us anywhere.”
“Keep me posted,” I said.
“Same.” Laurent tapped his knuckles on the door, a sign that he was stalling.
I placed my notebook down and folded my hands on my desk. “What?”
“Talk to Brady at all?”
“I’ve been so wrapped up in this Gold Crest nonsense, I haven’t. Why, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. He just… All that stuff with his dad. He hates to ask for help, even when he desperately needs it. I’m still surprised he asked the other vets for help. But while the vets have Ron, Brady doesn’t have anyone. He always thinks he’s a burden, so he’ll keep to himself, avoid phone calls, and texts, which he’s been doing the last few days. He’s done it since we were kids. Franc and I usually figure it out eventually and go to him, but he has you now.”
“I was going to call him, but I’ll swing by his place instead.”
“Thanks.”
Brady might not have been blood, but to Laurent, Franc, and everyone else in our family, he might as well have been. We looked out for our own, and Brady was our own. But I wanted to be that person for him now.
“He’ll resist,” Laurent said. “Just be you and you’ll be fine.”
“I don’t know whether to be offended or flattered.”
Laurent smirked. “Maybe a little of both.”
I glanced toward the window; the sun had set long ago, but the stars twinkled above, the streetlights shining across the parking lot. Brady was a stubborn pain in the ass, and I knew this would be a battle, but for Brady, I wouldn’t just go to battle; I would go to war. He was worth fighting for, and it was about time he knew that.
“Anything else I need to know before I get there?” I shoved my notebook in my bag and stood from my desk.
Laurent rubbed his chin. “He won’t say it, but he’s hurting more than he leads on. Don’t let him push you away.”
Brady had been battling the world on his own for too damn long, and that ended tonight. If we were going to be together like he proudly announced to Odette, then that meant he didn’t carry everything alone anymore. Being together was more than sex and holding hands. It was about standing beside each other when the weight of the world got too heavy to bear and when those voices in your head said you weren’t enough. Brady had been listening to those voices for too long.
I marched toward the door. “He can try.”
He could fight me, push me away all he wanted, but I wasn’t going anywhere.
Not now.
Not ever. And it was about damn time he knew that.
***
The wind cut through my dress pants and goosebumps exploded on my legs. I was in a rush and forgot my coat. I had plenty more at home. I could deal with the cold for now.
Winter was rearing its ugly head, and it was only a matter of time before the temperatures continued to drop. Normally I hated the cold, harsh winters, but the thought of sitting by the fire with Brady, reading our books while Jack cuddled at our feet shot warmth through my body.
We could have it all if I could convince him he deserved it. I drove through town and made my way to Brady’s cabin in the woods. He said this house was his escape away from everyone, but now I wondered if it was because he didn’t feel like he fully belonged in the community. He’d always been an outcast, and even as an adult, he continued to allow himself to be just on the outskirts, never fully belonging.
I pulled into his driveway and threw my car in park behind his truck. Without hesitation, I hopped out of the car and went right to his front door. My heels clicked on the wood planks, echoing in the still night around me. I raised my hand and knocked hard.
A moment later, Brady yanked the door open, but his eyes widened when he took me in. He was probably expecting Franc or Laurent.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said with an edge, but his voice was gruff and raw, as if he’d been shoving down emotion for far too long.
I stood my ground, refusing to let him intimidate me in any way or to feel guilty for showing up for him. “Why?”
His face contorted in anger, jaw tightening, lips pressing together. “I don’t want him near you.”
Jack ran past his legs and into the wooded area along the perimeter of the yard.
“Fuck,” Brady muttered and slammed the door behind him probably before Fanny could escape. He stepped onto the porch with me. He was so close, yet he felt so far away.
I reached for him, but he leaned away from my touch. I didn’t let it wound me. He didn’t want to push me away; it was just his defense mechanism to protect himself. He needed reassurance, not someone who would take his words at face value.
“Let me help.”
He turned from me, pacing the porch, and shoving his hand over his hair that was pulled into a tight bun. “There’s no checklist for this. You can’t fix it.”
I stepped toward him, resting my hand on his broad shoulder. Thick muscle rippled beneath my touch. “Let me try.”
He shook his head but wouldn’t look at me. “I don’t want you to.”
I sidestepped his back and stood in front of him, laser focusing on him. I needed him to hear me. Needed him to see the truth in my gaze. “I know you expect me to storm off and hate you again, but that’s not going to happen. We’re past that now, so whether or not you like it, I’m helping.”
He glared, but I wouldn’t break. It was a battle of wills, and I refused to lose.