Chapter 10
Walker
Ican’t help the grin that slides across my face. “I learned it from somewhere.”
I turn toward the sound of my parents’ footsteps, smiling at the clicking of my mother’s heels. I swear, that woman wears heels no matter the occasion. She could be cooking a pot roast dinner on a Sunday afternoon and have her house heels on.
My father breaches the doorway of the kitchen first. I nod to Marcus, a silent “thank you” for ushering them to me. But they can’t stay long.
I have to get them out of here before Lia and Eli show up.
My mother follows in behind my father, standing just inside the doorway, perfectly put together as always. Her gaze flicks from the counters to the ovens to me. My father hovers behind her, his hands clasped behind his back as he surveys the kitchen with an approving nod.
“You’ve always been incapable of standing still,” my father says mildly. “Even as a boy.”
My mother hums. “Especially as a boy.”
I walk over and give my mother a kiss on her cheek. “What are you two doing here? I figured you’d be halfway to Charleston by now.”
“We were,” my mother says. “Then we realized we hadn’t said goodbye properly.”
My father chuckles as he embraces me for a back-patting hug. “And your mother wanted to make sure you were eating.”
“I eat,” I say flatly.
She gives me a look that says she knows exactly how untrue that is, then steps farther into the kitchen. “This space looks wonderful,” she says, running her fingers along the edge of the counter. “You finally fixed the oven?”
“Knox did,” I say. “Twenty minutes ago.”
“Good,” my father says. “That kitchen’s been underused for too long.”
I fold my arms loosely across my chest, already clocking the way this conversation is drifting. “You didn’t drive all the way back here to talk about ovens. What’s wrong?”
“No,” my mother agrees. “We drove back to check on you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Of course you are,” she says lightly. “You always are.”
My father claps a hand on my shoulder, firm and familiar. “Vineyard’s running well. I’ve been hearing good things.”
“You should be hearing good things,” I say. “I run it properly.”
He smiles at that. Proud. Something in my chest tightens at the quiet weight of his approval, but I don’t dwell on it.
Dwelling isn’t productive.
“When you retire and pass this place on to your son or daughter,” he continues, “you’ll understand why your mother and I can’t quite stay away.”
I huff out a breath. “That’s assuming I ever retire.”
My mother’s eyes flick to mine. Sharp. Knowing. “And assuming you don’t plan on running this place alone forever.”
I open my mouth to respond, but the sound of laughter filters in from the hallway before I can. Light. Familiar. My shoulders tense instinctively.
Knox appears first, slipping into the kitchen with a grin and a snack in his hand. Like there’s a show to watch. “Hope I’m not interrupting—oh. Well. Would you look at that.”
I shoot him a look. His eyebrows lift as his gaze lands on my parents.
“Mr. and Mrs. Boone,” he says easily as he sweeps his attention toward them. “Didn’t know you two were back in town.”
“Knox,” my mother says warmly with an easy smile on her face. “Still causing trouble?”
“Only the fun kind,” he replies with a wink. “I’ll let you guys catch up.”
“What do you need?” I ask.
Knox’s smile is practically mischievous. “Your guests are here.”
My pulse kicks.
Lia and Eli.
They’re here.
Knox steps to the side and disappears just outside the kitchen doorway as Eli steps into view. Amber bounces at his side, her smile bright as she clings to a hand at her side. Lia stands beside the girl, her gaze curious but cautious as it sweeps the space.
I can’t help it. My nostrils flare, my body greedy for her scent. For her presence. For her body to be against mine again. I feel my mother’s gaze on me, studying me in that way only meddling mothers can.
Lia’s blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail that would wrap perfectly around my hand. Her cardigan of choice today frames her curves nicely, calling to my palms as I flex my hands at my sides. Her scent is sweet and damning, like a tray of cinnamon rolls I want to dig into with a fork.
She freezes the moment she realizes she’s walked into a family reunion.
“Oh,” she says quietly.
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—”
“No.”
This has gone on long enough. Lia’s crowded, I’m crowded, everyone is much too crowded. Her scent is agitating my Alpha. She’s supposed to smell sweet and bright, not heavy and burnt.
“Mom. Dad,” I say as I slip in front of them. “Let me walk you out.”
Mom holds up her finger. “But—”
“No,” I say as I level her with a look that lets her know I mean business. “I love you guys. I hope you have a fantastic trip. I’ll make sure to eat dinner. But I have to get back to my schedule and you two have to remember what it’s like to have a life outside of this place.”
I don’t give them a chance to ask any more questions or interject anything else with Lia.
With my hands on the middle of my parents’ backs, I usher them out of the kitchen and down the hallway.
I weave through the main building of the vineyard, sticking to the back corridors so that none of the staff stop me with any of their questions.
I have to get back to Lia. She’s the one that needs me right now.
“She’s beautiful,” Mom says with that coy smile of hers as I get them out to their car.
“She’s using the kitchen for her freelance baking business. Nothing more, nothing less,” I say as I open her car door for her.
“Keep telling yourself that, son,” my father says with a cheeky grin.
I shoot him a look. “Travel safely.”
I get the two of them into their car and wave them off, but the weight on my shoulders doesn’t fall off the way I would have hoped.
I tilt my head side to side, cracking my neck before I reorient myself.
I wrap around the back of the vineyard and enter through one of the side entrances, quickly making my way back to the kitchen where Lia, Eli, and Knox are gathered.
I don’t know what to say, so I simply clear my throat. “If you’re ready, I can show you around the kitchen.”
Lia nods quickly. “That would be great.”
I hold my hand out, ushering her in. I walk her around, explaining the layout, the storage, the ventilation, the dual ovens.
There’s a microwave if she needs it, but all she does is wrinkle her cute little nose at it.
I even show her the walk-in that she can use for anything she may need to store.
I keep it practical. Neutral. Businesslike.
I’m honestly just glad my parents aren’t following us around.
“I fixed up this oven for you,” Knox says as he comes over and slaps his hand down onto the stovetop. “It was producing heat unevenly, but now it works like a charm. If you have issues with it, though, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Doesn’t take me long to get here from my place in town.”
Lia’s fingers brush the stainless steel. “I appreciate that, Knox, thank you.”
“There’s plenty of counter space,” Eli adds casually. “You’ll have a lot of space here. No more dropped trays of cinnamon rolls. And it’s quiet back here. Good for your focus.”
Lia turns slowly, taking it all in. I watch something akin to hope, or maybe relief, flicker behind her breathtaking eyes before she reins it in.
Good.
She needs some relief after what just happened to her apartment.
“This is… more than I expected,” Lia admits.
I meet her gaze. “You’re welcome to use it as long as you need.”
Lia peeks up at me. “Are you sure you don’t need me to pay anything for it? If there’s a fee, I can—”
“No.”
“Oh.”
Silence stretches between the two of us. That nervousness of hers has crept back in again. She’s fiddling with her fingers. Shuffling side to side on her feet.
“This kitchen isn’t currently in use, anyway,” I say, keeping my tone as even as possible.
I don’t want her to feel forced into any of this.
“Kitchens need regular use, otherwise you get things like what Knox had to fix on the oven. In all honesty, you’re doing me a favor.
As of right now, the vineyard doesn’t have a purpose for this kitchen.
This would give it purpose, at least for now. ”
She searches my face. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
She exhales, and her scent blooms with relief. Good. “Then, yes. I’d love to use this kitchen. It’s exactly what I need.”
My chest tightens sharply. The Alpha inside of me roars to life, happy to have provided. Happy to have settled her. Happy to have given her something she needs.
“If it’s all right, can I bring my things over today? So I can get started here fresh tomorrow?” Lia asks.
I stuff down the Alpha inside of me long enough to respond.
“Of course.” Then it hits me. “Oh, these are for you.” I dig around in my pocket before I pull out a set of keys.
“These will get you into the building at all hours. Each kitchen has a different lock. The key with the red cap is to get through the front door or any of the side entrances, and the key with the yellow cap gets you into this kitchen. Here.”
She holds out her little hand, and I drop the set of keys into her palm. Her smile is grateful and kind, and it slams into me with such a force that I almost can’t breathe. My mate. My scent-match. Smiling because of something I’ve done.
I feel as if I’m on top of the world.