Chapter 4
“Come on, boy,” I yell after Monte, my Australian Shepard mix, as he pauses to sniff around the tangled vines.
The crisp early December air fills my lungs as I stroll through the rows of grapevines. Despite the chill, this time of year has always been my favorite. The leaves on the vines have changed colors, displaying a brilliant quilt of reds, yellows, and oranges, all set against a backdrop of rolling green hills in the distance. In a week or two, the leaves will fall to the ground, and the cycle will start again. For the time being, the vines lay dormant, giving me a short reprieve from worrying about their health. Instead, my focus is on turning the grapes we harvested into the best wine possible.
Although lately, whenever I’ve worked in my lab, my thoughts are consumed with the idea of Grady selling this place that’s been my home for the past decade. I know he won’t sell to someone who will destroy everything he’s created here. I just wish that person could be me. The only way that will happen is if I get married.
I don’t foresee that happening anytime soon, especially since I haven’t been on a date in months. If you can even call what I do dating. I’m not the type of person a woman can bring home to meet the parents. Not with my past.
As I make my way along the dirt path, Monte barks excitedly, then takes off toward a figure approaching in the distance, the setting sun behind them making it difficult to see who it is. I squint, expecting it to be Grady. But as I get closer, it becomes abundantly clear it’s not.
Not unless Grady miraculously turned into a petite redhead with brilliant green eyes.
I stop in my tracks and rake my gaze over Haley’s frame, my pulse kicking up as she draws near. It happens every damn time I see her.
And every time, I hate myself a little more for still reacting to her this way.
But my body hasn’t seemed to get the message. Or maybe it simply doesn’t care.
“What are you doing out here?” My voice comes out gruffer than I intended, and I wince slightly. But I don’t apologize. It’s better if she hates me.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She nervously fidgets with the hem of her coat, shifting from foot to foot. “I went to the tasting room and Grady said I could find you out here. If you’re busy, I can come back later.”
“It’s fine.” I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “What do you want?”
And again, my words come out harsher than I planned. It’s just how I am around her. As if the ruder I am to her, the less I’ll care about her.
Hell, I shouldn’t care about her.
But no matter how much time has passed, there’s a part of me that will always have a soft spot for Haley McBride.
“It’s just…” She pushes out a long breath, tilting her head back to take in the blue sky before returning her gaze to mine. “I was wondering if you were still renting out your townhouse.”
“I am…” I draw out, my eyes tracing over the pale skin of her face, a smattering of freckles dotting her cheeks and nose, her full lips seeming even pinker when compared to her fair complexion.
“Would you want to rent it out to me?” She looks at me hopefully. “I can’t afford a lot,” she adds quickly. “But I’m not asking for a favor. Or maybe I am. I don’t know. Belinda’s selling the house and moving to Santa Fe to be near her kids and grandkids. After spending the past few weeks trying to find a place I can afford, I’m beginning to realize how good I had it. Everywhere I look is so far out of my price range, it’s laughable.” There’s a hint of defeat in her voice, breaking through the tough exterior she’s worn nearly all her life.
“My place is booked solid through the end of March. You know how busy this place gets in the winter with all the ski bunnies.”
“Right.” She forces a smile, but I can tell it’s to mask her disappointment.
Or maybe frustration.
“Well, thanks for your time.” She spins and all but runs from me, kicking up dust in her wake. She doesn’t even look up as she rushes past my brother, keeping her head lowered.
“What was that about?” Jude asks as he moves toward me, briefly glancing over his shoulder at Haley’s retreating form.
Monte wastes no time in abandoning me, heading straight toward him and sitting obediently at his feet, a single paw raised.
Jude reaches into his coat pocket and holds out his hand, allowing Monte to gobble up the treats he always carries with him.
“Nothing.” I shrug, praying he doesn’t push the conversation.
While I have a good relationship with all my siblings, I’m probably closest with Jude. Not just because we’re less than a year apart, but also because we’re in similar lines of work, although we often argue over whose business requires a higher level of expertise.
Jude studied chemical engineering in college. While he was there, he started brewing his own beer out of the garage of the fraternity house.
His first batch was a huge success and led to him dropping out after two years to open a brewery here in town. While it was initially just for distribution, he now also has a tasting room and restaurant, which has become the popular hangout amongst locals and tourists alike.
I still say my job is much more challenging. He’s not responsible for his product all the way down to the type of soil his grains are grown in. Not like I am.
“Where Haley McBride is concerned, it’s never nothing.” He gives me a knowing look.
“She was asking about my rental. That’s all.”
“Ah.” He widens his stance, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I heard Belinda’s moving.”
“So it seems.”
I steal a glance at the parking lot outside the tasting room, relieved to see Haley’s dark SUV pulling away. I whistle for Monte to follow me and start toward the barrel building.
“What did you tell her?” Jude presses, trailing behind me.
“The truth. I’m booked through March. There’s nothing I can do for her.”
“Or,” he prods.
“Or…what?”
His lips curve into that mischievous grin I remember from our childhood. The one that usually led to us getting into trouble.
Still, I always went along with his crazy plans.
“Or maybe you could both help each other.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She could be the solution to your little problem with Grady. In exchange, you give her a place to live.”
I come to an abrupt stop and face my brother. He’s only an inch shorter than my six-three frame, his hair the same dark shade, although not as long.
“What are you suggesting? That I marry Haley McBride so Grady will sell me the vineyard?” I bark out a laugh at how ridiculous it sounds. “No way. Grady would never believe it.”
“On the contrary,” Jude retorts as I continue down the path. His footsteps crunch on the dirt beneath his feet as he catches up. “If Grady’s going to believe you married anyone, it’s Haley. He knows you’ve had a thing for her since you were kids.”
“He also knows what I did to her.”
“It was an accident. When the hell are you going to stop beating yourself up over one stupid mistake?”
“One stupid mistake that nearly sent her to the goddamn morgue.”
Jude doesn’t insist I’m being ridiculous. Instead, he glares at me.
“We barely talk,” I add, pushing down the memories of that summer. Of the night that completely changed my life. “We’re not even friends, let alone close enough for anyone to think we’ve suddenly fallen head over heels in love with each other.”
“You can try to deny it all you want, but I see how you look at her.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts me off with a raised hand.
“You still have feelings for her. I see it. Anyone with eyes can see it. Which is why Haley’s the perfect woman for you to fake marry.”
I stare at my brother, convinced I must be hallucinating. Or that I’m asleep and this is a dream. Or, more appropriately, a nightmare. That can be the only possible explanation for why my normally practical and even-headed brother would suggest I ask Haley to marry me so I can buy the vineyard, especially given our past.
Years ago, I swore I’d stay as far away from her as possible. That I’d never ruin her life again. Asking her to marry me and living together? It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
“You’ve lost your mind.” I pick up my pace, practically jogging toward the barrel room.
“I prefer to say I’m thinking outside the box.” He touches a hand to my arm, forcing me to come to a stop. “You want the vineyard, don’t you? Don’t want all your years of hard work to go to someone who’s never stepped foot on this land?”
“Of course.”
“Then this is perfect. Haley needs a place to live. You need a wife. It’s a win-win. If you want Grady to believe it’s real, she’s your only option, Beck.”
As much as I hate to admit it, my brother does have a point.
Grady knows all about our history. How we were inseparable when we were kids. How we were each other’s first kiss. How we didn’t see each other much as she got older. How we reconnected right before we were both supposed to go off to college.
How neither of us were able to go.
Instead, she spent what should have been her freshman year learning how to walk again.
And I spent mine in prison.
“You know I’m right,” Jude cuts into my thoughts.
“She’ll never agree to this.”
“You never know. She might just be desperate enough to agree to marry you, you asshole.”
“And an asshole is exactly what I’d be if I offered her somewhere to live, but only if she marries me.”
“Then make sure you sweeten the pot.”
“Sweeten the pot? How?”
“Give her an offer she can’t refuse,” he says, doing his best impression of Marlon Brando. Then adds, “and I’m not talking about your dick, since history indicates that’s an offer she’s more than happy to refuse.”
I punch him in the bicep. It’s not a hard jab, but it’s not exactly light, either.
“Asshole.” He rubs his arm.
“You started it,” I retort, just as I did when we were kids.
“Think about it, Beck. Are you ready to walk away from all of this?” He waves at the acres upon acres of vine-covered rolling hills, the setting sun casting a mixture of shadows and light on the stunning landscape.
“Getting married doesn’t guarantee Grady will sell to me,” I remind my brother.
“No. But it’ll at least get you in the running. Do you always want to wonder what if?”
I could argue that I’ll be fine. That I can always find another piece of property to buy or accept one of the myriad of offers I receive from other vineyards on a regular basis. But I know this land. Know this soil. Know these vines.
Am I ready to give up without a fight?
Better yet, am I willing to pull Haley back into my life even after I swore I’d stay away?