Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
S aturday morning dawned cool and cloudy, much to Kelsey’s chagrin. She crossed her fingers that the weather forecast was accurate and that it would burn off by late morning. She was just glad it wasn’t raining.
She and Luke were the first to arrive at the winery at seven o’clock, but were soon joined by Marci and the West Arch crew. By the time they opened at nine, everything was ready to go. Business was relatively slow until shortly after ten, right when the sun started to peek through the clouds.
Kelsey was manning the cookie-decorating station when Alaina and Evan arrived with their toddler daughter, Alexa. Alaina gave Kelsey a big hug. “What a fantastic event! This is classic Ribbon Ridge.”
Evan looked at his wife. “Don’t forget to tell her about the e-mail Crystal got. You wanted me to remind you.” He helped Alexa into a chair at the table.
Alaina nodded as she smiled at him. “I did, thank you.” She turned to Kelsey, who was presenting Alexa with a cookie in the shape of a pumpkin. “Crystal heard from the archaeologist.”
Kelsey straightened. “Do tell!”
“They dated the fire to 1901. Ish. It’s hard to be super accurate, but that’s their best guess based on the testing.”
“I wonder if it was still a brothel at that time,” Kelsey said.
“Crystal said the same thing. She’s in LA right now, but she’s looking forward to doing more research.” Alaina chuckled. “I think she’s going to move into the historical society until she’s figured out what happened to Dorinda.”
“She seems very interested in her,” Kelsey said.
“If by interested, you mean obsessed, then yes. Especially since we heard about the brothel. She’s desperate to know if Dorinda was part of that or if she’d moved on by then.” Alaina helped her daughter frost the pumpkin cookie. “People and stories interest Crystal—she’s a natural-born storyteller. I keep trying to convince her to write a script.”
“About Dorinda?”
“About something. I know she wants to—she just has to set aside her self-defeating attitude.” Alaina set the frosted cookie on a napkin in front of Alexa. “Do you want some sprinkles?”
“Sprinkles!” Alexa reached for a container of Halloween-shaped decorative sprinkles to shake over her cookie.
“Well, I hope she does that,” Kelsey said, thinking that the pursuit of one’s dreams was vitally important to finding happiness.
She glanced over to the hayride stop where a few families were lined up, waiting for Luke to return on the tractor. Emotion gathered in her chest as she anticipated seeing him again. Emotion she somewhat recognized.
Was she in love with him? Just thinking the L word made her tremble. She’d felt so betrayed by that emotion. She wasn’t sure she was ready to let it in again.
Shaking her head, she focused on the kids at the table. After a quick lunch, she read Halloween stories to the kids and handed out lollipops. Gram and George stopped by, holding hands. Kelsey didn’t think Gram had ever looked happier.
George excused himself to go check out Luke’s tractor while another load of families was climbing into the hay-stacked trailer he was pulling. Gram sighed as she watched him walk away.
She touched Gram’s arm. “You and George are really happy.”
Gram turned, smiling. “Yes. Frighteningly so.” She laughed. “When I came to Ribbon Ridge to blow off steam for a bit, I never imagined I’d stay. Let alone take a job. Or fall in love.”
There was that L word again. “Have you? Fallen in love?”
Gram nodded. “I think so. I’m quite out of practice, of course. I fell in love with your grandpa a lifetime ago. But I suppose it’s like riding a bike.”
Kelsey wasn’t sure she agreed. Riding a bike was a repeatable endeavor—one you could learn and practice and improve upon. After Noah, she’d accepted that she just sucked at falling in love and really had no interest in trying it again. But now… It was hard to compare what was happening with Luke to what she’d felt for Noah. With Noah, she’d known, almost immediately. Luke was different. She felt a quiet peace with him that she didn’t necessarily equate with the tumult of falling in love. At least in her experience.
No, she couldn’t relate it to riding a bike.
“So what are your plans, then?” Kelsey asked. “Will you just stay at the Archers’ apartment for now?”
“Actually, George has asked me to move in with him, and I’m considering it.” Gram laughed and waved her hand. “Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll probably tell him yes tonight. We have a romantic dinner planned.”
Kelsey wrapped her in a fierce hug. “I’m so glad you’ll be staying here.”
Gram hugged her back. “Me too, dear.” When they broke apart, Gram studied her intently. “What about you and Luke? Are you moving in with him?”
They’d discussed it briefly this week. Actually, Luke had brought it up, and Kelsey had neatly changed the subject. File that right along with keeping love at bay. “Not right now.”
The light in Gram’s eye faded. “Is something wrong?”
“No, not at all. Everything’s great. I’m just taking things very slowly.”
Gram patted her shoulder. “As you should, dear. I’m sorry if I’m being insensitive. You two just seem to be getting on very well. I like seeing you happy as much as you like seeing me that way.”
Of course she did. She leaned over and kissed Gram’s cheek. “Thank you.”
George came back and said he’d agreed to take over driving the tractor so that Luke could have a much-deserved break. Hearing that, Kelsey asked if Gram would mind watching the cookie table so she could grab something for Luke to eat. Gram was eager to help, and so Kelsey took off into the winery to fetch a sandwich and a Coke for Luke. She grabbed a Diet Coke for herself and juggled everything as she hurried back outside.
The afternoon had turned bright and warm. She blinked against the sun and contemplated going back inside for her sunglasses.
Then Luke came toward her, his handsome face creased in a smile as his gaze dipped to the sandwich in her hands. “You brought me lunch.” He dropped a lingering kiss on her mouth.
The anticipation she’d felt earlier curled into an irrepressible joy. “Yes. Do you want to sit?”
“Nah, I’m good. Been sitting in the tractor most of the day.” He took the sandwich and led her to a table near the winery, where they had extra arts supplies stocked and ready if they needed them. Marci was doing a great job with the craft table.
She opened his Coke and set it on the table, then opened her can. “This has exceeded my expectations.” She looked around at the families enjoying the beautiful fall day and just felt happy to be a part of it.
“Mine too.”
The soft, sultry sound of his voice drew her to look at him. He was staring at her as if he’d been referring to her instead of the event.
“Are you being a dork?”
“Probably. You make me act all dorky.” He made a silly face before taking a bite of sandwich.
She chuckled before sipping her Diet Coke.
After he swallowed, he took a drink. “Cam asked if we wanted to join him and Brooke tonight for dinner at The Arch and Vine. We all agreed we’d be too exhausted to cook.” Cam and Brooke were, of course, busy pouring wine today and hopefully expanding their club membership as well as selling cases and cases of their latest vintage.
“Sure, sounds good.”
“Kelsey!” Gram waved from the cookie table. “I need more sprinkles.”
“Oops, I better go.” Kelsey turned, but Luke shot his arm around her waist and pulled her against him.
“Can I have a kiss first?” Something about the way he’d physically stopped her from leaving rankled her.
“We’re in the middle of everything.”
“Not really, we’re off to the side.” He let go of her, his eyes clouding. “Sorry. Did I do something wrong?”
No. He’d just reminded her of Noah, who’d been fond of asking her to bestow kisses on him at all sorts of odd times, like in the middle of the grocery store or while they were waiting in line at the movie theater. But she wouldn’t make the same mistake she’d made with the flowers. Luke hadn’t intended anything other than doing what boyfriends did with their girlfriends.
She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “No. We’re good.”
As she made her way back to the cookie table, she couldn’t shake the feeling that all this happiness she’d been feeling would disappear, that she was doomed to crash and burn. That was the outcome she was familiar with. Happily ever after, it seemed, was for other people.
It had been an exhausting day, but Luke couldn’t think of any place he’d rather be than laughing over dinner with Kelsey, his brother, and his brother’s fiancée. They’d already decided to make today’s event an annual thing, which in Luke’s mind bound him to Kelsey, assuming she was still Ribbon Ridge’s librarian.
Luke reached over and took Kelsey’s hand beneath the table. She clasped her fingers around his but didn’t look at him since she was chatting with Brooke. The book charm from her bracelet fell against his hand. She’d worn it every day since he’d given it to her. He smiled.
Cam finished his beer and picked up the pitcher to fill his glass to the halfway mark. “Another beer?” he asked Luke.
“Sure.” Luke pushed his glass toward his brother across the table. “About the same.”
“You working tomorrow?” Cam asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Dude, you deserve a day off. Hell, you deserve a vacation.”
And he’d take one in January or February like he usually did. The question was whether he’d go alone. He recalled the conversation he’d had with Kelsey weeks ago, when he’d sort of invited her to go away with him. What had once seemed a distant possibility was now something he wanted desperately. She’d never been off the West Coast. He began to think of all the places he could take her and wondered if she even had a passport. Would she be able to take time off from the library? Hell, maybe she could just close it for a week. People could go without borrowing books and movies for a week, couldn’t they?
He looked over at Kelsey. Going without her wasn’t an option. Apparently, the loner didn’t want to be alone anymore. He wanted to be with her. Even tomorrow loomed large and boring since she’d be at the library all afternoon.
What the hell had happened to him? He normally had no problem facing a day by himself. In fact, he relished it.
He shook the thoughts away and dragged himself back to what Cam had said. “You know me, I’m a workaholic.”
“Always have been, even in school. You and Jamie were pulling straight As and my not-too-shabby three-point-seven-five looked like crap.”
Kelsey looked over at Cam as she picked up her pint of cider. “That’s nothing to sneeze at.”
“Said the girl who graduated a year early,” Luke said.
Brooke leaned forward. “Is that true?”
Kelsey swallowed her cider and set the glass back on the table. “Yes.” She sent Luke a teasing smile. “Thanks for outing me.”
He blinked and teased her back. “Is it a secret?”
“Maybe. Now you have to share a secret.”
“Oh, man. I don’t know.” He tried to think of something she wouldn’t know. They’d shared so much over the past couple of weeks.
Cam snorted. “This is easy. One of the many things this overachiever did in high school was work on the newspaper. He wrote a regular sports column, but what people didn’t know was that he was also the advice columnist, Dear Granny.”
Oh hell. Luke hadn’t thought of that in years.
Kelsey let go of his hand and turned toward him in the booth. Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “Seriously? I’m trying to imagine.” She looked over at Cam. “Any chance your folks have a newspaper or two lying around?”
Cam laughed. “I’m sure. Just ask my mom next time you see her. She’d be delighted to share all sorts of things.”
“It’s true,” Brooke said. “She’s shown me every embarrassing picture of Cam, including him running around naked at age four with his underwear on his head.”
Cam dropped his head and shook it before shooting her a wide grin. “You had to mention that.”
Brooke shrugged. “Seems only fair since you spilled your brother’s secret.”
“That means I should spill one for you. Let’s see?—”
Brooke put her fingers in front of his mouth. “I have no idea what you were going to say, but shut up.” She turned to Kelsey and Luke. “I had to go to my prom with green hair. Do not color your hair at home for the first time on prom day.”
“Yikes!” Kelsey covered her mouth and giggled.
Brooke grinned. “But really, I want to hear more about Dear Granny. What sort of questions did you get?”
Luke opened his mouth to respond, but someone approached the table—a guy with dark hair and an extremely nervous look in his eye.
“Kelsey?”
She turned her head, but not before Luke caught the spark of fear in her gaze. “Noah. What are you doing here?”
Adrenaline pumped through Luke. It took everything he had not to jump up from the bench and launch himself over the table at her ex. “This is Noah?”
Noah’s gaze flicked toward him, but only briefly before returning to Kelsey. “Can we go somewhere to talk? Just for a few minutes.”
She was quiet for a moment, and Luke was afraid she was considering it. Why would she do that? He wanted to beat the guy into the ground.
“I don’t have anything to say to you,” she finally said, her voice quivering.
Luke’s heart twisted. He clenched his hands into tight fists as anger roiled inside him.
Noah nodded once. “That’s okay. You don’t need to say anything. Just listen.”
Kelsey stood, and Luke’s stomach curled in on itself. Was she going to agree? He wasn’t sure he could let her go off with him alone.
He scooted to the end of the bench, where she’d gotten up, purse in hand. “Kelsey, don’t go with him.”
She spared Luke the smallest glance. “I’m going to the bathroom.” She took a step toward the back.
Noah moved to block her. “Please, Kelsey. Just five minutes. I need to apologize to you. It’s important for my recovery.”
“She doesn’t give a damn about your recovery,” Luke said, fury spiraling through him. “She doesn’t have to.”
Kelsey turned to look at Luke, her eyes like ice. “This isn’t your problem, Luke.” She shot a glare toward Noah. “I don’t actually care about your recovery. You need to go.”
She took another step, and Noah grabbed her forearm. “ Please .”
That was all Luke needed to see. He leapt up and planted his fist in Noah’s face, hitting him in the left cheekbone and sending his head snapping back.
Noah let go of Kelsey, and she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Her gaze turned to Luke, but he was only seeing her from the corner of his eye. He was focused on Noah, who was massaging his cheek. Luke moved toward him. Noah took a step back.
Luke’s lip curled. “Not too fun being on the receiving end, is it?”
“Luke, stop .” Kelsey’s voice broke through his angry haze.
He didn’t look at her, just kept glaring at Noah. “He deserves that and so much more.”
“Luke!”
Finally, he turned his head and saw the anguish and pain in her gaze. “No one deserves that.” She shook her head, her eyes wide. Sliding her purse strap over her shoulder, she cut around them and walked out.
Noah started after her, but Cam, who must’ve gotten up from the booth, stepped between him and the door. Cam glowered at him. “Let her go.”
“I’m calling 9-1-1,” Brooke said. “He’s violating the restraining order. And his parole.”
Panic flooded Noah’s gaze. He dashed around Cam and fled the pub. Luke lurched forward, intending to follow him, but Cam put his hand on his forearm. “Don’t do something you’ll regret. Let’s call the police, and we’ll sort this out. You shouldn’t have hit him.”
Probably not. He shook his hand out, suddenly feeling the pain in his knuckles. He locked eyes with his older brother. “I don’t regret that.”
Cam nodded slowly. “I get it.”
Luke stared at the door, aware that the entire pub had gone quiet. He reached for his phone in his back pocket but remembered he’d set it on the table when he’d sat down. He snatched it up and texted Kelsey, telling her to be careful because Noah was out there. He also said they were waiting for the police to arrive. Finally, he asked her to call or text him back. Worry and fear arced through him. He wanted to go after her, to make sure she was safe.
Fuck it. He could do that, and the police could talk to Cam and Brooke about what had happened.
Except the police walked in at that moment, and for the next half hour, the only place he went was crazy as he thought of Noah out there—maybe with Kelsey.