Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
C am pushed open the door of Taste, a wine bar that was closed tonight for a private party for a newish winery—Allen Drake. Keen to sample the competition, Cam went to as many of these kinds of events as he could. Not that they were really competition . Sure, they all wanted to be the next big producer, but the community was mostly supportive, and a win for one was a win for all.
The event was already bustling, and Cam recognized most of the faces in the room. There were small, round tables in the center plus a bar that ran along the windows facing Main and First Streets. The primary bar, where Allen was currently holding court, was at the back of the room.
Cam made his way to Allen, whom he’d known for several years. He was a former salesman like Cam, who’d decided to try his hand at crafting wine. He smiled when he saw Cam. “Hey, you made it.”
Cam shook his hand and grinned. “Of course. Is anyone else here going to tell you if it tastes like swill?”
The guy to Allen’s right, whose name currently escaped Cam, laughed. “Of course we will. In fact, I think your brother already did.”
Cam darted a few looks this way and that. He knew Luke had planned on stopping by, but didn’t see him. “Did Luke drink and dash?”
“Nah, he’s around here somewhere, I think,” Allen said. “He was looking for my vineyard manager. They might’ve gone in the back to get more wine.”
Probably. Luke always pitched in to help.
Allen motioned for one of the employees behind the bar to pour a glass for Cam. She filled the bowl with a dark pinot, enough for a healthy taste. Allen put his fingertips on the base of the glass and slid it to the edge of the granite. “I might regret this, but give it to me straight. Even if you think it is swill.”
Cam shook his head. “It won’t be.” He picked up the glass and swirled the liquid before inhaling its cherry and cassis scent. The nose was great, but would the taste hold up? He sipped and let the wine rest on his tongue a moment. He was immediately assaulted with cherry and then hints of coffee and truffle. The texture was silky, and the flavor lingered after he swallowed. It was, in a word, incredible. Jealousy snaked through him but was quickly overcome with happiness for Allen. “This is still young,” he said cautiously. “But it’s going to be a fruit bomb.”
Allen watched him expectantly. “Yeah, I think so too. Anything else?”
Cam considered drawing this out, but he knew what it felt like to be anxious about your brand-new wine. He shook his head at Allen. “Dude, it’s fucking awesome. You suck.”
Allen’s face split into a wide grin. He pushed his glasses up his nose and exhaled. “You almost had me going there.”
“Almost?”
“Hey, your opinion matters. You really like it?”
“It goes beyond that. I’m considering a long-term relationship with it.”
This made everyone howl with laughter. The guy next to Allen slapped him on the back. “Damn, Allen, now you know it’s good if Westcott’s going to give up his bachelor lifestyle.”
Cam laughed along with everyone, but bristled at always being labeled the consummate bachelor. Which made no sense. He had no problem with his lifestyle or his reputation. However, since he’d met Brooke, he’d started to wonder… He shook the thought right out of his head.
Cam steered the conversation to Allen’s wine—the quantity, when he was going to start selling it, what else he had to taste and so on. At one point, Luke emerged from the back and nodded toward Cam, but he didn’t join the group. Instead, he and Allen’s vineyard manager took a couple of stools by the window.
“ Hello .” The single word, barely more than a breath really, came from the guy on Cam’s left. He was young—an intern at one of the larger wineries near Ribbon Ridge—and his head was turned toward the door.
Cam followed his line of sight and immediately saw what had drawn his reaction. Brooke was standing just inside. She looked around the room, taking stock. Cam did the same—but only of her. Her blond hair was loose, hanging in silky curls to her shoulders. She wore a cobalt-and-turquoise-striped maxi dress with silver sandals peeking out beneath the hem. He was utterly captivated. Like the guy next to him, apparently.
“Excuse me,” the intern said, taking off toward Brooke.
The jealousy Cam had felt for the wine earlier came back tenfold, and this time it didn’t immediately dissipate. He watched as the guy approached Brooke and greeted her. She smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the sides and her dimples creasing. Cam reacted deep in his gut, wanting nothing more than to walk over to her and stake his claim.
Only he didn’t have one.
Over the past week, since she’d toured the winery and vineyard, they’d kept their communication strictly business—all e-mail. She’d left without saying good-bye last Saturday, and when Cam had pressed Bex for why she’d left, Bex had only said that Brooke had gone to meet a friend. He’d half expected her to join him on the deck so they could finish that Riesling together, but then he hadn’t actually invited her. Because he was trying to keep things business-oriented instead of flirty, something he found hard to do when he was with her. Away from her, he could ignore that he was insanely attracted to her.
He turned to the bar and asked for a full glass of the pinot. Then he asked for another. Before he could think better of it, he swooped up both glasses and beelined for Brooke and her admirer.
As he neared, she saw him, her eyes widening briefly in recognition, then slanting at the edges as she smiled. She seemed happy to see him.
“Cameron! Just the guy I was looking for.” She turned to the intern and flashed him an apologetic look. “You’ll have to excuse me. I need to talk shop with one of my clients.”
Always eager to help someone out, he glanced somewhat apologetically at the intern as he offered Brooke one of the glasses. “I come bearing wine.”
“Excellent.” She tossed the intern a look and said, “Ciao,” as she looped her arm through Cam’s. The connection was instant and magnetic and made him wonder if strictly business was going to be possible tonight.
He let her lead him across the room, threading through tables and skirting people. They passed Luke and his pal. Luke raised an eyebrow, not much, but enough for Cam to catch it. Cam didn’t respond verbally or otherwise.
She stopped at the end of the bar along the window, at the two seats closest to the back corner. “He didn’t follow us, did he?” she asked in a low tone.
Cam had only just recovered from her touch to find she was removing her arm. That was too bad. He looked back toward where they’d started. The intern was still standing there, wearing a bemused expression. “No, he didn’t.”
She exhaled as she perched on the stool. “Great.”
Cam took the other seat with his back to the corner. “I take it you were dying to get away from him?”
She set her wineglass and clutch purse on the smooth wood top of the bar. “Yes. Thank you.”
So she hadn’t really been looking for him. Bummer. “Glad I could be of convenient service.”
She smoothed her hair back and flipped the curls over her shoulder. “He was laying it on a bit thick. I mean, he’s a kid. Just out of college.”
“You refuse to date younger guys?
She gave him a pointed look. “I refuse to date players. And he’s most definitely a player.”
Cam couldn’t help laughing. “So you attached yourself to the closest available… player . Who’s maybe in a better age range?” He laughed a little harder, feeling more amused than he probably ought.
She giggled, then let go into a full laugh. “Okay, now that you put it that way, that was a really bad move on my part. But, in my defense, you haven’t seemed like all that much of a player. Your lines aren’t too cheesy, and I think we’ve settled into a good working relationship.” She let her laughter subside. “Or am I wrong about that?”
“Nope, I’d say you got it right. Besides, as you can probably tell from my two a.m. e-mails, I’m a little too work obsessed right now to play at anything.”
Her eyes sparkled in the orange glow coming from the evening sun glinting off the windows across the street. “You are! You work more than I do, which is saying something.” She nodded toward the glass on the bar. “What’s the wine?
“Allen’s pinot.”
She picked it up and swirled the garnet liquid. “A full glass, huh? Not a taste?”
“I already tasted. Trust me when I say it’s envy inducing.”
Her eyes widened. “That good? Oh my. I might have to pitch my services.”
She absolutely should. But again, he felt a pang of jealousy. Which was stupid. She wasn’t an employee of West Arch. Her job was to sell wine from a variety of sources, and from what he’d seen so far, she was good at it. He liked her. And he liked Allen. Why not help them both out?
“Do you know Allen?”
She shook her head as she inhaled the aroma of the wine.
“I’ll introduce you so you can talk him up.”
“That would be great, thanks. I’m surprised you’re willing to share.” She flashed him a sexy little smile. Or maybe he just found everything about her sexy. Either way, he got a definite flirty vibe. Business-only was looking harder by the minute.
A server came by and offered them a small bite. “Goat cheese tarts.”
Brooke set her glass back down and picked a tart from the tray. “Thanks.”
Cam took one for himself along with a napkin and set them on the bar.
As the server left, Brooke sampled the tart. A look of starry-eyed bliss glazed her expression. “I love cheese, don’t you?”
He laughed again. “You look like you’re maybe in love with cheese.”
“You’d be right. And I guess those are two distinct emotions, aren’t they?”
He pondered that for the briefest of seconds before agreeing. “Definitely.” He knew the difference between loving someone and being in love. He’d done both, and the latter was far more painful.
She gave him a sly look as she picked up her glass and swirled the wine around the bowl. “Are you speaking from experience?”
He was good at dodging these kinds of questions. Talking about Jennifer was something he never did. Period. He didn’t like to give her lip service or brain space. She didn’t deserve it. “Don’t we all? By our age anyway.”
She froze in lifting the glass to her mouth. “Crap, are we old ?”
He chuckled. “I turned thirty a couple months ago. Is that old?”
She winced. “Was it hard? I don’t have to face that until late next year.”
He grinned, enjoying their conversation. “No, it wasn’t hard. I’m digging thirty so far.” He was exactly where he wanted to be in life, and that was a pretty good feeling. He glanced toward her glass. “Are you going to taste that or not?”
“If you’ll stop distracting me.” She gave him one of those saucy looks that made his gut tighten. She took a sip, and he watched her scrutinize the texture and the flavor. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips pressed together. Then she swallowed. “You weren’t kidding.” She took a longer drink. “I need to meet this Allen guy like right now .”
Cam looked toward the bar to gesture for Allen to come over, but he wasn’t there. He glanced around and made eye contact with Luke, who gave him another look that clearly asked, What’s up with you and Brooke? Cam ignored that one too.
Why was everyone suddenly trying to pair him off? He understood Hayden—he was married with a kid on the way—and Jamie was seeing Madison. But Luke was single. It was clearly time to turn the tables and set Luke up with someone so he could mind his own damned business.
Cam finally located Allen standing at the other end of the bar. “I see Allen. Let me go get him.” He started to rise, but she put her hand on his arm.
“Don’t. I don’t want to seem pushy. If he wanders by or you catch his eye, you can flag him down.”
He arched his brow at her. “You aren’t very cutthroat.”
The edge of her mouth ticked up, and a ruthless glint flashed in her gaze. “I am, actually. I’m just kind of tired. It’s been a long week.”
He could relate to that. They’d had a couple of colossal headaches at the winery with the wrong bottles being delivered—and the supplier being a jackass about it—followed by significant irrigation problems that had sent Luke into a tailspin.
The server came by with another round of appetizers, and they helped themselves.
Brooke sipped her wine and looked at him over the rim of her glass. “That was some pretty crafty avoidance earlier.”
He set his glass on the bar and rested his arm on the edge of the wood. “What?”
“When I asked if you spoke from experience of being in love—the cheese?”
He knew what she was referring to. That she’d called him on it was strangely alluring. Shouldn’t it be annoying? He refused to cave. “Who isn’t in love with cheese?”
Her eyes narrowed, and he recognized the shrewd assessment in her gaze. “You’re doing it again—avoiding. Do you even realize? Either you’ve never been in love, or you have and you’d rather not talk about it.”
He leaned back and studied her, a smile hovering about his mouth. “You’ve got me all figured out, don’t you?”
“Ha! Not even close. You’re a pretty closed book, Cameron Westcott.”
“It’s the latter,” he said, surprising himself. And her, given the subtle rounding of her eyes.
“I see,” she murmured. She inclined her head slightly. The movement coupled with her tone seemed to convey some sort of respect…as if she understood he’d revealed something important and meant to keep it safe.
Damn, he liked her.
“And you? Wait, I know the answer—I think. You have an ex-husband, so I have to assume you were in love. I can’t see you marrying someone without that.”
“Aren’t most people who get married? I’m curious why you think some people marry for something other than love.”
His past experience with Jennifer crashed into his mind—she’d married that other prick because he was wealthy and could give her the material things she desired. “Because they do. Some people are cold and selfish, and love never enters into it.” He picked up his glass and looked at her over the rim. “But that’s not you.”
She cocked her head to the side. “You think you know me that well?”
He sipped his wine and set the glass back on the wood. “Based on your response a moment ago, I think you were in love with your husband. But I also think you’re guarded and skeptical, and since you’re divorced, you likely had your heart broken.”
She pursed her lips briefly, again studying him intently. “You know what I think? I think you just told me about you. You would only marry for love. The question is whether you were with someone who was cold and selfish, and”—her voice dipped—“you had your heart broken.”
His insides seized up, and the blood in his veins turned to ice. How the hell had she come up with that? “Now, who’s deflecting?”
She laughed. “Damn, you caught me. Yes, I was in love with my ex.” She polished off her wine and glanced around for the server. “Think I can get another?”
“Absolutely.” In that moment, he happened to catch Allen’s eye. He came toward them, and Cam introduced him to Brooke. Cam slid from his stool and picked up their glasses. “I’ll get more wine while you two chat.”
He made his way to the bar and set the glasses down for a refill. Luke sidled up next to him. “Hey, brother. You and Brooke look cozy.”
“Knock it off.” He turned his head to look at Luke, who was grinning like an idiot. “I’ve decided you need a girlfriend.”
Luke glanced over his shoulder. “Who, Brooke, maybe?”
Cam scowled. “No, not Brooke. Someone else.”
“What’s wrong with Brooke? She’s great. Funny, smart. She’s also insanely beautiful.”
“I know what you’re trying to do, so don’t bother.”
Luke turned, resting his elbow on the countertop. “What’s that?”
“You think I need a relationship. I don’t. I’m busy. I’m happy. I’m good .”
“No one’s disputing that. But we all see what you apparently don’t—you like Brooke. Believe me, I’d be the first one to say you shouldn’t encourage anything given the work stuff, but for me, I’d rather see you happy in a relationship. And if Brooke’s that person, I’m all for it.”
What were they “all” seeing? “Do you guys have meetings about this when I’m not around?”
“Ha-ha. No. Don’t be a jerk.”
“I’m not the one playing matchmaker like we’re in seventh grade.”
“Fine. I’ll shut up.” Luke shook his head but smiled. “I just hope you don’t pass something up because you’re too stubborn to realize they aren’t all bad apples.”
One of the bartenders finally poured his wine—they were busier at the bar than when he’d arrived—and Cam picked up the glasses. “I do realize. I just don’t want an apple, okay?”
Luke rolled his eyes, and they went their separate ways.
His brother’s words rankled. Maybe because they held more than a little bit of truth. He didn’t trust women. Hell, he didn’t trust himself. How could he have been such poor judge of character with Jennifer? He had to be a complete moron not to see her for what she was after being together for almost two years.
Was he still a moron, though? No, because he’d done a damned good job of keeping himself from making another stupid mistake.
When he arrived back at his seat, Brooke and Allen seemed like old friends. Allen was just tucking her card into his pocket as he turned to Cam. “Thanks for introducing me to my new wine broker.”
That shaft of jealousy poked him again, but he summoned a smile. “Great. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.” He handed Brooke her wineglass. “How many sales did you close for me this week?”
“Eight. And we’re just getting started.”
Allen grinned. “Damn. I look forward to seeing you Monday, Brooke. Thanks!” He nodded at her and gripped Cam’s bicep before taking off.
Cam sat down. “You sealed that up pretty quick.”
“Told you I was ruthless.” She arched her brows at him, and again he caught a flirty vibe.
He suddenly wanted to ask her to come home with him. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and kiss her, and see if the attraction he felt—that others seemed to see—was as hot and thrilling as he imagined. But he didn’t think she’d go for that. What would she go for?
“You said earlier that you refused to date players. Who do you date?”
She twirled her glass for a moment and watched the pinot cascade around the sides. She looked up at him. “Like you, I don’t really date.”
“I date, just not seriously.”
“Right. I don’t date at all. Haven’t since I divorced my ex.” She took a drink of wine, and her gaze seemed to dare him to chastise her for that. He had the sense most people did, and of course, he wouldn’t. Not when he was dealing with his own peanut gallery.
“How long ago was that?”
“Almost a year and a half.”
A paltry amount compared to his eight-year streak. “Eh, that’s not so bad. Give yourself a break.”
She set her glass on the bar and kept her hand curled around the base of the stem. “Thanks. My friends and family keep telling me I should get back out there, but it’s just…different after you’re divorced.”
He knew exactly what she meant. Even though he hadn’t been married, he’d been close. If he’d proposed a little sooner, he might’ve married Jennifer.
No, you wouldn’t have. You didn’t have the money or the stuff to keep her.
He shook thoughts of his ex away. She so wasn’t worth it. “So you don’t date, and you’re good with that.”
She moved her glass around slightly, again swirling the wine. “For the most part. Lately, I’ve begun to think that I should maybe at least try .”
Lately. Because of him? He tried not to feel encouraged, but it was tough. Especially if he’d been reading her body language correctly tonight. “Hey, I’m not a role model, unless you’re interested in casual dating.”
“I…might be.” She picked up her glass and took another drink, then set it back down with a clack. “Never mind. This is a terrible conversation for us to have. Like I said earlier, we have a great working relationship. I should not be asking you for dating advice.”
He chuckled. “Is that what you were doing? Well, I would say you should do what makes you feel good. Just be clear about what you want going in.”
“That’s what you do?”
“Absolutely. I like to have fun, but there’s nothing permanent with me.”
She blinked at him. “Nothing? Ever?”
Not in eight years, and he didn’t see an end to his current mindset. “Nope.”
“Wow, that’s actually a little disturbing.”
“Is it? I know what I want, and if it doesn’t float someone’s boat, there’s no harm done.”
“I meant disturbing in that you don’t seem to miss having a significant other. But yeah, that shouldn’t be—it’s good to know you can be alone.” She gave him an intent but coy look. “Not that you’ve been alone . You’ve dated plenty of women whose boats were, I’m sure, well floated.”
He grinned. “You’re getting it now—alone, but not alone .”
A couple of guys who worked in sales at different wineries joined them. They all knew each other and visited for a few minutes before Brooke excused herself to use the restroom.
When she was gone, one asked, “How long have you and Brooke been dating?”
“We’re not.” Cam sipped his wine. “She’s distributing our wine.”
“Nice,” the other one said, nodding. “So you’re definitely not dating?”
Cam’s senses pricked at their interest. “Definitely not. But what do you care?”
The second one, Joe, lifted a shoulder. “Just wondered about her availability. I asked her out a while back, but she said she wasn’t dating. When I saw her with you, I assumed her status had changed.”
Status…as in whether she would date or not. It certainly seemed as though she was considering it. He could encourage Joe, but he didn’t want to. Man, he was a selfish bastard.
“I don’t know,” Cam said. “You could try asking her out again.”
“I might, thanks.”
Cam finished off his wine, suddenly ready to leave. But he wouldn’t go until Brooke came back. When she returned, she glanced toward his empty glass. “You having another?”
“Nah, I’m heading out.”
The other guys looked at her expectantly, and when Cam vacated his seat, Joe took it. A tiny crease formed between Brooke’s eyes for just a moment. She looked at Cam. “I think I’m going to take off too.” She smiled at Joe and Sam. “See you guys.”
They nodded at her. “See you, Brooke,” Joe said.
Cam swung by the bar, where Allen was now sitting, and thanked him for sharing his wine. Allen shook his hand and Brooke’s and restated how he was looking forward to seeing her Monday. On their way out, Cam caught Luke’s interested eye and shook his head.
“Did you want to go say hi to Luke?” Brooke asked as Cam opened the door for her.
“I talked to him earlier.”
“Ah.” She waved at Luke and smiled before she preceded Cam outside.
“Thanks for letting me leave with you,” she said. “You’ve proven an effective shield tonight.”
He laughed. “I’m happy to be your shield. Although don’t expect it to have a lasting effect. Joe asked if we were an item, and when I said no, he made it clear he was interested in asking you out. Again, apparently.”
She exhaled. “I see.”
“It’s your own fault for being so attractive.”
She cast him a side eye as they strolled down Main Street. “Is that right? What should I do, forgo makeup? Stop washing my hair?”
He doubted any of that would help. She was more than a pretty face—she was funny and fun. He had a great time with her. “You could try. Let me know how that works.”
“Or, I could just say that we’re an item. Why not? You’re not dating anyone. I’m not dating anyone. It would keep the vultures at bay.”
A laugh erupted from his chest. “They’re vultures now?”
She giggled. “Not that bad.”
“Do you really have a problem fending off interested guys?”
“Sometimes. Tonight was one of those times, I guess.”
“Because you look incredible.”
She walked in front of him and turned, taking a few backward steps. She smiled at him—that sexy, seductive little grin that made his motor purr. “Why, thank you.”
“Now you’re just being mean. You have to stop flirting with me, Brooke. I’m not a vulture, but I’m still a guy .” Who hadn’t had sex in a few months. He mentally counted and couldn’t quite come up with the last date. Three? Four?
She fell into step beside him as they turned onto Second. “Sorry. You’re just so fun to tease.”
“Well, you’re tempting the hell out of me. I like our working relationship, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about taking things a step further—keeping in mind my policy. Nothing long-term.”
They’d arrived at the door to the lofts. She turned toward him. “Okay, I get it. Don’t flirt with you unless I want it to go somewhere.”
He hadn’t said that, but maybe that was what he meant. He let his gaze dip over her. She did look incredible. And if she were any other woman, he’d invite her over.
She held her clutch purse in front of her and brought her gaze to his. “So…remember when I said you should ask me again?”
Oh damn, did she mean what he thought she meant? Now she was seriously fucking with him. “About kissing?” The question came out raspy. He cleared his throat.
“Yes. You should ask me again.”
He looked up and down the street, for the first time giving a shit if someone was watching. Why? Because he was suddenly agitated. Anxious. But in a good way. Anticipation curled through him.
“Don’t say that unless you mean it.”
Her blue-green eyes shone with intent. “Oh, I mean it.” She reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him back under the cover of the doorway.
The force of her action propelled him forward until he was nearly pressing against her. He linked his fingers through hers. “You sure?”
“Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?” She wrapped her free hand around his neck and tugged his head down.
“Never in a moment like this.” He brushed his lips against hers and slanted his head.
Her fingers curled into his neck, and she arched up into him. Her mouth opened beneath his, and the kiss took off like a rocket.
Their tongues met, eager, almost desperate. Or maybe that was their hands and bodies. She pulled him so that he was snug against her. He let go of her hand and gripped her hip. Her hand splayed against his side, the heat of her palm blistering through his shirt.
Her fingers stabbed into his hair, holding his head as she did ridiculous things to his mouth and tongue. Lights danced behind his closed eyes. He felt every inch of her—the press of her breasts against his chest, the pulse of her wrist against his neck, the push of her pelvis along his. He wanted to bring her even closer so that he could nestle his cock between her thighs.
She ended the kiss to nibble on his lips and drag her mouth and tongue along his jaw, then kissed him again. Holy hell, he was burning for her.
The next time she pulled away, she leaned back against the wall beside the door, her breath coming in heavy pants. His did the same. “Brooke.” The word came out dark and hard. Needful. “I should go.”
She looked up at him, her gorgeous aqua eyes dilated and so damn seductive. He exerted every bit of willpower he had and stepped back, heedless of his raging erection. There was absolutely no help for it. “Unless you want me to stay.” He hadn’t meant to say it. He was trying so damned hard to be a gentleman.
“I do. But…you’re right that you should go.” She blinked, and it dampened a bit of the electricity zinging between them. “I’m probably going to regret this,” she muttered.
He knew he would. “Good night.”
He turned and dashed across the street before what little common sense he had left completely abandoned him.