Chapter 6
six
Lex
Regret weighs heavily on me. I was sure I would be able to return to Talia’s bed after I snaked the drain I didn’t get to last night. But luck wasn’t on my side when my sister ran away, leaving only a text message saying she was fine and not to worry about her.
What Lana failed to realize was that she is the glue holding our business together.
Liv, Lyra, and I have been a complete train wreck trying to pull off a wedding with a groom switch and a bridezilla from hell who suddenly turned into a perfect angel.
Lana deserves a raise and maybe an assistant.
I never realized how hard it was to throw a wedding—Lana makes it look so easy.
I can’t even blame Lana for running off with the groom, even though I’m pretty sure he wasn’t the groom by then.
I never believed in love at first sight until I met Talia.
The only person I have to blame is myself.
I should have woken Talia before I left her cabin, but in my defense, I thought I would be back in a few minutes.
When Liv and Lyra rushed into the kitchen while I was trying to fix the drain, stressed out over the wedding they were now in charge of, I knew I had to step in to help, for their sakes and Talia’s.
I couldn’t let Talia take the blame for something that wasn’t her fault.
I saw firsthand last night how her stepsister treats her.
I wasn’t about to let her hurt Talia anymore.
“Lex!” I glance up from the drink I’m pouring at the sound of my name being called and find Talia running toward me.
It isn’t until I catch the wine spilling over the rim of the glass out of the corner of my eye that I realize I’ve filled it too full. “Shit.” I tip the bottle upright and set it on the bar. I grab a rag from behind the bar and try to clean up the mess.
“Why don’t you let me take over?” Mitch, one of the hired servers, takes the rag from my hand. “I think someone wants to talk to you.”
With a nod of thanks, I step away from around the bar, only to have Talia jump into my arms and smother my face with kisses.
“Thank you,” she says between kisses. I’m not sure what she is thanking me for, but who am I to give up this kind of attention?
“I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.” She places a kiss on my lips. “Do you forgive me?"
I'm still confused by this conversation, since technically I should be the one asking her for forgiveness for leaving her alone in bed this morning. I’ve been trying all day to slip away and find her to apologize.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you.
” I lower her to her feet because we seem to have attracted a crowd.
“Why don’t we go outside and talk?” I take her hand and lead her through the crowd and outside the winery.
“Why did you leave me this morning?" She asks when we're outside.
“Last night, before I agreed to be the male stripper, I was on my way to unclog the kitchen drain. Because of the interruption, I still had to do it today.” The realization hits me like a ton of bricks—I never told Talia who I really am last night.
The smile on her face makes me think she might already know.
But I explain anyway. “I own the winery with my three sisters. I mainly work in the vineyard, but I do maintenance around the winery when needed. Last night was my first and only time dancing as a male stripper.”
“And why is that?”
“Because when I first saw you, I was instantly attracted to you and would do anything you asked of me, even strip in front of a room full of horny women.”
“Oh, Lex.” She wraps her arms around my neck. “That’s oddly romantic. I think I’m falling in love with you.”
“Well, catch up, because I’m already in love with you.”