Chapter 7
Julian
Fuck me sideways.
“She’s here.”
Felix turns to me, his dark brows furrowed. “Who’s here?”
“The woman I told you about.”
“The dog sitter?”
His eyes widen at my nod and he turns to look out at the crowded tasting room. “No shit. You see her?”
I nod. “She’s in the back.”
He cranes his neck, no doubt catching sight of the couple across the room if his grimace is any indication. “Poor luck?”
“She’s with three women, idiot.”
He blinks, then grins. “Much better.”
I’d roll my eyes, but I can’t take them off her. She’s in a flowy floral sundress, her dark hair down like it was when she emerged from GoGo’s house weeks ago. I’ve been a creep since I watched her friend flounce back to their table and caught sight of her, my heart leaping into my throat.
I can feel Felix’s eyes on me.
“You’ve got it bad, brother.”
Tell me something I don’t know.
Before I can formulate a reply, Theo stoops under the bar and snatches the ticket for Delilah’s table from the machine.
“Couldn’t get this started while I took a leak?” He eyes Felix. “You don’t look busy.”
Felix snatches a bar rag and snaps my little brother in the ass, sending him cackling toward the wine taps.
“I am busy! And your brother’s busy pining.”
I can hear Theo moving around behind the bar, pulling together the four flights Delilah’s friend—Nisha, if the name she gave with the order is hers—asked for.
She’d been extra smiley, asking if all the brothers were here this weekend.
I’d wondered if she was a remnant of Delilah’s corporate past as I spoke to her, noting the understated but incredibly expensive jewelry at her wrist and neck.
At least she was nice enough.
Her interest in “all the brothers” was a common theme at the winery.
We’d made a splash when we opened the place, working with some of the top PR firms in the city and across the country to ensure we got the visibility we’d need with the right crowd to make this venture last. The Island Brothers name was apt and an excellent marketing choice, even though Felix doesn’t share our blood.
He’s our brother in every way that matters.
“Pining?” Theo scoffs as he sets the last flight on the tray. “Jules doesn’t pine.”
I used to cringe at the nickname, until I realized that’s all Theo needed to encourage him. So I stopped protesting, hoping he’d eventually drop it.
Here we are, twenty years later.
“He does now,” Felix sing-songs.
They both assess me. I can feel their judgment, but my eyes are still glued to Delilah.
Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought of her and the handful of hours we spent together.
The faint hint of orange blossom and vanilla lingered for a week in my sheets.
I woke up painfully hard every morning until it started to fade, surprising myself when I missed the physical longing the olfactory memory inspired.
By all indications, we should’ve been a perfect match. She clearly wasn’t looking for anything long term, and I haven’t done long term since I was in high school and had no concept of what the phrase even meant. I’d been satisfied with just one night countless times before.
Not that I’m a playboy. Anymore.
I shouldn’t have been waking up missing someone I spent one night with.
The dreams of her haven’t stopped, either, haunting me with the sound of her gasps and moans and wrenching me from sleep in a sticky mess more often than not.
When I woke up to an empty bed that morning, I should’ve felt relieved not to deal with the awkward morning after dance.
Instead, I’d never felt so hollow.
I didn’t begrudge her the choice to disappear.
I admittedly would’ve had a hard time sticking to our “just one night” terms if she’d still been curled against me when I woke.
As it was, I woke up ready to make her come on my tongue again, my hand reaching for her before I’d fully shaken off the haze of sleep.
Delilah laughs and my body starts moving without permission. I take the tray full of wine flights from Theo despite his protests, stepping past him without a word and winding my way through the crowd to her table.
Nisha sees me coming over Delilah’s shoulder, her smile stumbling a bit before recovering. I vaguely remember mentioning Theo would deliver their drinks but I don’t have the brain space to ponder the implications of that observation.
Stepping up to the table, I smile at Nisha first, then the blonde to her right.
Explaining the wines included in their identical flights as I set the trays in front of each of them, I keep my eyes away from the only place they want to be.
I serve the woman next to Delilah third, saving the literal woman of my dreams for last.
She’s frozen in her seat when I place the flight of wine in front of her, those perfect pink lips parted and glistening. It takes everything in me not to leap across the table, glasses of wine be damned, and gather her in my arms.
“Delilah James.” My voice comes out pure gravel and she flushes, her eyes widening.
Her friends have frozen now, too, eyes glued to me. The woman beside her breaks the spell first, looking sideways at Delilah while still keeping an eye on me.
“Is that him?”
I grin.
That’s an excellent sign.
“It is.” I feel zero remorse answering a question I wasn’t asked.
“Holy fuck,” the woman whispers, smacking Delilah with the back of her hand.
That seems to jar some sense into the green-eyed goddess across from me.
“Julian, I…”
“Welcome to Island Brothers Winery.” I fill the silence she trailed off and left, keeping my eyes on her. “I’m Julian Hayes, one of the owners. If there’s anything I can do to make your stay more pleasant, please let me know.”
“Oh, she will,” her friend interjects before Delilah can respond.
I give the friend a wink. “See to it that she does. Actually, do you all have any plans for this evening?”
As one, they shake their heads.
“Wonderful. Come to Felix’s and dine at the Chef’s Table. On the house.”
“Oh, no,” Delilah starts to protest, “that’s not necessary, I—”
“Nonsense!” her friend interrupts, patting her hand. “That’s so kind of you, Mr. Hayes. Thank you. We’ll be there.”
“Excellent. I’ll see you at seven.”
They all seem to be nodding, so I smile as I turn to leave. Halfway back to the bar, I pause and look over my shoulder, catching Delilah’s gaze immediately. She flushes but doesn’t look away, a soft smile on her lips. I return it with a slight nod, hoping she can read my intent.
You ran away once, gorgeous. I won’t let you do it again.