Page 110 of Riding Out the Storm

Grayson loved his brother. He really did. But…

“Dammit, lately all I’ve been doing is covering for him,” he bitched—before backtracking. Because that wasn’t completely true. Apart from the week Maverick took off to claim his woman and help Ella move cross country, his brother hadn’t missed any more time, standing right next to him in the vineyard during harvest season, picking the grapes.

“I didn’t mean that,” he said, feeling bad for his outburst.

Nora took it in stride, because she knew exactly where Grayson was coming from. “You’ve had to do a bit more of the public face shit than usual,” she said, graciously giving him a bye. “But I’m sure stuff will settle down soon enough. Ella and Mav can’t stay in the honeymoon phase forever.”

Grayson raised one eyebrow. “Want to bet? Have you not been paying attention to Levi and Kasi? They’ve got a full year on El and Mav, and they’re even worse now than they were at the beginning.”

“Yeah,” Nora conceded, “but she’s also pregnant, and Levi has lost his ever-loving mind over that, following her around like she’s made of glass and he has to be ready to catch her at a moment’s notice.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better,” he groaned. “Because Mav is determined to knock Ella up on their wedding night. Mentioned she’s already stopped getting her birth control shot.”

Nora giggled. “Well, then, it sounds like you’re well and rightly screwed.”

Grayson rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the sympathy.”

“So are you ready for the bad news?”

He frowned. “You just gave it to me.”

“Oh no,” Nora teased. “That was just me laying the groundwork, leading up to the part that willreallypiss you off.”

Grayson crossed his arms. “Hit me with it.”

“Given your less-than-sparkling personality, I need to send you with someone who won’t repel the people tasting our wine and drive them away. So your assistant for the festival is Lark,” she said.

Grayson threw his hands up, palms out, shaking his head. “No.Hellno. I cannot do a whole weekend with that woman. She never shuts up, Nora. Like—never.”

Nora wasn’t deterred. “Which is why she’s the perfect person to help at the festival. She can do the talking while you stand there silently, pouring wine and glowering at everyone who comes near you.”

“You gotta get someone else,” he said, not even bothering to mask the pleading in his tone.

“Can’t. I lined her up to work it with Maverick two months ago. She’s super-excited about the overtime because she’s saving up to move out of her parents’ house.”

“She could have moved out years ago if she didn’t spend every dime she makes on concerts and big trips.”

Nora sighed. “You sound like Jace. But yeah, I’m thinking I might have to have a Come To Jesus meeting with her because lately, it feels like she’s traveling more than working. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with goingon adventures. After all, she’s not married, doesn’t have kids, nothing to hold her back…but these past couple of months…”

Grayson nodded. They’d hired Lark full time early in the spring, so that Mila could take on her new role as farm caterer. To be honest, Lark was probably one of their hardest workers…when she was there, and there was no denying their patrons absolutely loved her. Lately, though, it felt as if she was asking for time off every other week.

Glancing down at the details surrounding the wine festival, Grayson sighed. Because no wasn’t really an option. “Fine,” he said.

“Great.” Nora turned, ready to walk away.

“Wait. Where’s my good news?” he asked.

“Oh, there wasn’t any. I just wanted to soften the bad news by offering a little hope. If I come up with something good, I’ll text you.” And with that, his minx of a cousin climbed the stairs that led to her office on the second floor.

Despite being pissed about the wine festival, Grayson laughed, figuring Nora had done exactly what she’d set out to do. Soften the blow.

Unfortunately, the humor was fleeting, and before he’d even managed to sweet-talk Mila into making him a grilled cheese, he was back to being pissed off and annoyed…because Lark McCoy was extra with a capital E.

Maverick was going to owe him for this.

Big-time.