Page 65 of Legs

Her reproach sent her daughter cackling harder, a sound that had me wanting to pin Rachel down until I kissed her raw. Lydia, however, was unimpressed—with her daughter and her daughter’s choice of boyfriend. A situation I’d have to resolve. Winning Lydia over was important to Rachel, so it was important to me.

Rachel leaned into my ear. “My mother might take a while to warm up, and I don’t recommend the dip.”

I eyed the thick, white mixture warily and heeded her advice. Where her mother was concerned, I wasn’t about to back down easily. “You have a lovely home, Mrs. Kates.”

She sat opposite us, straight backed, her answering smile nowhere near pleased. “Thank you. Rachel tells me you’re a”—she cleared her throat—“bartender.”

A chuckle came from Mitchell, and my shoulders bunched. When I first met him, he’d seemed more genuine than his pressed shirt and gold cufflinks. He’d shaken my hand warmly and hadn’t flinched at my ink. It didn’t mean Rachel’s brother wasn’t judging me. I glanced his way now, braced for his disdain, but he was shaking his head at his mother, not me, like Lydia was a petulant child.

“Come on, Ma.” Amusement laced his voice. “The Healing Hearts luncheon isn’t far, and you mentioned something about a bartending issue. You should hire Jimmy.”

Lydia’s eyes widened in fear, and I nearly laughed. Instead of watching her squirm, I jumped in to save her. “Not sure I’m the right man for the job, but I know the event. It’s an impressive fundraiser, and a great cause. Must take a ton of work.”

That won me a head tilt and closer inspection. “It does,” Lydia said. “I’ve helped organize the event since David passed. Or, more to the point, Rachel forced me into it.” She winked at her daughter, nothing but love in her eyes. “She was worried I’d lock myself indoors, which might have happened if it weren’t for my kids. They were here daily for those first couple of years.”

They all shared a sad smile, and I cupped Rachel’s shoulder.

During some of our quiet moments, she would whisper stories, her voice melancholy as memories spilled out: her and her father snorkeling in Mexico, their father/daughter school dance, how his hearty laugh had filled a room. She’d been Daddy’s little girl, and he’d likely been wrapped around her finger. His passing must have crushed her, but she’d held it together for her mother, had made sure Lydia pulled through. When things got tough, they’d banded together. As a family should. My father’s property had been threatened, not his life, and all he’d done was lash out.

Rachel’s phone buzzed, breaking the moment. Lydia turned her focus to Cora, asking about her teaching job. Rachel fished her cell from her purse and checked a text. Her face fell.

“You okay?” I asked.

She stuffed her phone away. “Yeah. Fine.”

Except her left cheek hollowed. She was stressed. “Who was it?”

She slumped into me and lowered her voice. “Alonzo. I was eliminated from the contest. But I’m fine,” she added before I could speak. “I was expecting it.”

Didn’t mean it hurt any less. Rachel didn’t like to fail. No one liked to fail. Every soccer match lost as a kid had me cursing and pouting, until my grandfather had sat me down and told me real men used their frustration to improve. Turn that anger into success, he’d say.

I angled toward her and dipped my head to catch her eye. “You might not have passed that round, but you proved yourself in that contest. You have more passion for wine than anyone in there, me included. Please don’t let it slip away.”

The corner of her mouth curved up. “I have passion for someone in that group, and his jewelry, if that’s what you mean.”

One teasing word from her and my lust awakened, the jewelry in question ready for a tug. My dirty princess. “You’re damn right you do, and the feeling is mutual. But don’t brush this off. You’re smart and your palate is amazing. We’ll figure this out together.”

She touched my cheek and said a quiet, “Thank you.”

Guilt, familiar in its discomfort, coated my chest. And the way she looked at me? There was something deeper in her eyes, something I wanted to dive into. Bask in.

If I didn’t need to end my family’s lies, I’d bow out of the contest and give her my spot. Even if I won, I’d pass on the job. But it was more than putting things right. My parents had come between Rachel and me once, with nothing but a phone call. I wouldn’t let it happen again.

The past week, Rachel and I had fucked and tasted every inch of each other, filling in the gaps with laughs and stories, sharing the details of our lives. The extent of my feelings, my love for her, floored me. And scared the hell out of me. I never thought I’d let myself feel this again, give someone the power to hurt me. But here I was, in love with this amazing woman. No way would I lose that. Not this time. Not her. She meant more to me than Sophia ever had.

I kissed Rachel’s forehead, swallowing down my rising mix of emotions. I worried about where she’d go from here, hoping she wouldn’t shy away from a career in viticulture like I’d ditched my Master Sommelier status. Something I needed to rectify. If I wanted her to chase her dreams, I couldn’t keep avoiding mine.

I’d thought more about organizing events for boutique wineries, using my education and whatever contacts I still had to build a festival. Events highlighting smaller producers. Soon, I’d make plans, but Rachel and the contest came first.

I glanced up to find Lydia watching us…with longing? Her brown eyes were glazed, her pinched mouth softer. Her pearls rose and fell on a deep breath.

She scrutinized her daughter. “Everything all right?”

Rachel squeezed closer to my side. “Just some bad news. But Jimmy’s helping me figure it out. Nothing to worry about.”

Lydia studied us, long enough I actually ventured toward the onion dip. Bad idea. It burned the roof of my mouth, the thick mixture nothing but mayonnaise and raw onion. Eyes watering, I forced it down, preferring Lydia’s withering glance to that horror show.

She nodded once, as though coming to a decision. “I’m glad you’ve found someone supportive, Rachel. It’s lovely to see.”