“She’s not mine.”
“You’re not interested in anyone else. You’re trying to reach out to her.” He seems to be struggling with what to say, and he finally says, “Give her some time.”
“What do you know?” I ask, suspicious that he isn’t telling me everything.
“I know that it’s not my story to tell. Alecia has had a rough go of it lately, and maybe she just needs some space.”
“Fuck that. If she needs me, I’ll go take care of her.”
“I didn’t say she needed anyone to take care of her,” he replies sternly. “I said she needs time.”
“I’m not a patient man.”
“Well, you come by that honestly,” he says with a chuckle. “I’d like for you to show me your operation here, and then I’d like to have lunch with my son, if you’re up for it.”
My eyebrows climb into my hairline in surprise. “I’m definitely up for it.”
“Excellent.”
We walk through the grounds, the barn where the barrels are stored, the production barn, the store. He’s engrossed in all of it, just as he is each time he comes out here.
“I’d like to develop a special wine for the women in our family. What do you think?”
I grin slowly, then smile widely. “I think that’s an excellent idea. We could surprise them with it for Mother’s Day next year.”
“Perfect.” Steven nods and claps his hand on my shoulder. “I’m so happy you found us, son. I should have said it months ago, but I don’t think you were ready to hear it yet. I’m proud of you.”
I blink hard and stare out at my vines, my heart in my throat.
“I was terrified when the P.I. gave me your information.”
“I was rather nervous myself when I met you for the first time,” he replies. “But just as it is with all of my children, Natalie included, you are important to our family. You are important to me. I’m sorry that I missed out on so many years with you, but I hope that we can have a relationship with each other going forward.”
I nod, not sure what to say, knowing that anything I do say is going to sound rough.
“Good.” He pats my shoulder again and walks back toward the villa. “Let’s go get lunch. I’m starving.”
***
She’s avoided me all damn day.
I’m standing in Steven and Gail’s backyard while children run around, my sisters laugh, and Jax and Logan are newly married.
The happy couple are feeding each other cupcakes, smashing the frosting in each other’s noses.
“I’ve never understood the whole let’s punish the cake by smearing it all over each other thing,” Will says with a frown.
“I don’t understand why you’re not over there trying to snatch some cake,” I reply dryly.
“Holy shit, you’re right!” He runs across the lawn to the patio as if a linebacker is on his heels.
“I think he already stole one from the back earlier,” Caleb says with a shake of the head. “How is he not fat?”
“Because he works out six hours a day,” Leo says as he pulls his wife into his arms and kisses her head.
“This is the man section,” Sam says with a frown. “Where are the girls?”
“I didn’t realize we had sections,” Steven says as he joins us, handing me a beer.
Alecia walks by, completely ignoring me, just as she’s done all damn day.
“Excuse me,” I murmur and follow her.
“Trouble in paradise?” I hear Sam ask.
“Alecia,” I say and hurry to catch up to her. “Stop.”
“I don’t have time.” She presses on her ear, and speaks into her sleeve. “I need more champagne out here, and Logan’s mother is drinking out of a plastic glass, Em. That’s not okay. Get her a glass flute.”
“I’d really like to speak to you, cara.”
She stops and turns to me, finally looking at me for the first time today, and she takes my damn breath away. Her hair is up in its usual knot, her brown eyes are wide, but unsmiling. She looks like she may have lost a few pounds from the way her green dress hangs on her sweet little body.
But rather than answer me, she simply shakes her head and stomps away, talking briskly to Emily in her sleeve.
What the fuck am I doing? Why am I chasing her?
“Wanna talk about it?”
Natalie has joined me, Keaton on her shoulder sleeping peacefully, watching Alecia walk away.
“Not particularly.”
“She looks sad.”
I haven’t taken my eyes off of her. “I don’t see sad.”
“Then you aren’t looking hard enough,” Nat replies and kisses her son’s head. “What did you do?”