by J. H. Croix
“Just getting some honey.” I wiggled the wheelbarrow as if I needed proof of why I was wearing my shapeless bee suit.
“So I gathered,” he replied. “Any problems?”
“Not at all.”
“Do you always talk to the bees?” he asked, his lips quirking.
I rolled my eyes, attempting to shrug nonchalantly. “Yes. I want to make sure they’re calm and know that I mean them no harm.”
He nodded slowly. “Good point.” He fell into stride beside me as I began to walk through the rows of flowers. “Is there anything you don’t grow or cultivate here?”
“There are lots of things we don’t grow here.”
“Not that I can see. You grow your own vegetables, herbs, and flowers. You make your own wine, and you have goats for making your own fresh cheese. You even have chickens for fresh eggs, and you have beehives.”
“We don’t slaughter meat here,” I offered.
Jasper’s low chuckle sent a prickle of heat chasing down my spine and scattering like sparks through the rest of my body. “I don’t suppose you do. Is that a business venture we should take on?”
“We?”
His pace slowed before he resumed. “Yes, we. I mean, we do own this business together.”
He couldn’t know that every time he said “we,” I thought of myself straddling him on the couch, half-naked with his fingers buried inside me. Unsettled, I snapped, “Don’t make light of it. Unless you’re going to stay on and not badger me into agreeing to let you sell, don’t pretend we’re partners.”
My voice was sharp, and I felt a twinge of guilt as soon as I spoke. Jasper fell quiet for several seconds before replying, “I understand your frustration, Anna.” He stopped and turned to look at me.
I wanted to storm past him, but that was childish, and I considered myself an adult, both in age and behavior. Feeling frumpy, I turned to face him. “Do you, really? I don’t know if you do. This is all I know, and I don’t know what I’ll do if you insist on selling. I’m not exactly in a position to make this work on my own. And—” My words screeched to a halt as a rush of tears threatened, wicking from the tight knot in my throat and stinging hot in my eyes.
Shaking my head swiftly, I turned and practically ran the rest of the way back to the winery kitchen. I prayed Jasper had enough sense to leave me be, at least for now. It wasn’t as if I could escape forever.
Chapter Nineteen
Jasper
For a split second, I almost broke into a jog to race after Anna, but then I held myself back, solely because I knew she wanted to be left alone. I was turning into a sensitive fool, worrying about her feelings. This was a business situation, and I needed to make a business decision.
When I stepped into the winery kitchen a few minutes later, there was no sign of Anna. Eloise was washing her hands in the sink and glanced over.
“What happened?” she asked.
“I used my superpower,” I said dryly.
“What would that be?” she countered.
“Annoying Anna.”
Eloise cast me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure it will be fine. She’s usually pretty easygoing. It’s been a hard year for her since her grandma passed, and she’s been trying to straighten things out. She has no one, except her friends.”
“Where are her parents, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Eloise turned off the faucet and shook the water from her hands before drying them. After hanging up the towel, she leaned her hips against the sink and let out a sigh. “Who knows? Certainly not me. Two total flakes, if you’re asking my opinion.”
“Can you clarify?”
“Does Britain have hippies?’
“Sure, I think.”
“Actually, that’s not fair. Most people would describe me as an aging hippy. I was all about peace and love back in the 60s and 70s. However, once I had a daughter, I lived a stable life and made sure she was taken care of. Anna’s parents drifted around. For a while, they lived at a commune about an hour away from here. Half the time they were gone, leaving Anna in the care of whatever teenager happened to be available for free babysitting—skill set not important. That girl craved stability and was so relieved when she finally got to stay here with her grandparents. So yeah, it’s been hard. First, her grandfather died not long after she started to stay with them, and then her grandma last year. And bless her grandma’s heart, but she wasn’t at her best those last few years. In addition to grieving the most stable person in her life, I think Anna’s struggled to come to terms with the fact that her grandma wasn’t perfect.”
My heart kicked into an unsteady beat, and my chest felt tight. I didn’t like thinking about how worried Anna must be and what this year must’ve been like for her.
Eloise’s question punctured my thoughts. “What are you going to do, Jasper?”
“Now, isn’t that the question of the day?” I replied with a shrug. “I’m not sure. Originally, I intended to come here and persuade Anna to sign off on letting me sell my half. Now, I’m not so sure.”
Next thing I knew, Eloise was flinging her arms around me and giving me a fierce hug. She stepped back before I could even fully wrap my brain around what was happening. “I knew you weren’t just a grumpy old boy.”
“Old boy? Doesn’t that cancel itself out?” I quipped.
Eloise rolled her eyes. “No, it suits you perfectly. You’re young, but you act like an old man inside—all cynical and kind of bitter. I’d love to know a little bit more about your childhood.”
At that moment, the winery phone rang loudly, saving me from that potentially awkward conversation.
Eloise swung away. “Duty calls. Be nice to Anna.” With that sharp reminder, she hurried over to take the phone call.
I decided to leave Anna alone for the time being and headed out for a drive. Not much later, I found myself parked on the side of the highway, looking out over the Pacific Ocean as the sun set in a glorious explosion of color—tangerine, gold, and pink brushing together. Nature really outdid herself here.
My cell phone rang, and I looked at the screen on my dashboard to see my cousin’s name flashing. “Hi, Simon,” I said, answering quickly.
“Jasper! Rumor has it you’re in the States,” Simon replied.
“For once, rumor is correct. I was intending to get in touch with you and stop by on my way back.”
Simon was a cousin from my mother’s side of the family. He was happily married and living outside of New York City with his American wife.
“Where are you exactly?” he asked. “Bridget and I would love to see you.”
“I’m in California. I’m sure it won’t surprise you to learn my grandfather had a trick up his sleeve in his will. Apparently, he owned half of a winery and flower business out here in California. I have no need of that business interest, but I couldn’t even consider selling it without spending a month on the property and getting a written agreement from the other owner to let me sell. So here I am.”
Simon chuckled. “Well then, sounds interesting. Nothing wrong with a winery. You could use a little extra wine to loosen you up.”
He couldn’t see me, but I rolled my eyes. “Of course. How are you and Bridget?”
“We’re great. Actually, I have a week off coming up. We could visit you. It might be fun.”
I briefly wondered what Anna would think and decided I didn’t care. I thought she might actually like Bridget and Simon and maybe not be so prickly with me.
“Sounds like a grand plan. Would Brendan come with you?” I asked, referring to his stepson.
“On short notice, probably not. We can see if he can stay with Bridget’s parents.”
“Got it. Well, I can’t commit to saying we have room here, but I’m sure I can find you a local place to stay. Why don’t I send you the information? I’ll email it.”
“Go for it. Who’s the co-owner?”
“Anna, Anna Lennon. My suspicion is my grandfather was in love with her
grandmother, and that’s how this all came about.”
“Like some kind of late in life affair?” Simon teased.
“Seeing as both of them were widowed, I don’t think that was the case. I think rather they fell in love when she attended a semester of college in London. There’s correspondence dating back to then. It’s all suspicion on my part,” I replied.
“It’s a story, and those are always more fun. Nothing is ever a coincidence. You know that, right?”
Nothing is ever a coincidence. You know that, right?
Simon’s philosophical question echoed in my thoughts when I returned to the loft flat above the winery. Anna was standing in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove and sipping a glass of red wine. The moment my eyes clapped on her, need jolted me so hard, my knees went weak for a moment.
Chapter Twenty
Anna
Jasper walked in the room, and the sound of the door clicking shut behind him pinged a little echo in my body. He had this strange effect on me, where every sensation felt highlighted, almost as if each one was echoing and multiplying.
I’d pulled myself together after getting upset earlier and was no longer an emotionally reactive mess. I’d decided to cook because that was one thing guaranteed to soothe me. I turned down the flame under the sauce I was stirring and glanced over at him.
His eyes met mine from across the room, and it felt as if sparks scattered through the air between us, instantly sending a wash of heat rolling through me from head to toe. I grabbed my glass of wine and took a gulp, almost in desperation.
Perhaps that was why I’d been such an emotional wreck ever since he’d arrived unexpectedly. I wasn’t used to having this kind of forceful physical reaction to a man. I liked to think I generally had my shit together, but Jasper’s presence had this way of making me feel as if I was spiraling out of control. Because, despite my best efforts, I couldn’t reel in my raw desire for him.
“Hello,” he said, dipping his head slightly as he crossed the room to stand beside the counter.
“Hey,” I said, smiling too brightly. “I’m making dinner. Are you hungry?”
His eyes skimmed my face and then flicked over to the stove. When his gaze bounced back to mine, I felt a little jolt. “I’m always hungry,” he replied.
“Always?”
He shrugged lightly. “I am a man.”
“Oh, is constant hunger limited to men?”
His lips quirked in a smile, and my belly flipped, butterflies spinning inside. “I suppose not. Wouldn’t want to lean on gender stereotypes now, would we? What are you making?” he asked.
“Pasta with fresh tomato sauce. I promise it’ll be delicious. I even have some fresh mozzarella cheese.”
“Anna, you don’t need to make promises about your food. Everything you make is delicious. You’re spoiling me.”
For some reason, that gave me a flash of pride. “Really? With your money, I imagine you’ve eaten at all the best restaurants in London. This is just a small winery in California where we serve hors d’oeuvres with wine tastings.”
He looked at me quietly. “Perhaps I have eaten in plenty of nice restaurants, but rest assured, the food here is stiff competition. Can I help?”
Flustered, I looked down, my eyes scanning what I’d already done. “I don’t think so. I’m just waiting for the water to boil. Would you like something to drink?”
“What are my choices?”
I didn’t know why, but this rather mundane and innocent conversation felt heated. Turning, I gestured vaguely toward the wine rack. “There’s wine. I have some beer too if you’d like.”
“That might be nice. It’s been a hot day.”
He opened the refrigerator and got a beer after I pointed him that way. My eyes lingered on his throat as he tilted his head back and swallowed. My mouth watered because I knew what he tasted like, and I wanted to drag my tongue along his neck. Jasper was a very lickable man.
He lowered the bottle of beer, his gaze considering as he regarded me. “I found something.”
I heard the water start to boil and turned to pour the pasta in and give it a stir as I asked, “What’s that?”
“Your grandmother forgot about a retirement account set up by your grandfather. You can buy me out if you want to.”
I stared at Jasper, slowly lowering the slotted spoon. “What?” My brain wasn’t computing.
“Your grandmother lost track of a retirement account set up by your grandfather. You were listed as the next beneficiary if your grandmother passed away. With that, you can afford to buy me out,” he repeated.
I should’ve felt overjoyed, but I was a combination of stunned and flummoxed. This was so unexpected that I didn’t even know what my reaction should be.
As I stared at him blankly, a slow smile stretched across Jasper’s face, softening his sharp features. “I can surmise I’ve surprised you.” He took another swallow of his beer as those butterflies spun madly in my belly.
“You could say that,” I finally managed. “I don’t even know what to think.”
He set his beer bottle on the counter, tracing a circle around it with his fingertip. “I would’ve thought you’d be jumping up and down.”
All my insecurities scrambled to the forefront of my mind because I knew it wasn’t as simple as buying Jasper out. I needed to get the business back on solid footing. My heart was pounding, and nervousness was making my chest tight, but I decided to be honest.
“I’m excited, but I don’t know if that’s the best plan. If I use that money to buy you out, then I don’t know where I’ll get the money to clean up all the other bills I owe on.”
His brows hitched up before he nodded slowly. “Excellent point.”
“What exactly is your job?”
“Apparently, here I help feed the goats and chickens, I serve wine, and I go through old files,” he replied. His lips kicked up in a slow grin.
Jasper smiling in any way was not good for my sanity. When his otherwise somber features softened and his eyes twinkled, a fizzy sense of joy rose through my body, mingling with the heat and ever-present desire that I couldn’t seem to squelch no matter how hard I tried.
Feeling my cheeks heat, I looked down and needlessly stirred pasta as the water rolled at a boil. “I mean, your job in London,” I clarified.
“Ah. I work in my grandfather’s company, which is now mine, but it’s hard to remember that. Believe it or not, I’m an accountant. I specialize in forensic accounting.”
“What’s that? I hear forensic, and I think of those crime shows.”
His chuckle sent a hot shiver chasing over my skin. “That’s far more glamorous and exciting than what I do. I chase numbers and dig into things to find out what people want to keep hidden. I always loved numbers when I was a kid. My grandfather encouraged it because he knew it would serve his purposes. I don’t mind that it served his purposes.”
“So you’re an accountant? But you own the company now?”
He shrugged. “Yes. Technically, I was his chief financial officer. Now that he passed away, I’m the CEO, so numbers aren’t all I do.”
“Well, of course you found that retirement account then,” I commented.
“That wasn’t a given. I suppose I might’ve eventually found it, but I found it because the statements were in the files we got from your grandparents’ old house.”
I turned off the burner under the pasta and busied myself getting the food ready. I didn’t know what else to say about the money he’d discovered suddenly at my disposal. Whenever I was nervous or uncertain, I focused on things I could do well. Cooking was definitely one of them.
Not much later, Jasper was sitting across from me at the counter. “This is beautiful,” he said when he looked over at me.
It was, if I did say so myself. On cream-colored pottery plates, the bright red marinara sauce was a pretty contrast to the garnish of fresh basil. I took a bite, savoring the creamy mozzarella.
&nb
sp; We ate quietly, and Jasper leaned back after he’d cleaned his plate completely. “I think you’re going to fatten me up, Anna.”
I laughed. “Somehow, I doubt it.”
I stood and took his plate to put in the dishwasher with mine. He came around the counter, commenting, “I’ll help clean up.”
Before I could shoo him away, he was already lifting the pans I’d left on the stove top and rinsing them in the sink to hand to me. The activity was so mundane and oddly intimate. I still didn’t know how to read him or interpret anything in the situation. I’d been resisting the urge while we ate to ask him what he wanted to do about the business. I knew, obviously, he had come here with the intention to ask me to agree to him selling his half. But I didn’t know if that had changed.
Moments later, I found myself standing by the windows looking out over the field. The sun had already set. It was that almost magical time of dusk when it wasn’t light but not yet fully dark. Jasper had taken a phone call and stepped into his bedroom. Normally, about now, I would curl up on the couch and watch whatever TV show happened to be on. Or I would be anxiously trying to solve the riddle of how to climb out of the debt my grandmother had left behind.
As soon as I heard the door open, I spun around, my arms wrapped tightly around my waist. “Do you still want to sell your half?” My question came tumbling out rapidly. I needed to know.
Jasper looked startled when his eyes met mine from across the room. He didn’t answer right away. As he walked toward me, it felt as if there were a cord between us, cinching tighter and tighter with each step, the tension fraught with desire, with my anxieties, with my confusion about the depth of attraction to this man, and all of it banging into each other.
He stopped a few feet away, his eyes holding mine. “Well?” I prompted, my voice coming out a little husky.
“I don’t know,” he finally said, each word measured. He sounded almost confused.
Relief gusted through me, and I felt almost silly and giddy. “What do you mean you don’t know?” I pressed.