Finally Yours (Love & Wine Book 1)

by Claire Raye

  I glance at Greg, who puts his hands up as if to say don’t ask me. I shove the invoice at him asking him to check everything over before walking into the shed.

  “Tommy!” I call out.

  He stops, looks up at me.

  “What the fuck was that about?” I ask, walking over to him.

  “What?” he asks as though he’s got no idea.

  I roll my eyes. “Out there, the order?”

  He shrugs. “Well, someone forgot to order the parts.”

  “Right,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “And you just assume that person was me.”

  He raises an eyebrow as if to say who else would it be and I immediately want to punch the guy in the face. Instead, I pull my phone from my pocket, scrolling through to the company’s contact details and hitting the green dial button.

  Tommy stares at me as I explain the situation, the woman on the other end looking up the order before she finally explains that two parts are still on back-order and won’t be shipped for another four weeks. Thanking her, I hang up the phone, sliding it back into my pocket and turning back to Tommy.

  “So, as I said, I didn’t forget.”

  He shrugs again, before turning back to whatever he was doing.

  “What the fuck is your problem with me?” I ask.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The attitude,” I say, motioning to him. “The bullshit about me not knowing what I ordered.”

  Tommy glances around, shaking his head as though he has no idea what I’m talking about.

  “You hate the fact I’m here, don’t you?” I tell him.

  “No,” he says, a little too defensively.

  I nod. “Yeah, you do,” I say. “And I think you really hate the fact that Lu and I are close.”

  Tommy stiffens now, taking a step toward me as he says in a low voice, “You hurt her and I will hurt you.” I laugh at his words, but he gets right in my face and continues. “I mean it, Jack,” he says. “She doesn’t need any more shit, okay?”

  I’ve got no idea what the hell he’s talking about, but I’ll be damned if he’s gonna tell me what I can and can’t do, especially when he thinks one of those things is hurting Lu.

  “Lu and me is none of your business,” I say. “So stay the fuck out of it.”

  Then I turn and walk out of the shed, forcing myself to calm down as I head down to the office so I can tell Lu about the delay with the parts.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lauren

  Jack comes storming into my office, his face flushed and his hands clenched in fists at his side. He practically whips the door off its hinges as he lets out a mumbled string of swear words.

  I stop and look up from my computer, a pen between my teeth as I watch Jack drag a hand through his already disheveled blonde hair and exhale hard.

  “You okay?” I ask, chewing on the pen cap.

  “So two of the parts for the crusher are delayed and you know what, that dick Tommy tried to blame me. Claimed I didn’t order them.”

  I smirk at him, the pen still between my teeth as I shake my head a little. “You’re here to tattle on Tommy?”

  “No,” Jack snaps, his tone defensive as he looks at me with his hands on his hips.

  I stand up and walk over to where Jack is standing, hooking my finger into the front of his jeans and pulling him toward me.

  “What’s got you so worked up?” I ask, smiling against his mouth as I press small kisses to his lips. “The fact that the parts are delayed or that someone questioned your competency?”

  I slide my hands under his t-shirt, feeling his body relax against mine as I kiss my way along his jawline until I reach his ear. “I wouldn’t worry too much,” I murmur in his ear. “You’re…

  “Lauren!” I hear Penny call as her feet plod against the floor toward my office.

  I shove Jack away and lean against my desk awkwardly, trying to look natural. Jack’s face is still flushed but this time for a different reason. We look guilty as hell.

  Penny walks in without knocking, not like she ever would’ve knocked in the past, and starts talking immediately.

  “We’re running really low on the cab so I pulled it from the tasting menu and I’m going to talk with…” She doesn’t finish her thought as she takes in my awkwardness and Jack’s presence.

  “You okay?” she asks, her forehead wrinkling up at her question as she looks at me and then at Jack and back again.

  “Mmmhmm,” I mumble, nodding my head.

  “Just letting Lu know some of the parts are going to be arriving later than planned,” Jack says seemingly out of nowhere, his voice cutting through the silence I’ve left floating in the room.

  “Then I’ll definitely let the restaurant know to pull the cab from the menu there too,” Penny says, smiling at Jack, but her smile screams that she knows something is up. “I’ll be going now, so whatever it was that was going on here,” she flits a hand between us, “can continue.”

  She closes the door behind her and as soon as she does Jack is on me like white on rice.

  “What’s the big secret, Lulu?” he asks, his mouth now close to my lips, smiling and sending a wave of shivers up my spine.

  “No secret.”

  “You’re lying, but that’s okay. I’m kinda enjoying this cheeky sneaking around thing. But I get it, you gotta keep up the I hate Jack persona you’ve taken so long to expertly cultivate.”

  I laugh, putting my hands on his chest and shoving him a little, but he grabs my wrists and pulls me closer.

  “I’m glad the parts are on the slow boat from Oz,” I comment back, and Jack laughs.

  “Slow boat?”

  “Your shipping systems suck. It’s slow as hell. Anytime we order stuff from there we have to give like six weeks for it to get here. But in this case, the longer it takes to get here, the longer you have to stay.”

  I smile up at him, his blue eyes look down at me, but he doesn’t return my smile and I pull back slightly.

  “That’s not the only reason I’m still here,” Jack says, his tone now serious. “Anyone could install these parts and you know that. I’m here because I want to be with you.”

  “Okay,” I respond, but it’s not what he’s looking for. It’s only been a few weeks since his arrival, but I understand what he’s saying. The connection between us is even stronger than it was when we were kids. It’s intense and consuming and I do wonder if that’s only because we know this whole thing has an end date.

  “I’m serious, Lu,” he asserts and I nod my head. I want to tell him I feel the same way, that I understand he’d be here regardless, but the words won’t come.

  “I know, Jack.” I put my hands on either side of his face and kiss him, because maybe the feelings in my kiss will explain everything I can’t say out loud.

  Jack spends the day working through his to-do list, our paths crossing every so often, but most of the time Oscar or Olivia are stuck to him like glue. I don’t think I’m the only one who is enjoying Jack’s time here.

  My heart tightens in my chest. Australia is a long way from California, fourteen and a half hours by plane to be exact, and that’s just to Sydney. I’m not going to be the only one with a broken heart when he finally leaves.

  By the time the evening arrives, I’ve spent most of the day trying to arrange deliveries with our co-packer, hoping to get as many bottles of our cab in by the time tourist season is in full swing in August. It’s still early June, but a good wine can’t be rushed. Unfortunately, in this case, it will have to be rushed.

  Ellen and I are discussing the likelihood of our customers realizing the change when Will walks into my house with the twins.

  They’re all here for dinner since Ellen ended up working late and we’ve got pizzas ordered.

  “Where’s Jack?” Olivia asks, looking around the room, her hands on her hips, like he’s become a staple in my house.

  “I don’t know,” I reply back, reaching over
and flipping her ponytail as she hugs me tightly, squeezing my waist.

  “Why don’t you invite him over?” Ellen suggests. “We have plenty of pizza and I’m sure he’d rather not spend the evening alone.”

  “I’ll go ask him,” Oscar offers, and before I can say anything, he’s scampering out the door and across the grass to the cottage next door.

  Moments later Oscar returns with Jack in tow, but Jack looks a little sheepish as he follows Oscar in.

  “My mate here invited me for dinner, but I wasn’t sure if it was him inviting me or…” Jack trails off when he sees everyone in my kitchen staring back at him.

  “Of course you’re welcome,” Ellen says without missing a beat. “Jack, this is my husband Will. Will, this is Jack. He’s the guy I’ve been telling you about. He’s finally going to fix our crusher.” Ellen gives Will a funny look that suggests this isn’t the only thing she’s been telling him.

  And from the look on Will’s face, I’m guessing he knows exactly who Jack is too. The first time I ever met Will was just after Jack had left, he knows exactly who he is.

  Will shakes Jack’s hand and makes some small talk about the vineyard and Jack’s experience, as front gate bell rings alerting us the pizza is here.

  One of the shit things about living on a massive vineyard is that pizza delivery doesn’t come to your front door. I literally have to get in the car and drive to the front gate to pick it up.

  When I return with the pizza Ellen has plates set out on the patio, wine is poured and Jack has fit right in with Will and the two are still talking.

  As we take our seats, Olivia and Oscar begin to argue about who will sit next to Jack. He’s still high on their list of awesome people, the novelty not growing thin in the least.

  Ellen steps in, taking both of them by the hand and moving them away from Jack before the two of them start swinging.

  “Why don’t we let Aunt Lauren sit next to Jack?”

  “Don’t be silly, Ellen. They can both sit next to him,” I say, placating the kids and giving Jack a grateful smile as he pulls out the chairs on either side of him.

  “You sure you don’t want to sit next to Jack?” she asks, but her tone is full of insinuation and I’m getting real tired of everyone assuming there’s something going on between Jack and me.

  Even if there is.

  I don’t acknowledge her comment; I just take a seat at the end of the table so Ellen and Will can sit next to each other.

  “How are you liking it here?” Will asks, his question directed at Jack. “The kids really seem to like having you around.”

  “It’s been good. I was keen to get back to the States. I haven’t been here since I was kid and even better that I was able to return to Somerville’s.”

  “Yeah, this place is great. Ellen and Lauren have done an amazing job,” Will compliments as he puts an arm around Ellen’s shoulders. “We lived here in this cottage until the twins got a little older. We ended up moving off property a few years ago. Bought a bigger house in a neighborhood because we thought it would be nice for the kids to have other kids to play with. But it turns out they love it here.”

  Will can talk to anyone and right now I’m totally okay with his non-stop talking because it takes the heat off me and keeps Ellen from making her teasing backhanded comments about Jack and me.

  The conversation continues and it’s light and casual. The kids are filling Jack in on their upcoming vacation to Disneyland, which they invite him to join them on, but he politely declines.

  I can’t remember a time when things were this simple, this easy. Nate never wanted to have dinner with my sister and Will. He never would’ve allowed the kids to dominate a conversation, but more than any of this, he never supported anything I did here at the vineyard.

  Even if this thing with Jack amounts to nothing in the end, it’s taught me that this is what normal looks and feels like.

  There’s a lull in the conversation and as if it comes out of nowhere, Olivia announces to the table, “I saw Jack kissing Aunt Lulu!”

  I feel the flush creep heavily across my face and I had no idea that armpits could produce so much sweat in a matter of seconds. My hands instinctively cover my face and Jack nearly chokes on the sip of wine he’s just taken.

  Coughing and sputtering, I slide my hands down over my face and watch as Jack wipes at his mouth with a napkin.

  I can’t bring myself to make eye contact with anyone at the table other than Jack. Leave it to the kids to sell me out. I should’ve seen this coming because they can’t keep anything a secret.

  “Of course I was kissing Aunt Lulu,” Jack replies nonchalantly. “That’s how we greet people in Australia.”

  My eyes are still locked with his and I can’t even figure out why he’s lying for me. I know he would prefer to have this whole thing out in the open.

  “I thought that was France?” Oscar questions doubtfully, as he considers Jack’s words, his little brain searching to see if there’s any truth in what he’s said.

  “Well, Australia is part of the Commonwealth of Britain and Britain is near France, so we’ve taken to kissing people as a way of greeting.”

  By now I’m covering my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing and I know I’m not the only one finding humor in this conversation. I scan the table quickly as I watch Will and Ellen give each other a side eye. It’s not going to be long before we can’t keep this whole thing hidden, but it looks like we’re riding this lie train until the end.

  Jack loses Oscar right around the time that he starts to explain how Australia separated from the British Monarchy and both kids leave the table without pressing the idea that Olivia saw us kissing.

  Totally unlike Ellen and her constant nosiness, she rises from the table and takes Will with her, saying, “I think we’ll get going. Thanks for dinner and you guys enjoy the rest of your night.”

  She shuffles the kids out the door in record time, and when the door closes behind them I feel my shoulders sag with relief.

  I have no idea why I’m hiding the fact that I’m hooking up with Jack. It’s not just the fact that as kids I pretended to despise him, but a part of me wonders if I’m trying to protect everyone around me from what I know is coming too.

  But maybe their hearts are stronger than mine.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Jack says, chuckling a little as he slips his arm around my waist. “Those kids don’t miss a thing, do they?”

  “Nope, they don’t. They’re like little detectives, but evil ones. They store up information and drop it when you least expect it.”

  We’re both laughing as we make our way over to the couch with Jack sitting down and me lying down and resting my head in his lap.

  “I’m pretty sure they all know we’re hooking up now after your elaborate story about Australian’s greeting people with kisses.”

  “Is that all we’re doing here, Lu? Hooking up?” Jack questions, but there’s something in his words that suggest that he’s not okay with that label.

  “I don’t know, Jack. Is it?” I ask, turning the question back to him as I sit up so I’m facing him now.

  He can’t possibly think this will materialize into anything more, even if that’s exactly what I want it to do. I’m logical enough to know that the Pacific Ocean is a pretty big wall that will set itself up right in the middle of our relationship.

  I straddle Jack’s hips so I’m now face to face with him. His hands slide over my thighs and up to my waist.

  “I like having you here with me,” I admit, but I can’t bring myself to ask him to stay.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jack

  “I like being here with you, Lu,” I stay, staring up at her. “This is more than just hooking up for me. You know that right?”

  Lu nods, her bottom lip between her teeth as she stares down at me. “It is for me too,” she whispers.

  My fingers at her waist slip under her shirt, grazing her warm skin. “But y
ou’re still holding something back,” I say, not taking my eyes off her. “Like you’re scared or something.”

  Lu exhales, her hands resting on my chest now. “I just don’t see how this can work,” she says, looking down. “Not when you live in Australia and I live here.”

  I sit up a little, so we are closer. Close enough for me to press a kiss against her lips. “But I’m here now,” I whisper.

  Lu’s forehead rests against mine, her eyes closed. “But for how long?” she asks.

  I brush my lips against hers again. “For as long as you want me here,” I admit, even though I know it’s not as easy or simple as that. I have commitments and obligations back home, a house and a heap of shit I can’t just walk away from, even if none of it seems important right now. “I meant what I said, Lu,” I continue, needing to get this all out. “I’ve wanted you since we were kids and nothing about that has changed. It’s only gotten stronger and if I had one regret it would be that I didn’t do something sooner.”

  “Jack,” she whispers, pressing her mouth against mine in a hard kiss.

  I groan, deepening the kiss as my tongue slips between her lips, my arms pulling her closer against me. Lu’s arms slide around my neck now, holding me close as she straddles my lap and feels everything this is doing to me.

  “You gonna finish what you started this morning?” I whisper between kisses.

  “Mmmm,” she murmurs, hands sliding down my body as she lifts my t-shirt over my head and throws it on the floor. Her hands move to my jeans next, unbuttoning them quickly before she awkwardly shoves them down my hips.

  I lower my hands, sliding them up her legs and under her skirt this time, my thumbs grazing the soft skin of her thighs.

  “Lu,” I whisper, kissing my way along her jaw. “I know this is kinda a little too late, but I have condoms in my pocket.” I don’t know why I say this, especially after all the times we were together last night without ever using them. In the cold light of day, it had seemed like a dick move on my part though, to not even consider asking her if she wanted me to wear one. To not just stop and put one on anyway. At the time, everything between us had just seemed too intense, too wild and hot for either of us to stop and ask.