She sighed heavily. “Why don’t you just tell her?”
“Is it so obvious?”
“To me.”
“And what about Horatio?”
“Clueless.”
I chuckled. “I think, perhaps, there might be a better mark for these,” I said, casting a glance at the drinks. “And I could use some help.”
“Could you, Mr. Twinkly Eyes?”
I grinned at her but said nothing. While I knew Julie was a witch, she still didn’t know about me.
“Okay, okay. Don’t tell me,” she said with a smile. “Fine.”
“Later.”
“Later?”
“Much later.”
Julie laughed. “I’m going to hold you to it.”
“It’s a promise. But later. Jules, about Horatio, do you think he’d be okay with Viola and—”
“…and you? Not sure, but that is something I can help you with.”
“Thank you.”
“You so owe me.”
“I know.”
“Alice,” Julie called, hoisting the drinks in the direction of my girl and her new friend. “Try this? And Luc, right? I’m Julie,” she said, deftly taking the beers from their hands, replacing them with what I was very certain were love potions.
I sat down in one of lounge chairs and watched as Alice and Luc sipped their drinks and compared notes about cuisine.
Julie turned, winked at me, then headed over to the grill.
Viola sat down in the chaise beside me. She sighed heavily. “I should be studying. I’m going to fail my chemistry test tomorrow,” she said, clicking her bottle of beer against mine. “But right now, I don’t care.” She glanced at Alice and Luc then leaned in toward me. “Looks promising.”
So close to me, I could smell the sweet scent of vanilla perfuming her hair. I closed my eyes and inhaled in a subtle, not-too-stalkerish way. She smelled beautiful. I slid my hand down her arm, slipping my hand into hers. “Yes, it does,” I whispered.
Viola paused for a moment then turned and looked at me. Her eyes met mine then she searched my face, as if to determine if I was playing with her. When she realized my sincerity, she smiled softly. “Curiouser and curiouser,” she said.
“How so?”
“Your eyes aren’t twinkling now. Why not?”
“You’re the expert on chemistry. You tell me.” Cautiously, I lifted her hand and placed the softest kiss thereon.
Viola grinned. “Well, that escalated quickly,” she said, but I could see she was breathing hard, her humor masking her true feelings.
“Too quickly?”
She shook her head. “Not fast enough.”
“Well, we’ll have to remedy that then,” I said then gazed quickly at the others. Alice and Luc were fully engrossed with one another, Alice laughing at some joke he’d made. Working at the grill, Julie cast a glance over her shoulder. She winked at me then wrapped her arm around Horatio, ensuring his attention was fully on her.
When I looked back at Viola, I saw that she was looking at me. She also stole a quick glance toward her brother who wasn’t paying her any attention, then leaned toward me and set a soft kiss on my lips.
If I had real faerie wings, surely they would have melted off. Her lips were as warm and soft as I had imagined, and the light taste of beer mixed with a sweet, sugary taste flavored her kiss. I was overcome with her scent of vanilla as again I drank from those lips.
Finally.
Finally.
Viola.
A moment later, she pulled away and sighed heavily.
I breathed heavily and pulled her close to me, pressing my cheek against her head.
“Who is hungry?” Horatio called then moved to turn.
Like two guilty things, Viola and I pulled away from one another, quite nearly caught.
“What?” Horatio asked, clearly perplexed by the unusual expression on our faces.
“You aren’t cooking, are you?” Viola covered quickly.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Then sure,” she said, sticking out her tongue at him.
Viola lifted her beer bottle once more then leaned against me as I put my arm around her.
“Let’s do that again some time,” she said.
“Agreed.”
“Like, a lot.”
“Preferably,” I replied.
“Soon.”
“Soon,” I answered, feeling very certain my heart had just exploded with joy.
Chapter 10: Viola
Professor Wallace’s teaching assistant was more engrossed with texting than bothering to see if anyone was cheating. Some proctor she was. It only annoyed me because my phone had been buzzing for the last ten minutes, and I couldn’t check it in the middle of an exam. I was almost done, but still, what if it was Rayne?
Rayne.
Rayne had kissed me.
Well, no, that wasn’t exactly right. Rayne had kissed my hand. I had turned and full-on sucked his face off. But he had kissed me back. And more than that, I’d finally gotten a kind of admission out of him. From what I could tell, he wanted me just as much as I wanted him.
Focus, Viola.
Forcing myself to finish the last question, I quickly went back through and checked my work. It looked like all my answers were right, the test having been much easier than I’d expected.
Gathering my things, I left the test with the TA then headed out of the classroom.
I pulled out my phone. Luc’s presentation started in fifteen minutes. I could make it. As I rushed toward the auditorium, I scrolled through my messages: Judy from work, the restaurant, Horatio wanted me to call him ASAP, and Alice texting me furiously about Luc. Apparently he’d accepted an invitation to have dinner with Alice and her friends, Kate and Cooper. Something must have been in the air last night. Alice and Luc had hit it off and were still sitting in front of the fire chatting when I finally went home. Horatio assured me he’d see to it that Luc either got back to the B & B or had somewhere to sleep. I didn’t know where he’d ended up.
Quietly, I slipped into the back of the auditorium just as the last speaker was finishing up. Luc, who looked tired but happy, was waiting to present next.
I looked through my phone once more.
No messages from Rayne.
No reason to worry, right? I mean, it was Rayne, after all. It wasn’t like he was going anywhere, and he wasn’t, as near as I could tell, playing. He wouldn’t do that to me. I was sure of it.
Luc is about to present. I’m on campus, I messaged to Alice. How late were you guys up?
Well, I saw the sunrise… ;)
Oh! Lol. Saw it from the beach or…
Or…
Alice! No wonder he looks so happy.
Does he? He called me twice already today. That’s not too stalker-like, is it?
No. He’s a nice guy.
From France.
Yeah, from France. He’s going to present now. Need to put the phone down.
Send a pic! Pleeeeease?
Working discreetly, I took a quick picture of Luc standing at the podium. Apparently he’d made it back to the B & B at some point because he was dressed in a nicely-pressed suit. I sent the photo to Alice.
A moment later, she replied. Best rebound ever. Later.
I turned off my phone and tuned my attention to the front of the room. I pulled out my notepad. Luc described his family’s perfume making methods and how one of his small farms in Provence was experimenting with antique distillation methods, using organic ingredients, and getting better oils and stronger scents. As I noted the fine points of Luc’s presentation, I also started listing out the combination of herbals I wanted to try. Everything I needed grew in Chancellor. Our old distillery could easily be transformed into a boutique perfumery. But I needed more hands-on experience, exactly the kind of experience Luc’s summer apprenticeship offered. But now what? This wasn’t the right time to leave. I mean, after all, Rayne and I had finally kissed. This wa
s the right time to start a relationship, not running off to study flowers.
I sat listening to Luc, rapt by his discussion of his work. I felt an odd swelling in my chest. Luc was living the life I wanted, pursuing my dream. One summer wasn’t too long, was it? Rayne was always so chill. Would he be like that in a relationship or was I making too much of that kiss?
After Luc’s presentation, I slipped down the row to congratulate him while a group of Japanese scholars prepared to present.
“Well done,” I whispered, sliding into the seat beside him.
He smiled at me. God, he looked truly happy. His glow…it was more than just a one-night-stand kind of glow. “Merci. I hope it got you thinking a bit more about that apprenticeship I mentioned?”
“Yes. I’d love to do it. I just need to talk to my…family. Speaking of which, I need to get going for a bit. Can I do anything for you?”
Luc shook his head. “Non, I’ll be at the symposium for a while longer then have an appointment with President White. Oh, tonight Alice arranged for her and me to have dinner. You didn’t have any plans for me, did you?”
I grinned. “Even if I did, I’d cancel them in a heartbeat. Have a great time with Alice. Do you have the number for my assistant?”
He nodded. “And for a car, if needed. Thank you, Viola.”
“Of course. You’re in town until Sunday, right?”
“Oui.”
“There is a dance, a ball actually, tomorrow night. Horatio is organizing the event. Would you like to come?”
“Will Alice be there?”
I smiled. “Yes. And I believe she needs an escort. I’ll make sure you have a ticket and a tuxedo.”
“Please, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all. Okay then,” I said, patting him on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow night.”
He nodded, smiling.
I slipped out as the next lecture began.
Pulling out my cell, I sent a quick text to Alice. You have a date for the ball. And you’re welcome.
No way? He’ll go?
I’m even going to get him a tux. Have fun tonight.
Girl, please.
I chuckled then dialed Horatio’s number. He picked up right away.
“Hey, what’s up?” I asked.
“You free? I was kinda hoping I could get you and Dad together. I want to talk to you both about something,” he replied.
“Everything okay?”
“Perfect. Can you join us out at the winery?”
“Sure. Wait, are you already out there? Why aren’t you working?”
“I…I took the afternoon off. You’re coming now?”
“I’ll be there in fifteen.”
“Good. See you then.”
Okay, what in the world was going on?
I glanced at my phone and debated. Still unsure, and frustrated with myself for my apprehension, I dialed Rayne’s number. We were, after all, still friends. And I knew Rayne. He might have played around in the past, but he wasn’t going to do that to me. It just wasn’t his style.
I was surprised, and more than a little annoyed, to hear a female voice answer his phone. “Hello.”
I looked at the phone, thinking for a moment I had dialed the wrong number. Nope, it was Rayne’s line. “Hello?”
“Oh! Viola, right?” the girl said. “Your name popped up on the screen.”
“Yeah. I…I was looking for Rayne.”
“He’s tied up. You need him urgently? I can probably get him.”
“Who is this?”
“Sorry, it’s Cassidy.”
Who the hell was this girl, and what was she doing with Rayne—again? “Um. No. Just tell him I called?”
“Will do.”
“Okay. Thanks,” I said then hung up.
Blood boiling, I shoved my phone back in my bag. What in the hell was Rayne playing at? And who was that girl? Family friend, eh? Well, at that very moment I was glad that I was on my way to see my big brother, because right then, I needed to talk to someone who might have an explanation or Horatio needed to punch Rayne in the face.
Chapter 11: Rayne
“Well?” I asked, looking at Cassidy who was sitting in the lotus position on the bench outside the fitting room.
“It’s frumpy. And odd. You look like a wedding singer…from the eighties.”
The tuxedo rental salesman frowned at her.
“Well, he does. We’re looking for James Bond, not Kevin James. Try again.”
“I can spend a bit more, if you have something a little nicer,” I told the man.
“Dude, think about who you are trying to impress. Bring out the big guns,” Cassidy told me.
I nodded in assent. “Your best tux,” I told the little man who scampered away. Cassidy was right. I needed to show Viola I wasn’t just a hippie farmer. I was worthy of being at her side.
“Oh! Speaking of, guess who called,” Cassidy said then, waggling my phone at me.
I took it from her hand to see that Viola had called while I was wiggling in and out what seemed like an endless line of ill-fitting suits. “No message,” I muttered aloud.
“Nah, I answered it. Told her you were tied up.”
“You answered my phone?”
She nodded then pulled out her own cell. “Crap. Twyla called too. I need to call her back, and I’m getting late,” she said then rose, gathering up her things.
“Wait, what did Viola say?”
“Uh…just to tell you she called. So, don’t cheap out on the tux, all right?”
I nodded. “Thanks for your help.” Cassidy and I didn’t spend a lot of time together, but when we did, there was a certain kinship between us. It was nice to be around someone who knew what I was. She was, undoubtedly, pretty, but not my taste. She was too fey, never taking life too seriously. I wanted someone with more drive, someone like Viola.
“Welcome! Oh, got a lead on a prom date. Fencing lessons. Skyla was right. There’s a real prospect there. Nice kid. Good family. Just one swish of the wand, and I’ll be all set.”
I laughed. “Well done.”
“And you?”
“We found Alice a Frenchman.”
“You and your bees. I need to get some bees.”
“You do great with your wand. I was never any good at it.”
With that, Cassidy pulled out the long silver pin that was holding her hair into a bun. The single hair pin looked like nothing fancy at first glance, but on closer inspection, one could see that the silver had an extra special shimmer, and the jewel on the eye of the swan figure at the top of the pin glimmered unusually.
“You just need practice,” she said then gave her wand a wave. I saw the air around her shimmer as she chanted:
Like a glove, let it fit
With weeds of black across his hip
And may Viola see delight
In Rayne’s eyes tomorrow night
The glimmering light from Cassidy’s wand sparkled all around me then traveled out of the dressing room toward the shop.
A moment later, we both heard the little salesman exclaim, “Ah-ha! I know just the one!”
“We aren’t supposed to use it on one another,” I whispered, feeling grateful all the same.
“What, you gonna tell on me? You owe me one. See ya,” she said then, sticking her wand back into her mound of hair. With a wave, she headed out of the little shop.
“Here we are. Let’s try this one,” the salesman said, returning with yet another suit. This time, however, I could see just from the look of the fabric that Cassidy’s spell had worked. “I forgot I had this one. It came in a few weeks back, and I was planning to return it to the company. But I think this will do the trick,” he said, leading me back into the dressing room.
Setting the phone aside for a moment, I followed the little man. More than anything, I wanted Viola to walk into the ball on my arm feeling happy, confident, and appreciated. If a simple suit could help to show her that, then it was easil
y done. I would do anything to make her happy.
Chapter 12: Viola
I parked my car in the winery parking lot just as Jessica, the tasting room hostess, escorted a small group outside. They were making their way to Roger, our wine educator, who was waiting at the edge of the vineyard. The tasting tours were already getting busy. Genevieve was right; spring was hopping this year.
“They’re back by the Chancellors,” Jessica called to me, referring to the section of the vineyard where we grew our signature Chancellor grapes.
I slipped off my heels, trading them for the pair of work boots that I always kept in the trunk, then headed into the vineyard. Since it was early spring, chartreuse-colored leaves were uncurling on the vines. While I’d never had any formal education in viticulture, I knew my vines. I’d grown up in the vineyard, chasing Horatio through row after row of grapes, our mother singing show toons as she tracked us down, our father grumbling under his breath. While things were better now, both Horatio and I had grown up feeling like an inconvenience to our father. I must have been in my teens when I stopped caring what my dad thought. As long as I smiled, minded my manners, and did what I was told, Dad was happy. Over time, I’d steeled myself to Dad’s moods. What did I care if he was disappointed in me? He was always disappointed in someone. When Mom died, Dad hit rock bottom, becoming a total bastard. Around Halloween, however, everything had changed. For the first time in our lives, our dad actually seemed to have a genuine interest in Horatio and me. Sometimes, it felt worse knowing that he cared. It had been easier to ignore him. Now, I had to figure out my father all over again just as I was trying to figure out myself. I sighed heavily and let my fingers dance across the new leaves. I missed Mom. She would have loved Julie…and Rayne. And she would have been able to tell me what to do next.
As the thought crossed my mind, I heard a soft buzz of a bee and was surprised to see a small insect hovering just before me. I suppressed every instinct I had to swat it away. After all, if it belonged to Rayne, it was just out hunting pollen. Of course, if Rayne was playing with Cassidy and me, there was no bee in the world big enough to quell my fury.
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