Prosecco and Peonies

by SJ McCoy

  In Sicily, he’d been used to having the family jet at his disposal. That wasn’t an option here. He might talk to Antonio about it—see if he wanted to share a lease on a small jet. For now, his only option was to call Cameron and see if he could use Hamilton-Grove’s plane.

  “Hey, Marcos.” Cameron answered on the second ring.

  “Hey, Cam. How are you?”

  Cameron laughed. “A little worried about having some major new competition.”

  “I hope you’re not talking about me. I’m just going to do some hobby farming.”

  “Yeah, right. The Hardy estate is no hobby farm, and we both know it. I’ve had my eye on that place for years. How did you get the jump on me?”

  “Seriously? I had no idea you were interested. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I’m glad you’re the one who bought it. I can’t wait to see what you produce.”

  “I’m not looking to go big time. I was joking about hobby farming, but I’m not looking to get into any major production either.”

  “Well, if you end up with any surplus you want to sell come the harvest …”

  Marcos nodded. “That might not be a bad idea. We can talk about it closer to the time—if I manage to get a harvest. I’ve been out of the game for a while.”

  Cameron laughed. “We both know you’ll do well enough to put most growers around here to shame. Anyway, sorry, what were you calling about?”

  “Actually, I wanted to ask if I can rent your jet.”

  “Hmm, when and for how long? It tends to stay busy.”

  “I know. It’s a long shot. I should probably just get over myself and fly commercial, but …”

  “Or just buy yourself a smaller executive jet.”

  “I’m considering that, but it’s not going to be any use for getting me to Phoenix in the next couple days.”

  “Phoenix? When do you want to go and how long do you need to stay? I have a meeting there the day after tomorrow, but I’m not planning on staying overnight.”

  “That would be perfect. Can I tag along?”

  “Of course. I’ll look forward to it. We haven’t had much of a chance to catch up.”

  “We haven’t, and I might need to ask for your advice.”

  “About …?”

  “I think you can probably guess.”

  “Women, not wine, right?”

  “Just one woman, in particular.”

  “Are you two there? Are you going to ask her?”

  “I plan to. In fact, that’s why I’m going to Phoenix. I want to ask her dad’s permission before I ask her.”

  “That’s awesome! I have to go, I have another call coming in. Meet me at the hangar at seven on Thursday morning.”

  “I’ll be there. Thanks, Cam.”

  That had worked out even better than he’d hoped. He’d picked up the phone again hoping that this next call would go as well. He dialed and listened to it ring.

  “This is Smoke.”

  “This is me.”

  “Marcos?”

  He laughed. “Yes, cousin. How are you?”

  “Busy, busy, busy, but never too busy to talk to you. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing much. Yesterday I made an offer on the Hardy estate; on Thursday I’m going to Phoenix to ask Molly’s dad for his blessing—”

  “You’re going to ask her to marry you?”

  “I am.”

  “Congratulations. That makes me happy.”

  “Thanks. It’ll make me happy if she says yes.”

  “She will. Won’t she? There’s no question, is there?”

  “Not that I know of, but I’m not taking it as a given. Not yet.”

  “You’ll be fine. You two are meant to be together, and she knows it. She never stopped loving you, even I could tell that much. Let me know when you plan an engagement party, won’t you? My schedule’s crazy these days, but Laura will kill me if we don’t make the party.”

  Marcos chuckled. “I hadn’t even thought about a party. Actually, I wanted to ask you for Laura’s number.”

  “You want her to make you a ring?”

  Marcos smiled. “I do. I seem to have this drive to do everything I can to be part of our family again, to draw everyone together and make sure we all touch each other’s lives in one way or another. I want Laura to make the ring if she will, if she has time. I like the idea of her being the one to do it.”

  “I do, too, and I know she’ll love it. I’ll give her a call now and tell her. I’ll give her your number and don’t be surprised if she calls you within the next five minutes.”

  “That’ll be great, thanks. I’m hoping she’ll be able to do it soon.”

  Smoke laughed. “If I know Laura, she’ll drop everything and get right on it—and, no doubt, want to deliver it in person.”

  Marcos laughed with him. “I like that idea. It’d be good to see you both.”

  “Let’s make it happen, then. You talk to Laura first and see how long she needs, and I’ll bring her out there when it’s done.”

  “Thanks, Smoke. You’re the best.”

  “Nah. I’m just a jerk who got lucky when he met the right woman.”

  “Not true. You lost your way for a while, that’s all. It just took the right woman to help you get back on track. You’ve never been a jerk; you’re one of life’s good guys.”

  “Right back atcha. I need to go, but keep your phone with you. Laura will be calling you any minute.”

  “Thanks.”

  By the time he drove into town to pick Molly up from work, Marcos felt like everything was finally coming together. He’d spoken with Laura, and then they’d done a video call so she could show him some design ideas. He was confident that she understood what he wanted and that she’d make something even more beautiful than he could imagine. He was all set to go and see Molly’s dad on Thursday, and Ken had everything under control with the purchase of the Hardy estate. It looked as though it should be a quick and straightforward purchase.

  He pulled into the staff parking lot behind Molly’s and let himself in through the back door. He stopped on his way past the office, not wanting to believe what he was hearing. It was Grady’s voice. “You have to tell him you can’t do it anymore. Promise me you’ll do it soon. This is driving me crazy. You have to leave him.”

  Marcos’ heart was racing. He shouldn’t be listening. It was obviously a private conversation, but part of him was convinced that Grady was talking to Molly, and he had to hear what she was going to say.

  Instead, Grady spoke again. “I want you to come and live with me.”

  Marcos sucked in a deep breath and his fists balled at his sides. This couldn’t be happening.

  He looked up as the door from the dining room swung open and Andrea, one of the servers, came through. She smiled when she saw him. “Molly’s just stepped out. Do you want to take a seat at the bar and I’ll come get you a drink?”

  He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Had Molly stepped inside the office with Grady? Were the two of them making a plan for their future together, while letting him believe that Molly’s future was with him? He stalked down the corridor and went to sit at the bar.

  Andrea gave him a puzzled look as she poured the whiskey he asked for. “Are you okay? Had a bad day?”

  He shook his head. His day had been going wonderfully until he arrived here.

  “Can I get you anything else?”

  “Tell Molly I’d like a word when she gets done in there.”

  Andrea dropped her gaze. Did she know there was something going on between Molly and Grady? Was she covering up for them? His heart was pounding in his chest. This couldn’t be happening.

  “There she is.”

  He turned to follow Andrea’s gaze. Molly was coming back from the bathroom, not the office. He had to wonder how she’d gotten there.

  A smile lit up her face when she saw him. She came straight to h
im and kissed his cheek. “There you are. I’ve missed you.”

  She looked tired—was she tired of hiding a secret from him?

  “Where’s Grady?”

  She gave him a puzzled look. “And I thought you came here to see me. He’s in the back, I think, why?”

  “Where were you?”

  “In the bathroom. Why?”

  He clamped his jaw shut. He knew he was making a huge leap to a ridiculous conclusion. He didn’t want to say anything. Not yet. If he were wrong, then he’d blow everything. If he was right … If he was right, he didn’t even want to think about it, but he’d need time to deal with what it meant.

  “Marcos?” She put her hand on his arm. “Something’s wrong. I know it is. Tell me?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry. I’ll be fine. How are you?”

  She dropped her gaze. She looked guilty about something. Maybe she didn’t. Maybe it was just him seeing her guilt in every word and gesture.

  “I’m okay. Not wonderful, but okay. I need to tell you something.”

  His head buzzed with tension; he felt like it might explode. If she was about to tell him that she was choosing Grady instead of him, he didn’t know what he’d do. He couldn’t stand it.

  “Are you all right?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think I am.”

  “Damn, maybe you have it, too.”

  “Have what?” She wasn’t making any sense.

  “I should have told you before. I still haven’t kicked that stomach bug. That’s why I looked guilty when I came out of the bathroom. I’ve been telling you I’m all better, but I’m not yet.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder. Even if she didn’t want him anymore, he needed to take care of her, make sure she was okay. He hated the thought of there being something seriously wrong with her.

  “Please, can we go to the doctor tomorrow?”

  She smiled. “You’d be proud of me. I called earlier and got an appointment for Thursday morning.”

  “Do you want me to go with you?” He felt as though fate was tossing a coin that would decide his future. If she wanted him to go, he’d cancel his trip to Phoenix—maybe she wouldn’t want him speaking to her dad anyway.

  She shook her head. “There’s no need. I’m a big girl. I’m sure it’s nothing serious; he’ll probably just give me an antibiotic.”

  Grady came out and approached them with a smile. “Hey, boss man. I thought I saw you come in.”

  Marcos stared at him. He couldn’t force himself to smile or speak.

  “Is everything all right?”

  Molly shrugged. “We’re okay. Would you mind closing up so we can go home?”

  Grady smiled. “Of course. You guys go. I can take care of business.”

  Marcos didn’t trust himself to speak. He couldn’t help wondering if Grady had been taking care of business with Molly. He hoped that was a crazy idea, but hearing what Grady had been saying … who else could he have been talking to?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Molly didn’t feel good at all when she woke up. Marcos was already up, no doubt in his office, checking on his numbers. She lay there for a moment, trying to muster the energy to roll out of bed and go get herself a cup of coffee. That first cup of the morning was usually enough to get her going, but just lately even that hadn’t helped much. If anything, it seemed to set her off. Now she thought about it, she’d been running for the bathroom each morning after her first sip. Maybe this morning she’d make herself a cup of tea.

  She got up. She’d go and see if Marcos wanted one too. He’d been off last night. He’d seemed tense and down when he came in to pick her up. They’d barely talked on the way home, and when they’d gotten here, they’d come straight to bed—to sleep.

  She padded through the house to his office. She smiled. The room had been her grandpa’s bedroom when she was small. Later it had been her mom’s sewing room. She’d quickly and happily adapted to thinking of it as Marcos’ office.

  He looked up when she tapped on the door. “Good morning.”

  “Morning.”

  “Not a good one?” He still looked out of sorts—maybe he was coming down with this bug, too.

  He shook his head. He didn’t seem like himself at all. “I don’t know. Is it?”

  She smiled and went to sit on his lap, sliding her arms up around his neck. “I’d like it to be, wouldn’t you?”

  “I’d love it to be a good morning, a good day, but I don’t want you to tell me it is if it isn’t.”

  She frowned. “You’re talking in riddles. I don’t know what you mean. If you’re asking if I still feel shitty, then I guess the answer is yes, but that doesn’t have to stop it from being a good day. We can’t let it.”

  He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He looked as though he was in pain. “Tell me why you feel shitty. It’s okay; I can handle it. I just need you to say it.”

  She planted a kiss on his lips. “I don’t know why. I’m guessing it’s some kind of virus that I should have seen the doctor about straight away—like you said. I’m sure he’ll give me something, and I’ll be fine again in a few days. Why don’t you come with me? You seem off color.”

  He shook his head. “I made plans to spend tomorrow with Cameron.”

  “Oh. That’ll be nice.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know if I should go.”

  “Of course you should. It’ll do you good.”

  He blew out a sigh.

  There was something going on with him, and it wasn’t just that he felt ill. He wasn’t meeting her gaze, wasn’t smiling. He looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  He shook his head. “What are you telling me?”

  She stared at him for a moment, wondering what his problem was. She didn’t get a chance to wonder for very long. His face started to blur before her eyes. Here came the dizziness, which she knew by now preceded the nausea. “I have to go.” She stumbled to the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

  ~ ~ ~

  Marcos shook his head sadly. Was she really sick, or did she just not want to answer his question? The sound of her in the bathroom answered the question of whether she was really sick.

  He tapped his mouse, and the pictures of the Hardy estate appeared on the screen. Was there any point? Did he want to buy the place, stay here, make wine here if she wasn’t going to be with him? He closed his eyes and blew out a big sigh. He needed to get a grip. He’d heard Grady talking last night. He hadn’t heard Molly with him. That was an assumption on his part. Grady could have been talking to anyone—hell, he could have been talking on the phone.

  He got to his feet. He was going to do the only reasonable thing he could do. He was going to forget about the whole thing. Molly hadn’t given him any indication that she wasn’t happy with him. She told him a dozen times a day that she loved him. She’d been honest with him about everything—especially her feelings—ever since he’d been back here. He’d be stupid to let his insecurity and jealousy ruin things between them now. If there really were something going on between her and Grady, then she’d tell him no when he asked her to marry him. Her saying no would be the only thing that could deter him. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to spend his life with her. All he could do was go after what he wanted. If she didn’t want it, then so be it. At least, this time, he’d have given it his all.

  He waited until he heard the faucet running and then went to tap on the bathroom door. “Are you okay in there?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Do you want me to make you a coffee?”

  “Oh, God! No! Thank you.”

  He shook his head. She must be sick if she couldn’t face the thought of coffee—she couldn’t usually face the day without it.

  ~ ~ ~

  On Thursday morning, Molly went to work early. She’d gotten up early with Marcos to see h
im off on his day out with Cameron. He hadn’t actually said where they were going, but she figured they were probably scheming about making wines together. She was happy for them both.

  She hadn’t been coming in for the breakfast rush since Marcos had been here. Mornings had never been her favorite, and she’d finally stepped back and let Anita take responsibility for the morning shift. It had worked out well for everyone.

  This morning she was feeling like a spare part. Anita ran a tight ship, and Molly didn’t want to interfere. She kept out of the way as best as she could and left them to it. She’d been mostly greeting customers, catching up with friends, and being the face of the place again.

  She smiled when the door opened, and Gene and his wife Rita came in. Gene had been the Hamiltons’ pilot for years, and he and Rita were good friends with her dad.

  “Good morning, sunshine!” Gene greeted her with a hug. “I was starting to think we’d never see you for breakfast again now that Marcos is back.”

  Molly hugged him and kissed Rita’s cheek. “It’s good to see you both. I’ve been doing the late shift—and taking more time off.”

  “Good for you,” said Rita. “You deserve it.”

  Gene looked around. “And where is Marcos?”

  She shrugged. “He’s with Cameron today. I don’t know what they’re up to, but knowing them, it will be some super business deal.”

  Gene smiled. “It sounds like Marcos has been making a few of those.”

  “Have you heard?” Molly was surprised that word of him buying the Hardy place would have spread before the deal was even closed.

  “Only from Chelsea.” Gene smiled. “She swore us to secrecy, but she’s so excited. And Grant’s about busting at the seams.”

  Rita laughed. “Until the other night, I wondered how Grant managed Chelsea. He’s usually so steady and down-to-earth. Now, I get it. He’s as crazy excited as she is at the thought of getting his grandpa’s place back.”

  Molly smiled. She was thrilled for them. She looked up as Anita came to greet them and show them to a table.