Brodie checked his phone again, and rolled back over. He felt as though he ate a thousand cotton balls the night before, and there was a marching band practicing inside his head.
Just like the twenty other times he checked, there was no message from Peyton. He needed to give her time, he knew that, but it didn’t make it any easier to wait for her call. If he felt better, he might even be tempted to get in his car, and drive over the hills into Cambria.
He’d never been impulsive. It wasn’t part of his personality. He had great self-restraint, and nothing much rattled him. It was different with Peyton, though. He had no self-control where she was concerned.
Other than losing his oldest brother, Brodie had little to complain about in life. His family loved him, they were all healthy, the wine business was booming, and he, Mad, and Naughton were all doing jobs they loved. They’d each found their niche.
Naughton managed the vineyards, which had been certified organic several years ago. Maddox made the wine, and Brodie sold it. His sister Skye was a happily-married stay-at-home mom, and Ainsley, the academic in the family, was at Stanford pursuing an endless number of degrees that Brodie lost track of long ago.
Even Kade had been happy before he died. He loved what he did, in spite of the danger, or maybe because of it.
“I can’t picture myself getting old,” Brodie overheard Kade tell Maddox once. “I just don’t see it in my head.” Maddox asked Kade if he thought it meant something. “I don’t know,” Kade answered. “I don’t think I’m going to live long enough to find out.”
Had Kade shared the same concerns with Peyton? Was that why she had doubts about their relationship? She said it was because of what he did.
Kade told their father that while he was retiring from the military, he wasn’t going to quit what he was doing. He’d been interviewing with the CIA, known in Kade’s circle simply as “the agency.” If they accepted him, he would have more control over when and how much he traveled, and his pay would quadruple. Brodie doubted Kade cared much about the money—it was the adrenaline rush, the danger, that would be hard for him to give up. He couldn’t imagine his older brother sitting behind a desk forty hours a week. He also couldn’t imagine him working the vineyards, or in the winery. Even the ranch hadn’t held much interest for him. If it had, Kade never would’ve joined the military.
Education was important to their parents, but if any of them had decided against going to college, they would’ve had a built-in, life-long job on the ranch. There was a vast amount they could choose from too. Just managing the barns and livestock took three full-time employees.
When Kade was “home” he didn’t spend much time there. Before he met Peyton, he’d come home on leave, rest, spend some time with the family, and then disappear for a few days on his motorcycle. After Peyton, he spent almost all his time with her and her boys.
Maybe it had been wishful thinking on his parents’ part that Peyton would be the person Kade stuck around for. She may have recognized his wanderlust on her own, and Kade’s restless spirit was the reason she doubted him.
Brodie reached over and picked up his cell phone. He must’ve fallen asleep. Still no call from Peyton, though. He had missed a call from Maddox.
“What’s up?”
“I need your help with something. Feel good enough to handle some wine business with me tonight?”
That was his job, and while he didn’t feel great now, if he showered and ate, he’d probably feel better.
“Of course. What are we doing?”
“Meet me in the barrel room around four, and I’ll tell you then.”
This sounded promising. Barrel tastings meant something special was going on. He just hoped Peyton called before it was time for him to leave.
“She isn’t going to like this,” Peyton overhead Alex say when she walked in the back door of Stave. Alex was on the phone, and turned to wave when she heard the door close.
“All right, gotta go now.”
“What was that all about?”
“Nothing important.”
“If you’re telling me it’s nothing important, then whatever it is must be very important.” When Alex deflected, Peyton knew to be on high alert.
“This time it isn’t. I swear.”
Swearing. Another bad sign. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“No.”
“What do you mean ‘no’? Alex, what the hell?”
“I knew this wasn’t going to work. I told him it wasn’t.”
“Who?”
“Maddox.”
“Oh, no.”
“He offered to do a barrel tasting tonight. He’ll be here with it around five.”
“And Brodie is coming with him, am I right?”
“Yep.”
Peyton walked out of the office and into the tasting room. It was crowded already, the bar and tables were full inside, and the patio looked just as crowded.
“Hey,” Alex said, coming up behind her. “You want me to call him and tell him not to come? We haven’t promoted it.”
“No, it’s okay. You should’ve called me though, with as busy as it is.”
“That’s what we have employees for, Peyton. And it isn’t that busy.”
“You’re right, we don’t have any open seats, but it isn’t that busy.”
“You’re turning into quite the eye-roller, missy.”
Peyton smiled and walked over to put her apron on.
“Not mad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“So you’re happy Brodie is coming with Maddox.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“But you’re smiling.”
“Yes, Alex, I’m smiling. But before I get too wrapped up in serving wine, I have a phone call to make.”
His cell was ringing when Brodie got out of the shower. Normally he’d let it go to voicemail, but if it was Peyton, he didn’t want to miss her call. He grabbed the phone and pressed the accept button.
“Brodie here.”
“Hi, Brodie, it’s Peyton.”
“Peyton, it’s good to hear your voice.”
“Did I get you at a bad time? You sound out of breath.”
“Not at all. I was climbing out of the shower when you called, so the only rush was get to the phone before you hung up.”
“Do you want to call me back?”
“No, no. It’s fine. I’ll just put you on speaker for a sec while I grab a towel.”
He pulled one off the bar and wrapped it around his waist, picked up the phone and took it off speaker. “I’m back, you still there?”
“I’m still here.”
“You sound like you’re smiling. Are you, Peyton?”
“You can hear smiling? I wasn’t aware you had that particular superpower.”
“Oh, baby, you have no idea how many superpowers I’ve yet to show you.”
She laughed. He loved the sound of her laugh. “Thanks for calling, Peyton. I wanted to apologize.” He rolled his eyes. That wasn’t what he wanted to do at all. He wanted to see her again, that’s why he asked her to call him.
“There’s nothing to apologize for, Brodie. We both got caught up in the moment.”
“It wasn’t a moment for me.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“I want to see you. Soon.”
“I think you’ve got that covered, Brodie. Alex said you and Maddox will be here around five.”
“Wait. What?” Shit. That’s where they were going for the barrel tasting?
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know anything about it.” She laughed.
“But I don’t. Mad asked me to help him with a tasting tonight, but he didn’t say where.”
“Oh. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“Are you kidding? Of course I want to.”
“Then I’ll see you later, Brodie.”
“Peyton…”
“Yeah, Brodie?”
“Are
you happy I’m coming?” He waited, but she didn’t answer right away. He was just about to let her off the hook, when she sighed.
“Yes, Brodie. I am very happy you’re coming.”
“Very? Well, that’s even better. See ya, Peyton.”
She disconnected the call, put her cell phone in the pocket of her apron, and then pulled it back out. She opened her photos and studied the last one Kade sent her. He was at the base in Afghanistan. She recognized the palm trees and the outdoor walled-off area from other photos he sent. He was wearing sunglasses, and had on a greenish-tan Yankee baseball hat. The front pockets of his protective tactical vest were full, and beneath it he wore a black, short-sleeve shirt. When she woke up the morning after he sent the photo, she got a call from one of the guys he served with, telling her he’d been killed.
She asked him once how’d she know if anything happened to him. “Either Paps or Razor will get in touch with you.” She recognized both names. The call came from Razor that morning, and she knew, without him having to say it.
For a long time, it didn’t feel real. There were times it still didn’t. That’s what she told Brodie. She’d dream it was a mistake, and in her dream, Kade would walk into the tasting room, like he did before they started dating. He’d smile, and say hello, and she’d walk over and welcome him home.
What would Kade think about this thing between her and Brodie? If she had to guess, she’d say he’d be happy about it. He was protective of her and the boys. He’d want her to be happy, and cared for, especially by someone he trusted. He never said, but she sensed he had something to do with Lang getting caught up with the boys’ child support.
Alex peeked her head into the office door. “Everything okay?”
“Yep, on my way back out now.” Peyton stuffed her phone back in the pocket of her apron. “What’s with the subterfuge between you and Maddox?”
Alex smiled, but didn’t answer. Peyton followed her back out to the bar, and lost track of time waiting on customers and talking about wine.
She heard the knock on the back door and looked at the clock. They were right on time. “You want me to go?” she asked Alex, who was talking to one of their regular customers. Alex nodded.
When Peyton opened the door, she saw Maddox and Brodie loading the barrel onto a dolly. She shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun, and held the door.
“Hey, Peyton,” Maddox said as he wheeled the barrel in the door.
“Hi, Maddox. Thanks for doing this. We love barrel tastings around here, and most of the wineries think it’s too much trouble to lug them down here.”
“No trouble at all.” Maddox smiled as she watched him walk inside.
Maddox looked more like Kade than Brodie did. She hadn’t realized it until now, but then, she didn’t see him very often. He kept his head shaved, like Kade used to. Instead of a goatee, Maddox had a full, dark beard. His deep blue eyes were the same color as Kade’s and Brodie’s, and most of the time, Maddox looked as though he was smirking. He was taller than Kade, like Brodie was, but built more like his older brother. He probably could’ve swung two wine barrels on his shoulders and carried them both inside without a problem.
“Mmm, that man is fine,” Alex gushed when she passed Maddox in the hallway. “Do they need any help?”
Brodie was unloading a couple cases from the back of Maddox’s truck, but if they were anything like their older brother, they would never allow her or Alex to help carry them in. Brodie stacked one on top of the other and hefted them up on his shoulder. “Hey, pretty lady,” he said, noticing her holding the door.
“Hi, Brodie.” she grinned, shaking her head.
“What?”
“You’re such a flirt.”
“Only with you, Peyton.” He smiled. As he walked through the door, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Hi,” he murmured. He stayed close, and looked into her eyes. “How are you, Peyton?”
“I’m fine, Brodie.” She laughed. “How are you?”
“Better now. I missed your pretty face.”
When she groaned he laughed out loud, and took the cases into the tasting room.
Peyton came back inside and saw that Alex directed Maddox and Brodie to set up near the front of the room. On the left side there was a double-wide garage door that opened out to the patio. It was a brilliant idea to have them set up there. Any woman over the age of twenty-one, and under one hundred, would definitely come into Stave, if only to flirt with the two hot men offering wine tastes.
She kept busy writing orders and signing customers up for wine club memberships, but every few minutes she’d sneak a look at Brodie. He smiled, and talked to customers about their wine, but glanced over at her as much as she did at him. When he caught her looking first, he’d wink, and his smile would come through his eyes.
“He is too,” Alex whispered and nudged her.
“Yep, he sure is.” He was fine, and hot, and sweet, and he seemed genuinely into her. Could she go forward with this? Would Brodie want to have sex with her, knowing his brother had? How weird would that be? And what about her boys? They already knew who he was. Should she let him meet them? Or should she wait?
“Quit chewing the inside of your cheek. You look like a chipmunk.” It was a bad habit, one which Alex gladly gave her shit about.
The new release tasting usually wrapped up at six, but with the Butler brothers’ barrel show still going strong, she and Alex continued handing out copies of that night’s tasting notes, and opened more bottles of the other wines.
By nine most of the customers had left. Peyton and Alex, along with their two servers, were busy washing wine glasses.
“Can I help?” Brodie offered.
“No, thanks,” Peyton answered at the same time Alex said yes. They both laughed and tossed Brodie a towel.
“You can dry, but be careful,” Alex instructed him.
“I’ve run my own tasting room,” he informed her. “With glasses at least as expensive as these.”
“You don’t have to stay,” Peyton began. “You and Maddox can take off any time.”
Brodie leaned forward so Alex couldn’t hear him. “Maddox isn’t any more ready to leave than I am.” He winked.
“I kind of noticed something passing between the two of them. Wonder how long that’s been going on?”
“According to Naughton, since middle school.”
“Uh, so, I guess you have to wait for him to leave. By the looks of it, it may be a while.”
Alex left the bar, and was talking to Maddox as quietly as Peyton and Brodie had been.
“I drove down, too.”
“Oh?” Peyton’s forehead creased just slightly.
“Before you start accusing me of anything, it was Mad’s idea.”
“I wasn’t going to accuse you of anything.”
Brodie reached over and ran his finger across her forehead. “Oh, yeah?”
“I guess you can leave whenever you want to, then.”
“You kickin’ me out?”
“No.”
“Hey, I was wondering earlier—where do your boys hang out when you’re here at night?”
Peyton looked away from him before she answered, “They spend Friday nights at my parents’ ranch. Sometimes Saturday too.”
“You up for a nightcap once you’re done here?”
She threw her towel on the bar, and motioned for Brodie to follow her out the back door.
“Listen, I was thinking about this earlier today, and I think it might be too weird, Brodie.”
“Weird? Not the word I expected you to use.”
“I was involved with your brother. Doesn’t that bother you?”
He was catching on. By involved, she meant intimacy. It crossed his mind for a split second, and that quick he got over it. There were things that bothered him more about her relationship with Kade than them sleeping together. “It doesn’t bother me, Peyton. Does it bother you?”
“Yes, it kind of does.”
&
nbsp; “Let’s do this. Let’s go back inside, finish up, and then really talk about this. Not just you and Kade having sex, but all of it.”
“I don’t know…”
“I do. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Peyton raised her eyebrows, and burst out laughing.
“Yeah, that was pretty stupid wasn’t it?”
“Really stupid.” She laughed.
“Let me try putting it a different way.” Brodie cleared his throat. “Please, Peyton. Pretty please.”
“Stop, Brodie. Whining is worse, way worse.”
“You still haven’t answered me.”
“We can talk, Brodie. But that’s it. Just talk, no kissing.”
“Yeah, no kissing. Got it.” He smirked.
“I mean it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Brodie held the door open and followed her back inside. When she got to the end of the hallway that led into the main tasting room, she came to a stop.
“What—”
“Shh.” Peyton turned around and pushed him back toward the door.
“What’s goin’ on?” he whispered.
“I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Interrupt what?”
“Unlike us, they are kissing.”
“I can fix that.” Brodie swooped in before she could argue. He held her face in his hands, and brought his lips to hers. “Peyton,” he groaned when she pulled away. “I’ve been thinking about that all day. All night, too. Can’t I have just a little bit more? Please?”
She put her hands on his shoulders, and reached up, kissing his cheek instead of his lips.
“Uh uh, that isn’t gonna do it, sugar.”
Peyton twisted away from him, and went out the back door. When he followed, he heard she was laughing.
“Come on, Peyton. Give a guy a break.”
She pulled her key fob out of her pocket, and unlocked her car that was parked on the other side of Mad’s truck.
“Where’re you parked, cowboy?”
“’Bout a block down, on the street.”
“Hop in.”
“You got it.” Brodie ran over and climbed in the passenger seat. Peyton started the engine and put the car in reverse.
“Do you need to let Alex know you’re leaving?”
The Promise (Butler Ranch Book 1) Page 8