Leaning Into Series: The Complete Box Set

by Hayes, Lane

  Chapter 8

  There were pluses and minuses to working with close friends. I never had to explain my moods or apologize for peculiar behavior. If I felt like bursting into song at a random moment, no one batted an eyelash. Wes, Nick, Ryan, Danny, and Lauren were my family. I knew it was pointless to try hiding the new development in my liaison with Levi from them, but I did it anyway. Correction. I tried to.…It lasted a week.

  I couldn’t help it. The second Levi walked into the room, I turned to mush. My pulse skyrocketed, and my cheeks felt warm to the touch. Just the sound of his voice made me lightheaded with desire. I spaced out on key attributes in our reserve wines and forgot lyrics midsong with a regularity that should have embarrassed me, but I was too flustered to care.

  Perhaps we were obvious. Levi came by the winery every day after closing, which generally coincided with when the construction team finished up at the restaurant. We claimed to need the time to discuss new developments at La Vid. He’d hired a general manager to deal with interviewing wait staff and a service crew while he concentrated on the renovations and marketing. He reported any changes or concerns he had while I wiped down the bar or pored over the tasting room and gift shop ledgers. Ryan and Lauren were usually busy restocking shelves or dealing with lingering guests. Wes had been out of town for a week on business, but at some point, Danny would show up. We’d have a brief powwow about the day, and then everyone would go their separate ways. Except for us.

  My post-work meetings with Levi were becoming part of the routine. We’d talk business for fifteen minutes or so; then he’d give me a Vespa “lesson” in the deserted parking lot. We’d almost always end up at my house, shedding clothing as we raced up the porch steps. Then we’d stumble over the threshold and hurry to my room or the first horizontal surface that allowed us to get as physically close as possible.

  He’d even spent the night a few times last week, which was a big deal for me. I wanted him to stay tonight too. Every day it became harder to hide that I was hopelessly infatuated with him.

  “How was your day?” Levi perched his ass on a barstool across from me.

  I pushed the ledger aside and smiled. “Better now. I’ve decided on the perfect name for that poor, pink nameless scooter. She may not be yours, but it’s wrong not to call her something.”

  “And that’s what you’ve been thinking about all day?” he asked in a low sultry voice.

  “Nope. My mind has been in the gutter since I woke up. Twelve hours of nonstop X-rated thoughts. It’s a good thing I chose a longer chemise today.” I gestured at the front of my light-pink shirt and tugged on the hem.

  “Chemise?”

  “Well, it’s not a chemise in the true sense of the word, but it’s silky and delicious.”

  “I like that color on you. It matches your lips. But tell me more about the gutter.”

  I snorted a laugh and leaned across the bar. “That tongue of yours is magic. I would never have guessed rim jobs were your evil specialty.”

  Levi’s slow-growing roguish grin made me blush. “Among other things…yeah. Let’s do it again. Are you finished here?”

  “Yes, but I’m waiting for Wes to stop in. I told him not to bother. International flights are exhausting, but he said he wasn’t tired and…I might as well end the suspense,” I sighed.

  “About you and me? I don’t think Wes will mind. He likes me.”

  “Of course he does. You’re infuriatingly likable. I was referring to my ensemble.”

  “Ahh. I get it.”

  “I don’t think you do. I can claim that I’m merely striving to complement the vexing Valentina, but he’ll see right through me.”

  “Wes loves you, Geord. Stop freaking out. Who’s Valentina?”

  I glanced at my watch. “The Vespa. Aren’t you paying attention? I made my appointment with the dreaded Department of Motor Vehicles, by the way. It’s not for another month, but I’m ready.”

  “Good. Kiss me. Ryan just went to the office, and I passed Lauren in the gift shop on my way in. The coast is clear.”

  I grinned as I leaned farther over the bar. “Come closer.”

  Levi met me halfway and slid his hand behind my neck before sealing his mouth over mine. He released his hold as though cognizant of giving me room to back away. I wanted the opposite. I loved his possessive side. Hands in my hair or on my neck, holding me down, drawing me close. Rough but oddly tender too. I really didn’t care who saw what. I wanted him to give me everything. No hesitation. So I clutched the collar of his blue plaid button-down and crashed my mouth over his.

  Everything and everyone disappeared. We were the only ones in the room. Maybe even on the planet. The edge of the bar dug into my skin. I was close, but it wasn’t enough. I grasped at the fabric on his shirt just as he threaded his fingers through my hair and tilted his head to deepen the connection. I sighed into the kiss, twisting my tongue with his feverishly. I was just about to pull back and suggest we get going when the real world intruded from all sides.

  Wine bottles rattled, a door opened, and someone cleared his throat. I glanced up and slowly straightened to survey the audience. Ryan and Danny stood at the end of the bar, each holding a box of wine, Lauren was in the gift shop doorway with a broom in her hand, and Wes and Nick were two feet away, looking very…amused.

  “Welcome home,” I whispered.

  “Thanks,” Wes said with a dopey grin.

  “How was France?”

  “Beautiful and…colorful. Like you.” His tone was gentle and laced with an undercurrent of emotion that brought tears to my eyes. I appreciated the subtle nod toward my shirt without making it into a big deal.

  “Thank you.”

  Nick took the barstool next to Levi’s and nudged his elbow. “So…what have you two been up to this week?”

  The unmistakable innuendo, delivered with comedic waggling brows, was an effective icebreaker. A collective groan sounded on cue. I crossed my arms and then threw them in the air and moved around the bar.

  “It’s no one’s business but mine…and Levi’s, but maybe you should know that I like him and he likes me.” I waited a beat and added in a comedic tone I hoped would deflect any weirdness, “And we’re totally having sex.”

  Levi shook his head in mock exasperation while everyone chuckled.

  “All righty then,” Danny quipped with a laugh. “If we’re all coming clean. Ry and I are also having sex. A lot of sex. Right, babe?”

  Ryan smacked his boyfriend’s bicep playfully, and Danny doubled over in exaggerated agony. We laughed at the silly exchange and immediately switched topics. Nick and Wes launched into a funny story about a winery they’d visited in the south of France, Lauren asked a million questions about the countryside, and no one seemed to care that I’d literally had a giant weight lifted from my chest. And suddenly I could breathe.

  I cast a grateful glance at my small circle of friends then turned to Levi and crooked my head toward the exit meaningfully. He nodded then stood to say a quick round of good-byes just as Wes pulled me aside.

  “I like him.”

  “Me too.”

  “Good.” He paused, and I braced myself for the stabbing pain of guilt. I’d been afraid of this for a while and as much as I claimed not to care what anyone thought, Wes was different. I respected him far too much, and I couldn’t deny that I wanted his reassurance. Hell, I might actually need it.

  When the silence stretched a little longer than I liked, I had to break it. “It’s the palest of pinks, Wes. Not to worry.”

  “You look fabulous. It’s more subtle than I remember, but I like it. It’s good to see you back, Birdie.”

  I hugged him impulsively and kissed his cheek. “It’s good to be back.”

  Late spring and early summer marked the beginning of one of the busiest times of year in the valley. Multiple festivals, ranging from wine and pizza pairings to charity events and concerts in the park, popped up every weekend. Throngs of visitors descended to e
njoy top-notch entertainment while they sipped fine wine and enjoyed Napa’s glorious weather. For those of us in the service industry, it was exciting yet exhausting. And it wouldn’t ease up for months.

  After Mike passed away, my job pulled me through some dark days. I counted every moment spent pouring wine, chatting with customers, or leading sing-alongs as a gift. I was grateful for a steady routine when my entire world felt upside down. It kept me in the moment and didn’t give me time to dwell on the shambles of my life. But something had changed. The hole in my heart hadn’t miraculously mended, but I felt as though I was healing.

  Of course, the friends who’d been with me through the worst deserved their fair share of credit, but Levi did too. His good nature and self-deprecating sense of humor paired with a determination to conquer his own fears and make a success of a new venture helped me turn my focus to the future. Not to mention, he was sexy as fuck. And the hungry glances he tossed my way made it clear he felt the same about me. He made me feel like a fabulous, more confident and sexier version of the “me” I thought had died a long time ago.

  However, I was slightly resentful that the winery and the restaurant infringed on our time alone. Levi hired an eager chef from San Francisco who’d been highly recommended by his ex. I didn’t know what to think about the ex’s influence on the decision. I was prepared to exercise my right as an investor to veto Rico, but I could tell he’d be an asset from our first interview. He was a second-generation, thirtysomething Latino from LA with fifteen years of culinary experience. He had a fine grasp on traditional recipes, and he wasn’t afraid to experiment. Rico accepted the job offer and agreed to relocate to Napa by mid-May when the kitchen renovation neared completion. The idea was to finalize the menu and hiring so we’d be ready for the grand opening in early July.

  That was all well and good, but Valentina and I had an appointment looming at the DMV. Renewing my Class M license and purchasing my own scooter had become an obsession. I told anyone who asked that I loved the idea of easy transportation around town. The other truth was that I superstitiously equated that damn Vespa with a missing piece of myself that needed to be reclaimed. Since the latter reason was a tad embarrassing, I kept it on the DL, though I had a feeling Levi was on to me.

  He stood in the empty parking lot located off to the side of the winery’s main entrance with one hand raised and signaled for me to proceed. I maneuvered the scooter around the cones we’d set up in the back of the lot where there were fewer cars. When a rogue gust of wind blew a few cones into the path, I stopped suddenly and held my arms wide.

  “Now what?” I complained. “I’m doomed.”

  Levi smacked his palm against his forehead and moved to join me in the middle of the lot. “What’s the problem, Geord?”

  “An obstacle is impeding my path. I cannot proceed.”

  He bit his lip as if to keep from laughing then made a wiggly gesture with his hand. “You’re supposed to navigate around it. No big deal.”

  “Of course it’s a big deal! What if a truck drops a mattress in the middle of the road, or what if a tumbleweed blows straight at me on the freeway?”

  “First of all, you’re never going to ride a Vespa on the freeway.”

  I huffed indignantly. “I know that. I was exaggerating to prove a point.”

  “And the point is…?”

  “What does one do? Does one veer to the left or to the right? Or is it best to stop altogether? What’s the protocol? These are the types of questions they ask to confuse you in a test. I’m flummoxed!”

  Levi busted up laughing. “This isn’t rocket science. How long have you been driving a car?”

  “Since I was sixteen. I had to renew that license six years ago, and I almost failed. It was humiliating,” I grumbled, holding out my left hand to admire the contrast in color between my bracelets and my red blouse.

  “What happened?”

  “I’ll tell you about it after I pass this one. Suffice it to say, I’m shocked they granted my appointment request.”

  “You did it online. You’re just a number to them, babe. They don’t know you. Look, you’re a great driver. This isn’t necessary. We’ve done countless hours zipping around town on this thing, and I’ve let you do the bulk of the driving. You know what you’re doing. Don’t doubt yourself.” He lifted my chin and pressed a kiss to my lips then gazed at his watch.

  “Did I forget a meeting? I thought we’d finished working for the night.”

  “Rico texted me when you were rounding the first cone at five miles an hour. He made one of my grandmother’s recipes and asked if we had time to stop by and try it out. What do you say?”

  “If he wasn’t painfully straight, I’d wonder if Rico had a crush on you,” I singsonged.

  “He does. It’s a bro crush, though. Heavy on fist bumps but absolutely zero dick involved. Don’t be jealous,” he teased.

  I gasped in outrage. I hated that word. It implied a weakness I hoped I’d outgrown a long time ago. I preferred to be accused of being an idiot who was afraid to fail a simple driving test than a jealous fool. Perhaps insisting that we keep our relationship quiet at the restaurant wasn’t such a great idea. I wanted to start on a professional footing with the new employees there, and flaunting our liaison didn’t seem wise. But I saw the way people looked at Levi and hung on his every word like he was a genius and I had to admit, it made me feel…territorial.

  “Oh, puh-leaze. Moi? I don’t do jealous. It’s a waste of energy.”

  “You’re right. It is. And so is riding the scooter around the parking lot a million times. I’m hungry. Let’s stop by La Vid, grab some grub, and then go back to your place and get naked,” he suggested, slipping his hand under my blouse and nibbling my bottom lip.

  “Good plan. Let’s—”

  “Hey, Geord!”

  I looked over Levi’s shoulder just as Ryan approached. “I thought you’d left for the evening. Is everything okay?”

  Ryan’s curly hair tumbled over his forehead when a breeze kicked up. “Yeah. I was just about to lock up, but Rico stopped by with a friend of yours, Levi. He may have said his name, but I didn’t catch it. Danny and I are going to the jazz festival tonight. Everything is done, but I can’t hang around to lock up. Do you mind finishing for me?”

  “Of course not. Have fun.”

  Ryan kissed my cheek then hurried back to the winery. I turned the scooter on and steered away from the cones as Levi neatly stacked them.

  “Are you going to hop on the back of my slick ride?” I asked.

  Levi snickered as he pushed the cones to the corner of the lot near a cypress tree and nodded. The second he hiked his leg to straddle the scooter, I inched the bike out of reach.

  “How old did you say you were?” he asked, rolling his eyes.

  “I didn’t.” I laughed. “Come on. Try again. You can trust me.”

  “Mmhmm. I’ll race you back instead and if I win, which I will, you’ll have to blow me…whenever I say.”

  “That’s not exactly a hardship.”

  “I’ll call it my ‘blow card.’ I get to cash in at a moment’s notice,” he said, backing away from me.

  “I’m not opposed, but you’re at a disadvantage.”

  “I’m a pretty fast runner.”

  “And you’re cheating. You have to wait until I say go,” I instructed.

  “Did someone say go?” Levi cupped his hand to his ear like he was listening intently, then gave me a thumbs-up signal and sprinted toward the winery.

  I’d expected it, but his comedic spurt into action was funny as hell. My smile broke into a shit-eating grin so wide my cheeks hurt. I let him have his head start then revved the engine and raced after him. I reached the entrance before him, singing “Don’t Rain on My Parade” loudly as I slowed in front of a large topiary to park. I turned off the engine and made a production of removing the pink helmet just as he arrived.

  “I won,” I smirked.

  Levi stopped s
hort and set his hands on my face then kissed me hard. He softened the kiss, licking my lips before pulling away.

  “You’re cute. But the bet was ‘first one in the door,’ so…I win. The ‘blow card’ is mine. See you inside.” He winked then disappeared into the wine tasting room.

  My ridiculous grin didn’t fade until I moved through the foyer and spotted a willowy, handsome twink with his hands all over my man. There were so many things wrong with the thoughts tumbling through my brain. Levi wasn’t mine and even if he was, my visceral angst wasn’t easily explained. Maybe I really was jealous. I shifted my gaze from Rico to Levi before fixating on the clingy stranger. He was lovely. He was at least six foot three and lean with wavy, light-brown hair and an aristocratic air I liked, though when I saw his arm hooked through Levi’s, I had a feeling we wouldn’t be friends.

  “Hello,” I said, jangling my bracelets as I moved into the tasting room.

  “Hey, Geordie. I was hoping to catch you. I made flautas with a twist. I’m trying to decide if these should be a staple on the appetizer menu or a specialty item. My buddy here likes ’em, but he thinks they might be too spicy.” Rico gestured toward a plate on one of the high-topped tables a few feet away. “Give it a try.”

  “I’d be honored,” I assured him before turning to introduce myself to the stranger. “I’m Geordie from the far hills east of Aragon. And you are?”

  “Kevin,” the young man replied with a friendly smile.

  Ah…the ex. An exceedingly adhesive ex by the look of things. I fought the urge to slap his hand from Levi’s elbow and then slip my fingers into my lover’s back pocket. However, I’d made a big deal about the prudence of keeping our private lives separate from restaurant business. Rico would ask a million questions I wasn’t sure I could answer. Especially not in front of the ex. Staking a false claim to assuage an icky feeling reeked of desperation. And I had too much pride to go there.