by Marika Ray
Lukas had grabbed us both a bottle of cold water, sitting on one of the lounge chairs by the pool. I sat in the chair next to him and started up the program on my computer.
“Okay, so I know I’m the sorority girl and all, but I know a thing or two about computer programs. I’ve been tinkering with this one since my senior year in high school, but I think I finally have it down.”
Lukas leaned in close and I could smell the soap and sweat on him.
“What’s the program for?” he asked.
I smiled, feeling a sense of pride puff up my chest. “It’s an all-in-one tracking program made specifically for a winery. All the inventory, grape yields, timelines, bottling, and accounting you could ever ask for. Once it learns a winery’s numbers, it can start making projections when you change one variable. I went ahead and implemented your suggestion about waving the tasting fee with just one bottle of wine purchased and ran the numbers. I think we can stand to make ten percent more from the tasting room with just that one change based on the number of people who come through the door and a moderate guess of one out of three who wouldn’t normally buy taking us up on the offer.”
Lukas leaned in even closer and then used the track pad to scroll down over my data. My heart beat faster, letting someone actually see what I’d been working on for the last couple of years.
He sat back and stared at the huge cedar tree down below the pool area. When he didn’t say anything, my heart dropped. Shit. Was my program that bad? I really thought it had the potential to be amazing.
“Lukas?” I asked quietly.
He looked over at me, his face unreadable but there was definitely something there in his sparkling blue eyes.
“Holy shit, Delta. This is amazing. How’d you learn to program?”
I huffed out a huge breath, a smile forming before I could even answer. “I, uh, picked up a hobby. When I got bored, I watched videos online and then started working with various people around the world on our own projects. I have friends all over who I’ve never met, but they helped me make my program while I helped them with theirs. It was kind of fun, to be honest.”
“Kind of fun?” Lukas sat up again. “Delta, you could sell this program all up and down the coast of California. What programs do wineries currently use?”
I sat up too, really getting into it now that I knew Lukas was into it too. “That’s the thing. Most wineries are using multiple programs for each department of the winery. I haven’t seen a program yet that combines them all, from planting of the grapevines to the finished bottle in the customer’s hands.”
“Have you shown your dad?”
I lifted a shoulder and let it fall like I didn’t care. “Nah. I wanted to test it a bunch before I showed it to him.”
Lukas frowned. “How long have you been testing it?”
I bit my lip and debated whether to tell him the truth. Ultimately, I figured Lukas would give it to me straight. “I’ve been plugging our winery’s numbers into it for a year now.”
Lukas’s eyes widened. “And? Any problems?”
I shook my head, even as I felt a little stupid. “Nope. It’s been one hundred percent accurate, even when I run the prediction models.”
“Delta!” Lukas came to life, scrambling out of his chair and standing over me. “You need to show your dad and see if he can start using it. If this program works that well, it should be marketed and sold. You could be sitting on the next big tech advancement in the winery business.”
His enthusiasm had my own heart pounding. Maybe this wasn’t some side hobby that would amount to nothing. Maybe I really did have something worthwhile on my hands. I hopped up and took my laptop with me.
“Okay. You’re right. I need to at least try. Let’s go talk to Daddy.”
Lukas’s smile faded a bit. “Why don’t you talk to him. It’s your program.”
I frowned. “But it’s your idea about waiving the tasting fee that could raise profits. We both have to talk to him.”
Lukas dropped his head and then looked back up at me, his careful mask of indifference back in place. “Okay, let’s go.”
“So, you see, lowering the tasting fee to just one sold bottle will increase profits by at least ten percent,” I said while using my index finger to point out my calculations to Daddy.
Gaining an audience with him was like trying to have tea with the Pope. Nearly impossible. Daddy sat at his huge desk in his study at home, fingers steepled and resting against his pinched mouth. He hadn’t said a word the whole time I told him about my project, showed him how it worked, and ran the model with the change Lukas had suggested. To say I was nervous about his reaction would be a massive understatement. I knew my father loved me, but his criticisms had been sharp and swift my whole life.
“And this program is the type of thing that could change how wineries look at their numbers and are able to make predictions based on crops, consumer preference, and any other detail that changes year to year.” Lukas had stayed quiet while I laid out the program and the new suggestion, but jumped in now to sing my program’s praises.
My heart warmed hearing him come to my defense. I gave him a grateful look and he winked at me. That little wink did more to buoy my spirits than all the straight A’s I’d gotten in high school and college.
Daddy dropped his hands to the arm rests of his expensive leather chair. I stood up straight and held my breath.
“This looks promising, Delta. You created this program?” He pointed at the computer screen, his expression incredulous.
I tried not to be insulted by his surprise. “Yeah, Daddy. I started it a couple years ago, but I’ve been tracking all of Black Bishop’s numbers for the last year and it’s spot on.”
He nodded thoughtfully, staring at the screen. “Well done, both of you. I’ll take this all under advisement.” The phone on his desk rang and he went to answer it.
“Sorry, honey. I’m expecting a call from Chateau St. Sonoma about a possible merger.” He pointed a finger at us both. “Don’t repeat that anywhere.”
He answered the phone and we were dismissed. Lukas and I walked out. I felt oddly deflated. He hadn’t disliked my program, but I didn’t think he gave it as much consideration as he should have. Same with Lukas’s suggestion.
“Oh, honey.” Mom came rushing up to us as we walked downstairs. “Your father and I had reservations at The Wine Cellar tonight, but he can’t make it. Work is never done!”
She put on a bright smile, but it looked fake like most of her smiles. She loved Daddy with all her heart, living for the moments when he gave her his full attention. They were few and far between which is why the smiles looked brittle on the edges. My mother’s life was one of the reasons I didn’t think I wanted to run Black Bishop wineries when I got older. If it consumed my whole life and didn’t allow for a strong family bond, then why bother?
“Okay,” I answered her hesitantly.
“I thought maybe you could go.” Mom’s blue-eyed gaze finally took in Lukas. “You could take Lukas here and introduce him to our town’s oldest and finest restaurant.”
She beamed, pleased with her setup.
“Oh, um, I don’t know if Lukas has plans,” I stuttered.
Mom latched on to Lukas’s arm. “Oh, you just have to go. Reservations are hard to get and they’d be so upset if we cancelled last minute. Our credit card is on file, so just go enjoy yourselves, okay?”
With a final smile, she was off, leaving Lukas and me to stare at each other in awkward silence. I just got set up by my own mother, and as much as I’d love to go to dinner with Lukas, I was pretty sure a fancy dinner that sounded like a date wasn’t something “just friends” should do.
“I’m game if you are…” I trailed off, biting my lip.
His gaze dipped down to my mouth, making my heart sputter. “Yeah. Dinner it is.”
5
Lukas
The Wine Cellar was so not my scene, but I could fake it for an hour or two just
to get the chance to stare at Delta in that little navy blue dress. The hostess walked off and I put my hand on Delta’s bare back to guide her through the restaurant. Well-dressed couples took up most of the tables, the low light and hushed conversation making me feel distinctly uncomfortable. I was used to sports bars and to-go food, not multiple forks in a formal place setting.
After pushing in Delta’s chair, I had a seat in mine across the table, accepting the menu that contained a lot of dishes I knew about, but had never experienced. My gut wanted out of here, but I knew all of this was experience that would help me later down the line. No one made it far in life without getting out of one’s comfort zone.
“My parents love this place, and while I love the food, it’s a little over the top for me.” Delta smiled at me, setting her menu down and leaning her elbows on the table.
I knew she was trying to make me feel better, but she didn’t need to do that. “What’s your favorite type of restaurant, then?”
She shrugged. “Something a little less formal. A place where you can be yourself and not worry if you laugh too loud or use the wrong damn fork. There’s a place nearby my college where we go a lot. It’s cute, but not formal. Good food, nice people. An easy atmosphere.”
“Sounds like Forty-Diner from my hometown.” I grinned just thinking of the place where the whole town went and gossip traveled faster than the servers.
“Tell me more about this hometown of yours.” Delta leaned forward, a soft smile on her face.
She had on more makeup than she did when we worked at the winery. Not that she needed it. Delta was beautiful in a classic girl-next-door kind of way. And based on her mom, she’d be beautiful with a few more lines and years on her face too.
“I was born and raised in Auburn Hill and it’s your typical small town. Everybody knows your business, but it means everyone cares, you know? I can’t wait to start my own business there.”
Delta’s grin grew and I couldn’t look away. “And what business are you going to open?”
I took a deep breath, feeling a little uncertain about sharing with her. But then again, she’d gone to bat for me to her father with my idea, so I felt like I could trust her.
“I want to open my own winery, actually.”
Her mouth opened in a cute little circle. “Really?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I have a little plot of land, with a handshake deal with my elderly neighbor to sell me his lot right before he passes. I should have just enough land to plant a decent vineyard. I loved chemistry back in high school, but didn’t see myself doing anything with that until I stumbled on winemaking and all that goes into it. I’m kind of fascinated.”
I tugged on my collar, feeling like the button-down shirt was trying to choke me. I didn’t know how men wore them all day every day.
Delta reached across the table and put her hand on mine. “Lukas, that’s amazing. Now I get why you’re so attentive at work. I thought you were just a kiss-ass.” She smirked.
I squeezed her hand and let go, needing to not be touching her. Touching her only led to wanting her more, and I knew that was definitely crossing a line.
“Thanks a lot,” I said wryly, winking to let her know I wasn’t actually offended. “What about you? What’s your career goal?”
Delta blew out a heavy breath. “God, I don’t know. I know Daddy wants to groom me to take over Black Bishop, but I have other things I want to do too. I want to do something that’s all mine, you know? Like, my eventual success has nothing to do with everything being handed to me. I want to know I did it all on my own.”
I nodded, even more impressed with her. I’d judged her unfairly when we first met. Every day I learned something new about her that made that judgement crumble.
“I do know what you mean. We share that desire.”
We stared at each other for a beat and I knew we shared more than just a desire for a career. There were most definitely other desires we had too. Based on the way she bit her lip and her eyes went soft, I’d bet she felt the same pull that I felt. The one that said we should scratch that itch and step across that line of friendship.
“Good evening, folks. What can I get you started with this evening?” The server interrupted our stare, startling us both.
Delta gave the server her dinner and drink order smoothly, melting into this environment with ease. My order was a bit more stiff as I doubted my pronunciation of everything, but I got it done and soon we were left alone again.
The rest of dinner went smoothly, and despite my irritation at not fitting in, the food was outstanding. Delta and I kept up the conversation, learning more about each other and sharing our food. Dante was my best friend back home, but even he and I didn’t have deep conversations about dreams, parents, and how we wished we were different. But with Delta, all that stuff flowed easily.
As we left, I kept my palm on the bare skin of her back, the smooth silk feeling driving me crazy in the best way. The sun had set and the little white lights were lit up all over downtown Merlot. We walked for a bit, checking out the shops. I was having such a good time I didn’t want the night to end.
Delta came to a stop right at the wineglass-shaped fountain in the town square. The water splashed as it hit the pool below it, the perfect overflowing glass. She pulled two pennies out of her tiny purse and gave one to me.
“Time to make a wish, handsome.” She gave me a wink and wrapped her arm around mine, a move I was coming to associate with only her. She liked to be touching and damn if I didn’t like it too.
She pinched her eyes shut and her mouth moved like she was silently making her wish. Then her eyes popped open and she tossed the penny, the plop it made reaching us as it sank to the bottom.
“Now your turn.” She laid her head on my shoulder and gave me time to make my own wish, even though I didn’t believe for a second that these penny wishes came true. You had to make your own dreams come true. Wishing and hoping never worked. But for Delta, I’d do it, just to see her smile.
I thought about what I wanted, dismissing the career-oriented wishes. If I was to be whimsical by making a stupid wish, I’d make the wish whimsical too. Once the wish was firm in my head, I tossed the penny and watched it sink close to Delta’s.
Her head popped off my shoulder and she spun us around so she could see me. “What did you wish for?”
I faked outrage. “You’re not supposed to tell people your wish or it won’t come true!”
She gave me a dirty look. “Oh, please. Tell me right now. I have to know.”
“Tell me yours first,” I countered.
“Fine. I wished for a kiss in the moonlight with a handsome man.” Her cheeks went pink but she kept her gaze on me without even a flutter of eyelashes.
Fuck. All that time spent telling myself she was just a friend and coworker wasn’t working tonight. Not by a long shot. My dick decided he wanted more, and waiting to take matters into my own hand when I got home just wasn’t going to cut it.
“Delta,” I muttered, reaching up to push a strand of hair behind her ear that had blown into her face.
“What was your wish?” she whispered, leaning into me so far I could see exactly how close the ends of her long eyelashes were to her eyebrows.
“It wasn’t that,” I whispered, trying desperately to put some space between us again or to steer this conversation back into a neutral place where I couldn’t crash headfirst into trouble.
“Was it about me?” She bit her lip, the one thing I couldn’t seem to resist.
I nodded.
“You should totally kiss me and see if we can’t make both our wishes come true,” she whispered, her eyes daring me to deny her.
She was right. I should. Here she was offering herself on a silver platter and I was shutting her down. For what? A summer job that would be over before we knew it? What harm could one kiss really do?
I brought my hand back up to her face, cupping her jaw and rubbing my thumb against that bottom lip that dro
ve me crazy. It was soft and pillowy, just like I’d imagined it. Her tongue darted out and met the tip of my finger, sending me right over the edge of sanity I barely clung to. I angled her head where I wanted her and leaned down to kiss her. Our lips barely touched, then parted for a gasp of breath, and finally collided again in a heated kiss of lips and tongues.
Delta wrapped her arms around my neck and matched my enthusiasm. Her little groans were enough to keep me coming back for more, oblivious to everyone around us or who might see us. The only thing that mattered this summer was this kiss. This moment with Delta. The exact wrong girl for me.
A shrill whistle had me breaking away, battling a cloud of confusion. That kiss might have stopped time and transported us elsewhere. I blinked several times and the fountain came back into view, the sounds of people all around us enjoying the balmy summer night.
Delta stared at me with wide eyes, huffing like we’d gone on a run right before that kiss. “We should totally do that again.”
I caught the grin before it could spread across my face and send the wrong message. My brain shouted at me to shut this down right here and now.
“Delta—”
“No, don’t. Don’t stand there with my lip gloss on your mouth and tell me we shouldn’t have done that.” She lifted an eyebrow in challenge.
I scrubbed a hand across my mouth and clenched my teeth. Clearly, she drove me crazy whether I kissed her or not. And now that I knew she tasted like cotton candy and wine and hot sorority girl all rolled into one, I knew I’d have to fight that much harder to stay away from her.
Grabbing her hand, I pulled her away from the fountain and back toward the restaurant to get her car. Her heels clicked rapid fire on the pavement beside me as she tried to keep up. I slowed down so she didn’t trip and fall. When we got to her car, she pulled the keys out of her purse but wouldn’t unlock the doors until I met her gaze.