ChapterSixteen
Delaney was quiet as they drove to Galveston the next morning. After Ethan had satisfied himself that the vines and facilities had received no damage from the storm or power outage, he agreed to head back to the island, leaving his farm manager to handle things until the power was fully restored. They had eaten a quick breakfast in silence, emotions still raw and exposed from their conversation the previous evening. Waking up in Ethan’s arms in his bed had been everything Delaney had wanted, still wanted, if she were admitting the truth. It would be so easy to slip back into old rhythms, familiar patterns, and accept everything Ethan was offering. But it wasn’t the same as before. They had both changed, both grown. He seemed to accept her for who she was now and wanted to try again.
Why did she hesitate?
She glanced at his profile, focused on the highway, not that there was much traffic between Hermitage Vines and Galveston. The muscles in his jaw clenched, the only outward sign of the tension he must also be feeling. As if sensing her regard, he turned a cool stare to her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she longed to stretch out a hand and smooth the lines from his face. Afraid of his reaction, she fisted her hand in her lap and turned back to the road.
Dammit, she wasn’t a coward. No, she had had her trial by fire and she had come out the other side stronger. If she wanted Ethan, she damn well was going to take him. But was that what she wanted? What about him going back to Houston? She could have her position back, have her revenge on all those people who turned their back on her, have the money and the status she had lost. Or they could stay on the vineyard, planting grapes and making wine, hiding. Was that any different from what she was doing now? Yes, it was different because she’d have Ethan, a man she still loved, had never stopped loving. Only now, she loved him as a woman, as the woman she now was, not the girl she had been. But what if he chose Houston? What would she do? Could she return there and take her place by his side?
She stretched a hand out and covered his hand on the gearshift, squeezing once for good measure. He turned his hand over and grasped hers in a firm grip.
They shared a look.
“Are you sure?”
She smiled and lifted his hand to her lips, kissing it. “Yes.”
A broad smile crossed his face, true happiness smoothing the lines of tension, turning back the clock on them. A wave of happiness crested over her, a sense of rightness, of belonging, for the first time. Not even before, when the world was at their feet, had everything felt so right, so good, so perfect.
She couldn’t help but wonder what would go wrong to destroy it.
* * *
The flight over had been smooth, the sky blue and clear after the tumultuous previous day. They had a good tailwind and made excellent time to the island. He circled the island once to survey the damage. Nothing major seemed obvious beyond some trees down, debris on the shores, and a slightly higher surf as the storm pulled south of the island. The side where the hotel was showed more damage, especially to the gardens and the trellis. They’d have a lot to do to get ready for Saturday.
The weather reflected his mood, light and happy. For the first time in many years, things seemed to click. He had Delaney back in his life, filling a hole that had never seemed to go away, even when it was filled with anger and resentment. But he still had a decision to make. Return to Houston and fulfill his father’s wishes or stay and run the vineyard. He hadn’t quite gotten a solid answer out of her about her future—Houston or the vineyard—and he had noted the careful wording of her response. But she hadn’t hesitated to try a relationship again. Maybe this time they could make it. This time, maybe he could help her the way he should have back then, given her everything she should have had—his name, his loyalty, his protection.
He glanced at Delaney and thought back to their conversation the previous evening about his plans. She had worked so hard to reinvent herself, her life, and overcome the legacy of crime and pain left by her father. He could boost her the last bit of the way and bring her back to the life she was meant to have, the path she was on before everything crashed. If only he accepted his role in the firm and took up the Van Owen mantle at the firm and in society. Delaney would be elevated again and they would be together, reigning over the society that had rejected her.
And it had the added benefit of pissing off his stepmother, whose insults had not been ignored by Ethan in the years since the breakup. She would be forced to support Delaney and stand by while Delaney retook her place in society. The ultimate revenge for both of them.
And if it meant not living on Hermitage, well, he had said it to her. It could be their refuge on weekends and vacations, a family getaway. He didn’t need to be on the land all the time anyway, and his expansion plans could go much smoother and faster if he went back to Houston. Imagine the possibilities for Hermitage if he took his place at Van Owen Financial. It would be a win-win for him. He would just have to exchange working the land and being his own boss for stakeholders, investors, and three-piece suits.
He circled the airport and landed. Delaney waited while he settled the plane and they headed back to the house, hand in hand. When they got inside, it looked like an explosion had gone off in the living room and dining room. Tissue paper, small gift bags, and piles of travel accessories littered every surface.
Caroline emerged from the kitchen, a cup of coffee in her hand. She noted the hand-holding and grinned. “About time. Now, where are my candles?”
“In the truck. With everything else. I’ll get it.” Ethan beat a hasty retreat, leaving Delaney to answer any lingering, awkward questions.
When he got outside, Matthew stood by the truck, a serious expression on his face. He clicked the locks and opened the door. He started unloading, handing Matthew some of the boxes of candles.
“You okay, man?”
Matthew nodded. “You and Delaney?”
“News travels fast.” Ethan grunted as he lifted a couple of the boxes.
“Where’s it going? You back together again?” Matthew leaned against the bed of the truck and stared at Ethan, arms folded in front of him.
Ethan shrugged. “We’re going to try again. We never really resolved things, and we realized there’s still something there.”
“You can resolve things without taking up again.” Matthew shifted. “Look, I get you loved her, but she ripped your heart out. Do you really know what you’re doing here?”
Ethan pulled out of the truck cab and glared at Matthew. “What are you saying? You think this is a mistake?”
Matthew shook his head. “I’m just saying you can’t go back again.”
“We’re not going back. We’re starting fresh, five years later.” Ethan straightened and planted his hands on his hips, letting out a frustrated breath. “Why are we arguing about this? I thought you’d be happy since it was your fiancée who started all of this matchmaking nonsense.”