I watched her, read her body language. She was just tense enough now that I could be fairly certain it had worked. If my instincts were right, she was coming.
I’d finally get to see her again, and this time, I wasn’t letting Rae go without getting her damn number.
EIGHTEEN
rae
If I didn’t have sucha shitty two days, I might not have gone running to Grado as soon as Min texted. As it was, I had no one to talk to live and in person about this since I couldn’t tell Brien or Laila or any other the other Sunset employees I’d gotten to know that their boss was the biggest douche canoe on the planet. My father would be stuck in the middle and already admitted he was content to be hands-off with this venture.
Not that I wanted his advice anyway.
My friends were great, but none of them could completely relate to my situation. Except maybe Evie, since she owned a restaurant, but then I’d have to admit part of the problem was the very guy she told me to avoid.
I walked around to the back deck of the Wine Cellar where Min told me they’d be as I mentally segmented my problems into two camps.
Jerry. And Marco.
The latter would almost assuredly be here. Min told me to come by any Wednesday night, that their long-standing tradition of getting together after closing time started years ago when their parents realized they worked so much that they never had time to actually enjoy the fruits of their labor. Literally. Owning a vineyard should have some perks, but they worked too much to enjoy them. For years it was an unwritten rule that, come hell or highwater, you didn’t make plans on a Wednesday night if your last name was Grado.
I thought about going over there. Marco was the one person who knew all about Jerry after he wrangled it out of me Saturday night. But since he was the last person I should be complaining to since technically he was my biggest competitor, I’d held strong.
Now, one text and I found myself fixing my hair and makeup and forcing myself to slow down as I walked up the stairs to the back deck. Someone was playing guitar, likely Hudson. Voices and laughter carried down to me. How lucky the Grado family was to have each other.
It felt as if a frog had just jumped from my chest to my stomach at the sight of him. Lounging deep back into his chair, his legs were casually spread apart.
Dear lord.
Wearing a pair of jeans and navy Grado tee, just tight enough in the arms to make all his work at the gym evident, his eyes found me immediately. A far cry from Saturday when he’d flirted shamelessly with me, he appeared more aloof tonight. As if me being here didn’t matter to him one way or another.
Honestly, I hoped it continued. Resisting him was exhausting, and I wasn’t sure how much longer my principles would hold out, compared to the very enticing thought of being with him.
“I’m so glad you could come over,” Min said. “Let me get you something to drink.”
“Ok, thanks,” I said, avoiding eye contact with him.
“But first lemme introduce you to everyone. You met Hudson,” she said. He was playing a song, but not singing, so he greeted me with a, “How’s it going?”
“Great, thanks.”
We made the rounds as I tried to keep everyone’s names straight until Min brought me toward the tasting room entrance.
“About that drink,” Min said.
Finally, we passed him.
“You forgot to introduce me,” he drawled to Min as we reached him.
“Because you obviously met her already.” Min looked back at me. “Did I mention to be careful of this one?”
“I believe you did, though you weren’t the only one.”
Marco’s brows raised at that, but I didn’t elaborate as I followed her inside the tasting room.
“I’m drinking Brooke Blend but you can have whatever you want.”
“No that’s fine,” I said as Min poured. “Is that one you sell in the Wine Barn?”
“It is. Neo created it as a surprise for when Cos asked Brooke to marry him.”