“So why the hesitation to work here at Grado in the first place?”
Thayle clammed right up. There was something she didn’t want to tell me.
“Lots of reasons,” she said, dismissing the question. “Will it be hard for you to leave at the end of the summer? Or are you starting to get anxious to get back to the city?”
We’d talked a little about my decision to stay here, but I’d also told Thayle the same as what I’d texted the girls when Tina asked in our group thread if I ever wanted to come back.
“It’s complicated.”
She appeared thoughtful. “Hmm.”
“What?” I laughed. Before I could say more, I found myself getting distracted, catching sight of Owen again. He was looking my way.”Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”
“Not anymore. They broke up last week.”
Ahh, so that explained the drinks and flirty looks.
“Want me to introduce you to him?”
“Nah,” I said, “that’s okay. Was just curious.”
“You sure? He’s been eyeing you up since we walked in.”
I shook my head. “I’m good. No use starting something when I’ll be leaving next month. What about the two of you?”
Thayle looked appalled. “No, thanks. I know too much about him.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice, as the table next to us wasn’t all that far away. “But you don’t. And there’s no need to marry the guy. You should know hecantie a cherry stem with his tongue.”
I nearly spat out my beer at that. And was about to tell her I’d love to see him try—though I didn’t really want to encourage her further—when a voice behind me asked, “What’s so funny?”
Immediately sobered, I sat up on the stool. Swallowing, I tried to play it cool, wondering if Thayle noticed the new flush in my cheeks. This was exactly why I’d been trying to avoid him. Pretending Cos didn’t affect me in any way was just about impossible.
“I was just telling Brooke that Owen could tie a cherry stem with his tongue.”
Oh my god. No, she didn’t.
Cos came into view then, at the side of our high-top. He was with Neo, who was already walking toward the bar.
“It’s not all that difficult,” he said, looking straight at me.
What the hell was he doing here? I’d been trying to avoid him.
“You’re saying you can do it too?” Thayle asked. “No way. I’d know that already.”
His brows rose at her as Neo joined us with four beers.
“Owen said the ladies are drinking lights?” Neo slid the new beers toward us and sat down next to Thayle.
“Thanks,” she said with the casualness of someone who had known Neo all his life. Which she had. It really was like Thayle was a family member. “Did you guys know we were coming to KC’s?”
Neo looked at Cos. “I don’t know. Did we? It was his idea.”
In answer, Cosimo put his beer down on the table and walked over to the bar. All three of us, confused, watched him talk to Owen briefly and then saunter back to us. Even here, away from Grado Valley, it was like he owned the place. As if he felt perfectly comfortable here, in this hometown bar, just as well as at a multimillion-dollar vineyard estate that he did actually own.
Cos sat back down, opened his mouth and then slipped a cherry stem inside.
No fucking way. He tilted his head back, concentrating, and I imagined what was happening inside that mouth of his. Although, I didn’t really have to imagine it. I remembered quite clearly what it was like to kiss him.
A few seconds later, he opened his mouth again, reached inside with his thumb and forefinger, and then pulled out a tied cherry stem, holding it up.