Page 11 of Pour Timing

I’m almost falling off my chair, I'm laughing so hard. “Oh, Danny Love. It must be the name.”

He rolls his eyes. “Something like that.”

“You know, opposites attract and all that. I bet you two would actually be really good together. I don’t think you’re as different as you’d like to think.”

“We don’t even like each other; how would we be good together?”

I laugh. “We’re practically pushing forty, Danny. Sometimes you gotta just bend a little.”

“Says the guy planning his ex’s wedding. I’ll just call you the rubberband man.”

“Okay you gotta let that go.” I point at him and he laughs. “Sadie’s been down at the winery for the last couple of days. She doesn’t seem so uptight to me.”

“Oh yeah? Are you going to give her a job as a bouncer?”

I huff a laugh. “She wants to be an event planner, and from what I’ve seen with her planning this Wine Day event, she’s really good at what she does. I could use somebody like her.” I pause, musing for a moment. “Maybe I’d even sell the place to her.”

“You’re gonna sell the winery?”

“I don’t know if it’s worth taking on if I’m not sure I’m even sticking around here.” I go back to picking at the label on my bottle. “I don't know if this is where I belong anymore.”

I don’t know if I can watch her get married,I think to myself.

“I think this is a perfect spot for you. Liam too. It wasn’t so bad growing up here.”

“I know, but it also feels like a dead end here.”

As a kid, I had big dreams of getting out of this small town. Back then it felt like a trap. A nowhere place with the same old jobs and same old people who knew everything about everybody. Right now, it feels like I'm stepping right back into that by taking hold of the winery. But as an adult, I see how the camaraderie of this place feels safe. The nosey neighbors are actually looking out for you. But am I setting Liam up for the same feelings I had? I don’t want him to feel trapped.

Another jingle of the bell, and I see Kylie walk in. It’s like we are both instantly aware that we are in the room with each other. Maybe her sister sent her a text or maybe she just knows I’m watching her. Her eyes find mine and hold me hostage as she walks over to her sister.

“I think your dead end just turned into a U-turn.”

I grumble at his words but my blood starts to pump when I watch her put her purse down and then walk toward us. “Well, hey, guys, what’s going on?”

“Hey, Ky!” I narrow my eyes on Danny. I don’t like the way he says her name with such familiarity. She leans in and gives Danny a quick kiss on the cheek and my hands clench.

“Matt, did you see my request for the extra bottles of white? I left the list and sent you color ideas for the tables.”

“Yes. I found a note, but I wasn’t sure who it was from. I figured it was your sister.”

She homes in on me. “I told you I was going to help you.”

“You did say that, but I wasn’t sure if that was a real offer or not.”

She puts her hand on her hip and acts annoyed. “Are you calling me flighty?”

“No, I'm saying your sister is extra-organized.” Danny makes a noise next to me and I take notice.

“When I say I’m going to do something, I do it. You’re on a time schedule for this event, so I’ll make sure things get done.”

I raise a brow and fold my arms across my chest. “Oh, so it won’t be like when I had to remind you seventeen times to change the oil in your car?”

With both hands on her hips now, she stares at me.

“Or that there was a pep rally the Friday before every home game? I always loved the way you looked surprised that we had to be at the field.”

She crosses her arms now, mimicking my pose right down to the raised eyebrow. “You know, you’ve been gone for quite some time. Maybe things have changed since you’ve been away.”

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