Page 129 of Love Among Vines

“It’s perfect. I love it. Thank you.”

She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Do you need some space?”

She read him like the well-worn takeout menu for the Tavern that was stuck to his fridge. “I think I do. Let me give you a ride.”

She took a step back and slung her backpack over her shoulders. “It’s okay. I could use the fresh air. I’ll see you tonight if you decide you’re still comfortable coming over.”

She picked up Penny’s leash and started for the door, then turned back.

“It’s going to be okay,” she said before turning away and hustling outside.

When he poppedthe door of her cottage open that night, Jade screamed and flung a kitchen towel at him.

“A kitchen towel? That’s your grand plan to defend yourself?” His leather overnight bag hit the floor. “I thought you were a hardened city girl.”

After Jade left, he had buried himself in party preparations until every detail was covered. He might not have been able to control his family members, but he sure as hell was going to make this party a success. He had to, especially now that he and Jade might actually have a future together.

“For your information, I would have fashioned it into a garotte and murdered you with it had you been an actual intruder.”

“My mistake.” He shut the door behind him and stepped into the kitchen. Penny trotted up to him and planted her paws on his chest, breathing heavily into his face until he petted her.

He wasn’t going to be great company tonight. Seeing Chris and Alexa together earlier had knocked something in his brainloose. The second he saw her, all he could think about was throwing open the door to the guest bedroom in his old apartment and finding her tangled in Chris’s sheets. It had been two years, but he still remembered the crimson color of her bra on the floor.

The casserole dish of shepherd’s pie hit the counter with a clunk, joined by the leftovers of Baked Alaska.

“Thank you for bringing food.” Jade swooped in and snaked her arms around his neck. Her lips pressed to his, bringing with them the taste of chardonnay.

“I’m surprised to see you already,” she said when she pulled back.

“I got everything done that I needed to.”

“Great. You got the decorations ordered and everything?”

He nodded. “They’ll deliver everything on Thursday to give us time to set up.”

“I’m happy to help with setup. The mural should be done by then.”

The mural. He almost slapped himself in the face. He had been so caught up in his own drama that he hadn’t even congratulated her on her incredible breakthrough.

“That’s right. It sounds like you made real progress today. I can’t wait to see it. I’m sure it’s incredible.”

“I don’t know about incredible, but it’s at least a slight improvement on a totally blank wall. Hungry?”

“Very.” He helped her shuffle some portions of shepherd’s pie into bowls. They stood in silence as they rotated in the microwave. For someone who claimed she didn’t cook, the meal had been delicious.

“Are you okay? Relatively speaking?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” he said.

“I’m not trying to patronize you. But I want you to know that it’s okay to not be okay.” She sidled up next to him and slippeda hand around his biceps. He didn’t turn to face her. “The first couple of times I saw Nate with Ashley it almost broke me. I didn’t know if I wanted to murder them both or just run away and hide in a Mexican restaurant somewhere.”

Rett sank onto a barstool but said nothing. What was there to say? Alexa and Chris’s abrupt appearance had reminded him that he had never been good enough? He was always going to be second fiddle to his brother, even in his parents’ eyes? Even though Chris had a gambling problem, Rett would inexplicably never measure up.

And there was still the very real possibility that the family legacy would crash and burn under Rett’s watch. That, at least, was a fair criticism.

Jade set a steaming plate and a glass of wine in front of him.

He lifted the glass to his nose reflexively, then set it back down.

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