Page 23 of Meet Me in the Vines
The swinging of the back door steals my focus.
Mystery man emerges, sans boxes. His tousled hair covers his eyes as he gazes down at his boots. One glorious hand reaches up to his face, pushing away thick locks of hair. His eyes flit to meet mine.
Oh. My. God.
Those deep ocean blues are the ones that haunt my dreams. My body freezes in place, my feet root into the ground. I can’t take a breath—the oxygen is gone. Non-existent.
He takes a moment to register who I am as he slows his pace, coming to a full halt when it hits him. You could cut the tension with a knife, electricity buzzing in the ten feet between us. My heart beats in my ears, my chest tightens, and I feel suddenly lightheaded.
“Audrey?” he utters softly, like if he were to speak any louder, I’d vanish into thin air.
I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. There’s a tornado of anger, confusion, hurt, and happiness swirling inside of me. He takes a step closer, and I take a step back, the edges of my eyes brimming with tears. The tension in my shoulders shakes, the oxygen in my lungs leave all too quickly.
Facing him? Impossible. It’s like staring down a storm. I swivel and flee the shop, my feet barely touching the ground. I race to my car with the singular thought of escaping that beautiful disaster behind me.
Chapter Seven
DONOVAN
My heart beats wildly out of my chest. I didn’t expect to see her right here, right now. There’s so much I want to say, but I can’t utter the words. I whisper her name, like a ghost from my past, convincing myself that this moment is real.
I almost didn’t recognize her with light brown hair. Had she dyed it? Or had it been ten years of time naturally changing it? Her makeup is heavier than I remembered. Are the tiny freckles that I love still underneath?
But man, those eyes. Those forest green eyes still take my breath away.
“Audrey, wait!” I shout, stumbling out after her. I need to be close to her. I need to explain myself.I need to—I stop my train of thought before I get carried away, imagining that maybe we could start again.
She ignores me completely, rightfully so. She forcefully pulls open her car door and slides in the driver’s seat in record time. The door slams shut as soon as I approach her window. My palms slap the glass, desperate for her attention.
“Audrey, please! Wait!”
I see Josie in my peripheral vision, holding Audrey’s coffee and a paper bag on the curb. My eyes refocus on Audrey as she fumbles with her keys, struggling to put it in the ignition.
“Shit,” I stammer, swiping the coffee from Josie. I hear the engine rip alive and sprint back to the driver’s seat window as she whips her car in reverse.
“Audrey! Your coffee! Damn it,” I yell out. She peels out of the parking spot, her tires squealing as she furiously turns the wheel and speeds down Main.
“Fuck,” I mutter. I pull my keys out of my pocket, sprinting to my truck parked a few spots down.
“Donovan! The cinnamon roll!” Josie shouts from the curb. I wave my hand in the air as I approach my driver’s seat.
“Leave it, Jojo! Gotta go!” I shout back, shoving Audrey’s coffee into the cupholder.
“Ow, fucking shit!” I cry out, splashing hot coffee on my wrist. The engine roars, and I speed out on Main, desperate to catch up with Audrey.
My mind is going a million miles an hour. What would I say? Would she give me the chance to explain? Seeing her is like seeing a rare comet burning through the sky with only one chance to catch it. This is my chance.
I take the familiar turns toward the winery. I lean on the gas, tearing down the winding driveway as oak trees blur past on either side, the Winthrop Estate in view just ahead. A ball of dust covers my windshield, kicked up by her tires.
One conversation, Audrey. Just give me one conversation.
I add frantic pressure to the pedal, gaining precious ground. Suddenly, her brake lights flash red.
“Jesus Christ!” I shout, slamming hard on my brakes.
Her car door flies open, and out comes an angry, gorgeous Audrey.
I throw my car in park and fling open the door. Her long legs stride toward me, and she slams my door shut before I can get out.
