Page 159 of Pucking Tangled
Luca groaned, and turned bright red again.
Waylon laughed. “Sore subject.”
“Ohhh. Oh!” Harlow’s eyes widened. “Y’all are…” She smacked her forehead. “I saw allthat.I am so sorry the media is a bunch of assholes.”
She led them to a corner table with a view of the vines and passed out menus and clipboards for tasting notes.
“Scarlett’s out checking barrels, but she’ll want to say hi,” Harlow continued as she began pouring their first flight of wine and passed the glasses around. “If y’all need anything, just holler. And don’t mind the wine swing out back—it was a bachelorette request, but we’re kinda obsessed with it now.”
“Pairs perfectly with the sex swing in the middle of the cabin,” Waylon replied.
“I hate it here,” Luca grumbled.
“How do you think I ended up like this?” Harlow smirked.
Taking a sip of the first wine—a bright viognier that was crisp and floral—Mia moaned. “This isdangerous.”
“Better pace yourself,” Owen said, nudging her glass with his. “We still have six more.”
As the next round arrived—a bold rosé with just enough bite—another woman joined them, towel slung over her shoulder and grease smudged on her cheek.
“Sorry, the barrel tap seized again,” she said, brushing her hands on her jeans. “Luca, you bringing this much pretty around town and not warning a girl?”
“You’re dating a soldier,” Luca reminded her.
“Yeah, and he’s not here,” she said with a wink. “Hi, I’m Scarlett.”
“I’m Mia, and they’remine.” She damn near growled at the attractive woman who looked like an older, not pregnant, version of Harlow.
“Oh, shit,” Scarlett laughed. “I am so sorry. But, I’ve gotta say….damn.You are one lucky girl.”
“Nah, I think we’re the lucky ones,” Casey said before introducing himself. “And this is Owen. And Waylon.”
Within seconds, Scarlett and Waylon were in a debate about wine pairings and which rom coms could double as metaphors for complex reds.
When the tasting eventually wrapped up, they wandered through the vineyard, shoes crunching against sun-warmed dirt, hands brushing, laughter echoing through the rows.
At one point, Mia found herself alone with Luca, trailing a few steps behind the others. The sun caught in his hair. His profile was relaxed, mouth curved in a small, private smile.
“Did you know,” he said, glancing back at her, “that there’s a Keller wine named after each daughter?”
“I didn’t.”
He stopped near a plaque and pointed.Scarlett’s Whisper.A velvety red. Rich and complicated.
“They make them in small batches,” he explained. “Limited release. A little like us.”
Mia looked up at him, heart tugging. “You think we’re limited?”
“No,” Luca said. “I think we’rerare.”
She reached for his hand and squeezed. “You’ve changed.”
“I know,” he said softly. “I’vegrown.” Luca leaned into her and kissed her. When the others called for them from down the path, neither rushed to move.
“We should probably head back,” Mia whispered, still not wanting to let go.
“Yeah,” he replied, breathlessly.
