Page 59 of The Wedding Toast
“We already met.”
“We did,” Elliott agreed and extended his hand anyway.The moment she placed her hand in his, a shiver ran down his spine.
Callie raised her eyebrows at him and made to step away, but he caught hold of her arm.It was crazy; he should let her go.But for some unknown reason he didn’t want to be left alone with Delaney.
The next thing he knew, Ollie was stepping between him and Callie, looking around at the three of them with a big smile that Elliott could see didn’t reach his eyes.
Callie tensed, and Delaney shot Elliott a knowing smile – although he wasn’t sure what exactly she thought she knew.
“Do you guys mind if I steal Callie away a minute?”
“Not in the least,” said Delaney.
Elliott checked in with Callie, and although her cheeks were pink, she nodded and gave him a small smile.
After they’d gone, Elliott raised his eyebrows at Delaney.“I wasn’t trying to exploit her if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Why would I think that?”he asked with a smirk.
She pursed her lips.“Never mind.I thought you were looking out for her.”
“I was.I am.But she doesn’t need defending against you.You wouldn’t try to exploit her, and she wouldn’t allow it if you did.”
She nodded.“You read the situation correctly then.”
He smiled.“I usually do.”
Her cool gaze traveled over him.“And how are you reading this situation?”
He laughed.“My assessment is that you’re interested in the pilot but don’t think you should be – you’re afraid of flying.”
Her eyes widened.“Who says …”
“That you’re afraid of flying?—I do,” he said with a wink.
She narrowed her eyes.“That I have any interest in the pilot?”
He chuckled.“The pilot does.If you want to prove me wrong, all you need to do is walk away and not look back.”
He wasn’t surprised in the least when she set down her glass, turned, and walked away.He was, however, relieved that when she reached Chelsea and Grant and started to talk to them, she looked back at him.He winked again and raised his glass to her, and chuckled when she gave him a small smile even as she shook her head.
~ ~ ~
Reaves shook Antonio’s hand.“This was great, thanks.”
Antonio grinned and pulled him into a hug.“It was wonderful.But soon you must come out when you guys can have a drink.”
“That’s okay.I’m not much of a drinker even when we’re not flying.”
Antonio shook his head.“Your poor father.”
Reaves just laughed.“I know, right – all he wanted was an heir to continue the legacy of the House of St.James, and he ended up with me.”
Antonio chuckled.“I’ve told him before; he can adopt me.If there’s any label in this valley that I love as much as DiGiovanni, it’s House of St.James.I know he’d never sell, but when …”
Reaves’s heart thudded to a halt, and Antonio’s smile vanished.“No!I didn’t say that – didn’t mean that.Charles will live forever.”
Reaves laughed it off – what else could he do?But Antonio had a point.His dad would never sell the winery.Small and boutique as it may be, it was still his life’s work.But to think about his dad’s life being over … that one day the winery would be all that was left of him…
