Page 67 of The Estate
“Oh, dear lord,” Lisa muttered, her head dropping into her hands.
“So,” Alex turned back to Lisa. “This is PJ, and we’re ever so fond of him. Please try not to kill him,” she added, which made everyone laugh.
Rachel turned toward Cal, her heart stuttering when he leaned over, the deep smoky scent of his cologne surrounding her. Gulping, she told her body to stand down and focus.
“Lisa is a talented gardener,” she explained. “But for some reason, she has a great deal of trouble keeping rosemary alive.”
“It’s Lisa’s reign of herbicide terror,” Lottie said loudly from the far side of the table. “Some years, our house has looked like a rosemary killing field,” she said with a laugh.
“Which is why,” Jake called out as he emerged from the kitchen. “I got you a secret weapon,” he said, producing a planter from behind his back. “It waters from the bottom, and will increase your chances of rosemary plant survival.”
Jake leaned over, adding quietly, “I can help you find the perfect location for PJ in your house. We both know how prickly rosemary can be about things.”
Lisa said nothing, just gave him a quick nod. But once Jake retreated into the kitchen, Rachel saw her trailing her fingers over the planter, a smile playing across her face.
Lisa put up a front that she didn’t have feelings about Jake, but her friends knew better. Rachel wasn’t sure why her friend felt compelled to downplay her obvious attraction; she was just thankful that it seemed like Jake wasn’t easily scared off.
Lottie followed Jake into the kitchen, both of them returning their arms loaded with various dishes. As they deposited bowls and platters on the table, Rachel heard her stomach rumble. She would have been embarrassed, but hers wasn’t the only one. The friends gave a collective laugh before diving in. Jake made another trip to bring even more food out, while Rachel tried to sort out all the divine smells wafting out around her.
Jake had really outdone himself. It was a brunch menu made up of all Lisa’s favorites: stuffed french toast, candied bacon, cinnamon rolls and even cheddar rosemary biscuits. Talkaround the table died as everyone focused on loading up their dishes and taking those first amazing bites.
After sampling everything on her plate, Rachel looked at Jake, who had settled across the table from her. “I don’t know how you do it, but I am so thankful you do,” she told him. Everyone echoed her words, and Rachel could see how pleased he was to hear it.
As they ate, Adam and Jake talked with Cal about local farms and distilleries. She hadn’t realized Adam was so familiar with so many of the local breweries. “How is it you’re just back in Connecticut and can name all these places?” she finally asked. “And I’ve been here the whole time and don’t recognize even a fraction of them,” she laughed.
“Well,” Adam replied, looking at Lottie. Catching her eye, his mouth slowly curved into a smile. “With me staying in Connecticut, Lottie and I have been having tons of fun exploring the area. It’s nice to jump in the car with my girl and take a drive to someplace neither of us has ever been. I enjoy experiencing something new with her.”
“Amen, brother,” Jason replied, taking Alex’s hand in his. “Nothing beats a lazy Sunday drive and exploring little out of the way places with someone you love.”
When Jason gently lifted Alex’s hand to his lips, Rachel couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped her. Watching them made her ache to have that someone in her life.
Glancing at Cal, she watched as he continued talking with Adam, Jason and Jake comparing great driving routes through the state. She had to concede, spending time with Cal was a lot more fun than she expected. At times, it seemed like much more than a working relationship.
What if Cal was her person?
She sipped her drink, as her thoughts tumbled. She had a wonderful career even if it was a little shaky right now, a supportive circle of friends, and a reasonably sized handbag collection. What she didn’t have was someone to get in the car and explore with. Someone to curl up on the couch and watch movies with. Someone to share moments like this.
Cal shifted next to her, engrossed in his conversation. Subtly watching, she wondered if she actually had someone. Cal hadn’t mentioned the kiss. Maybe he knew it had been a mistake, and that’s why he hadn’t mentioned it. Although he wanted to see her again, so that probably meant he liked the kiss. Right? Isn’t that what it meant?
Before her thoughts could get carried away, Cal chuckled, drawing her attention.
“No, seriously,” Cal was saying. “It’s a thing.”
Rachel looked from Cal to Adam and Jake. “What’s a thing?”
Cal tossed his arm across her chair’s back, leaning toward her. “I was telling them about wild yeast.”
“Wild yeast? No,” she replied. “I’m with them. That’s not a thing.”
Cal shook his head, grinning. “I swear it is,” he raised his hand.
“What’s wild yeast?” Alex asked from further down the table.
He glanced at Rachel briefly before he replied. “One thing I hope to do with White Hall Estate is open a distillery. At first I’ll need to offer spirits that don’t require aging.”
“Like what?” Lottie asked.
“I’ll probably start with a flavored vodka and a gin. Eventually, I aim to distill a bourbon, but that requires time, so it will have to wait until the business is creating income before I tackle that.
