So Good: A Ribbon Ridge Novel (Love on the Vine Book 1) (2 page)

Hayden had acknowledged it was going to be close. This was a small batch from the grapes they’d harvested almost two years ago—their first yield from the vineyard. Most of the fruit had gone to contractual obligations held by the former vineyard owner, but they’d had enough left over to produce just under ninety cases. It was meant to be a teaser for what would come next year—their haul from the entire vineyard, which was currently sitting in oak barrels in their new winemaking facility.

“It’s ready,” Luke said firmly. Before coming back to Ribbon Ridge two years ago, he’d worked for a few vineyards in Sonoma. Between him and Hayden, West Arch had the best winemaker/vineyard manager duo in the entire Willamette Valley. At least in Cam’s opinion, and he was pretty sure he knew enough about wine in this region to make that call.

“I’m stoked to see what people think. That’s why I’m bummed we aren’t at his table.” Or even close to it. On his way to the back of beyond, he’d seen Hayden and Bex setting up a few tables away from the seats he’d given to the ungrateful blonde.

Actually, she had been grateful. To Luke, he recalled. To Cam she’d been cool—after obtaining her victory.

The buffet tables opened up, and they stood to get their dinner. As they waited in line, they chatted with people they knew and made new acquaintances, all the while talking up West Arch. The three of them lived and breathed their start-up, and Cam was thrilled to be doing this with his brothers and his best friend.

Well, most of his brothers. They had an older half-brother who was married to Hayden’s sister. Dylan was a contractor with a very successful business of his own. In fact, he’d built their winery, the bones of which had been completed just before last fall’s harvest. Dylan would’ve been here tonight to support them, but he and Sara were doing what they did most Saturday nights—doting on their new daughter.

Just as they headed back to their table with their loaded-up plates, Hayden intercepted them, grimacing. “Hey, sorry about the table situation.”

“No worries, man,” Luke said, smiling. “We like our secluded, all-male table. Later on when we’re shitfaced, we can act like complete assholes, and no one will care.”

This provoked laughter from everyone. “Cool,” Hayden said. “Liam schmoozed his way into our four seats.”

Cam snorted. “Of course he did.” Liam Archer worked a room better than anyone Cam had ever met. As a kid out of college, Cam had studied him and employed many of his same techniques when he’d started out selling wine.

Hayden glanced at their plates. “Hurry up and eat so you can come join us. That is, if you can tear yourself away from your new man club.” His mouth tugged into a half-smile.

“Very funny.” Cam inclined his head toward his best friend. “Let’s call him asshat instead.”

Hayden blinked. “Who are you calling asshat?”

Luke jabbed a thumb toward Cam. “Him, actually. He’s trying to deflect. It seems we can’t rightfully call him manwhore anymore.”

Hayden laughed. “Why, because he’s calmed down a little since we started up West Arch? Nah, I think we can still call him a manwhore. Just because he’s been refocused on the winery doesn’t mean he’s ready to change his ways. Right, Cam?” He gave Cam’s arm a slap before taking himself back to his rock-star table.

“Asshat,” Cam muttered.

Luke and Jamie started back toward the outer limits, and Cam made to follow them. Instead, he collided with someone and had to clutch his plate with both hands, lest he lose his dinner to the ground.

“Hey, watch it!” He looked over at the person who’d run into him, and couldn’t keep his jaw from briefly dropping. “You.”

“You.” The blonde dipped her fiery gaze to the dirt and grass beneath their feet. “You made me drop my focaccia bread. I’ve been looking forward to those carbs all day.”

“I made you drop it? Are you hell-bent on casting me as a villain tonight?”

She cocked her head to the side. “If the label fits…”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re a piece of work. First, you flirt with me to steal my seats, and instead of being gracious in victory, you give me the cold shoulder. And now you’re trying to steal—or at least ruin—my dinner too.”

Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a breath. “Like I ran into you on purpose!”

Satisfaction burned through him. “Ha! You admit you ran into me.”

She let out a groan, and damn, it should not have been sexy. But it was.
 

She glared at him. “You’re a menace.”

Something about the way she said it made him slightly uncomfortable. It was as if she actually meant it, and how could she? They didn’t even know each other. He wanted to change that. Because, holy hell, he was attracted to her.

“I’m not really. If you’ll let me—” He’d been about to say buy you a drink, but you didn’t have to buy any of the wine at this dinner. “I’d be happy to pour a great wine for you later.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I need to get back to my friends.” She pulled her plate in close. “You go first.”

He didn’t want to take no for an answer, but he had a rule—three strikes, and he was out. That gave him one more chance with her. He’d save it for later. “By all means, ladies first. My feet are rooted to the ground until you move.” He gave her a bow, something a gentleman would do.

Her gaze turned skeptical, but she moved. As she passed by, she gave him a bemused look. He watched her until she sat down at her table. A moment later, she turned her head, registered that he hadn’t budged, then quickly turned back. But not before he’d caught a blush in her cheeks. Or maybe that was just his wishful thinking at this distance. Either way, he looked forward to trying that third time and just hoped he didn’t strike out.

Chapter Two

“H
e’s still watching you.”

Brooke Ellis didn’t mean to look, but she did. And there he was staring at her in all his handsome, self-assured glory.

She snapped her head back around and forked a bite of salmon into her mouth.

Her friend Naomi, seated on Brooke’s right, sighed. “And now he’s gone. You should’ve invited him to sit with us.”

As it happened, there was an empty chair on the other side of the table. Both Naomi and their other friend Jana had remarked—several times—that the people at the table would surely shift so that Brooke could sit with him.

“I am not inviting Cameron Westcott to sit with us.”

Jana paused in eating. “Wait, you know him?”

Brooke had successfully changed the subject when her friends had tried to bring up the attractive guy who’d clearly been hitting on her. She’d known as soon as she saw him exactly who he was. “Remember that wine sales guy I’ve mentioned a few times, the total player? The one with the reputation for having a girl in every city in his territory?”

Jana’s blue eyes widened. “That’s him?”

Naomi sipped her wine. “Who cares? He’s hot. And interested in you. When was the last time you had sex?”

Nearly three years ago. But who was counting?

“She has a point,” Jana said. “In fact, he’s the perfect guy to end your dry spell since he won’t expect anything. I think you should hit that.”

Naomi lifted her glass in a toast. “Ditto. And if you don’t, maybe I will. Or maybe I’ll go for the taller one. They looked like they might be related.” She glanced between Brooke and Jana. “Brothers, maybe?”

Brooke speared several leaves of romaine on her fork. “I have no idea. Nor do I care.”

Jana grinned. “You’re so full of it. I saw you checking him out, and whether you want to admit it or not, you were flirting with him.”

“Until she shut him down cold.” Naomi’s teasing gaze turned serious. “Seriously, you deserve a good time. Why not give him a shot?”

Because he was a player, just like her ex-husband. And look how their marriage had turned out. She inwardly cringed because that wasn’t a fair assessment. Yes, Darren had looked elsewhere, but their marriage had hit the skids long before that had happened.

“I am not giving a guy like Westcott a shot at anything.” Although, Naomi raised a good argument if Brooke was looking for a one-night stand or a casual fling. Which she wasn’t. “I’m focused on my job right now. They took a chance on me, and I don’t want to blow it.”

About fifteen months ago, she’d moved to the area from southern Oregon. Following her divorce, she’d needed a fresh start—new surroundings, new job, new outlook on life. She was still waiting for the new outlook. Yeah, maybe she did just need to get laid.

Jana tipped her head to the side and looked at Brooke as if she were bonkers. “Spending an evening with a super cute guy, having a great time… How is that going to mess up your job exactly?”

“Westcott has a reputation that I don’t want to be associated with. The wine industry isn’t that big.”

“Okay, I guess.” Jana didn’t sound convinced. “Since you’re both in sales, you probably want to keep your distance.”

Brooke poked at the roasted potatoes on her plate. “Actually, he’s not in sales anymore. He and his brothers started up a winery.” Ugh, why had she mentioned that? Now they’d continue to harass her about him. But maybe she could divert their attention. “That had to be one of his brothers with him.”

Naomi’s head came up, her eyes widening slightly. “Brothers? How many?”

“There are three of them, I believe,” Brooke said, relieved they were taking her bait and abandoning their objective to hook her up with Cameron Westcott.

“Excellent, one for each of us,” Naomi said, lifting her glass.

Jana grabbed her wine to toast Naomi. Their glasses met over Brooke’s plate, and they laughed. Then they turned to look at Brooke, their gazes demanding she join in their toast.
 

Brooke just chuckled and shook her head. “I’m out, but you two have fun.”
 

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to date anyone. Okay, yes, it was that she didn’t want to date anyone.
 

The pain of her failed marriage had started to dull, however. The harder she worked, the more she was able to block out her sadness and even look toward the future. Maybe it was time she got back in the game. At least for a short stint.

But not with Cameron Westcott. He was hot. Too hot. And confident. And charming.
 

She had been flirting with him, and without even realizing it. He’d sparked something within her, something that had lain dormant for the past few years. Something she’d missed, if she were honest with herself. And when did she bother to do that? Burying her feelings had become her favorite pastime. One she’d gotten really good at.

Jana sat back in her chair and sipped her wine. “If Naomi’s got her eye on the tall drink of water and Brooke is going to pretend she doesn’t want to get to know Cameron Westcott, I clearly need a target of my own.” She turned her head to Brooke. “Did you say Westcott had brothers, plural?”

“Yes, although I’m not exactly sure how many.” She tried to think of what she knew of their winery. “Actually, I just remembered that Hayden Archer is the winemaker. You know the Archers, right?” She looked at Naomi.

Naomi rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Yeah, duh. Now I feel stupid. I see Tori at races sometimes. I forgot her brother’s a winemaker. With that hottie, huh?”

“And his brothers,” Jana said. “If there are more Westcott brothers running around tonight, I call dibs.”

Brooke waved her fork at them. “You can have all the Westcott brothers.”

Naomi looked at her intently, all humor gone from her expression. “Brooke, you have to get back out there. This isolation isn’t healthy.”

Brooke couldn’t help but feel defensive, especially since Naomi wasn’t wrong. “I’m not isolated. I’m out here with you guys, aren’t I?”

Jana exhaled. “Okay. We’ll stop bothering you—for now.” She leaned close and lowered her voice to ensure the last bit was just between the three of them. “But I still say Cameron’s fuckability factor is off the charts. You’re crazy not to want a piece of that.”

“Agreed,” Naomi said. “In fact, I think it’s past time I went in search of hottie number two. She picked up her nearly empty wineglass and downed the contents before standing up.

Jana jumped to her feet. “I’m going with you to find hottie number three. Come on.” She grabbed Naomi’s hand, and they headed back toward the wine tent.