So Good: A Ribbon Ridge Novel (Love on the Vine Book 1) (6 page)

His lips split into a smile. “Actually, no, I do not. What I would like is a bite of that steak, since that’s what I would’ve ordered.”

She looked at the piece of meat on her fork. “I don’t know. This is really good. I’m not sure I want to share.”

“Pretty please? I’ll give you a piece of duck.” He batted his eyelashes for added persuasion, but it only made him look ridiculous.

Brooke giggled. “I don’t actually like duck.”

His forehead wrinkled. “You ordered me something you don’t even like?” He chuckled. “Well played.”

“Sorry. It honestly didn’t occur to me that you wouldn’t like it. You said you were full glutton after all.”

“That’s true. I love food, including duck, and I’ll try pretty much anything. Just don’t ask me to cook it.”

“Is that right? I love to cook.” She was ecstatic to have her own kitchen after sharing a house with Jana the past year. She’d moved in with her former college roommate when she’d first moved up here.

“Then you should cook for me some time, especially if we’re neighbors. You said you lived nearby, right?”

“Yes. Do you want this steak or not?” She waved the fork at him.

“Oh, I want it.”

She rolled her eyes as she leaned forward and held it to him to take the bite. “You can’t keep yourself from flirting, can you?”

He chewed and swallowed, his lips curving into a satisfied smile. “That is amazing. You definitely have the better dinner. And clearly I can help myself. I did earlier, remember?”

She remembered. She acknowledged that she liked his flirtatious behavior. It wasn’t over the top—yet. Still, she steered the conversation to something safer, if such a thing existed with Cameron Westcott. “Have you lived in Ribbon Ridge a long time?”

“My whole life. My dad’s the middle school principal, and my mom’s the head secretary at the elementary school.”

“And you have just the two brothers?”

He forked a green bean. “Three, actually. I have a half-brother.”

“He’s not in on your winery?”

“He built it, actually. He’s a contractor. Super busy now too—thanks to The Alex Hotel and the winery, he has more commercial projects than he can handle.”

“Wow.” Brooke remembered reading about The Alex when it had opened. It was a former monastery and current luxury hotel in the hills over Ribbon Ridge. It was owned and operated by the Archers, who also owned her building. “This really is a small town, isn’t it?”

He nodded. “Totally. I assumed you were new here since I hadn’t met you before.”

“I only moved in about a month ago. I was living in Newberg before that.”

He slid the rest of his duck onto his fork. “What drew you to Ribbon Ridge?”

“I just wanted a place of my own—I had a roommate before—and this was the first place I found.”

“Seems like you’re going out of your way to avoid telling me where you live.” He chuckled again as he sat back. “Just so you know, I have every intention of asking to walk you home.”

She actually hadn’t been trying not to tell him. “It isn’t a secret—I live in the lofts over on Second.”

His mouth spread into a wide smile. “And I live directly across the street in one of the row houses.”

Of course he did. She shook her head and tipped it down toward her plate, an answering smile tugging at her lips. She finally gave in and looked at him. “How convenient.”

His eyes glinted with humor and something else that made her stomach flip. “Very.”

She finished the last of her dinner, and he poured the remainder of the wine into their glasses.
 

He swirled the wine in his glass as he studied her. “I wondered if you moved here to get away from the ex. Was he the roommate in Newberg?”

“I thought we agreed that was a boring topic.”

“We did, my bad. I find you infinitely interesting—even the boring topics.” He took a drink of wine, and his gaze was intense, provocative.

“Maybe we should go back to talking about business. We should schedule a meeting—maybe next week—to discuss the quantity of product you want me to sell. I’d like to get started.”

“Sounds good. We’re doing a formal debut at a dinner at The Arch and Fox in September. If you have some people you think would be good to invite, let me know.”

A few people came immediately to mind, but she’d put together a list for him. “Well, me, for one.”

“Consider yourself seated at my table.”

She laughed softly, expecting him to say something like that. “I’ll get you a list tomorrow.”

Their server returned to take their plates and asked if they wanted dessert. Neither had room, so Cameron asked for the check. After the server had left, he finished his wine. “I should’ve asked if you wanted a late harvest Riesling or a port.”

“I’m fine. Don’t get me wrong, I rarely turn down a good wine, but I should get home. I have an early start tomorrow.”

The server brought the check, and Cameron paid it. “It’s business,” he said, glancing up at her with mirth in his eyes. “Not a date.”

No, it wasn’t a date, but it had contained date-like moments. She’d forgotten how nice those could be.

He put his credit card away and looked over at her. “Ready?”

“Yep.” She grabbed her purse and stood.

He gestured for her to precede him from the restaurant. The sun was starting to set, casting the sidewalk in golden shadow. “It seems silly to ask if I can walk you home since we’re going in the same direction.”

“It does.” She thought back to his arrival just after her. “Did you follow me earlier?”

“No, I made a stop on the way so I came from the opposite direction.”

They crossed the street and made their way toward Second. She glanced over at his profile. She’d had a good time tonight. She liked him. A real date might be nice… But this was Cameron Westcott. Did he even do real dates?

She readjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder. “So, tell me how you came to be a player.”

He barked out a laugh. “You nearly made me trip. Not going to beat around the bush with that one, huh?” He looked over at her, smiling.

“Nope. I’m taking a page from your playbook and shooting straight. You don’t deny your reputation?”

“Nope,” he echoed. “I will say that I’ve mellowed a bit recently. I’m too busy with the winery.”

“So if not for the winery, you’d be up to your usual shenanigans.”

“Shenanigans… Yes, I suppose so.” He lifted a shoulder. “Maybe not. I don’t know. What do you mean by ‘shenanigans’?”

She kept her gaze forward. “I hear you had a different girl in every city when you were on the road.”

They turned the corner, and she stopped as they reached the door to her building.

He stopped too and turned toward her. “Not every city. And anyway, I don’t travel anymore.”

“Right. You’re busy. Does that mean you don’t date?”

He moved closer. “Are you asking me out?”

The scent of his cologne stole over her. The green of his eyes at this range was so deep, so captivating, she could easily sway toward him and… She straightened her shoulders. “No.”

“Well, that’s a damn shame.” His words carried a dark, seductive tone of regret. “Guess I’ll have to ask you out—since I wasn’t clear about it before.”

“No. Thank you,” she rushed to add. “I had a nice time tonight, but I’d prefer to keep our relationship strictly professional.”

“Too bad,” he said softly. “I was sort of hoping I could kiss you.”

Standing here with him in the early twilight, feeling the intoxicating burn of his stare, she was sort of hoping that too. But she hadn’t done that in so long… And she wasn’t ready. Okay, her body was totally ready, but her mind was still trying to figure out what the hell to do with Cameron Westcott.

“Cameron—”

“Cam. Everyone calls me Cam.” He inched closer so that she could feel his proximity, and heat raced through her. “At least everyone who likes me.”

“Cam, I—”

“Oh good, you like me.”

She couldn’t help smiling. He was good at that—making her smile. No one had been good at that in a very long time. Not even herself. Especially not herself. “I do. And… Well, ask me again sometime.”

Had she just said that out loud?

“If I can kiss you?” He leaned forward, putting his lips against her ear. “Count on it.” He stepped back. “Good night.”

“Good night.” She watched him cross the street to the row house on the end, directly across from her. She expected him to turn and look at her, wave or something. But he didn’t. He walked inside and closed the door, leaving her to wonder if she should’ve listened to her body instead.

Chapter Five

A
fter finishing the last bite of his dad’s mouthwatering ribs, Cam wondered for the thousandth time why he couldn’t cook. It just wasn’t fair, not when his dad was so good at it. Maybe he should try again. “Dad, will you send me the recipe one more time?”

Cam’s mom’s head snapped toward him. Her green eyes, which Cam had inherited, widened in shock. “You’re going to cook something?”

Everyone chuckled around the table, which prompted Emma to squeal in her high chair between her parents. Sara and Dylan both turned to their five-month-old daughter and made silly faces and nonsensical comments. Cam smiled as he answered his mom, “I’m going to try to cook something. Don’t hold your breath.”

Mom got up and started gathering plates. Sara joined her, saying, “Let me help you clear the table.”

Dad jumped to his feet. “Come on boys. Sara, sit and enjoy your daughter.” When Dylan stood, Dad waved him back down. “Not you. The other ones.”

Dylan leaned back in his chair and grinned tauntingly at his half-brothers.

Cam picked up his plate and one of the serving dishes and bussed them to the kitchen, passing Dad on his way back out. Mom stood at the open dishwasher and shook her head at her three sons. “Look at all of you—alone. Couldn’t one of you have brought a date tonight?”

Cam and Luke and Jamie exchanged glances, but it was Cam who spoke. “Don’t look at me. You know I’m a committed bachelor. Jamie’s the one with a girlfriend. Where’s Madison?”

He shrugged. “Busy.”

Mom frowned. “You’ve only brought her over once. Didn’t she like us?”

Jamie set the dishes he’d brought on the counter. “We’ve only been dating a couple of months, and we’re not that serious. But really, she’s just busy tonight.”

“I see.” Mom pursed her lips as she started loading dishes in the dishwasher. “What about you, Luke? Why aren’t you dating someone?”

“Because he’s still hung up on Paige,” Jamie said.

Luke scowled at him. “You’re full of crap. I don’t have time to date anyone. It’s summertime, and I’ve got crops to tend.”

Jamie smiled at him. “You’re such a good target.”

Luke punched him in the arm.

“Ow!” Jamie massaged his bicep.

Luke grinned. “You’re a good target too.”

Mom straightened. “Boys, knock it off.” She added another dish and then lifted her gaze to Cam’s. “Maybe if you’re willing to try cooking, you’ll be willing to try dating someone. It won’t kill you, you know.”

No, it wouldn’t, but his heart had barely recovered from his last girlfriend, and he had no desire to put it to another test. At least not yet and maybe not ever. “Maybe someday, Mom, but like Luke, I’m busy with the winery right now. Sorry, but you’re going to have to get your grandma fix with Emma.”

That was what this was really about. She adored her step-granddaughter, but she was still just a “step.” Mom had never fully embraced Dylan as her son, not when his own mother was still a big part of his life. On one hand, Cam understood her not wanting to intrude on Dylan’s relationship with his mother, but on the other, Cam thought Dylan might have liked that, especially when he was growing up living in two households for a week at a time. It had been a chaotic upbringing, and Cam hated that Dylan had suffered because of it.
 

Cam supposed it probably played into his reluctance to settle down. Divorce was a common occurrence, and the breakup he’d gone through eight years ago had been just as devastating. He couldn’t imagine going through that after marrying someone, especially if they had children.