STARLIGHT HILL 'S ANNUAL GRAPE FESTIVAL: WHERE GRAPES AND IMAGINATION MEET TO DETERMINE THE ROAD TO TOMORROW.
Would be nice if someone would roll out his own road to tomorrow, though he knew he was stubborn enough to reject anyone else’s ideas. Somehow he would figure this out for himself. When he arrived at Billy’s, it seemed early enough that he might not disturb the family as he let himself in through the patio sliding glass door. No such luck. The kids were surrounding the TV and watching early morning cartoons.
“Hi, Uncle Weeam!” Samantha said.
“Hey, honey.” He walked quickly past them to the kitchen.
“Walk of shame,” Billy said from the kitchen table. “Caught you.”
“No shame involved.” Liam strode into the kitchen, and headed for the coffee carafe, and the liquid substance he’d be mainlining today.
As it turned out, he hadn’t slept much last night.
“Brooke?”
“Getting ready to leave and do last minute stuff for the festival. I’ve got the kids today.” Billy held his coffee in his Father of the Year mug (already over-achieving) and not so subtlety eyeing Liam. “So, you and Baby.”
“Mallory.” And that point of contention he now became uncomfortably aware of how much more personal it had become.
“Don’t bite my head off. Mallory. You and Mallory.”
“Yeah.” He let out a long, deep sigh. His cousin was only trying to help. “That…wasn’t planned. It sort of hit me square between the eyes.”
Billy nodded sagely. “How it usually happens.”
Okay, but what had happened here, exactly? He’d veered wildly off plan, that’s all. Nothing a little re-directing wouldn’t fix.
“Don’t worry, I’ll figure this whole thing out.”
“I’m sure you will. And you’ll do it without hurting anyone, least of all a girl who has already been through enough.”
Liam swallowed. That was simply Billy, trying to remind Liam to take the high road. As a Turlock should. As anyone with a heart should. He wouldn’t hurt Mallory. Couldn’t.
“Maybe you don’t give her enough credit. She knows.”
“Knows what?”
“That I’m leaving.”
“Without her?”
“What the hell you mean ‘without her?’ Of course I’m leaving without her. She lives here, I live in Colorado. And I’m sorry, Billy, I love ya and all but I’m a Colorado Turlock. Born and bred.”
“What are you going to do? Re-up?”
“I have to go back.”
“What about this resort deal? Sounds like a great opportunity and I know you’d have a snowboard surgically attached to your feet if you could. Why not go for it?”
“Because, it’s not that easy. I hate leaving shit undone. And that…feels undone.”
“Maybe it will never be done. There is that.”
He didn’t expect Billy to understand. His family didn’t get it, either. The connection, the brotherhood he had with his Army buddies, went beyond anything he’d ever expected or experienced. The bond formed while facing death together was truly an unbreakable one.
“From what I’ve seen, every soldier feels compelled to go back. But you also owe it to yourself to grab for your own slice of joy. You’ve served your country and done your duty. Maybe now it’s time to do what you want.”
It had been a while since he’d allowed himself that luxury, and even now it seemed selfish. But hell, he’d done what he wanted last night and he didn’t feel an ounce of guilt about it. Except for the whole “leaving” part.
Brooke walked in the kitchen then, and Billy’s eyes followed her every movement.
“Is my decaf ready?” She headed towards the carafe.
Liam stared into his mug. “Wait. This is decaf I’ve been drinking?”
“I’ve decided to support Brooke by drinking decaf, too.” Billy said.
“Wait. Are you…?” Liam said.
Billy hooked an arm around Brooke and pulled her in. “Number four.”
“But don’t anyone,” Brooke said. “We still haven’t announced it to the family.”
Liam snorted. “Is there something in the water here? Turlocks are reproducing like a virus. Wallace has four, Scott has three. Sophia is working on number two. And you two still haven’t figured out what’s causing this, huh?”
“Oh, yeah. We have.” Billy kissed Brooke until she turned pink.
These two lovebirds were on his last nerve. He needed to get back to Colorado and the brothers who cursed, farted, burped in three-part harmony, and generally managed to make him look like the good one without even breaking a sweat.
“Well, you might have warned me.” Liam set down the coffee that was now dead to him.
“Now, you see,” said Brooke, ruffling Billy’s hair. “Giving up caffeine when you don’t have to. That’s love.”
Love. He supposed it had to be, when you were willing to give up something you needed in order to support someone you loved.
8
Mallory had never been to the annual Grape Festival before, but she’d certainly heard a lot about it since she’d been in town. Billy Turlock, Eileen’s son, and his wife Brooke were very involved. This year one of their vintages had won the prized blue label from among hundreds of entries. There would be gourmet food served in each vineyard tasting room and bottomless wine tastings. To hear Eileen tell it, foodies and historians came from all over the world for the celebration. Mallory heard that the hotels outside of town had been sold out for this weekend a year in advance. A year!
It would be hot again today, so Mallory chose a flower print sundress with her strappy wedge sandals. It was always nice to have a little extra height around Liam, who towered over her. But he didn’t intimidate her anymore. She’d seen firsthand that the heart of the man was as gentle and tender with her as he was strong. Sexy. Funny. Larger than life.
He’d be leaving soon, and that hurt her heart a little bit. But she wasn’t operating under any illusions, then or now. Maybe someone who was watching from the outside might think that Mallory had fallen back into some old habits. Believing that all she had to offer a man was physical comfort. She couldn’t blame anyone for thinking that, but they’d be dead wrong. For the first time in her life, she had the gold standard. She’d experienced the gold standard. Its name was Liam Turlock, and from now on he’d be the benchmark every other man would have to meet.
She deserved someone like him. Someone who put a woman first, who took care of her needs and desires before his own. She’d learned it was possible for a man to be both sweet and strong. That was Liam. And sexy. Yeah, that too. She couldn’t stop thinking about their night together. It was good to know that he’d be safe in Colorado starting a business and not off in the desert possibly losing his life. She couldn’t live with that thought. The way she looked at it, he’d done his duty to his country, and now it was time to have his life.
He’d be happy in Colorado, and as the years passed, she would always picture him working at the resort, skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Eventually his hair would grow out completely from that military cut. If she ever got to the area, she might look him up, but she realized that was a long shot. She would stay here in Starlight Hill, and eventually meet a good guy. Someone like Liam. She wished it could be Liam, but no amount of wishing would change hard facts. This was all temporary for him. She was his temporary girl, and she’d been the one to let her heart get involved.
Not his fault. She clipped Sugar’s leash to her faux diamond studded collar and took her for her daily walk, passing all the tourists walking around, a map of downtown in their hands.
“Excuse me, miss?” A woman dressed to the nines in a designer suit and wearing some quite amazing diamond bling on her wrist stopped Mallory. “Can you please tell me how to get to Brooke’s Wine Tasting Room?”
The bling was a bit of overkill in Mallory’s humble opinion, especially in this heat. It was loud and so bright it nearly b
linded her. Huh. It was indeed possible to have too much bling. Who knew? Mallory gave the woman and her companion directions and was stopped three more times for directions to Giancarlo’s Bistro and Brooke’s. It felt good to know her way around town and direct the tourists. She’d finally become an official resident. She belonged. Soon, she’d send for Mama to visit. Maybe someday she’d buy a piece of land here. Anything was possible.
When her cellphone rang with It’s Raining Men, Sugar was in the middle of squatting to pee near a tree at the Community Park. Eileen would be working at the Tatas all weekend. She’d be serving customers special bra shaped chocolates and other hors d’oeuvres and loved being the one to direct the influx of tourists to the best of her curvy woman lingerie lines.
“Hey, Eileen. What’s up?”
“Oh, Baby. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“I just…I can’t say it over the phone. It’s too humiliating. Can you come over?”
Mallory hung up. “Hurry, Sugar. We’re needed!”
Sugar shook the dirt of her princess feet and trotted next to Mallory as they hightailed it to the Tatas. A few tourists were leaving the shop, bags in hand when Mallory arrived a minute later.
“Yark! Yip!” Sugar said, which meant, “Thank you, please come again.”
Eileen sat behind the register. “Thank God you’re here!”
“What’s wrong? Is it your knee?”
“You could say that.” Eileen blushed. “It’s just that I was having a little fun late last night with Giancarlo. He said there was no way I could pole dance like I claim to do, and I said, ‘I most certainly can! Baby is my teacher.’ The man didn’t believe me! He said I was too advanced in age to pole dance. Too advanced in age! I just couldn’t have him believing I’m an old lady. Of course, you know I don’t have a pole in my house. So I tried that move I saw you do in class before you let us near the pole. The one with the broom, to practice. Only it didn’t work out so well.”
Mallory cringed, picturing that. “Oh, no.”
“I felt fine afterwards because I proved my point. The man had to admit it: I can most certainly pole dance!”
“But now?”
“Now my hip is reminding me that I’m an old woman and maybe I shouldn’t pole dance with a broom.” Eileen stood, holding her hip. “Can you take me to the clinic?”
“Let me just take Sugar home, get my car, and I’ll come back to get you.”
“Thank you. I’ll be sorry to miss all the tourists but there’s always tomorrow. Maybe a little ice or deep heat rub is all I need.”
Mallory returned and helped Eileen into her car for the ride to Starlight Hill Urgent Care. They were on their way, but traffic was a bitch as expected.
“I had to hurt my hip, today, of all days.”
“That’s okay, if I’m late getting back I’ll just let Liam know. He can always meet me.”
“I’m glad I have a moment alone with you. Honey, Liam is my nephew and I adore him, but I have to be honest. I’m not sure he’s the settling down type.”
“It’s okay, Eileen. I know it’s not permanent. He came into the store a few days ago hiding from Diana, and he wound up buying some lingerie from me. That’s how we first met.”
Eileen had a heart for men who bought lingerie. “Hmmm.”
“What’s that mean? Is that a good hmmm or a bad hmmm?”
“It’s just a hmmm. Tell me more. What did he buy and for whom did he buy it?”
“He wanted me to pick something out for him, so I did. The cheeky boy shorts.”
“He bought another woman cheeky boy shorts?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
But did she want Eileen to know that Liam had only bought them so he could have the condom swag? So he could tease her and fluster her about his condom size? Probably wouldn’t help his case much. She gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“Are you sure?” Eileen pressed, eyebrow quirked, lips pursed. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Mallory wasn’t sure of anything. What if he had bought the panties for someone else? He certainly hadn’t given them to her. Not that she wanted them, even if they were in her size. Who was walking around Starlight Hill wearing a pair of honeysuckle cheeky boy shorts in her size? Okay, probably a lot of women. But only one was wearing the pair she’d sold to Liam. She shook her head. She and Liam didn’t have any commitments to each other. The whole thing between them had just happened. She hadn’t planned it. It was the same old thing but yet different. And Eileen wouldn’t understand.
“No, I’m not sure.”
“I blame myself.” Eileen fanned herself, so Mallory turned up the air conditioning.
Dang, it was hot today. “How’s it your fault?”
“I should be looking out for you. I told your mother I would. You know how she worries after that poor excuse of a man tried to ruin your life. Lost all your friends, lost everything because he hit you and you wouldn’t stand for it!”
“They weren’t real friends.”
“You can say that again! I worry about you.” She patted Mallory’s knee. “I told Sophia I hired you to be the sex, and I really did need your help. You helped us bring the sexy.”
“It’s okay. I was happy to help in any way.”
“But you’re so much more than ‘the hired sex.’” She held up finger quotes. “And I hope you know it. You have a heart as big as Sophia’s, or any of my daughter-in-laws. As big as the Pacific Ocean. And I don’t say that every day. You know how I love Sophia.”
“I know. The feeling is mutual.”
“But if I got to pick another stepdaughter for instance, hand-picked one for my family…you know I’d pick you.”
“Aw, Eileen.”
“If Liam is who you want, then I’m happy for you. I just want you, Mallory Gilham, to be happy. Whatever it takes. “
“I’m happy. Really.”
Except that now she wanted to know who had those panties.
After Mallory got Eileen situated in Urgent Care, and waited until Giancarlo arrived to take her place, she realized she would be late. Especially with all the traffic she would encounter heading to the historical part of town. She texted Liam:
Running late. Will meet you there.
Liam texted back with the address on Hummingbird Lane where he’d be waiting for her. While it took what felt like ten times the amount of time it usually did to get to the Historic Vineyard District, Mallory finally arrived. She parked her car in the first place she could find and started walking to the vineyard entrance. As she got closer, she saw tourists boarding the vintage buses that were carrying them from one vineyard tasting room to the other.
She caught sight of Liam in the distance, talking to a woman she recognized as being one of the teachers from the Twisted yoga studio. Kristie? Krystal? Krissie? She had long dark hair and a lean and svelte figure. Tall. She squeezed Liam’s bicep. He laughed. Huh.
Is she wearing the panties?
When Mallory caught Liam’s gaze, she half expected to see the eyes of a man caught with his hand in the cookie jar. But instead, they shifted into a soft gaze that was completely fixated on her. He slid her a smile that made her think about last night. It was as if Kristie/Krystal/Krissie had disappeared.
“Been waiting for you, babe.”
That’s right. They were pretending. She’d almost forgotten she was supposed to be the fake girlfriend. None of this was real. Might as well make it look good. With that in mind, Mallory launched herself toward Liam and jumped into his arms. She’d done this move plenty of times in dance competitions, and it took a strong man to catch her. She wasn’t a big woman, but many had tried and missed, even after hours of practice.
It was not a big surprise when he caught her. Easily. His hands dropped to her behind.
Legs wrapped around his waist, she kissed him long and hard. “Sorry I’m late.”
She slid down the length of his body, fingers trail
ing from his shoulders down his biceps to his big, callused hands. Kristie/Krystal/Krissie took Mallory in, giving her the once-over reserved for the competition.
“Oh, hi.” Mallory pretended she’d just noticed there was another woman in the vicinity.
“Mallory, this is Kristen.”
“Yeah, we know each other. Nice seeing you, Mallory. See you two later.” With that she was off in the direction of the tasting room.
Mallory watched Kristen go, but when she looked to Liam, he was studying Mallory. Not Kristen.
One finger skimmed the inner curve of her elbow and she shivered at his touch. “Let’s to have a bottomless wine tasting. I’ve heard so much about this prize winning Cabernet that I’m going to have to try it.”
“But first, answer something for me?”
“Sure. Anything.”
“Who has the panties I sold you?”
He might have answered with another question: what makes you think I gave them to anyone? She’d feel like an idiot for asking and they’d get on with their day. Or he could lie. She had no right to ask, and that should make it even easier for him to tell her the truth.
He shifted from one leg to another. Stuffed his hands in his brown cargo pants. Looked at the ground. “I’d…rather not say.”
“You said anything, Liam.”
“Anything but that.”
She blew out a breath. The air was so stifling hot that she imagined she saw steam rising from the ground. And steam coming out of her ears. Damn, she hated a hot September. Come on, Autumn!
“Okay. Let’s go.” She stalked ahead of him, not glancing back once.
At least it was cooler inside the tasting room of Brooke’s Vineyard. And the food and wine were everywhere. She walked up to a snack tray filled with hors d'oeuvres. Beautiful, enticing finger food. Cream cheese and olive biscuits with olive parsley spread from Giancarlo’s Ristorante, pepper jelly goat cheese cakes, Double-Double 50 Shades cookies from Sweet Southern Buns.
Starlight Hill: Complete collection 1-8 Page 132
