by K. A. Linde
I parked out front and rang the doorbell. I waited a minute for her to answer and then tried the door. “Abuelita?”
“Mi amorcita,” Abuelita said as she stepped out of the kitchen. “Lo siento. These legs don’t move quite as fast as they used to.”
“No need to apologize.” I kissed her cheek.
“I’m pleased that you’re here.” She affectionately tapped my cheek twice. “Come. What can I make you? You must be hungry. We’ll get some meat on those bones.”
I laughed softly and followed her into the kitchen. “I was thinking pozole.”
“In the summer?”
“I need the comfort food,” I admitted.
“Sí, pozole it is.”
She directed me to the pantry to gather ingredients. The recipe wasn’t even written down. She had it in her head. It was all three of us grandkids’ favorite dish. We were fond of all of her food, but the pozole was her best. As I cut up an onion and crushed garlic, Abuelita told me stories about Mexico and her parents and the love they’d had. She spoke softly the entire time as the stew came together in a boiling pot that smelled like home.
She dished us up each a bowl, and we sat at the small table in the kitchen instead of the larger dining room table.
“Now,” Abuelita said, “tell me what is troubling you.”
That was when the tears sprang free again. “I don’t know what to do.”
“About the winery or this boy of yours?”
Of course she already knew. She hadn’t been surprised that I’d shown up out of the blue, asking for comfort food. She had been waiting for the right moment to address it.
“Both. I’m supposed to drive down to Austin for the wine awards with Hollin. And now, I don’t think I should even go.”
“Because of what your father did?”
“Yes. He…sold the entire thing out from under me. He never even consulted me. I dedicated my life to that place. I thought, one day, it would be mine, as it had been his.”
Abuelita nodded. “It was not the right decision to leave you out. But believe me when I say that, sometimes, parents do things that they believe are best for their children and do not consider how it will harm them in the process. He was trying to protect you.”
“By keeping me in the dark?” I asked with a shake of my head. “I would have found out eventually and then what?”
“You’d have dealt with it. As you are now.”
I sighed and shook my head. “I guess. But I don’t forgive him, and I don’t know how.”
“Mira, give it time. This is all too important. No te rindas.”
“I’m not giving up,” I told her. “I just feel defeated. And Hollin…he lied and hid things, and then…he wasn’t even there for me when I found out about the winery.”
“Are you mad because he hid things or because you were alone when you found out?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Both. He was my person. He was supposed to be there. And when I came to him in distress, I found him with someone else. They weren’t…doing anything, but does it matter?” I searched Abuelita’s face. “He said he went to see her to get her to stop talking to him, but I don’t know how to trust him anymore.”
“Before this, he seemed a good man,” Abuelita said.
“He was.”
“He cared for your family. He cared for you. He made you happy. Lo amas?”
Did I love him?
That was the question, wasn’t it?
“I thought I did,” I admitted. “But now, I don’t know. I’m just so mad. Everything was stolen.”
“You have time,” Abuelita said, taking my hand in hers and squeezing. “You do not have to decide today. Go to this award ceremony. See what the world says about this wine you have worked so hard on. See how you feel about this man. Decide if it’s worth living without him.”
When I returned home, Blaire was still gone, but there was a familiar truck in the driveway. I tipped my head back and groaned. Just what I needed to deal with.
Hollin hopped out of his truck as soon as I got out and followed me toward the door. “Piper, please, can we talk?”
“I’m not up for talking.”
“I found out about the winery.”
I ground my teeth together. “Okay.”
“I can’t believe that your dad sold it out from under you.”
“Yep,” I snapped.
“The guys found out at the game, and I raced over here to talk to you. When did you find out? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I laughed, a sharp, bitter note. “Why didn’t I tell you? Because you were occupied with Tori. That’s why.”
“Fuck.”
“Chase blurted it out at the wedding. He thought I already knew. And when I was hyperventilating and needed you most, where did I find you?”
He cursed under his breath again. “I fucked up. I really fucked up, Piper. I need to apologize…again…for what happened. Blaire told me that you hadn’t left the house, and—”
“Stop,” I said, holding up my hand. “Blaire did not tell you that so you would come grovel.”
“No. She chewed me a new one at the game.”
“Yeah. You’re lucky she needed you at the game. She was threatening violence.”
“I deserve it. Piper, I’m sorry.”
I finally faced him when I reached the door, but I didn’t go inside. God, he was handsome. Even though he looked about as good as I felt. He was sweaty from the soccer game and still in his red Tacos uniform. His blond hair was a wreck. There were bags under his eyes from sleepless nights. But his blue eyes were so sincere, so heartfelt. I wanted to melt into that look. To get lost in the Hollin Abbey who had been my wonderful boyfriend these past months. But I remembered too viscerally how he’d hurt me the way I’d always expected that he would.
And I remembered what it was to put up walls against his charms. I’d been so good at deflecting Hollin that it was basically my superpower. I needed that resolve more than ever to live through this.
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“It was my mistake. Tori manipulated me for years. And she was still able to do it now. I should have seen what she was doing, and still, somehow, I was all fucked up with it. I can’t do things right when it comes to her. Which is why I cut her and everyone else who knew me when I was with her out of my life. It was the only way I knew how to move forward. Even Julian and Campbell had no clue we’d dated. Only you even had any idea that I had an ex-girlfriend.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from sympathizing with him. Tori sounded like a total headcase. She’d wormed her way into my life so seamlessly, too, without ever mentioning that she’d dated my boyfriend. And betrayed me just as quickly.
“I’m going to get better. Julian recommended a therapist to help me recover from her emotional abuse. I feel stupid that I even have to go, but he said she’s the real deal.” He ran a hand back through his hair. “And I’m not just saying this to get you back.”
“No?” I asked, my voice wobbling.
“I’m going either way. Apparently, how I’ve been coping with the trauma is…problematic.” He met my gaze with a frown. “To say the least.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re going,” I told him honestly. I crossed my arms across my chest and held tight to my anger. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you hid her contacting you from me, or that you went to see her, or that when I needed you, you weren’t there. I can’t switch off the betrayal, Hollin.”
“I know. I know. Fuck.” He stepped away from me and back. “I wish I could take it all back. Have a do-over.”
“Yeah, me too,” I whispered. “But…you can’t.”
“Are you still going to Austin?” he asked.
I could see that he barely restrained himself from asking if I was going with him. Because that was too much to ask for.
“Yeah. I’ll be there.”
He nodded, a yearning smile touching his lips. “Good. Good. I was worried tha
t you might not go because of the winery situation.”
“No, I’m not giving up,” I said, repeating the words Abuelita had ingrained in me. “That wine was my hard work. I won’t give up just because of what my dad did.”
“I can’t imagine how you’re feeling about it, but I’m glad that you’re still going.”
“That doesn’t mean that I’ll see you there,” I warned him.
He held his hands up. “Right. I just…wanted to see you. I know I can’t make this all go away, but I’m not going to walk away from this, Piper. I fucked up. I get it. And I see every step where I went wrong. But you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m going to try to fix this.”
I swallowed hard at those words. I wanted all of that, too. But something had broken between us. I didn’t trust him anymore. I didn’t know if I could believe his words. As much as I wanted to. And now, the fragile, cracked heart inside my still-beating chest recoiled from more damage. He’d done that, and I didn’t think he could undo it.
I reached for the handle. “I wish you’d thought about all of this before Tori happened.”
“Me too.”
He took another step toward me as I entered my house. His hands came to either side of the door, taking up the entire expanse with his incredible bulk. He looked like a sad puppy but a determined one.
“Hollin, I can’t do this,” I whispered as tears came to my eyes again.
He brushed the tear from my cheek with his thumb. “You’re my good girl, but I didn’t realize that you’d changed this bad boy until it was too late.”
38
Piper
“So, you just sent him home?” Blaire asked. She leaned on her elbows and looked at me with wide eyes.
“I did.”
Jennifer sat similarly on my bed as I packed my bag for my trip to Austin. “Good for you, Piper. He has a problem, and he’s working to fix it, but it doesn’t change the damage he did.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay,” Blaire said with an eye roll at Jennifer. “As much as I hate what Hollin did, he feels real remorse.”
“I think so, too,” I admitted.
“But…” Jennifer added for me.
“But I’m still mad.”
“Understandable,” Blaire said. “Are you going to see him when you’re in Austin?”
“Not if I can help it.” I held up a black dress for my friends, and they both put two thumbs down. I returned to the closet to find something else acceptable to wear to the ceremony. “I’m going to try to have a good time. Mingle with other people at the event. Hopefully come home with an award and decide what to do from there.”
“Wait,” Blaire said, and then she dashed into her room.
Blaire and I could fit into the same size, but she was significantly shorter than me. So, we didn’t share clothes much. It wasn’t often she went rummaging through her walk-in closet to find something for me.
“It’s smart to wait it out. Maybe it’ll work out with Hollin, but you shouldn’t give in because he apologized. Sometimes, I’m sorry isn’t enough,” Jennifer said.
“Speaking from experience?”
Her cheeks heated, and she laughed. “I guess so.”
“This!” Blaire passed a maroon dress into my hand. “It’s too long on me, but I’ve been meaning to have it hemmed and not gotten around to it. Plus, where am I going to wear it anyway? It was meant for you.”
I tried to give it back to her. “Blaire, I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” Blaire handed the dress back to me. “Have a spectacular time. Don’t worry about Hollin at all. We love you and want you to do your best. You’ll be the highlight of the evening in that.”
“Thank you,” I told her as I gently packed it into the bag.
I had no idea what I was in for this weekend, but at least I’d look smoking hot while I did it.
The drive to Austin was boring and desolate. Six hours to a separate destination in Texas, and I’d barely seen another inhabited town. I couldn’t help thinking that the drive would have been much better with Hollin. He would have played music and told ridiculous jokes and made outlandish sexual innuendos. I would have laughed a lot.
I cleared my head. It didn’t matter. Because I wasn’t talking to Hollin, and I didn’t want to see him when I got there. It was pretty much guaranteed that we’d run into each other at the ceremony, but I hoped it wouldn’t happen before then.
The IWAA Texas Wine Award Competition was held annually at the Austin Convention Center downtown. They’d booked out three of the largest nearby hotels, and I’d gotten a place at the Four Seasons downtown off the Colorado River. I was glad I hadn’t canceled my room when Hollin invited me to go with him. Otherwise, I’d be screwed right about now.
I parked my Jeep and rolled my suitcase into the glossy and extravagant interior of the hotel. I checked in at the front desk, and despite the luxury downstairs, the rooms were relatively standard. A package from the competition committee awaited me, including a bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a bunch of IWAA paraphernalia. I popped one of the strawberries into my mouth. I could get used to this.
After changing out of my travel gear, I put on a pair of black cigarette pants and a blue blouse. I spent the rest of the afternoon checking in at the convention center; wandering the event space, where hundreds of vendors had set up to sell their wares; and going through the book of all the things I could do tomorrow before the award ceremony.
I met a handful of people who were also competing in different categories. We all agreed to meet at the bar downstairs after dinner. I didn’t have dinner plans. So, I ordered room service, then dressed with care and headed down to the bar.
But instead of finding my new friends, I found Mr. Sinclair and Eve seated on circular high-tops. Mr. Sinclair flagged me down.
Fuck, I didn’t want to talk to him. I didn’t even know what the fuck he was doing here. Had he always planned to come to this thing? Was he here to torment me?
And another thought…what exactly was Eve doing here with him? Sure, they worked together. She was one of his real estate agents. But that had nothing to do with Sinclair Cellars.
She wore a dark blue dress with a slit nearly up to her hip and Louboutins. I only recognized them by the red backs. I didn’t know how well real estate agents were paid, but I didn’t think they could regularly afford a thousand-dollar pair of shoes.
“Miss Medina,” Mr. Sinclair said with a wide smile. “I’d hoped that I’d see you here.”
“Hello,” I said politely. I nodded at Eve. “Hi.”
“Hey there,” she said with a smile, twirling a cherry around in her glass.
“Sit. Have a drink with us.”
“I’m actually meeting some people.” I looked around the bar, hoping to find my new friends but none of them were in attendance. I glanced down at my phone for a quick getaway, but all that was there was a message from my new friend, Yani, letting me know that dinner was running late. Great.
“Just one. I’m sure they can wait.” He gestured to a seat, and reluctantly, I sank into it. “Now, what are you drinking? Amaretto sour, like Eve here?”
“No, thank you. Bombay and lime.”
He flagged down the waiter and put in my order. “Now, Miss Medina…”
“Piper,” I said easily. “You can call me Piper.”
He shot me a Cheshire smile. I could see how he’d be charming if I didn’t already hate his guts. “Of course. You can call me Arnold.”
I had no intention of calling him anything.
“I feel like we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot,” he said once my drink arrived.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, your father mentioned that you were upset when you found out about the vineyard situation.”
I boiled at the thought of my father mentioning my emotional state to this man. I shot him a perfectly blank look. Silence worked better for me than speaking sometimes. I did
n’t want him to know the full extent of my rage. In fact, I didn’t want to have this conversation at all.
“It’s understandable. You were running the company, and, without your knowledge, the business changed hands.”
I gritted my teeth and considered stabbing him in the eye with my straw.
“I want to reassure you that it’s going to be no different than before,” he said with that same smile. “I don’t intend to interfere in day-to-day operations. You and your father have the full run of the place. I’m simply going to be bankrolling the winery.”
“I see.”
I tried to find relief in that. He wasn’t going to interfere and ruin the thing that I loved. But somehow, I didn’t. I wasn’t even sure I believed him. I didn’t have a good relationship with the Sinclairs. Not after what they’d done to Wright Vineyard and then their daughter, Ashleigh’s, train wreck. They were gluttonous. Anything they could scoop up, they did. This was another one of their conquests.
“I want us to be partners,” he said smoothly.
“Partners,” I reiterated.
“Of course. The circumstances of it ending up in your father’s hands were a mark on my family name.” My eyebrows rose. He held his hands up quickly. “I respect your father. What he’s done for the place is above and beyond. But for us, for me, my father wanted me to run the winery, and I was more interested in real estate development. I didn’t realize until it was too late that he was going to divest himself of the winery. He took my success elsewhere as disinterest. I have always coveted the property and wanted it to succeed. It brings me no joy to hurt you, but this was a long time coming.”
My hand clenched the glass. If I’d had any more strength, it would have shattered. How dare he! He acted as if my father had had no part in all of this. As if it had just been given to my father and not earned. And as if he had been entitled to the property all along. As if he’d been waiting for this to happen. What an absolute asshole!
