by Grace Conley
For a long moment, Ethan imagined all the fun they could have with a good game of Where Did The Pink Lipstick End Up. On the collar of his shirt, down his chest, on his cock…
And for the umpteenth time in the last few years, he reminded himself that Ava was off limits. Ethan groaned, and gripped the steering wheel in frustration.
Surrounded by the grey, gloomy day, Ava looked like a Technicolor dream goddess from one of the old Hollywood films that Ethan’s mom had loved so much. He watched all her favorites with her, many times over, during the gap year he took in between high school and culinary school to help support her through the chemotherapy.
Ethan couldn’t think about that now, or he’d get even madder at his twin brother. Jake didn’t take time off during their mother’s treatment - or later. He always cited his scholarship to U.C. Berkeley or the need to work at high-profile internships, the need work harder and faster to build his business career. In Ethan’s mind, the fact that Jake was a Silicon Valley billionaire at the age of twenty-seven didn’t excuse him for not being there for Mom when she needed him the most.
Mom forgave him, of course. She bought Jake’s litany of excuses, and maintained how proud she was of him. Of all of them.
The absolute need to get ahead at any cost - our major difference, thought Ethan bitterly. The fact that Jake now was dragging one of the Maggiano sisters into his hurricane of a lifestyle only made it worse. Isabella was a great girl, a year behind the Fletcher twins in school. Ethan actually took Izzy out to a dance once.
And then there was the Karma connection. Their kid sister was best friends with the youngest Maggiano, who he’d always felt protective of. And lately…more than protective. Their family didn’t deserve any of Jake’s particular brand of high-octane crazy.
Ava drove past the stylized brick and iron entrance to Maggiano Vineyards and up the private drive, past a massive field of trellised grape vines and a funky statuary garden that surrounded the onsite tasting room, and back to the main house. She pulled carefully into a small lot with spots marked “Family” and waved for Ethan to pull up alongside her.
He noticed that she had a bumper sticker on the Prius that read “Follow Your He-ART” next to a little heart-shaped artist’s palette, a nod to her design degree.
“Just a second!” she called, bolting into the house.
He wondered how things were going for her. Ethan knew Ava was going through a rough patch and had moved out of her shared San Francisco flat near the design school to go home to her parents’ vineyard down in Heart’s Delight. He heard his mom talking with Karma about the jackass local ex-boyfriend, the one that was boning the lingerie shop hottie in town.
Seeing her inside Karma’s booth today, Ava looked more swanlike and beautiful than ever. But she had sad, deep eyes, and looked like she wasn’t getting enough sleep.
His phone buzzed, signaling a text missive from Jake.
YOU AT THE CABIN YET?
Ethan rolled his eyes. It was two hours before he and Ava were due to set up the cabin.
NO ROMEO, NOT YET.
KEEP ME POSTED. I’M GOING INTO A MEETING. IZZY AND I WILL DRIVE UP SEPARATELY.
B-A-S- Ethan started typing into the phone, changed his mind and deleted. He thought for a moment.
YOU THERE? I DON’T WANT TO BLOW THE SURPRISE, LET ME KNOW IF I NEED TO DELAY HER.
“Jackass,” Ethan said to the phone, and typed:
NO NEED FOR DELAY. WE’RE HEADED UP NOW. WILL TEXT WHEN READY. WATCH WEATHER. YOU BOTH WANT TO DRIVE UP BEFORE STORM GETS WORSE.
THX came the three letter shorthand reply, then his brother dropped communication, taken off by whatever high-flying business decision needed to be made next.
When a flustered Ava appeared back at the door a few moments later with a couple of pink-and-black shopping bags from a lingerie chain from the swanky mall up in Palo Alto – not the Less Is More lingerie store in downtown Heart’s Delight -- Ethan grabbed an umbrella from the back of the cab and ran over to her.
“Let’s not get whatever that stuff is wet,” he said, sheltering her and the bags over to the back of the truck.
“Thanks,” she said, blushing. “I’d be in big trouble if I forgot these.”
“I bet you wouldn’t, at least with Jake. Naked bride-to-be sounds pretty hot.”
“Ethan!” she squeaked.
He grinned and helped her offload the rest of the bags from the back of the Prius, then followed her around to open the passenger side door for her.
“Hop up.”
Ethan bit back a groan as he got a glimpse of her sweet heart-shaped backside as she jumped up into the truck cab.
He was going to keep the next few hours light, and be a good sport.
Even if it killed him.
“Was that Jake?” Ava asked.
“Huh?”
“Texting. I saw you from the door,” Ava said.
“Oh, yeah. Yes, it was the groom-to-be himself. He wanted to know if we were up there and all set up yet.”
Ava laughed. “He’s nervous.”
“He’s something, all right.”
Ava looked at him and paused, waiting for him to explain. Her azure blue eyes, a Maggiano trait, looked at him quizzically. Her slender ex-dancer’s frame folded elegantly into the seat like a willow tree, and he realized the simile was a good one. Like the willow, she was flexible, strong. She was in the process of overcoming a painful breakup, but she’d bent, not broken, and was slowly stretching and finding her way back.
The light in her eyes gave him hope.
He started the car and she jumped as the deafening music blared back on, causing them both to jump.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, turning the stereo down a good halfway. “You pick a station.”
“Oh no, I think old-school metal’s great for today,” Ava said. “It’s very us-against-the-looming storm.”
Ethan grinned and put the truck in gear. The rain picked up steadily as he drove away from the vineyard and back past the Farmer’s Market, turning onto Main Street and crossing through the quaint downtown village of Heart’s Delight on their way up into the hills. Several of the businesses already had sandbags out and were shuttering their doors, in anticipation of the coming storm.
He was experienced in driving in this type of periodic torrential rainy weather, having been raised in the cyclical California climate. Sunny drought years, and rainy El Nino years. Ethan made sure he could still see the taillights of the sedan traveling in front of them, but gave extra room in case they needed to stop quickly.
“So, Operation Engagement,” said Ava.
“Yeah, that.”
“I know it’s you and Karma for the food, me for the décor – and the lingerie, Jake’s old classmate Lori for the honeymoon travel booking, anyone else I should know about? Other than all our parents, since Jake came and actually asked my dad permission?”
Ethan gave her a sideways glance, noting how her jeans clung to her slender thighs. A visual of that bottom in his lap and those thighs wrapped around him interrupted his answer. He took a deep breath.
“I’m impressed that he did that, actually. It speaks well of him that he reached out to your – her – dad. And I think the whole town knows at this point,” he said. “Except, we hope, your sister.”
“It certainly feels like it. At the Farmer’s Market, Jenny from the goat cheese booth knew.”
“Well, if Jenny from the Farmer’s Market knows, then it goes without saying that the whole town of Heart’s Delight knows,” he joked.
Ava pulled a face at him, and smiled. She touched his arm lightly, which sent a zing of electricity coursing through his body.
“Well, I for one didn’t know before this morning that everyone in town knew.”
“I can tell you it’s not because of Jake,” asserted Ethan. “He’s too into his high-tech timing, and doesn’t leak things. It’s our dad. He’s a huge gossip. Ever since he retired and started going to classes at the s
enior center in town, he’s a hot commodity. All the little old ladies chat him up.”
“Well, I don’t think there’s any way Isabella knows yet.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Because she’d be all happy, and trying hard to hide why. Izzy’s pretty transparent that way. She’s easy to read. And she was in a seriously crappy mood this morning. Probably things at work. That’s why I want to help make it perfect for her. Well, and because…it’s her engagement.”
“Umm-hmm. And his.” Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You’re so frustrating,” she exclaimed.
“Why so?”
“All right. Why do you not want your brother and my sister to get together?”
Ethan frowned. “It’s not so simple.”
“Try me,” she challenged.
“All right. I think my brother’s life is out of control, and that he’s a major ass. Yeah, I know he’s on both the Silicon Valley’s Top 100 Most Eligible Businessmen and Top 100 Bachelors lists.”
“So are you,” Ava said drily.
“You asked,” he cut out.
“I did.” She looked down at her lap. “Are you competing with him? Over your Top 100 lists or over Isabella?”
“No way over some made-up list. And it’s got nothing to do with your sister,” Ethan furrowed his brow, looking confused.
He lowered his tone. “Ever since our mom got sick, Jake has been on a collision course with himself. On the outside, everyone thinks his life is fantastic. But really, from my perspective he’s turned into a cold bastard. He shut himself off from my parents, from all of us, when she got sick, and he never really came back. He wasn’t there for my mom, for anyone. And that really sucks.”
“And you took that year off,” Ava said quietly. “And stayed by your mom’s side.”
“I did,” he said shortly. “And I think Isabella’s a great girl, and he doesn’t deserve her.”
Ethan glanced over at Ava. She met his eyes, her blue ones unsure.
“You like my sister?” she said in quiet voice.
“No. I mean yes, but no, not the way I think you mean. Isabella’s a nice person, and she doesn’t deserve to be with a jerk. Just like you didn’t deserve to be with the jerk you were with.”
“Xander’s not really a…”
“Yes, he is. He’s a grade A, number one, jackass idiot and I wouldn’t wish him on any woman, let alone you. And I’ve seen Veronica from the Less Is More lingerie store. She doesn’t hold a candle to you.”
“Thank you.” Ava looked down at her lap again, which Ethan didn’t know what to do with.
“He’s also an ass for involving you in this.”
“What? Xander?”
“No, my brother. Jake’s an ass for involving you in this Operation Engagement business, since you’re just coming off a breakup. I bet he asked you by text message.”
“He did. But Ethan? This is my sister we’re talking about. Don’t join Jake in a ‘who’s the bigger asshat’ contest. Of course, I’m helping stage their engagement. I want it to be perfect for her.”
“What about perfect for you? He’s about to be related to you. How is any of this being kind or nice to you?” he challenged.
“I’m not a wimp!” Ava’s ponytail bobbed as she snapped back. “I’ve had a tough year, but I want my sister to be happy. And if she’s happy with your brother, then maybe she can help him be a better person. Maybe they complete each other’s sentences, you know what I mean? Did you ever think of that? Maybe for them, love wins out!”
Ethan eyed the rain, pelting down steadily. Small tree branches were coming down everywhere as the wind picked up. He was about to change the subject, when the SUV traveling in front of them fishtailed and came to an abrupt halt on the side of the road.
Ethan pulled over and put his hazard lights on.
“Wait here, please” he told Ava, wanting her to stay inside and dry.
“No way,” she said, throwing the hood of her blue rainslicker up. “They might need help. I’ll come, too.”
He shook his head as she hopped down from the truck and ran around to join him, skidding a little as she tried to keep up with his long stride.
It thankfully turned out to be fairly minor. The retired couple in the sedan swerved to avoid hitting a deer and ended up with their tires mired down in the mud. Both the man and his wife looked shaken as they rolled down their window.
“Hang on,” Ethan told them after he ascertained they were okay. “I’ve got a tow strap in the emergency kit in my truck.”
Ava held out the orange flag and acted as a spotter while Ethan pulled in front of the sedan and hooked the strap between the two vehicles. At his signal, the older man put his car in neutral and Ethan pulled them slowly back onto the road.
Ethan waved Ava off the road and checked back on the couple.
“Are you by chance Ethan Fletcher?” called out the woman. “You’re the owner of that lovely restaurant Musica, up in the City? We went there for our anniversary this year!”
Ethan nodded and gestured for them to wait a moment. He dashed back to the truck, jotted a note down on a slip of paper and handed it in to the couple with a smile.
“Call this number and ask for Bryan,” he said. “He’s the maître d. Dinner on the house, next time you’re in the City. I’ll make sure he knows about you. Drive safely, and I hope your day goes better now.”
“Thank you, sincerely!” called out the woman.
“You’d better get back to your girlfriend, now,” smiled her husband.
Ethan smiled and nodded, choosing not to clarify that Ava was not his girlfriend and instead let the couple get safely on to their destination. He waved and jumped back in the truck.
“Thank you for stopping to help them,” said Ava.
Ethan shrugged. “All in a day’s work for a busy restaurant owner. I make sure the truck has a stocked emergency kit for just this kind of situation. We head to small rural farms all over the Bay Area, for just the right ingredient, so we’d better be prepared.”
“And here I thought you were San Francisco’s bad-boy chef. Turns out you’re really a Boy Scout.”
“Hah.”
A couple of miles further up the winding hillside, Ethan made the turnoff for the Fletcher’s weekend cabin.
“Not too much further,” he told Ava. They proceeded slowly up the unpaved private road and made it to the cabin without further incident.
“We’d better book it,” she said.
“My thoughts exactly, Sabrina.”
“Stop calling me Audrey movie names!”
“Okay then, but I have to call you something, sunshine.”
He laughed as Ava stuck out her tongue at him. Ethan and Ava pulled their rain jackets tight and raced supplies into the cabin.
In under five minutes, they worked together to fashion the rustic cabin into a romantic scene fit for a man to ask the woman of his dreams to spend her life with him.
Ethan stocked the fridge with supplies and tucked a neatly handwritten set of notes for Jake on how to time and assemble the dinner on the countertop. Ava made up a romantic tableau, including a table bedecked with gauzy Indian fabric, some of her and Isabella’s grandmother’s wedding china that their mom had lent for the occasion, and the vase of pink tulips. For good measure, she re-made the cabin’s bed with pretty sheets and scattered rose petals throughout the bedroom. She had a few left, so she made a pretty trail out to the front door, after using an old towel to mop up where she and Ethan had tracked in water.
They both pulled their rain slickers tight again as Ethan pulled the door securely shut behind them, for the cabin to await its’ intended occupants.
At that exact moment, a large redwood tree crashed down about thirty yards down the private driveway, closing off their path back to the main road.
Ava looked up at him with wide blue eyes, then her gaze fell back down to his mouth. Ethan knew he was in for it – trouble.
> It’s good karma for you to help others, you know…
He had laughed at his nutty kid sister’s play on words earlier, when she’d grabbed him to hiss a whisper inside his ear before they left Karma’s Coffee tent at the Farmer’s Market.
Now he wondered what karma really had in store for him. Certainly a challenge, in the form of the very woman he’d wanted to seduce for the last year, now trapped with him in a secluded cabin going into a major Valentine’s Day weekend rainstorm.
“Well, sunshine,” Ethan said, his hazel eyes darkening as he leveled a hooded gaze down at Ava. “It looks like you’re having a romantic Valentine’s dinner with me.”
Chapter Three
“You’re giving me a hard time here,” she bantered as they shook off their rain gear and hung it on pegs beside the door.
“No, I’m serious,” he replied. “You deserve a romantic Valentine’s dinner. And I love to cook for women.”
That remark made Ava pause, because she was so different than the confident society girls that frequented Ethan’s award-winning San Francisco restaurant, Musica. She knew he’d probably dated a lot, and imagined him cooking for a whole string of fashionable girls. She knew she was was the polar opposite of fashionable. More like funny, funky, artistic, and cute.
Trapped with Ethan Fletcher for the weekend. Or at least, until morning and they figured out how to get the truck back down to the main road.
Ava almost pinched herself. The rain pounded on the roof of the cabin in scattered bursts, and suddenly the room felt very small with the closeness of just the two of them inside the warm space.
Ava could tell he was probably just teasing her to help distract her from the very real worry that they could be in a dangerous situation. She blushed. It was the first time in her life that she got the feeling that he might actually be attracted back to her.
Ava cast her eyes downward as Ethan reached out a hand and brushed a raindrop off her cheek. She got a series of delicious little shivers as his thumb traced a trail from her cheek up over her earlobe, and her mouth parted in a little ‘o’ shape.
“Besides, we have to do something. There’s not that much to do up here.”
