by Darcy Burke
No, she couldn’t disagree. “It might have been nice if you’d asked. I was in the mood for Beaux Frères.”
“Then I’ll order that too.” He set his menu down and looked at her. “I’m sorry. Really. I should’ve asked what you wanted to drink.” His lips twisted into a half-smile. “That’s what I get for trying to impress you.”
Now she felt shrewish. But could she blame herself when she was clearly being manipulated? “Where are your brothers and Hayden, really?”
He picked the menu back up and studied it. “Busy.”
“Did you even invite them?” She should’ve contacted them herself.
He didn’t look up from the menu. “I, ah, mentioned it.”
She shook her head and repeated what she’d told him at the salmon bake. “You are a menace.”
Now he lifted his gaze, and his eyes sparked with mirth. “I thought we’d resolved that you ran into me at the salmon bake. Or is this something you’re going to hold over me forever?”
Forever. That intimated a shared future. Did that mean she’d won the contract with the winery, or did he have other…plans, of a more personal nature? She narrowed her eyes again. “You’re not scoring a lot of points here.”
He laughed. “Tell you what. You order my dinner. I’ll eat whatever you choose.”
It was a silly offer, but she planned to take it. She looked over the appetizers and entrées. “Any dietary issues I need to be aware of?”
“What, like am I vegan or gluten-free? No and no. I’m full glutton.”
She glanced at him, and though he was seated now, she’d noted his slim khakis and the way they hugged his hips. “I don’t buy that for a second. You’re in too good a shape.”
He grinned at her. “Glad you noticed. It’s all that work in the vineyard. Keeps us hopping.”
Great, now he thought she’d been checking him out. Which she had. She couldn’t help it. He was very attractive with his perfectly styled brown hair, seductive green eyes, and sexy-casual sense of style. Plus, she knew that underneath his shirt he possessed a spectacular set of abs. Add in his killer smile, and she could very easily be in trouble.
Which was why she had to be on her guard.
Their server arrived then and poured the wine. Cameron indicated that she should taste the sample, which she did. He’d chosen exceptionally well, damn him. She nodded at the server, who filled their glasses and said he’d be back shortly to take their order.
Brooke perused the possibilities and considered ordering him the vegan risotto just to be a pain in the ass but decided not to.
“So what am I eating?” he asked, interrupting her selection process.
“I’m having the filet, and you’re having the duck.”
“Excellent, though I might’ve chosen the filet too.”
“Too bad. You gave me full control.”
He picked up his wine and gave her a sly, sultry smile. “You can have all the control you want.” He held his glass toward her. “To relinquishing control.”
She rolled her eyes but clinked her glass against his. “Your attempts at flirtation are lame and pointless. This is a business dinner. If we aren’t going to talk about business, I’ll go. I have plenty to do at home.”
Though she’d moved into her loft four weeks ago, she still had a few boxes to unpack and pictures to hang.
He sipped his wine. “Okay, let’s talk business. You’ve got the job.”
Triumph surged in her chest. This would be a great account. “Thanks. You did talk to your brothers and Hayden, right?”
“Of course I did. We’re full partners.”
“And they didn’t want to meet with me?”
He arched a brow at her. “They met you at the salmon bake and, given my background in sales and marketing, they trust my judgment.”
That made sense. She still wished she’d had the chance to talk with them. “I was kind of looking forward to discussing the winemaking.”
“You still can. Why don’t you come by this weekend for that tour? We’re there every day. Luke will take you around the vineyard, and Hayden will tell you more than you want to know about his process.”
“I’d love that. How about Saturday around one?”
“Done.”
She reached down to grab her purse. “Well, I guess we don’t really need to have dinner, do we?”
“Wait.” He gestured toward the wine bottle on the table. “We have all this fantastic wine to drink, and now I have my mouth set on that duck. Plus, it’s not like we don’t have things to discuss. I could give you a complete overview of our wine catalog—small though it is at present.” He glanced toward the approaching server. “He’s coming back to take our order. I’ll leave my fate in your hands.” He sat back in his chair and watched her.
He seemed dead set on letting her be in control, which meant she could conclude this evening right now. Except as soon as the server arrived, she placed their order.
When they were alone once more, Cameron sat forward. “I’m surprised. But pleased.” His gaze brimmed with anticipation. “Thank you.”
She was pretty sure he was looking at this as some kind of date, or at least half business, half date, so she cast him an arch look. “This isn’t a date.” Was she informing him or herself? She had to admit she liked Cameron, and she found his persistence… Well, she wasn’t sure what she found it. But she didn’t dislike it. “Tell me about your wines.”
He smiled broadly. “Happy to.”
He spent the next ten minutes telling her how they’d started the winery two years ago, and that they’d only claimed a small percentage of grapes from that vintage. They’d made some limited cases of chardonnay and pinot gris, and slightly more of a pinot noir—the one she’d tasted the other night. Last year, the entire yield was theirs, which had given them a good supply of the whites and would generate a handful of varieties of pinot noir.
His enthusiasm was infectious. Brooke smiled as she wrapped her fingertips around the stem of her glass. “I can’t wait to come see the operation and taste everything you’ve got.”
He started to smile and maybe open his mouth, but he took a drink of wine instead.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Were you going to make some sort of innuendo?”
He set his glass down and sighed. “Guilty as charged. Sorry, I really am trying to keep to business. At the same time, I have to tell you that I’m incredibly attracted to you.” He said this with a matter-of-fact tone, without intensity, without any layered nuance. It made her shiver nonetheless. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that since we do have a business relationship, but you’ll find that I’m a straight shooter. I figured I had two choices—ignore that attraction or come clean. The former seems kind of impossible, so I went with the latter.” He grinned at her.
She was having a hard time thinking of him as a smarmy player when he was so forthright and charming. She was inconveniently attracted to him too. But she didn’t say so. “I appreciate you focusing on business—and I would appreciate you trying to ignore your, uh, attraction. Because that’s so not happening. That said, I, ah, I have to admit you aren’t quite what I expected.”
“Uh-oh. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”
“Good, I think. I expected you to be, I don’t know…cheesy.” She shrugged. “And I guess you are.”
“I am?” He sounded incredulous but laughed.
“A little.” She grinned. “But it’s kind of cute.”
His eyes sparkled as he smiled at her. “I’ll take it.”
Their dinners arrived, and the conversation turned to wine once more. She was shocked to learn he hadn’t been to France.
He shook his head. “I know, right? And my best friend was making wine over there for a year.”
She scooped a bite of garlic mashed potatoes. “Hayden?”
He nodded. “He interned in Burgundy before we started up West Arch. I’d meant to go but just couldn’t get away that year. I t
ake it you’ve been?”
“Yeah, a few times.”
“A few times. I’m green with envy.”
“Well, the first time was a college trip to Paris. But since then, I’ve been a couple of times. We hit Burgundy on the first trip and Bordeaux on the second.”
He swallowed a bite of duck and washed it back with sip of wine. “Who’s ‘we’?”
Crap, she’d walked right into that one. But her marriage wasn’t a secret. “Uh, my ex.”
“Boyfriend?”
She cut a piece of steak. “Husband.”
“Ah. A little more complicated. Why is he your ex?”
That wasn’t a secret per se either, but it was firmly in the do-not-discuss-with-almost-everybody category. “Complicated is the perfect word. Also boring. You don’t really want to hear about my ex-husband, do you?”
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
After 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?”
