St. Helena Vineyard Series: Sneaking Up on Love (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Marina Adair. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original St. Helena Vineyard Series remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Marina Adair, or their affiliates or licensors.

  For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

  Sneaking Up On Love

  A St. Helena Vineyard Novella

  Stephanie St. Klaire

  Dear Readers,

  Welcome to the St. Helena Vineyard’s Kindle World, where romance is waiting to be uncorked and authors from around the globe are invited to share their own stories of love and happily ever after. Set in the heart of wine country, this quaint town and its cast of quirky characters were the inspiration behind my St Helena Vineyard series, and the Hallmark Channel movie, AUTUMN IN THE VINEYARD. I want to thank these incredible authors for spending time in St. Helena, and all of you readers who are adventurous enough to take the journey with us.

  I hope you enjoy your time here as much as we have.

  Warmly,

  Marina Adair

  Acknowledgements

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  About Stephanie St. Klaire

  Acknowledgements

  This is such a special release. I am writing in the world of my favorite Author, my mentor, and friend. Thank you, Marina Adair for inviting me into your world, and letting me stay a while! I love what you have created and hope I’ve done it justice. I will forever appreciate the opportunity and journey. I will cherish every bit support and encouragement you’ve offered me this past year; the knowledge you have shared isn’t wasted. Thank you!

  The fab five, and Hubs...three down and hundreds to go! We’re doing it!

  Raydeen Graffam…you’re my person! Thank you for being you! You’re amazing!

  My tribe, my peeps, “Loma” ladies! Haha!

  To the seventeen ladies that took this journey with me, it’s been an honor to be in your company!

  Finally, for my readers…you guys make my world possible! I adore you and appreciate each and every one of you! I hope this story makes you laugh out loud, smile often, maybe snort a time or two, and swoon!

  CHAPTER 1

  “We came as soon as we saw it. Are you okay?” Lexi asked Molly, while setting several pastry boxes on the counter at Reading Grounds.

  “See what?” Molly questioned while sorting the pastries into the baked goods case below her.

  Molly Anna Sexton was new in town and the proud owner of St. Helena’s newest establishment, Reading Grounds, a book store and coffee shop that rested on the town’s busy Main Street. She quickly fit in with the locals, establishing a weekly book club which was really nothing more than a weekly girl’s gossip group. It took place in a book shop, however, so a book club it was.

  Lexi, owner of the Sweet and Savory, provided the tasty delectables that Molly sold in her shop. She also provided the welcoming committee and new found friends when Molly moved to town six months prior. The ladies were close, family actually, and accepted Molly as one of their own.

  Lexi gave Molly a sympathetic look and picked up the laptop that was sitting in front of Molly, gesturing for Molly to follow her to the large semi-private table near the back. The table hosted their weekly meetings, and was already surrounded by the rest of the ladies as they sat in their seats. Opening the laptop, Lexi quickly loaded her Facebook page and turned the screen to Molly. All eyes were on Molly as her jaw dropped and eyes widened, shock and surprise washing over her face as she read the post.

  It finally happened, Nora-Fucking-Kinkaid. The town busy body and know it all kept tabs on everyone and everything in this town making it her civic duty to keep everyone informed of the opinions she held on such things. People feared her like the cranky mercenary granny she was. Nora was brutal, unrelenting, and nobody was safe – she had been known to make grown men cry and run people out of town with a single post on her Facebook page.

  It seemed Nora had a new target…the town’s new girl. Molly shuddered at the sight before her as she not only read the snarky comment, but also the picture that was posted along with it to make sure everyone knew which new girl she was taunting.

  ‘St. Helena’s first stripping book slinger. You know where to send the towns men to ‘warm up’ and I don’t mean with a cup of coffee.’

  The picture was of Molly, standing between several scantily clad women in what appeared to be a bar. Molly, although covered in more cotton, wasn’t exactly hiding her goods entirely herself. Not her most flattering picture, but certainly not a scandalous one either.

  “Oh no! How do I stop this…how do I stop her?” Molly asked, words laced with concern, her hands holding her face.

  “Kill her…” Frankie offered with a shrug. Frankie didn’t mince words, nor did she have a filter of any kind. As the town badass, known to take even the toughest of men to task when provoked, one had to assume that she wasn’t entirely kidding even if not a realistic option.

  “Can’t kill her.” Molly replied, with a nervous chuckle.

  Shay, the free spirit of the group added, “I can ask Jonah, he’s a cop. Gotta be a loop hole.”

  “Why not kill her with kindness?” Lexi asked.

  “She’s Nora Kinkaid…kindness is fuel to her fire.” Shay snorted.

  Lexi scanned the store, taking in the crowd, and shared her observation, “It doesn’t seem to be hurting business. Look at this place!”

  “They’re all men, Lexi. I’ve been asked out six times and its only 10 a.m. on a Monday…now I know why!”

  “Jesus, don’t they work? Oh my God, isn’t that Shannon’s husband?! I’m surprised Nora isn’t all over that!” Frankie said in disgust, jaw dropped.

  She finished with the question they were all pondering and leaving to ‘no filter Frankie’ to address. “I didn’t know you were a stripper, kid…props to you”

  Water burned Molly’s nose as it flew out in an awkward attempt to avoid choking when Frankie dropped her unexpected bomb. “I was not a stripper. I was a bartender, those are the waitresses. They wore paint as shirts, literally body paint. I wore cotton shirts…big difference. The place is called Babes. Lots of men, hot girls, big tips. It helped me make my way to St. Helena.”

  “Hello Hooters 2.0! You’re pretty hot under those glasses and sweaters. Dress like that and you’ll need to expand the shop! You’ll owe Nora a thanks instead of an ‘F’ you!” Frankie deadpanned.

  “I’m perfectly content with being me. Now if I can just get Nora to see the real me, and get off her radar, I’ll be golden.”

  ***

  Nora Kinkaid makes the Grinch stealing Christmas look like a Whoville saving Superman. Ornery didn’t even begin to describe the character of this woman, nor did it define the utter disgust she sported. No, ornery was a compliment of high praise – the way she looked down her nose, harrumph’s and pfft’s as she wandered by, and those beady dark soulless eyes could make the devil himself shiver. Kindness, as Lexi mentioned – kill her with kindness. Molly
could do that and found herself at the Sweet and Savory where a little bird mentioned the next Garden Club luncheon would be held. Kindness – could it be Nora Kinkaid’s kryptonite, forcing that warm and fuzzy feeling that could melt the ice around her tiny, black, hardened heart and get Molly off her radar? Only one way to find out.

  “Hello, Nora. Lovely arrangement you’ve designed. Are all of those from your garden?” Molly asked through her plastered on, mega-watt smile.

  Kindness was met with an eye roll and annoyed sigh, “Of course they are from my garden. I am the Garden Society Chairperson, and I do have award winning gardens. I suppose they don’t teach such posh and regalities at stripper school.”

  “I was a bartender, at a bar, not a... Anyway, I was thinking of putting something in the planters in front of the shop. What would you recommend?” Molly asked, deciding to stick with kindness and not fall into the beast’s trap.

  “Flowers? No strobe lights or flashing neon signs shaped like naked ladies? I know what kind of books you sell in there. I would recommend a nice shiny pole.” Nora shot back. It was odd; when Nora was taking her low blows, she did it full of sugar and honey. She almost sounded nice, definitely sincere, especially if you could overlook the insults. That was the worst kind of jerk, the kind that could do it nicely and find pleasure in it. Nora Kinkaid was an asshole.

  Chichi Deluca stepped in with a sympathetic head shake and warm arm of support around her waist before Molly could fire back, just in the nick of time. Chichi was like Glenda the good witch to Nora’s evil witch of the west. She was of similar age, equally well known but for entirely different reasons. Chichi was of a well-respected family in old wine country, Deluca wine was made up of all the good stuff, like Chichi.

  “You need a new plan honey. I knew this one wouldn’t work.” Chichi offered.

  “Then why didn’t you say anything at the book club meeting earlier? Spared me the venom?” Molly questioned, feeling a bit betrayed by the woman who had taken her in as something of a granddaughter.

  “The ladies and I,” the ladies Chichi referred to were the Foxy Ladies as they were called. They were the senior women in St. Helena, close life-long friends that were more of a Bitty Brigade with hands in everything, part of every club and charity, and good genuine people, “have many years of experience with Nora. You have to experience it to believe half of what she does. Now you have, so what’s your next move?”

  Molly’s attempt at kindness suddenly became a mission of if you can’t beat them, join them. The last thing she needed to do was hand Nora some ammo on a silver platter. Game changer, kindness could suck it, Molly needed a new plan. If Nora still had so much contempt for Molly that she would verbally attack her, in public, then this was nowhere near over. Back to the drawing board.

  ***

  Molly was hunched over her iPad with a sullen look of stress washed across her face when Seth Spangler walked into Reading Grounds. He was tall, with dark hair, incredibly fit and well mannered. He was as kind as he was easy on the eyes, making it easy to look forward to his frequent visits as a regular at Reading Grounds. Although somewhat awkward, and of few words, his interest in books and fondness of his visits seemed reciprocated.

  Her demeanor captured his attention at first glance and had him meandering her direction rather than through the aisles of books or to the counter for his regular cup of Joe to go. Seth had been one of Molly’s first customers, one she enjoyed talking books with, and one she considered a friend in this new town of hers.

  “Hey there, what’s with the long face? Everything okay?” he asked, his tone and concern seeming genuine.

  Molly turned the iPad around so he could see just what had her mood in the trenches, Nora Kinkaid. Again. A faceless photo of Molly accompanied yet another snarky Nora rant, definitely not off the witch’s radar.

  ‘Something in the pew smells bad. We read the bible here, not mommy porn.’

  “Wow! That woman is ruthless. It seems not even church is off limits to her. I wonder who that is?” he questioned.

  “It’s me. I don’t know if she thinks she’s doing me any favors by cutting off my face, but the mommy porn is a dead giveaway.” Molly snorted, anything but amused.

  Eyes wide and in a low voice, Seth asked, “You sell…porn?”

  His honest naivety came as a welcome breath of fresh air and earned him a sweet giggle. He smiled, not sure what was so funny, but he would take her smile and laughter as the alternative any day.

  “No, I don’t sell porn. I sell romance novels, amongst everything else. Apparently, Nora considers it to be ‘mommy porn’”

  “Oh, romance…so it isn’t porn?”

  “Of course not!” she spat in lighthearted offense. “It’s just as it states, romance. Sure, it may have a few bedroom scenes, but it’s purely romance, nothing more. The only disgusting thing about them is her assumption.”

  “Oh! I had no idea. Clearly Nora hasn’t read one then if she thinks that’s porn. Maybe she should…to lighten up.” Seth said with a smile and wink, earning him yet another giggle.

  “Did you see her first post? She thinks I’m a stripper, hence the mommy porn. Apparently I am here to scandalize all of the mommies in St. Helena.”

  “You were a stripper?” he asked a little louder than he intended.

  Seth found Molly absolutely stunning even if she tried to hide her beauty beneath oversized glasses, and large sweaters. She had rich brown eyes that were deep enough to swim in and they matched her long dark locks. She was petite in size, but curvy in all of the right places…that was obvious no matter what she tried to hide under.

  She was a classic beauty that turned heads and left men breathless, or in Seth’s case, speechless. No matter how much he practiced what he wanted to say, or how confident he was…the moment he saw her, he became a babbling idiot. He would ask her out just as soon as this spell she had over him wore off…he hoped.

  “NO!” she lowered her voice to a near whisper, bringing Seth back to the conversation. “Before I came here, I worked several jobs, saving every penny just to move here and open Reading Grounds. One of my jobs was at a place called ‘Babes’.”

  “You were a Babe?” he questioned in surprise, referring to what the waitresses and hosts were referred to.

  An eye roll and sigh later, she went on to tell him exactly what she was. “I was not a Babe! I was a bartender. Since you’ve obviously been there, you know that as a bartender, I was not walking about topless and covered in body paint, serving perverted men meals. The schedule was flexible, the tips amazing. It helped me reach my goals, and I’m not ashamed of that, despite Nora trying to make me feel otherwise.”

  “I’m sorry she is taking out all of her hostility on you. She tends to latch on to new people and put them through her own form of hazing. It will pass as soon as someone else does something to get her attention.”

  “She is ruthless though. I tried talking to her, and it was like talking to a pissed off rabid porcupine. I must have made it worse because this popped up.” She admitted.

  “Skunk.”

  “Skunk?”

  “Yep, pissed off rabid skunk… They leave a bad smell behind that’s hard to shake. Nora’s attitude definitely stinks and leaves a foul trail,” he said with a smile, proud of his silly analogy as it brought yet another silly grin to Molly’s face.

  Molly found Seth’s attempts to lighten her mood silly albeit sweet. She looked forward to his visits and awkward conversation. He seemed genuine and was easy to talk to, mostly because he didn’t say much back. He may be a little quirky, but his character was upstanding, and he had an honorable career…the kind of guy you take home to meet the parents. Sometimes, she wished he was there for more than just books and coffee, but she would take what she could get, for now.

  “Thank you for listening, lightening my mood. You’re a good guy, Seth Spangler.” She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a sweet hug that he kindly returned. “So, can I help you fi
nd a book today?” she asked, remembering he was here for books, not to offer free counseling.

  “Tell me about those romance books…mommy porn. Think I would like one of those?” he grinned and wiggled his eyebrows, not quite ready to end their chat or for her smile to fade again.

  “Oh, a funny guy. Just for that, follow me…I have just the book to start your romance collection with. 50 Shades of…” her voice trailed off, words lost in the space, his focus completely lost in her eyes. He’d read whatever she gave him.

  CHAPTER 2

  Several days had passed, and not a single Facebook post had reared its vicious ugly head. Either Nora was out of town, or Molly had finally fallen off her radar, and hazing the town newbie was over with. She hoped the latter. She had paid her dues, survived it, and now it was time to move on and enjoy her new home without fear of scandal crossing the inter webs, assaulting her Facebook account.

  Molly had worked hard to get to St. Helena. She grew up as an only child in a small town outside of San Francisco, - River Vine Creek, population blink and you miss it. Just a blip on the radar. Not even GPS technology recognized it, or could lead you to it. Most drove through without realizing they had done so.

  Her parents’ relationship was forbidden; dad from a prominent well to do family in San Francisco, mom from the wrong side of the tracks. Like any good forbidden love story, they ran off and married, starting their own simple life far from those that balked at their relationship. They owned a small market, the only in town, and had property and a cozy home that left them content.

  Their love story began when they ran off to the romantic town of St. Helena, to marry and spend their honeymoon, and ended when her father was in a terrible accident, losing his life to a large combine driving a rural road on a drizzly day, during harvest season when Molly was just 14. She lost her mom that terrible night to a depression that led to a pain numbing habit of alcohol.