by Andrea Thome
He positioned himself with his back to her so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, but he couldn’t help glancing over his shoulder to look for her a few moments later, only to see her table empty.
“Let me guess,” Violet said, getting Wyatt’s attention. “A certain someone just walked in.” She grinned. “Why don’t you go say good morning?” she asked.
Wyatt casually took a sip of his coffee while looking at the menu.
“She already left. And I did say good morning. I’m actually surprised at your rudeness; you two walked right by her.” Wyatt smirked as Violet looked horrified.
“Well, why didn’t you say something? Jesus, Wyatt. I swear if I didn’t know better I’d think you were raised by wolves.” Violet sighed, reaching for the sugar and plopping three cubes into her mug. “So what happened last night? Did you find out her story?”
Violet watched for his reaction, but he denied her. He could play poker with the best of them.
Wyatt grabbed the bread basket and took a steaming biscuit into one hand, the butter dish in the other. He knew she was hoping for juicy details, but he wasn’t ready to share just yet. Besides, he didn’t know where they stood, and he didn’t want to embarrass India—or himself. Violet could hold her horses.
“I walked her home, like you asked. No big deal. Although, next time, I can make the offer myself, thanks.” He slathered butter onto the warm biscuit and then stuffed it into his mouth, indicating he was done discussing it.
Rex cracked up. “Man, I’m so glad to have someone else to share the heat. I’m usually the one in the crosshairs when you’re gone, Wyatt. I gotta say, I think a year traveling together with my lovely bride is going to hurt me more than it’s gonna hurt you.”
Rex steeled his shin for a swift kick, but Violet only smiled sarcastically at the pair of them.
“Pardon me for wanting our best friend to have a life. You know, you could do worse, Wyatt. If you’d taken the time to get to know India at all, you’d be surprised at how smart and kind she is. That’s part of her broad appeal.”
The men looked at her with puzzled expressions.
“What do you mean ‘broad appeal’?” Wyatt said. “She’s not some movie star, is she? What am I missing here? How the hell could you know so much about her when you talked to her for the first time last night?”
Wyatt waited for Violet to answer.
“No, she’s not a movie star, dummy. I just meant that even I could see how great she was after talking with her for a little while. I’m not asking you to propose, Wyatt. But would it kill you to ask her to dinner one of these nights, or show her a little attention when you breeze by her at breakfast? What, are you afraid to get to first base with a girl these days?” Violet joked with a sigh.
Wyatt had heard enough. He stood and flipped his napkin into the chair, sending Sadie scurrying into her mama’s arms.
“For your information, first base wasn’t a problem. And as far as India goes, I don’t need anyone’s encouragement to go there again. Thanks for your concern, though. Now let’s go. Don’t we have a class to teach?”
He turned and strode out of the restaurant, leaving Violet slack-jawed and Rex doubled over with laughter. “I guess he told you, Vi,” Rex said, chuckling.
He leaned over and went to first base with his own gorgeous but speechless wife.
CHAPTER
TEN
The barn was the crown jewel of Blackberry Farm. It was the first thing you saw driving in, all red reclaimed wood and pitched roofs, with large glass windows at the welcoming entrance. The inside housed the two-time James Beard Award–winning restaurant kitchens, along with a secondary teaching kitchen used by the frequent guest chefs and speakers.
On the lower level was a 160-thousand-bottle wine cellar that surrounded another space used for private dinners. The main dining room had a small area where musicians could entertain in an intimate setting, if they chose not to use the newer event center that had just been completed across the way.
Today, the barn’s head chef would be preparing lunch for the group, allowing the students to photograph him at work, a special experience for everyone.
India stopped to watch the activity in the main kitchen for a few minutes on her way in. Chefs in white uniforms were already busy crafting the menus and completing food prep for that evening’s dinner service. Even for India, who had dined at her fair share of amazing restaurants in Manhattan, this kitchen was impressive—not only in size but in cleanliness and efficiency too. Some of the best meals in the South were prepared by these hands. It was a privilege to observe, if only for a few moments before class.
India made her way over to where the group was assembling for the workshop. There were five rows of director’s chairs facing the teaching kitchen, so she chose a chair near the end of the third row, in case she had to slip out to use the restroom.
Violet was up front, talking to a group of students, but she noticed India walk in and waved hello. Rex had set up a laptop at a table in the back, and he was huddled with Jeff, the photo-shop owner from Austin. India glanced around, aware she was looking for Wyatt, but she didn’t see him. She climbed up into her director’s chair and started glancing through the handout that had been left on the seat.
“How’d you sleep?”
His voice was low, but there was no mistaking it. She knew it was Wyatt without looking. Her body responded instantly, sending a tingle down her thighs. He’d walked up from behind her, but he was now heading down the row so he could face her. He rested his boot on the footrest of the chair next to hers and gave her a dimpled grin. She smiled in spite of herself, pleased that he’d sought her out.
“Like a baby,” India answered. “You?”
“Actually, I couldn’t fall asleep for some reason.” Did she imagine it, or had he just winked at her?
“I finally gave up just before sunrise and went for an early run.” He blew out a breath. “It was a short night.”
His whiskers were more than a five-o’clock shadow today, signaling that maybe he’d been too busy to shave that morning. She wondered if they would feel softer now against her face, not that she’d minded how they’d felt last night. His hair was still damp too, with no signs of the mud he’d been hauling around for Finn.
“Yeah, I saw you out helping in the garden this morning,” she blurted before she could think.
He looked surprised.
“Really? That was pretty early. You must not have slept in too late if you were up at sunrise. You should’ve come over and said hi. The garden is really pretty in that early-morning light. And I’m sure Finn would love to meet you.”
Would he ever, Wyatt thought to himself.
India flushed. “Oh, I couldn’t have. I was only in a towel. I mean . . . I was getting into the shower, but I realized I’d forgotten to turn the coffeepot off. That’s when I saw the two of you.”
She surely hadn’t meant to make things uncomfortable, but the thought of her in only a towel was not helping his efforts to keep the conversation light this morning. He dropped his leg and cleared his throat before starting to move away.
“I suppose I should see if Vi needs anything from me before we get started. You’ll love the cooking demo. The food is as beautiful to photograph as it is delicious . . .” His words trailed off as he did, and he made his way up to the front of the room, hoping she hadn’t noticed that his jeans had suddenly gotten a little tighter.
He must think she was some kind of hussy. She couldn’t seem to get it together around him. India was a poised, confident, educated woman, but she’d just told a guy she was crushing on that she’d watched him from her kitchen in only a towel. She squeezed her eyes shut, but as hard as she tried, she couldn’t make herself disappear.
The morning flew by, and before they knew it, it was almost two o’clock. The group had just finished enjoying the lovely meal that they’d had the privilege of photographing. Shrimp and grits with a fragrant ramp pesto. Chef Mend was a
ll about using seasonal ingredients, and while the growing season for ramps was short, they were fortunately in the middle of it now. Wyatt had unfortunately been seated between Virginia and Annabelle, the mother-daughter predators India had met the night before. He looked like a man who was waiting for a root canal; he couldn’t have been more uncomfortable with their aggressive behavior.
India was sitting with Violet, who had been trying to keep her laughter in check but was failing miserably. She’d been watching Wyatt, and instead of offering him an out, she seemed to relish in his discomfort. She leaned over to India and snickered.
“Serves him right. He was annoying me at breakfast this morning, so this is his bad karma working itself out.” Violet looked at India. “He was pretty tight-lipped about walking you home last night. I hope he wasn’t too big of a horse’s ass?”
India laughed. “No, he was great. If anything, he probably thinks I’m the one who doesn’t get out much. I asked him to join me for a drink on the porch, and he practically tripped over himself trying to get out of there. I suspect he thinks I was trying to lure him inside.” She cringed.
No reason to mention the rest. She didn’t want to embarrass anyone, especially herself.
“So what about the kiss?” Violet asked, her eyes twinkling.
India tried not to choke on her water as she glared over at Wyatt, who was now looking back at her with a pleading look. It was obvious he wanted her to save him, but he clearly had no idea about the bomb Violet had just dropped.
Before India could answer, Violet excused herself to rush over to a stunning older woman who had just walked into the room carrying the same darling little girl from this morning. This time, India got a good look at the toddler. There was no mistaking Violet and Rex’s daughter; she was a miniature version of her mother, with huge brown ringlets and a mouth full of baby teeth.
The women chatted briefly while the little girl wrapped her arms around her mother’s knees. After a moment, Violet turned toward the group, asking for their attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special treat for you today. As you may or may not know, Blackberry Farm has been owned by the same family for over forty years. The Eden family has always considered this special place their home, and everyone who comes to stay here is treated like family. We hope you’ve felt that way during your brief time with us so far.”
She turned to the distinguished older woman next to her, who had beautiful ash-blonde hair and a slender but athletic frame draped in expensive shades of cream and white. Her twinkling eyes were an unusual gray-blue color, lending her an air of nobility, which was only reinforced by her incredible posture. India prayed she would age that beautifully.
“Please give a warm welcome to my dear friend and the proprietress of Blackberry Farm, Susan Eden.”
The room erupted in warm applause, the guests clearly thrilled to be meeting one of the farm’s owners. For all her wealth and privilege, Susan Eden exuded warmth, and India watched with admiration as she spoke to each of the workshop participants as if they were good friends already.
Wyatt watched Susan too, with the same jumble of feelings she always seemed to conjure up in him. He noticed that India was enchanted by her, as were most people who met her. The two women weren’t that different, really. They both oozed charm and class, and both were stunningly beautiful.
He got up from his chair and made his way back over to where India was standing. She saw him coming and gave him a pointed look.
“Looks like you survived lunch without a scratch. I didn’t think it was possible. I saw the claws on those two last night. Pretty fierce.”
“Yeah, thanks for the heads-up. I’ll have to have a discussion with Violet about her ideas on where I sit going forward. I have a feeling that suggestion wasn’t an accident. Speak of the devil.”
India looked up and saw Violet and Susan heading toward them. Sadie spotted Wyatt and made a run for him, leaping into his outstretched arms. She covered him in kisses as the three women looked on in amusement.
“I’ve always said you’d make a wonderful father, Wyatt,” Susan said. “A little girl like this would just ruin you,” she added with a sad smile.
Violet introduced India to Susan, and they chatted briefly before Susan moved on to greet other guests; Violet and Sadie trailing after her.
India was impressed by Susan.
“She’s really something. I can’t imagine the vision she and her family had to have to bring this place so far in only forty years. I heard it used to be a collection of smaller farms that the family slowly bought up over time.”
She noticed that Wyatt had gone still. Looking up at him, she wondered what she’d said.
“Do you know Susan well?” she asked.
He took a breath, then released it before turning toward her and squaring his shoulders.
“I do, India. She’s my mother-in-law.”
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
India couldn’t seem to wrap her head around that new piece of information.
He had a mother-in-law. Which meant he also had a wife.
She didn’t wait for an explanation. The look on Wyatt’s face told her all she needed to know.
She turned around, gathered her things, and left the barn in under a minute. He was smart enough not to try and stop her, and even had the good grace to look completely mortified as she fled.
She was glad she had the golf cart to make a quick getaway, even though Woodshed was just across the road.
Damn him. But she was mad at herself too. What the hell was she even doing? She’d jumped right out of a frying pan and into someone else’s fire. She thought she was good at reading people, so it rattled her to be so off the mark with Wyatt.
And what about Violet? Why hadn’t she warned India, especially since she seemed to be privy to all the scandalous details?
Something wasn’t adding up, but India was too shaken to stay in the cottage, and she certainly wasn’t going to be participating in any of the optional group activities scheduled for later that afternoon.
She stripped off her jeans and shirt, changing quickly into workout clothes and hiking shoes. She grabbed her camera and locked the door behind her before heading back out to the golf cart. She knew the trailhead was all the way on the other side of the Yallerhammer, and she didn’t want to risk running into anyone between here and there. She needed some distance from everything and everyone. She needed to get lost.
Finn had seen India arrive just a few minutes earlier, so he was surprised when he heard the tires spin out on the gravel drive a short time later. He had glanced out the window and watched as she threw the cart back into park, ran into the house, and then came right back out again with sunglasses and workout clothes on this time. It looked like she couldn’t get out of there fast enough as she veered the cart across the street and headed down the path toward the river. She had spunk, this girl. No wonder Wyatt was acting all jackrabbity.
He was way out of his depth.
She was just what the doctor ordered.
Finn was cataloging some seeds a little while later when he heard voices outside his shed. Grabbing his hat off the table, he wandered outside to see what was going on.
Wyatt appeared to be standing outside the door at Woodshed, having a one-sided conversation with himself.
“India, please, I want to explain. It’s not how it sounds. Just give me a minute.” The boy looked pretty forlorn. Finn strolled closer and got his attention.
“She’s not there. She took off like a bat outta hell a little while ago. Headed up toward the river. Way she was dressed, I expect she was meaning to find some woods.” Wyatt’s disappointment was visible.
“I don’t know what you did, but it can’t be that bad. You two only just met. How’d you screw it up already?” Finn asked with a smile.
Wyatt ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
“She thinks I’m married, Finn. So, yeah, I’d say it’s pretty ba
d. I doubt she’ll even give me the chance to explain. She’s pretty strong-willed.” He paced the path, weighing his options.
“You don’t say. Huh. I don’t know anyone that fits that description.” Finn rolled his eyes and waited for that to sink in. “Listen, you can make it right. Go find her. This is your turf; you make the rules. She’ll listen if you approach her right. That is, unless you’re gonna just give up. Seems to me, you might actually have a dog in this fight.”
Wyatt wanted to set the record straight, that much he knew. Where they went after that was a mystery. He didn’t know what the objective was for either of them, but he couldn’t let her go on feeling like a fool for one minute longer.
He owed her that.
He looked soberly back at Finn.
“You know, for an old guy, you’re not too bad in the advice department. The delivery could use some polish, but I guess I can let it slide. Thanks, Finn.”
He gave the farmer a brief hug and then ran over to the farmhouse to change his clothes before heading toward the trailhead.
India parked her cart near the small Orvis fishing shack on the banks of the river. Guests were out in droves thanks to the warm weather. India watched the choreography of the fishing lines for a moment as they danced across the surface of Hesse Creek; guests hoping to pluck trout from the rushing waters. It was perfect weather for fishing, cloudy with a chance of rain. India glanced up at the skies, confident she could get in and out of the woods before the storm.
She was just about to set out when a young guide walked out of the fishing shack.
“Just checked the radar, ma’am, and it looks like a storm is headed this way. I was just about to round everyone up off the river, so make sure that if you’re headed out to hike, it’s a short one.” He handed her a trail map and set out to warn the other guests.
