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Alex studied him. “You have plans for more?”
Evan turned away. “I’ve always had plans for more. Just not in the near future.”
“You sell to Solomon Creek Winery?”
Evan nodded. “Yes, my pinot grigio grapes.” He pointed to the highest section of the hill. “They’re harvested first. Then zinfandel and muscat. They’re all my grapes, but under his label.”
“I’m impressed.”
Evan was surprised. “Why? You’ve done well in the cattle business, and it’s been a lot more profitable.”
“Success is not always measured by financial gain.” Alex smiled. “I discovered that when I met Allison and Cherry.” There was a long pause. “You’ve had a rough few years, but you’ve come through it.”
Evan didn’t want to go there. “I have a daughter to think about now.” He glanced around the vineyard. “This is for her. It’s her heritage.”
“Is she the reason you wanted to build the winery?”
“That was part of the Kerchers’ plan, then my wife’s. Now, it’s the Rafferty Vineyard. I’m more into growing the grapes. And they’re in demand as the hill-country wine business grows. These wineries here are winning awards all over the world.”
“You’re quite the spokesperson.”
“It is my livelihood.”
They stopped at the crest of the hill. “What’s your dream?”
“It’s pretty simple—to grow the best grapes and run my own label.” Evan just wasn’t sure he could pull it off by himself. Although his brother helped out, Matt was more interested in the cattle operation.
Alex studied him. “The important thing is to have a dream. That was my problem for years.” Alex raised an eyebrow. “I worried too much about accomplishing things, making money, moving on to the next step, so that I couldn’t enjoy what I had. It’s important to have someone to share it with.”
Evan had to agree, but he had a feeling Alex Casali wasn’t talking about sharing all this with Gracie, but with another female.
Jenny rolled over in bed and glanced at the clock on her nightstand—6:55 a.m. Since it was only five minutes until the alarm would go off she might as well get up. Sitting on the edge of the bed, her thoughts flashed to Evan. It had been two days since she’d been foolish enough to let things go so far.
Big mistake. She never should have gone to Rory’s. Never should have let Evan kiss her. What had made her think they could be just friends?
She released a breath and walked out of her bedroom and into the main room of the apartment.
The newly remodeled attic space that had once belonged to Allison was smaller than Jenny’s place in San Antonio, but she didn’t have to share it with a roommate.
She walked over to the compact kitchen with its new cabinets and appliances, not that she needed more than a microwave. She took a diet soda from the refrigerator, popped the tab and went into the living area. Bamboo floors were covered by a sisal rug, and a grass-green love seat and two tan leather chairs faced the small flat-screen television banked on either side with floor-to-ceiling bookcases. There wasn’t any wasted space here.
It was fine, temporarily, but her goal was to go back to San Antonio and her teaching job at the high school. Not to kiss a cowboy/vineyard owner. That had been what had got her into trouble two summers ago with Brian. She brushed her hair away from her face and took a gulp of the caffeine-charged drink. She needed a clear head. She didn’t need to fantasize about Evan Rafferty’s arms around her, his mouth against hers, sending incredible feelings through her.
No! No! No!
She wasn’t ready for this man. More importantly, Rafferty wasn’t ready for her. He had a wife that he hadn’t put to rest, a daughter he was trying to parent. Her heart tightened at the thought of Gracie. How blessed she would be to have a sweet little girl like her.
She shook her head. “You’re dreaming again, Jen.”
Once again she heard the familiar words. Marsha Collins-Newsome had always been a realist. She hadn’t believed in dreams. A single mother beaten down by life, she’d married the first guy who could give her a decent home. Carl Newsome, a widower with three wild sons: Carl Junior, Mike and Todd. The boys were older than Jenny, and they’d spent their adolescence making things difficult for her. The youngest son, Todd, had been the worst. He’d made her life a living hell, and even as adults he wouldn’t leave her alone. She was glad he’d been sent to prison and hoped that she never had to see him again. No, the Newsomes and Collinses had never quite managed to become a nurturing family. The furthest thing from it.
Jenny remembered her visit with the Raffertys. They weren’t perfect, but they cared about each other. Her chest tightened with that same old longing. She wanted what she’d never had. A loving family.
She turned her thoughts back to Evan. He wasn’t the man for her. Too much baggage, and she didn’t want to be the rebound girl.
The only stability in her life had been her teaching. Since college, it had filled a lot of empty places. She needed to get back to it. And nothing was going to stop her.
Not even the good-looking Evan Rafferty.
Later that day, Jenny had just finished with a customer when the bell over the door rang and Evan walked in. Her heart began to race. She hated that she reacted to the man.
Evan removed his hat and nodded to Beth Staley. The older woman stopped and talked with him a moment, then he held the door open for her and she walked out.
He made his way across the store. Those deep-blue eyes locked in on Jenny. She felt her breathing speed up. She had to stop this. This wasn’t high school.
“Jenny,” he said as he stopped at the other side of the counter.
“Rafferty,” she returned, not seeing a bit of uneasiness in him. “What can I do for you?”
He glanced around, hearing voices from the tables in the classroom area. “Can we talk?”
Dear Lord, no. She didn’t want to hear that he was sorry he kissed her. “I’m rather busy right now.”
He held his hat in his hand. “When will you have time?”
Millie suddenly appeared. “I can watch things for a while.” She smiled at Evan. “You could go back to the office.”
Evan nodded to her. “Thank you.” Then without any warning, he came around the counter and took Jenny by the arm and walked her toward the back of the store. Inside the small office she stopped in front of the file cabinet, but when she turned around, she found Evan right there. His gaze was intense, his scent engulfed her.
“What’s so important?” she managed.
“I need to know if you still plan to chaperone Gracie’s sleepover.”
She was almost relieved that was the reason he’d stopped by. “Yes, I promised her that I would. Why? Have you changed your mind?”
He studied her for a moment, then shook his head. “I was thinking you might have after what happened the other night.”
Now she saw his uneasiness. It was endearing, but she couldn’t let him get to her. “Get over yourself, Rafferty. It was only a kiss.” One that had nearly knocked her socks off, she added silently.
He leaned in closer. She could feel his breath warm against her face. Then he grinned. He wasn’t playing fair. “Glad you feel that way.” He stepped back. “Because the invitations went out for Friday night.”
She worked to clear the dryness from her throat. “What invitations?”
“The sleepover at my house,” he said.
She knew he was talking about Gracie’s party, but suddenly a picture of Evan and her in a big bed flashed through her head. Whoa. She blinked and turned away. “What time?”
“Gracie told her friends seven o’clock. Maybe you could come by a little early, and don’t be surprised if Matt and Dad have some surprises planned.”
Jenny found it easy to smile. That was just like those two. “Sounds like fun.”
He grumbled something. “I just want to survive the night.”
She laughed. “Buck up, fella, this is only the beginning.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Friday night arrived, along with a half dozen screaming girls and their thundering footsteps overhead in Gracie’s bedroom.
“Saints save us,” his father said, looking up at the ceiling. “What in the world are they doing up there?”
“I don’t know. I only hope the house is still standing in the morning,” Evan replied, shrugging. “Of course, Jenny’s up there supervising.” Then came another thud. “Maybe they tied her up and put her in a closet.”
Sean laughed. “That’s something you and your brother would have done. But if it happens, then you can go up and save the pretty lass.”
And who would save him? he wondered. Once the girls had found out Jenny was going to be there tonight they were even more excited to come. For him, having her in the house seemed strange, but to everyone else, she fitted in. She did fit in. Maybe that was the problem.
The sound of little girls’ voices grew louder, and then came the stampede of footsteps on the stairs.
“Brace yourselves, here they come,” Sean said.
One by one, three little blondes, two brunettes and one red-haired girl arrived in the kitchen. Every one of them had big hair and tons of makeup on those sweet angelic faces.
Gracie proudly climbed up on a bar stool. The other girls followed her. “Hi, Daddy. We’re having a lot of fun.”
“I can see that.” He looked her over, trying to find his little girl under all the makeup. “Trying a new look?”
“Oh, Daddy. We’re doing the eighties. You know, Madonna, Bon Jovi. ABBA, too.”
The other girls broke into a chorus of “Dancing Queen,” then fell into a fit of giggles.
“Daddy, did you know Jenny can moonwalk like Michael Jackson?
“No, I didn’t.” Evan looked at his dad and mouthed, “Madonna.”
Sean shrugged and whispered, “I’m sure Jenny has it under control.”
“All the girls think Jenny is way cool. She says we’re going to work our way through the decades. We’ll finish with Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift.”
Evan turned back in time to see Jenny walk in. Her hair was big, too, lying in waves past her shoulders. She wore heavy makeup, overdone on the eyes and lips, and some kind of tight stretchy pants that hugged her long sexy legs.
“Hey, girls.” She winked at Evan as she sat down on a stool. “Did you get something to eat?” She glanced at his father. “Hi, Sean.”
“Hello, young ones,” he greeted as he eyed all the girls. “Looks as if I have several customers here.” He leaned on the counter. “What can I get for all of you? Pizza? Chips? Ice cream? Hamburgers?”
After the girls placed their orders, the group got up and headed upstairs. Gracie stayed back and said to her father, “Don’t come in, because it’s for girls only.”
Evan nodded. “Okay. We’ll knock on the door, then leave the food in the hall.”
She kissed him. “Thanks, Daddy.” She took off to find the others. The music started up again along with a thumping sound. Evan glanced at the clock to see it was only nine o’clock. Just twelve more hours and they’d all go home. That included Jenny.
It was midnight and the girls showed no signs of slowing down, but Jenny was running out of ideas for things to do. They didn’t want to watch any more videos, or eat any more food. They were too far out in the country for a scavenger hunt. Maybe some scary stories.
She got the girls’ attention and started telling tales she remembered from school when something hit against the window.
The girls jumped and gasped. “What was that?” one of them asked.
Jenny got up, pulled the curtains back and looked out the second-story window. Down below a flash of white caught her eyes. “What the …” she began, when she saw the figure standing in the yard. It was Sean. She opened the window and the girls came to see what was going on.
“Sean? Is something wrong?”
“Sorry to disturb you, but I’m looking for some little ones who’d be interested in roasting some marshmallows by the campfire. Maybe tell a few stories.”
“We are,” the chorus of girls cheered.
“I’m too scared,” Carrie said, looking out into the darkness.
“Come on,” Cherry said. “Mr. Sean won’t let anything happen to us.”
“How about if we all go together?” Jenny suggested. “It’ll be fun.”
“We’ll be right down,” she called to Sean.
“Good.” He smiled. “Bring Evan, too. He’s taking a nap before the next shift.”
Already dressed in their pajamas, the girls all put on sweatshirts and shoes, then headed down.
Jenny was bringing up the rear when she stopped by the master bedroom. She knocked softly and pushed open the partly closed door to find Evan lying on the bed fully dressed, minus his boots. The lamp beside the bed was on and she could see he was asleep.
“Evan,” she whispered, but when he didn’t answer, she walked in and stood next to the bed. She stared down at the man lying on the bed. He looked so peaceful, so unlike the Evan who was usually frowning.
She heard the girls at the foot of the stairs and reached out and touched his arm. The warmth of his skin caused her to bite back a gasp.
His eyes shot open, and he quickly sat up. “What happened?”
“Nothing yet. We’re going down to roast marshmallows. Your dad said to wake you up.”
Her hand was still on his arm. “Sorry, I was catching a few hours sleep.” He rubbed his eyes. “What are the munchkins up to now?”
She tried but couldn’t seem to move away. “Sean’s going to tell stories out by a campfire.”
Evan stood up, and she started to back away, but he pulled her closer.
“Rafferty … this isn’t a good idea,” she warned.
“You’re damn right it isn’t.” He started to lower his head when off in the distance she heard her name.
She quickly broke away, but Evan refused to release her as he held her head against his shoulder. “Kids can be a pain sometimes. This is definitely one of those times.”
