“You know I’m sorry Jack’s not the one on the walk with you.”

Lily looked up at Sawyer as they hiked through rows of grapes. “Why do you say that?”

“He knows all this shit. I’m the silent partner in the vineyard. This isn’t my area.”

She laughed. “I like walking. I don’t have to know everything about the estate.”

“Good.” He threaded his fingers through hers. He had warm strong hands. She leaned her head against the bottom of his shoulder.

“But you could tell me some other things,” she answered cautiously.

“Like what?”

She twisted her lips together. “I want to know more about you. I feel like Jack is an open book. He’s told me all about his parents, the divorce, all the college stories, but you. You.” She gazed into his eyes. “You’re a guarded mystery, Sawyer.”

“And that bothers you?”

“I already feel closer to you than I thought possible, but I want to know you. The real you.”

He stopped walking. They had reached the top of a hill. They could see the house behind them. Jack had been caught up in a stockholder problem, he had offered to handle for Sawyer.

“It’s not easy for me. I’m not like Jack.”

She pressed her hands on his arm. “And I love that about you. You two are so different. You give me everything I could ever want. I see that. I feel it.”

“And that’s not enough?”

“It’s enough. More than enough. Last night, Sawyer…”

He pulled her roughly toward him. “You don’t have to say anything.”

She nodded. “I do. I’m not the same woman now.” She was fighting the tears back. They were ready to spill from her eyes.

The emotions were still new and fresh. Everything was doubled because the experience was double the pleasure and twice as much power.

“What you gave to me last night was fucking amazing, Lily.”

His lips collided with hers as his tongue lashed wildly in her mouth. She moaned into the kiss as his arms tightened around her.

“I’ve never felt so purely adored in my life,” she whispered.

He brushed the hair from her shoulder. “Good. We want you to feel that way.”

They continued to walk, meandering along the trails. Sawyer plucked a few grapes to feed to her.

“Yum. No wonder the wine here is so good.”

“Again, you have to ask Jack about all of that. He knows everything about this damn place.”

“Why here? Why Napa?” she asked. “Best grapes I guess?”

Sawyer was more quiet than usual. “I used to come here as a kid.”

“You did?” She knew there was surprise in her voice.

He nodded. “Family vacations every summer. My mom loved it. My dad would plan out this entire romantic picnic for her and bring her up when my sisters and I were asleep. The house used to be a hotel before Jack and I bought it.”

“You have sisters?” She almost choked on a grape.

“I do. Three, actually.”

This was good. He was opening up. Telling her things about his life. Sharing with her things she wanted and needed to know. She was connected to this man forever—she had no doubt, but the details still had to be filled in.

“It’s the reason Jack pushed us to buy the vineyard. He knew it had memories for me.”

“Memories? Does your family still visit the vineyard?”

His eyes grew darker. “No. My mother died when I was in high school. My dad stopped coming here. The family trips stopped.”

“Oh, Sawyer. I’m sorry. I know it sounds useless because people say it to me all the time when they hear about my parents, but I’m truly sorry.”

“Thanks, baby.” He kissed the side of her neck, inhaling her hair. She felt his warmth as he snuggled closer. Sometimes he was like a giant bear.

“Coming here makes you feel closer to her, doesn’t it?”

He nodded. “My parents loved each other like nothing I’ve ever seen before. And that’s what I want. But I know what kind of man I am. I don’t pretend to be something I’m not, Lily. I have a short temper. I love business. I travel all the time. I realize I can’t offer a woman everything, but with Jack I can. I can love you. I can worship your beautiful body. I can please you in bed beyond your wildest dreams.”

Her knees started to weaken. If only he knew the way it felt when he did the things he did to her.

“But, I need Jack to give you the other half of that. He’s funny. He likes to go out. He doesn’t let business lock him behind doors for hours on end. We’re two different men.”

Lily realized more and more that they had yet again put the best parts of themselves forward. They were offering her their best selves. And in return all she had to do was be adored and worshipped.

She wrapped her hands around his neck. “Thank you for all of this. For saving me.”

He kissed her hard. “Thank you for giving yourself over and over.” He squeezed her ass playfully.

“Anytime.” She giggled. “Anytime.”