Crystal pulled into the West Arch Estate lot and parked near the door. She hopped out of the car and blinked against the brilliant sunshine, despite the fact that she was wearing her shades. It was a gorgeous winter day—cold, but the deep blue of the sky more than made up for it.

She’d been working on her proposal, her fingers flying over the keyboard, when Jamie had called to invite her up to the vineyard for lunch. She’d actually been loath to take a break, but in the end hadn’t been able to say no to him.

This was a recurring theme. She’d spent the night at his loft after surprising him with dinner. Then last night he’d shown up on her doorstep with dinner—albeit takeout. She didn’t mind since Slice of Pi had the best pizza west of the Mississippi. Actually, it was probably the best on the east side too. The owner was a retired math teacher and a good friend of Jamie’s family. In fact, he’d been Jamie’s favorite teacher and a bit of a mentor to him when he went to college. Crystal had felt a pang of envy when he talked about it.

School had never been her forte. It had been more like a nightmare. She couldn’t have gone to college even if she’d wanted to, not with her grades. Well, she supposed she could’ve gone to community college for a while, but doubted she would’ve fared any better there. That she’d managed to pull off a successful, lucrative career seemed like the heist of the century.

Except she hadn’t stolen it—it had been handed to her.

Geez, why was she standing here in the brilliance of a spectacular day, about to have lunch with her hot dude and letting her insecurity crap all over it?

Wait, “her hot dude”? Was that what he was?

He certainly wasn’t her boyfriend. Even if he sort of felt like one.

Stop it. We aren’t going there!

Scoffing at herself, she went into the winery. The main entry led into a great room where they had tastings. A long counter ran along the right side, and behind that wall was a spacious kitchen. Upstairs were the offices—Hayden’s and Cam’s on one end and Luke’s and Jamie’s on the other. Crystal hadn’t been here since she’d started seeing Jamie, but she’d had a tour on one of her visits to town last year.

Seeing Jamie?

What the hell else would you call it?

Okay, she had to stop this internal dialogue.

Would it be better if we discussed it out loud? Plenty of people talk to themselves, you know.

Crystal stifled a laugh. Maybe she was losing it. She had been spending a lot of time in front of the computer screen.

Turning to the right, she went up the stairs to the top floor. A large conference room overlooked the vineyard; it was a stunning view. After pausing to appreciate it for a moment, she went on to Jamie’s office. The door was ajar, so she pushed it open.

He was on the phone but made eye contact with her, his gaze lighting up and his lips splitting into a sexy smile. Her heart skipped a beat, and she tried her damnedest to ignore it.

“Thanks, Bill. Bye.” He hung up the phone and jumped out of his chair. Circling the desk, he landed in front of her, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her soundly. “I missed you.”

She looked up at him, resting her hands on his chest. “Since this morning?”

“Always.” He kissed her again, his tongue finding hers, and for a moment, they surrendered to the ever-present electricity that zinged between them. “Plus, you’re leaving tomorrow for like two weeks or some ridiculous amount of time so I have to get all the Crystal I can.”

“Great, now you sound like a meth addict.”

He laughed. “Oh, I’m an addict all right.” He gave her a suggestive look and glanced toward the couch.

She arched a brow at him. “There are piles.”

“Of course. But I can move them.”

She rolled her eyes. “I came for lunch.”

“And I have that too. In the kitchen. But first I thought you might like to take a walk up to the excavation site now that they’re done. I’d suggest a picnic, but it’s too cold.”

“Too bad, that does sound fun. I’d love to see the site, thanks.”

He snagged his sunglasses from the desk and his coat from the back of the door, then they were on their way downstairs. He paused before they went outside and changed his shoes, putting on a pair of boots from the closet. “Good thing you wore boots today—and not those sexy ones with the killer heel.”

“Yeah, I’m glad I didn’t wear those. Still, rain boots would’ve been better.”

“Brooke’s are in here if you want to borrow them.”

She considered it. “Mine are fine. If they get too dirty, I’ll just make you clean them.” She leaned close and whispered, “With your tongue.”

“Ooh, so medieval.” He licked his lips, and she laughed.

They stepped outside into the bright sunlight and trudged up the hill, hand in hand. The site was just a bare piece of land with the visible outline of where the foundation had once been. The guys—Jamie, his brothers, and Hayden—had decided to permanently mark the foundation and mount a plaque saying, “Bird’s Nest Ranch, Established 1879 by Hiram and Dorinda Olsen.”

“The foundation’s going in toward the end of March,” Jamie said. “And I’m going to order the plaque next week—thanks for sending the link.”

“That’s so cool that you guys are doing that. And thanks for letting the girls and me choose the plaque.”

“It’s our pleasure. We’re happy to commemorate the history.”

Crystal knew how supportive they all were, which was great considering she, Kelsey, and Brooke were all so heavily invested. She’d talked to them yesterday after Cam and Luke had shared the Stowe findings. They all felt a little odd about Angie’s reaction to everything. They didn’t want to upset her but also wanted to be faithful to history. Kelsey felt especially weird about it. She wanted to ask for the materials for the exhibit but also wanted to wait for Angie to make the overture. It was an awkward situation for sure.

“Does being here give you inspiration?’ Jamie asked.

“Actually, yes. I like knowing that Dorinda walked in this same spot.”

“Didn’t they find something of hers in the excavation?”

“They found a cameo brooch, but we don’t know if it was hers. If I ever find any of her family in New York—or anywhere else the trail leads us—I’ll ask them about it.” She’d completed all her Foster phone calls yesterday and was anxiously waiting for Darryl’s list of non-Foster relatives.

“I think I’ll work it into the story, though,” Crystal said. She’d mapped out a romance arc for act one, which culminated in Hiram’s death. Act two climaxed with Dorinda deciding to open a brothel. And act three was pretty much about the KKK.

“How’s that?”

“Hiram gave it to her of course, as a betrothal present. He wants to show her that he’s thoughtful and that he can provide for her.”

“Giving her a brooch does all that?”

“Sure. They’re out here in the middle of nowhere, and he thinks to give her something pretty. It’s utterly unnecessary, which illustrates that he can afford things beyond the necessities. I think that’s an important quality in a nineteenth-century prairie husband.”

Jamie laughed. “Um, yeah. I think it’s an important quality in a twenty-first century husband pretty much anywhere.” He sobered. “In all seriousness, that’s a nice trait.”

She beamed up at him. “I think so too.”

“You’re really into this story. It’s brilliant.”

Her smile diminished. “I’m nervous about how it’s all going to play out.”

“Why? It sounds great and you have such an ‘in.’”

“What, because of Alaina?” Her brow pleated. “She’s not helping me. This is my project. I guess that’s why I’m nervous. Sometimes I wonder where I’d be if it weren’t for her.”

“Why would you say that?”

She shrugged. “I owe pretty much everything to her. I told you about how I left Blueville.” She took a few steps away from him and looked back over her shoulder. “In fact, sometimes I wonder what you’re doing with me. A super smart guy like you…”

Did she think she wasn’t smart? He knew she hadn’t gone to college—his mom had painfully pointed that out at dinner—and that she had a bad habit of discounting herself. And yet she carried herself with confidence, and he knew she’d accomplished a lot—on her own.

He walked over to her and caressed her shoulder. “Hey. I didn’t know you when you left home, but I know you now and I can see the woman who grew out of that messed-up teen. We’ve all made mistakes, you know.”

She pivoted toward him, and he dropped his arm to his side. “Really? Name one of yours.”

He gestured toward the winery. “All you have to do is take one look at my office or my loft and you see that I’m a disaster.”

“You’re messy—that’s not being a disaster, nor is it a mistake. You’re smart, successful, and sexy.” Her head tilted down toward his crotch, and his cock twitched.

“So are you. And I’ve made plenty of mistakes—like goofing off in England when I should’ve been saving money. But that’s what happens when your girlfriend is the daughter of a knight and you have to keep up appearances, as they say.”

“Is that why money’s tight for you now?”

He wished he hadn’t brought it up. Stupid filter. “Partly. So don’t go thinking you have the monopoly on dumb choices.”

She half smiled. “Okay. Thanks for believing in me.”

He drew her into his arms and kissed her. “Thanks for saying I’m not a disaster.” He winked at her before kissing her again.

After lunch and a quick “quality test” of the sofa in his office, Crystal headed to the library to check out the exhibit and debrief with Kelsey about the Stowe materials that Angie was holding on to. Crystal parked down the block and made her way inside as Kelsey was just finishing up with a patron. Several others were about—a mother and two children, a guy sitting at a computer, and a few older women browsing.

“Hey, Crystal!” Kelsey came out from behind the counter. “Marci called in sick, so I can’t go upstairs with you. But we can chat down here. The exhibit’s just about ready. I’m saving some space for Angie’s stuff. Assuming she loans it to us. I guess there are a ton of pictures, including great historic shots of Ribbon Ridge. I can’t believe she didn’t think to give them to me sooner.”

Crystal didn’t blame Kelsey for feeling disgruntled. This had been a passion of hers for months now, and it wasn’t as if Angie hadn’t heard all about it. Kelsey lived with her son for crying out loud.

Kelsey took a deep breath. “Sorry, I’m just being crabby. It’s not her fault. She hadn’t looked through that stuff in years—not since before her mother died. She would’ve given everything to me sooner if she’d thought of it.”

“Just think—you might’ve been the one to stumble over those letters she and Jamie found.”

Kelsey let out a light laugh. “True. How shocking would that have been?”

“Except they don’t actually say ‘KKK,’ according to Jamie. In fact, without the letter that Darryl found from Lane County, we may not know that Angie’s ancestors were even in the KKK.”

“When you think about the mayor—two mayors—being not just members of the KKK but the leaders in the area…” Kelsey shuddered. “And one brother being involved with the death of another—that’s pretty crazy.”

“I know. I’m trying to figure out how that works into the screenplay, but I don’t think it does. I’m telling Dorinda’s story, and that ends with the fire set by the KKK. And her murder.” A chill stole up Crystal’s spine, which often happened when she thought of Dorinda dying like that.

“I think you should write a book that includes the second half of the story—about the Stowes. Their multiracial family, the good vs. bad brother, the patriarch who came from Tennessee to start up a KKK Den or whatever they were called.” Kelsey’s eyes lit. “Or, you could hire a ghostwriter—I know they novelize movies. I have a ton of them in the middle grade section. They could write a book that included your screenplay plus the Stowes.”

Crystal hadn’t thought of that. If Jamie found more information on Turner Stowe and his family, maybe it would be worth telling that story too. “Good suggestion.”

Kelsey chewed her lip. “I don’t know. Maybe not. The whole KKK thing makes me nervous. And nauseated.”

“Yeah me too. Hell, the whole thing makes me nervous. I’ve never done anything like this. What if it sucks?”

Kelsey shook her head with vigor. “It won’t. Totally impossible. Dorinda’s story should be told, and you are the only one to tell it—as far as I’m concerned.”

“What do you mean? You could do it. In fact, why aren’t you? You’re a librarian with a master’s degree. You’re way more qualified than me.”

Kelsey cocked her head to the side. “Seriously? I don’t know anything about writing a screenplay or producing a movie.” She gave Crystal a side-eye. “I think you’re stuck with it. But I’d be thrilled to read it!”

Crystal laughed. “Okay.”

Kelsey went back to the counter and motioned for Crystal to join her. “You can help me shelve books if you want.” Her mouth tilted into a subtle smile. “That way you can update me on how things are going with Jamie.”

“They’re going fine. We’re just friends.”

“With benefits!” Kelsey said, laughing.

“Yeah, okay. With really good benefits.” But that was all it was even if the temptation for more was so close, she could taste it.

---

After Crystal left, Jamie had a hard time focusing. He kept thinking of their quickie on the couch, which had felt like really satisfying foreplay. He couldn’t wait to get her alone later, especially since she was leaving tomorrow.

Ugh, he didn’t want to think about that.

A light knock on his nearly closed door drew Jamie to look up from his computer. “Come in.”

Luke walked in and was closely followed by Cam.

Cam eyed the sofa. “Hey, you cleaned it off. Can’t imagine why.” He elbowed Luke, who coughed.

Jamie threw a paper clip at Cam. “Really?”

Cam easily dodged the flying office supply. “Can we sit, or do we need to sanitize it first?”

“For fuck’s sake,” Jamie muttered. “Why are you both here?”

Luke pushed Cam toward the couch, sending him sprawling onto the cushions. “What jackass here is trying to get around to is Crystal. We saw that she was here for a while. With the door shut.” Luke sat on the arm of the sofa and looked up at the ceiling. “And I may have heard some…noises. I swear I wasn’t trying to.” He gave Jamie an apologetic look.

“It’s nice to know at least one of my brothers isn’t a dick.” Jamie glared at Cam briefly.

Luke picked up the solitary throw pillow and smacked Cam in the head.

“Hey!” Cam slid to the far end of the couch. “Sorry.” He turned his attention to Jamie. “I didn’t mean to be a dick. What can I say, you both bring out the worst in me.” He grinned, and they all laughed, breaking any remaining tension.

Well, most of it. Jamie suspected what was coming next and wasn’t sure he wanted to have this conversation.

“Does this mean you guys are heating up?” Cam asked, propping his legs on the table after moving one of Jamie’s piles.

“It’s not a secret that we’re…” What were they exactly? “Together. Ish.”

Luke crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Ish?”

“It’s complicated. Actually, it’s not. It’s the opposite of that. We have an undefined relationship. We have fun together, and we’re not looking for anything serious.” Although, he had to accept things had moved past “casual.” He cared about her and was pretty sure she felt the same. He missed her when they weren’t together—he hadn’t been kidding earlier when he said he’d missed her since seeing her that morning. She was heading back to LA tomorrow for a couple of weeks, and he was dreading the time apart.

“That’s how Brooke and I started out,” Cam said. “Sort of. Ah hell, it’s all complicated, isn’t it?” He looked from Jamie to Luke.

Luke let out a laugh. “Totally. Mom keeps asking when Kelsey and I are setting a wedding date. Never mind that it isn’t any of her business, but I just don’t know right now. Kelsey has a lot of trust issues—and understandably so.” Her ex had been physically abusive and was now dead after serving time in prison. Her and Luke’s relationship was probably the definition of complicated.

And yet they were happy. And secure. “I don’t think you guys need a wedding date to prove your love or your commitment. From where I’m sitting, you look pretty solid,” Jamie said.

Luke’s mouth spread into a smile. “Thanks. Yeah, we are. Besides, it’s enough with two weddings this summer between this joker.” He jabbed his thumb toward Cam. “And Kelsey’s grandma.”

Cam shook his head, looking suddenly defeated. “You aren’t kidding. Try planning a wedding to a woman with two sisters and a very available mother.”

Luke didn’t look remotely sympathetic. “Do you really mind? They’re a great family.”

Cam snorted, his mouth cracking a smile. “No. They are pretty great. Unlike Kelsey’s family—her grandma notwithstanding, of course.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “No kidding, Kelsey’s folks are a piece of work. I’m glad they live in another state.”

Jamie wondered what Crystal’s family was like. She’d mentioned them, of course, but he also knew she spent as little time in Blueville as possible. Was that because of her family? Families made him nervous after what had happened with Sadie. Sir Geoffrey had been pretty brutal letting Jamie know exactly what he thought of him—which wasn’t much.

Because of that experience, he’d kept every woman since then at bay. Until Crystal. He hadn’t meant to let her get close, but here she was. And she was already better than Sadie. She was far more supportive when it came to his quirks. Sadie never would’ve brought him an organizer or cleaned his kitchen. She would’ve lectured him about the importance of being tidy and dragged him out to spend a bunch of money he didn’t have on a fancy dinner so they wouldn’t have to eat in his messy flat.

Bollocks, why had he put up with that shit?

“Earth to Jamie,” Cam said.

Jamie blinked. “What?”

“We were talking about when Mom might be in the right headspace to turn over the family history to Kelsey.”

Jamie huffed out a breath. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“I talked to her this morning,” Luke said. “She said she’s waiting for you to do some research. What’s the holdup?”

“I have a friend who can help me but she’s been on vacation. She might be back now, but she has to play catch-up before she has time for me.”

“Bummer. Tell her to hurry up. Mom’s giving Kelsey a few things—photos of Ribbon Ridge and some other documents, but I’d love for Kelsey to have everything for the exhibit opening.”

“I’d like that too,” Jamie said. “Believe me, I’m working on it.”

“Cool.” Luke stood from the couch. “Come on, Cam. Let’s give Romeo some space.” He slid Jamie a dubious look. “I just realized—you gave us some BS story about hooking up with Crystal on New Year’s Eve. That wasn’t BS, was it?”

Jamie thought about what he’d told them, then he thought about that night. He couldn’t keep a smile from spreading his lips. “You figure it out, Sherlock.”

Cam jumped to his feet. “Hot damn, little brother.” He flashed a smile at Jamie, then shoved at Luke. “Come on, let’s leave him to his spreadsheets.”

Hayden appeared in the doorway, his face pale. “Uh, Bex’s water just broke. I gotta go.”

Cam rushed him and wrapped him in a tight hug, lifting him off the ground with a loud whoop. Luke hugged him next, and Jamie jumped up from his chair to join in the congratulations.

Cam stared at him. “Dude, why are you standing here? Never mind, I’ll drive you to the hospital. Where’s Bex?”

Hayden looked a bit shell-shocked. “At home. She stopped working at the end of last week. I need to go get her.” He shook his head, his eyes coming back into focus and looking suddenly energized. “Shit. I need to go.”

“Do you want me to drive you?” Cam asked.

“No, I’m good.” He grinned. “Really good. Will you let everyone know?” He turned to go.

Cam nodded. “Of course. Keep us posted!”

Hayden waved his hand as he broke into a run and flew downstairs.

Luke grinned widely. “Well that’s fantastic. Shall we divvy up people to call?”

They did just that, and Jamie returned to his desk to do his part. After spreading the news, his mind turned back to Crystal and their Complicated Relationship That Wasn’t Complicated. Things felt really great—now. But what about when those complications reared their heads? He knew she had a hang-up about being older than him. She also had some insecurities, namely about her intelligence. Their conversation up the hill at the excavation site came back to him, causing him to feel unsettled.

She wasn’t the only one with hang-ups. She’d asked about his money problems, which were a nearly constant source of frustration and stress. Crystal was a freaking millionaire. What would she do if they got together-together, absorb his debt? That wouldn’t be weird. Here, pay for all the credit cards I ran up romancing someone else, along with my education, which you maybe resent.

He didn’t really think she resented that, did he?

He told himself this was all premature thinking. They were just enjoying themselves and hadn’t talked about the future beyond tomorrow. He had no idea what would happen when she came back next month. In fact, maybe she wouldn’t. They’d made no promises to each other.

Promises or not, her life was in LA, not here. She’d made it clear that small towns were not her thing—been there, done that, didn’t want to do it again.

So yeah, where exactly could they go? He decided he didn’t want to think about that now. He wanted to enjoy tonight with her. He’d see what the future held…in the future.