Chapter Eighteen

 

After Mr. Hamilton had left, Grant made his way back inside. He was feeling numb. Chelsea had brought him into her office to join them, and Mr. Hamilton had told him that his work here was done. Chelsea hadn’t disagreed. In fact, she hadn’t said much of anything. He felt like something had gone on between her and her dad. Something had changed, but he didn’t know what. She’d talked before about him maybe staying on at Zosca. At dinner last night, she’d said that she knew the business would do great if he were running it. He’d loved that idea, but she’d backed away from it as soon as she said it. He sighed. He must have just gotten carried away. He was letting his heart get in the way, and that wasn’t like him. His heart kept coming up with the crazy notion that he was in love with her, but that was impossible. He hadn’t known her long enough. There was no way. His heart disagreed, and it had cracked, if not broken, at the news that she no longer wanted him at Zosca.

Mr. Hamilton had made it plain that he valued Grant and the work he did. He was eager to see him move over to Hamilton-Groves and work with Cameron. That would be great. Grant should be happy—it was the opportunity he’d been hoping for when he came here, but somewhere over the course of the last couple of months, his goals had changed. Chelsea had changed them. He sighed and walked back down the corridor toward her office. It didn’t matter, though.

He stuck his head around the door, and she looked up. “Come on in.”

He took a seat opposite her. “So, it looks like you’re on your way.”

She nodded and gave him a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah. It’s great.”

“I’ll put together all the recommendations I came up with for you.”

“Thanks.”

It seemed she didn’t even want to talk to him. He had to wonder what had changed. What had taken place in that conversation with her dad?

“I’ll leave you to it, then.” He got to his feet.

“Grant?”

He turned around when he reached the door.

“What are you doing after work?”

He shrugged. He’d been assuming that they’d leave together, have dinner somewhere, spend the night together again, but it seemed he’d had that all wrong. He’d gotten way too far ahead of himself.

“Do you want to have dinner?”

He smiled. “I’d love to.”

She smiled back, this time it did look genuine. “I would, too.”

“Okay, then. It’s a date.” He left her office and made his way back to his. No, he corrected himself. It was just the office he’d been using while he was here. He wouldn’t see it again after Friday. He needed to get a grip. Just because he wasn’t going to be staying on at Zosca, didn’t mean they weren’t going to be seeing each other anymore. She’d made that clear by asking him about dinner—he hoped. Maybe he had it all wrong. Maybe whatever had changed her mind about him staying here had changed her mind about him completely. Maybe the dinner was going to be a goodbye.

He sighed and sat down at his desk. He didn’t want a goodbye. He’d had one goodbye from Chelsea, and he’d hated it. Even after knowing her for only one night, when she’d told him goodbye that morning … He shook his head. If he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind then, what would it be like now? He couldn’t imagine. He didn’t want to know. He spent the rest of the day trying to focus on pulling all his reports together, tweaking everything so it would be Chelsea-friendly. He knew her well enough to know that she’d accept the tough calls more readily if he could phrase them in ways that appealed to her. She didn’t care that a new bottling machine would increase productivity by seventeen percent or what the return on investment would be. He smiled to himself as he changed the wording. He knew she would care that Paco would have to spend less time maintaining the old machine and, therefore, would have more time to help out in the offices—where she’d been encouraging him to pursue his aspirations to one day become an accountant.

He was grateful when six o’clock rolled around. He’d resisted the temptation to go and find her all day. He didn’t have anything useful he needed to talk to her about. There was only the personal, and that had to wait until now. He couldn’t wait any longer, so he got up and wandered down the corridor. Her office door stood open, and he could see her sitting there, staring out the window. She looked sad and lost. He hated to see her like that. “Knock, knock.”

She spun around looking guilty.

“Bad time?” he asked. “Should I come back?”

“No, not at all. Come on in. Sorry, you caught me daydreaming.”

He smiled. “I’ll bet. You’re going to do great things with this little winery of yours.”

She nodded but didn’t smile. He got the impression she hadn’t been daydreaming about Zosca at all.

“I came to see what time you want to leave, and where you’d like to go for dinner.”

She smiled. “I’d like to go soon. I’m all done for the day.”

“In that case, I’m ready whenever you are. Where do you want to eat?”

“Do you want to come to the cottage? I don’t feel like going out tonight, and I can rustle us up something to eat.”

“That sounds great, or I can stop on the way over and pick something up, so you don’t have to cook.”

“That’d be even better.” She lowered her gaze and then looked up at him. “Do you want to stop by the hotel, too? You could pick up a change of clothes for tomorrow.”

He smiled as relief rushed through him. So, it wasn’t goodbye. “Yeah. I’ll do that. I didn’t want to presume.”

“Even though you’re not going to be here anymore, I’d still like us to …”

“I would, too. I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know …”

She looked as relieved as he felt. “Well, now we do know, right?”

He nodded and held his arms out to her. After the day he’d put himself through, he couldn’t wait any longer to hold her again. She got up and came to him, looping her arms up around his neck. He closed his around her waist and drew her to him. He loved the way she rested her head against his shoulder. It felt so familiar like they were a whole lot closer than he had any right to believe they were. He stroked her hair. “Is it weird to say I missed you, today?”

She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “Maybe, but I missed you, too.”

“I’m still here.”

She nodded but didn’t reply.

~ ~ ~

Chelsea looked around the cottage when she got home. She was so glad he’d agreed to come have dinner with her. She needed to pull herself together. Just because she’d figured out that she was in love with him, it didn’t need to change anything. She didn’t need to tell him. They were just starting out. They had all the time in the world. Everything was going along at a normal pace—other than her premature falling in love. She was sad that he wasn’t going to stay at Zosca and work with her, but it wasn’t a huge deal. It wasn’t like he was going to be leaving to work in New York or somewhere. He was staying right here in Napa; he was going to be working with Cam. She needed to relax and just go with the flow. She needed to keep her big, silly heart in check, and give him time. Hopefully, he might feel the same way someday.

She went into the kitchen. She didn’t know what kind of takeout he was going to bring, but she could still set the table. She looked at the wine rack, but they could choose a bottle when he got here. She smiled and went to check the fridge. Yes. She had a couple of bottles of champagne in there. She knew that for the rest of her life, she’d always associate champagne with Grant. If she hadn’t drunk so much of it that night, she might not have had the nerve to go home with him! She sure as hell didn’t regret it, though.

She looked up at the sound of a car approaching. It wasn’t him. It was Mary Ellen. What did she want? She normally called before she came over. Chelsea hurried to the door to greet her.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Nothing. Not with me. I just wondered what’s going on with you. I was a bit surprised to hear that Grant’s starting with us on Monday.”

“Oh, that. Yeah.”

Mary Ellen frowned. “What’s going on? Aren’t you going to invite me in, so you can tell me all about it?”

Chelsea smiled. “I am, but not for long. He’s on his way here.”

“Oh.” Mary Ellen grinned. “Am I glad to hear that. I thought something must have gone wrong between the two of you. I honestly thought he’d be staying at Zosca and helping you run the place.”

“So did I.”

“What changed?”

Chelsea shrugged. “I don’t really even know how it happened. Dad came over this morning, and we talked about me buying him out and how the transition would go, and he asked me what was going on between Grant and me.”

“Uh-oh, and you told him, and Papa Hamilton doesn’t want Grant around his daughter?”

“No, it wasn’t like that. He asked me if I thought there was a future in it, and I told him I don’t know and then all of a sudden it was all decided. Grant was going, and that was it.”

“And you didn’t argue? That’s not like you.”

Chelsea made a face. “No. I guess it isn’t, is it? But I kind of distracted myself when I had this huge moment of truth.”

Mary Ellen folded her arms and raised her eyebrows. “About what?”

“I’m not sure I should tell you. You’ll think I’m crazy. I think I’m crazy.”

“We both know you’re crazy, so, just tell me already.”

Chelsea chuckled. “Thanks. You always put it in perspective. It hit me that I happen to be …”

“What?”

“In love with him! I don’t know how it happened, but I’ve gone and fallen in love with the guy, Mary El.”

“Oh, wow!” Mary Ellen grinned. “That’s awesome.”

“It is?

“It isn’t?”

“I don’t know! I mean, he’s a great guy, but he’s not my kind of guy. I haven’t known him more than five minutes. How can I love him?”

Mary Ellen shook her head. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told your brother—but remember that I’m talking from observation, not experience. Falling in love isn’t a decision that you make with your head according to some predetermined timeline. It’s something that happens inside your heart that you can neither control nor deny.”

“Wow. Aren’t you the wise one?”

Mary Ellen shrugged. “I’m not wise; I think I might be immune to it. But I will tell you it doesn’t surprise me. He’s a great guy. You’re a great match. And let’s be honest, he doesn’t just suit you, he suits your life. He fits in. Your dad thinks a lot of him, he and Cam get along well, he’s already friends with Antonio. Even I approve.”

Chelsea laughed. “You do?”

“Yep. If I didn’t, you’d have been whisked away from Gene’s in my car the other night.”

“Oh. So, that’s why you left early?”

Mary Ellen shrugged. “I saw the two of you talking, and it’s obvious to anyone with eyes in their head. There’s something between you, it’s like sparks fly whenever you’re around each other. It was the same the night we first met him. I just felt the need to get out of the way and let the fireworks begin,”

“You’re the best, Mary El.”

“I know.”

“So, you’re not shocked, you don’t think I’m nuts?”

“Not in the slightest. I think you should just tell him.”

“No! I can’t do that. It’s too soon. He already thinks I live from my heart too much and not from my head. He might think …”

“What?”

“I don’t know, he might think I’m nuts. It’s too soon. He might not feel the same way.”

“So? If any of that’s true, wouldn’t you rather know? Deal with it?”

Chelsea shook her head. “No. I know you’re right, but I think I’ll wait a bit first. See if he gives me any inclination that he feels the same way.”

“Okay …” Mary Ellen turned at the sound of a car approaching. It was Grant. “I guess that’s my cue to get out of here. I’m glad you’re okay. I’m glad things haven’t gone south between you.”

Chelsea made a face. “But what am I supposed to do?”

“Tell him! That’s all you can do.” She turned around and made her way back up the path to her car. She waved at Grant as he got out of his. “See ya,” she called.

Chelsea’s heart raced as she watched him make his way up the path. He had a duffle bag slung over his shoulder and a takeout bag in his hand. He’d changed into jeans and a denim shirt that made her want to lick her lips. He was gorgeous! And the way her heart raced at the sight of him, there was no doubting that she was in love with him.

He held up the takeout bag. “I got Chinese food, and then wondered if you even like it.”

“I love it.”

“Good. Mary Ellen’s not leaving because of me, is she?”

“No, she just dropped by on her way home.”

“What did she want? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Everything’s fine. She …” For a moment, she wondered if she should just come right out and say it. Tell him she loved him. That was what Mary Ellen had wanted. No. Not yet. For once in her life, she should be patient, be sensible. Let things pan out in their own time. “She stops by sometimes.”

Grant nodded. “Yeah. It’s handy that you live right here on the estate.”

“It is. I love this little cottage.” She turned to go in, they didn’t need to stand here talking on the doorstep.

Grant followed her through to the kitchen, and he opened up the cartons while she got the plates out. She smiled to herself at the thought that they even worked well together in the kitchen.

“Do you see this place as your forever home?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. I love it, but at the moment, I just rent it. It suits me to be near my folks, and close to Zosca. Lately, I’ve been wondering if I shouldn’t buy it. I don’t want to move away, but I don’t want to feel like I’m dependent either.”

“That sounds a like good compromise to me.”

Chelsea smiled and dished out the rice. She wondered if this would be the right place to live if he ever moved in with her. And wasn’t that crazy? She picked up her plate. “Do you want to eat outside?”

“Yes. It’s still so nice out there. Do you want a drink?”

“Oh. Sorry. I forgot. What would you like? We could open a bottle of wine, or there’s soda or champagne in the fridge.”

He smiled. “Do you want champagne?”

“Yes.”

Once they were seated at the table out on the deck, Grant popped the cork and poured them each a glass.

She raised hers to him. “Here’s to drinking champagne in wine country.”

He laughed. “There’s some significance to that that I’m not sure I grasp.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, I like it. Sometimes it feels like Napa is so full of itself. Everything’s about the wines. We look down our noses at Sonoma and poor old Lake County, as if we’re something special as if Napa wines are the be all and end all. Drinking champagne is like a reminder, that every wine producing region thinks it’s the best in the world, and Champagne is the granddaddy of them all.”

Grant laughed. “Yeah, I guess it is.” He clinked his glass against hers.

After they’d eaten, they walked in the meadow behind the cottage. Chelsea loved it out here. It was so quiet and peaceful. Grant held her hand as they walked. It was perfect. At least, it would be, if he knew that she loved him—and he loved her back. She shuddered. Was she being dumb about this whole thing? Was she making up a fairy tale that only existed inside her head?

Grant stopped and bent down. She laughed when he picked a daisy and handed it to her.

“Thank you.”

“I hope you like it? It just dawned on me that I haven’t bought you flowers or done anything like that yet.”

“And you don’t have to. I’m not the kind of girl who needs flowers and gifts. I thought you’d realize that about me by now.”

He smiled. “I do, but I still think it’s nice, you know?”

“I do, but this,” she held up her daisy and twirled it between her fingers. “This means more than store bought flowers ever could. This is real. It’s not about what you’re supposed to do like a guy is supposed to buy a girl flowers. It’s more about what you want to do. You saw it, you wanted to give it to me, so you did.” She smiled and tucked it into her hair. “Thank you.”

He took hold of her hands and drew her toward him. Her arms found their way up around his neck, and she sighed as his hard body pressed against hers. She lifted her chin and looked up into his eyes. They were blue and so full of … what? She wanted to think that the look in his eyes was full of love, but maybe she was just seeing what she wanted to see. As his arms closed around her and he kissed her passionately, she had to remind herself that what she’d seen was more likely lust than love—and she could hardly complain about that.

When they came up for air, she took his hand and led him back up to the cottage. It might be too soon to do anything about the love she felt for him, but it certainly wasn’t too soon to act on the lust.