Chapter 5
Willa
I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING expecting to be hung over, but I felt refreshed. Alive.
I wanted to stay longer. I wanted to listen to Justin talk about wine all night.
Okay, that was a lie, I wanted to kiss him all night.
But it was his event and every time I tried to talk to him, someone else was vying for his attention.
So I left.
I left without saying goodbye, which was a stupid move.
But if I would have tried to say goodbye, he might have offered to walk me home.
Then I would have invited him up and tangled with him in the sheets, which sounded amazing, but I didn't want to mess up anything more than I probably already had.
Though, Leanna did push me to go to the event, I still wasn't sure what she would think if she showed up the next morning and Justin was in my bed.
I also didn't want the guy to see where I lived. He owned a winery. His family had a large vineyard. I was a Midwestern girl in a borrowed studio apartment.
And it's a good thing he wasn't, because Leanna was at my door as soon as I got out of the shower. Pepper was at her heels, and she had a box of donuts and two coffees for us.
"Good morning, Cinderella!" she practically sang.
"Why am I Cinderella? Am I covered in ashes?" I crouched down and petted Pepper behind his ears. The dog happily licked my hand and then did a circle before looking up at me expectantly for back scratches.
Leanna smiled, setting the box of donuts on the counter and handing me a Styrofoam cup. "Because you got to be the queen of the ball last night. How was it? Tell me everything!"
I shrugged, standing up and taking a sip of my coffee before I spoke. "Not much to tell. It was a very nice party and, oh my gosh, the jam really did taste even better when it was paired with the wine!"
Leanna laughed. "I'm sure it does, but I don't want to hear about the party! I want to hear about you and Justin!"
"Oh. Him. He's nice. Really nice." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
She rolled her eyes and bumped her shoulder with mine. "So I didn't scare him out of here this morning and he didn't run down the fire escape?"
I almost choked on my coffee and had to pound on my chest until I was able to get some air back in my lungs. "No! I don't even have a fire escape! He didn't come home with me. I wouldn't ruin your relationship with a client."
Leanna laughed. "Oh my gosh! Don't think of it that way. I totally wouldn't be mad if he was here when I got here, I'd probably give you both a high five. You're new in town, he's been here a while. You're single. He's single. He loves wine. You're going to become a jam maker. It's like a match made in taste bud heaven!"
I couldn't help but giggle at that one. "I'm not a jam maker, yet, so it doesn't count."
"But you will be," she sang. "And maybe making jam will inspire some words. I don't read many thriller books, but I'm sure doing something creative with your hands can only inspire the mind. And since you're not using your hands on Justin..."
All the heat went straight to my face. "You did not just say that! This is not a very professional relationship."
Leanna shook her head, laughing. "Not everything needs to be professional. You've got to let loose and have fun. Life's too short not to."
I straightened my shoulders. All of my life I'd been told to put my best foot forward. People always said to dress for the job you want, and to prepare for your future career. I'd done well in high school, got into my top choice college, and did well in all of my classes. I took an internship with a local newspaper and did everything I was told.
The biggest leap of faith I ever took was getting on that plane to New York. In the past twenty-four hours my life had turned into the biggest whirlwind.
I let out a deep breath. "I guess by let loose, you mean making jam?"
She laughed, walking toward the kitchen. "If making a big batch of apricot lime is your idea of a good time, then you may need to get out more."
***
Leanna walked me through each step as I took down notes on one of my many notepads, and Pepper happily sat at our feet, waiting for any scrap to drop so he could gobble it up.
I never thought I'd actually enjoy boiling apricots or smashing them with a potato masher, but it was a great stress reliever. And Leanna was right, there was something about being creative with my hands that definitely helped the creative mind.
"So, do you think it would be okay if jams appeared in one of my novels?" I asked, pouring the last of the mashed apricots into the stock pot on the stove.
"I guess as long as I'm not the murder victim," Leanna said, stirring up the pieces.
"I'm thinking maybe a mob family has a drug cartel that they're running through their bakery, but someone in the family is poisoning their jam."
Leanna's eyes widened. "You know, my boyfriend is really into those type of novels as well. They're not my type of thing, but I've never actually seen his creative process either. It's kind of cool, and a little frightening, to see where the mind wanders."
I laughed, bumping her shoulder. "I promise that I won't poison any of this jam!"
"Good! This is for the first outdoor Brooklyn Flea next week and I'd like some repeat customers. We wouldn't have that if you killed them all off."
"Oh, no, I definitely wouldn't do that. I'm strictly professional. I only kill people in fiction. I mean... Sorry, I guess I kind of suck at words. Maybe this is why I haven't written anything in a while."
Leanna smiled, turning the burner off before she put her hand on my shoulder. "I think you're over thinking things, Willa. Maybe over thinking everything. I can see it every time you talk, you kind of furrow your brow and then get really nervous. Don't be. I'm not going to tell you to leave. You're a great girl, and you're fun. I think you'll end up going far in everything and hopefully you won't leave my little booth at the Brooklyn Flea once you become a best seller!"
I laughed. "I think I'm a long way from becoming a best seller."
"Never say never. Impossible things are happening every day," Leanna said, laying out the mason jars on the kitchen table.
"Did you just use a Cinderella quote on me?"
"I'm glad you know your musicals."
I laughed. "I said I was journalism major. I also had a penchant for the theatre."
"You're going to have to go see something on Broadway. Have you ever been?"
I shook my head, watching her as she filled each jar and took notes. "No, just some off Broadway stuff that would come to St. Louis."
"Oh you will definitely have to go! Maybe Justin will even take you on a date."
"I doubt that. I probably didn't make that great of an impression on him." I sighed without even realizing I was doing it.
Okay, so maybe I did kind of like him.
He was passionate about his work and I found that extremely sexy. Not to mention that besides the killer blue eyes and smile, he had amazing arms that when he held me, I never wanted him to let go.
But he didn't ask for my number.
I wasn't even sure if he noticed I was gone.
Maybe I just had too much wine and he was just a guy looking to get some.
It wouldn't be the first time that happened.
Before Leanna could speak, something started buzzing from the donut box.
"Did you get donuts with a bomb in it?" I asked, staring at the box that Pepper was now growling at.
"Hush, Pep," Leanna said, walking over to it.
She opened the box and pulled out a phone that was now covered in pink frosting. "There's where my phone went!"
I raised an eyebrow. "Does this happen a lot?"
She laughed, wiping the phone off with the bottom of her shirt, only making a giant pink blob on her red tank top. "Yeah. I don't use my phone as much as I probably should. I only ended up getting a smart phone so I could track business emails."
She swiped a few things on the screen then did a little shimmy. "And speaking of business emails, I just got one from the FO winery."
"What? I mean, what did—what does it say?" I tripped over my own words. Every hair on my body stood on end and I tried to pry my eyes away from Leanna and her phone. Was he emailing to say that he didn't want to work with her anymore? Or was he emailing about me?
Or was it nothing and I was just overreacting?
That was it. Just my creative mind, finding new things to worry about.
"Dear, Leanna," she started, reading out loud. "I was wondering if I could perhaps get the phone number of your newest employee, Willa. Since it seems like she'll be doing your work in the city while you're at the Cape this summer, I thought I should have it for business purposes. Thanks, Justin Foster. FO Winery."
I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding in. "Oh. Okay, so he wants to talk to me about business things. That's cool."
She laughed, setting the phone down and bumping my shoulder. "Are you kidding? Read between the lines! It means he totally wants your number to call you! He's just trying to be professional."
"We'll see what happens when I send him your number." She picked her phone back up and quickly typed away on it.
No sooner had she sent the email was my phone buzzing.
"Coincidence?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"It's probably my mom. I haven't called her yet today."
I sucked in a breath, praying it wasn't my mom. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I looked down at the unknown number.
Leanna looked over my shoulder. "That's a Brooklyn number!"
I swiped and answered. "Hello, this is Willa."
"Hey, Willa, it's Justin. Justin Foster. From FO winery."
My heart was racing just from hearing his voice. It was smooth and sexy, even over the phone.
"Oh, hey, Justin."
I looked at Leanna and couldn't help but widen my mouth as she did the same, clapping her hands and smiling widely. This just excited Pepper who jumped up on her.
"Shh! Pep!" she chastised and walked him out to the main living area.
"I'm sorry. It sounds like you're busy," he said, his voice falling.
"Oh! No! I'm not. It's just Leanna. She's showing me how to make jam."
He let out a breath. "Oh. Good. I mean not bad that it's Leanna, but..."
He sighed and I could just imagine him running his fingers through his hair. It was a little longer on top and he had it swooped to the side. I wanted to run my fingers through it and feel if it was as soft as it looked and how it would glide through my fingers. But we didn't have any time. Our kiss ended way too soon.
"Anyway, you left before I could say goodbye last night and I was hoping I could see you again. Maybe tonight? Do you have plans?"
"Um...hold on," I said, quickly pressing the phone to my chest and looking around the corner to where Leanna was spread out on the floor, petting Pepper.
"Leanna! Am I busy tonight?" I whispered.
She shook her head. "No! Now go out with Justin!"
I put the phone back to my ear. "No. Actually, I'm free."
He let out a breath. "Oh. Great. Would you join me for dinner tonight then? Maybe see some more of New York?"
I smiled, even though I knew he couldn't see it. "Yeah. I'd like that."
"Great. I'll see you tonight. I can pick you up at your place?"
I bit my lip. Did I want him to see my little studio above the bakery?
I looked over at Leanna, sitting on my floor like she was completely comfortable. She was always comfortable wherever she was. Maybe it was time that I started to become as comfortable as she was in her own skin.
"Yeah. I'm at the Lick Your Lips Bakery. Well, my apartment is above it."
"Great. We may have to stop in for a late night snack after dinner then."
I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. If it was with Justin, I'd want more than just a late night snack.