The Next Best Thing

Then she gave him a hard shove, and he stepped back, feeling blurry and slow.

“So what is this, Levi? You’re just going to blindside me with a kiss every once in a while?” she whispered.

Blue jumped against her like this was the best idea he’d ever heard, his tail whacking against the wall. She gave the dog an idle pat, but she looked mad. He couldn’t blame her.

“Sorry,” he said.

“You’re so damn confusing,” she hissed. “Really. I mean, I get the impression that you can’t stand me, then after my seizure, you were incredibly nice and helpful, then you kiss me, then you ignore m—”

Ah, hell, he was kissing her again. If nothing else, it did shut her up. And he liked her mouth doing something other than yapping at him. Soft and sweet and hot. He drew her against him, and she didn’t resist. Instead, her hands slid into his hair, and she kissed him back, that sweet little noise coming from her once more. Then she let go.

“Stop it,” she whispered against his mouth. He obeyed. Her eyes were wide and blue, and she looked a little dazed.

“Thanks for talking to my sister,” he murmured, forcing himself to step back.

“You’re welcome,” she said after a beat, licking her lips. God, he wished she wouldn’t do that. Just made him want to instead. She swallowed. “I, um...I have to walk my dog.”

“Okay.”

She walked down the hall, stopping to glance back at him. And because he didn’t know what to say, he just looked at her, that soft, pretty package, her silly strappy shoes and now-messed-up hair and happy dog.

Then she went down the stairs, and he leaned against the wall, wondering exactly what the hell he was doing.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“ARE YOU SURE YOU don’t want an entire case?” Faith asked. “Wine makes such a great present, the holidays are coming up, and your friends will know you were thinking of them while you were on your trip.” She smiled and leaned on the counter of Blue Heron’s beautiful tasting bar.

“I can’t resist a pretty girl,” said the man. “Sure. Why not? Make it three cases. Best Riesling I’ve tasted.”

“I’m gonna tell my dad you said that,” Faith said. “You’ll make his entire week. And how about the cab you liked? The one you said had blackberry undertones and a hint of tobacco? You have a great palate, by the way.”

“All right. Great idea. I’ll save that just for me, though.”

“I like a man who treats himself right,” Faith said with a wink, handing the order to Mario, who’d run the cases out to the guy’s car.

Years of practice had shown Faith that flirting worked wonders when at the tasting bar. Honor used to lecture her about it, but no one had had a better record than Faith until Ned had come of age. At the moment, he was with a gaggle of fiftysomething women, clad in sturdy sneakers and matching, eye-bleeding pink sweatshirts that proclaimed them as “Phi Beta Bitches.”

She took the guy’s tasting glass to the sink. “I just sold four cases to one man,” she murmured as she passed her nephew. “Suck it up, sonny.”

“Ladies,” Ned said, “my aunt here doesn’t think I can sell as much wine as she can. Help me prove her wrong. I’m throwing myself on your mercy.”

“Whore,” she whispered, patting his shoulder.

“I learned from the best,” he returned.

It was fun to be back in the tasting room, especially with Ned. This was Honor’s domain—she worked out of a big office in the back, running the sales, media and distribution, and running them well. But whenever Honor was around, Faith felt slightly out of place. This morning, though, Honor had called, saying that Chipper Reeves had sprained his ankle, and could Faith please pour for the afternoon. And even though it meant pausing in her work on the barn, she didn’t want to say no. Honor so rarely asked her for help.

“Thank you, beautiful ladies!” Ned called as the Bitches left. “Eight cases, by the way,” he added to Faith. He took a cloth and started wiping down the counters, taking advantage of the break in traffic.

“Yeah, but my per capita ratio is still much higher. Guess you’re not quite as cute as you think, Neddie dear.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible,” he said. “I have a mirror, after all.”

“And speaking of cute,” she began.

“Nice transition, Auntie.”

“Thanks. Speaking of cute, you and Sarah Cooper? Is there cause for concern? Do I need to lecture you on safe sex, or just point out that her big brother is a decorated war veteran who can hit a moving target from five thousand yards?”

“Are you serious?”

“No, it’s just a line from a movie. But you don’t want him mad at you, do you?”

“Levi’s skill with a gun was definitely a consideration at first,” Ned said sagely, stroking his chin. “But Sarah’s cute little ass soon rendered me incapable of rational thought—”

“You did not just say that. I’ll have to kill you now. It pains me.”

“—and she’s pregnant with triplets. Congratulate me.”

Faith stared at him.

“Okay, fine,” Ned said. “The truth is, we text a little sometimes and play Words with Friends.”

“That does sound more like you,” Faith admitted. “Are you part of the reason she wants to come home so much?”

“Oh, I don’t think so. She crushing on me, and who can blame her?” He ducked as Faith swatted him. “I do like her, don’t get me wrong, but she’s a little young yet.”

“See? Just when I think I should drown you in a bucket, you come up with something really sensible.” Faith paused. “Just don’t let the crush get too out of hand, okay? They can really hurt.”

“Does this great wisdom come from the shards of your own broken heart, Auntie, or—”

“You know what? Get the bucket.” She turned as a couple came into the tasting room. “Hi, there! Welcome to Blue Heron.”

“Faith? Can I see you a minute?” Honor stood in the hall that led to the offices.

“I got this,” Ned said. “What can I pour for you guys this afternoon?”

Faith followed her sister past the conference room and offices that were kept (and seldom used) by Dad, Jack and Pru.

Honor sat behind her beautiful, frighteningly organized desk, a gorgeous piece of walnut and oak made by the same carpenters Faith had hired to do the deck for the barn.

“How are things?” her sister asked briskly.

“Great. Uh, how are things with you?”

“Just fine. Have you found Dad a suitable woman yet?”

Faith snorted. “That sounds...well, never mind. Um, not quite. I’m working on it. I’m casually introducing him to a gardener today, and I have a date set up with someone from eCommitment next week.”

“Good. We don’t want someone like Lorena taking Dad for everything he has.”

Faith felt the odd impulse to stand up for the woman. “You know, Honor, maybe it’s one of those opposites-attract situations. He seems to really like her.”

“She just asked him for a loan of ten grand, Faith. For a boob job in Mexico.”

“Mexico?”

“She knows a guy.” Honor raised her eyebrows.

“Well, maybe Dad can decide for himself. It’s his money.”

Honor sighed. “Do you know how much it takes to run this place, Faith? Let me put it this way. Two bad weather years in a row, and we’d be in the red.”

Faith chewed on her lip. “Right.”

“So you’ll try a little harder?” Honor suggested, tapping a key on her sleek Mac.

Faith wasn’t sure what else she could try, short of eBay. “I— Yeah. I’ll try harder.”

“I won’t see you till the party,” Honor said, typing in a staccato burst. “I have to be in the city for a couple days.” There was but one city if a person was from the Empire State. Or Jersey, for that matter. Or Connecticut.

“That’s nice,” Faith said. “I mean, nice that you’re getting away for a couple days.”

Honor made a noncommittal noise.

“Do you like it? Those business trips?” Faith asked.

Her sister stopped typing and looked up. “Yeah. I do,” she said. “It’s nice to...well.” She shook her head, and Faith felt the sharp knife of regret she so often felt around her sister.

“Nice to what?” she asked.

Her sister shrugged.

“Be your own person?”

Honor looked up, surprised. “Exactly.”

Faith smiled. “Not just a Holland of the Holland family, where everyone already knows everything about you.”

“Yes.” Honor stared at her for a second, then smiled, and Faith felt such a rush of love, she almost hugged her sister. Instead, she just smiled back, feeling her throat tighten a little.

“Can you keep a secret?” Honor asked.

Wow. “Sure.”

Honor hesitated. “I’ve... Well, I’ve been seeing someone. It’s getting serious.”

“What?” Faith barked, then covered her mouth with both hands at her sister’s grimace. “Honor!” she whispered. “Wow! I didn’t know that! Who is he? What’s he like?”

“He’s...he’s that guy. The one we mere mortals only get to admire from afar.”

Good heavens. Honor was actually blushing. “Except you got close up?” Faith suggested.

Her sister bit her lip and smiled. “Oh, yeah.”

“So he’s...the one?”

Another dreamy smile was her answer.

“Are you planning to introduce him to the family?”

Honor nodded. She looked so pretty, dumbstruck with love. “He’s coming to the anniversary party.”

“Wow. So it is serious, if you’re gonna...unleash the Kraken and all that.” Sure, she loved her family, but en masse, they could be a little terrifying.

“Yeah.”

Faith grinned. “This is great, Honor. I’m so happy for you.”

“Just don’t say anything yet, okay? To Dad or Jack or anyone. You’re the only one I’m telling for now.”

Faith paused. Honor, confiding in her. “I won’t say a word.”

“Thanks, Faithie.”

It had been a long time since Honor had called her that.

Her sister seemed to snap out of her fog. “I need to get back to work. I’ll see you when I get home. If you need any help with the party, let me know.” She paused. “I went up to the barn the other day, and it’s really beautiful, Faith.”

And now a compliment! Whoever this guy was, Faith would have to thank him. “Thanks,” she said, her voice a little husky. “Well. Have a good trip. Call me if you want. You know. Just to chat.”

“If I have a second, I will.” Honor smiled and began typing again.

Faith left the office and went back down the hall to the tasting room, which was now empty. She saw Ned through the window, putting a case of wine into the couple’s car. Good. A quiet moment.

That was—by far—the most intimate and friendly conversation she’d had with Honor in nineteen years. Maybe, now that Honor had more in her life than the vineyard and Dad’s care and feeding, they’d be close. Maybe...just maybe...Honor would finally forgive her for Mom.

Honor never could talk about the accident. Dad had held Faith at the hospital, rocking her, telling her she wasn’t to blame, she couldn’t help having a seizure. Jack had been horribly gentle and kind, saying at least Faith hadn’t died, too, and Pru, who’d been in her twenties at the time, did her best to fill the maternal role for Faith. Everyone seemed to recognize the terrible cost of being alone in the car with her dead mother; Faith had had nightmares for a year, had even wet the bed a time or two, hadn’t talked much for months. She didn’t have to do homework for the rest of the school year. Everyone was kind...except Honor, whose eyes held a message that Faith could read all too well. You killed our mother. And the thing was, it was true, though Honor didn’t know to what extent.