TOML SW 2015-04-09 (9 page)

She knew perfectly well he wasn’t just talking about the wedding ceremony. Their gazes held a beat too long, then another.

This was the moment of truth. Should she say something, even after he rejected her? Put herself on the line and give this one more chance? Fear had her fingers trembling, so she moved them behind her back and clasped her hands together.

“You’re supposed to be my date.”

Jed crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance. “You never said you wanted to go with me.”

“Well, maybe I do.”

He raised one eyebrow.

“Come to the wedding with me,” she said, as lightly as she could manage.

He looked around the empty cabin. “Uh…”

“It’s just that Gabe’s bringing his girlfriend, and it really would make it a lot easier if you were there…” Oh, man, he was going to shoot her down. What did she expect? He just told her he didn’t have feelings for her and he didn’t want a relationship. She’d let Melanie’s pep talk push her over the edge. “You know what, bad idea. I’m sorry I suggested it.” She turned to walk away, embarrassed beyond belief.

“Wait.”

She froze.

“Is that the only reason you want me to stay?” he asked. She could hear his footsteps as he got closer. “So you won’t be alone at a wedding?”

She turned to face him, heat rushing into her cheeks. She licked her lips. “That’s most of the reason.”

He stared at her mouth, and for a moment she thought he might kiss her. Then he turned on his heel, breaking their connection. “I guess I could stay a little longer. Edward and I have a few things to discuss, anyway.”

“Family stuff?”

“Business. I was going to take care of it when I got home, but I guess I can do it in person.”

She took a cue from the look on his face, and opted not to ask him about it. “Okay then. I’m going to get going.” She moved to walk past him. Her hand was on the doorknob when he spoke again.

“You want to grab dinner with me tonight? I’m getting tired of eating by myself.”

I want to grab dinner, and dessert, and maybe even breakfast.

She shook her head quickly. She had to get out of here before she made a complete fool of herself. “I don’t think so. I have some things I need to do. But I’ll see you at the rehearsal.”

~~~

Jed was surprised to find the first three clues in Tori’s treasure hunt featured prominently in a plastic table display at the Moon Lake Bar and Grill. The bartender came to take his order, and Jed was happy it was not the usual redheaded girl, but a man.

The bartender gestured to the clues in Jed’s hands. “That last one’s got to be this place.”

“Because of the pint?”

“Yeah, plus the shamrocks. This place used to be called O’Laughlin’s, and Tori wrote it both ways on the map, so it has to be us.”

The mention of Tori’s name made him sad, the words he’d said to her still fresh in his mind.

It’s not like we have feelings for each other.

He’d chosen those words carefully, knowing full well they would hurt her. He wanted to be casual, but he had to break it off.

“Why don’t you make that order, to-go,” he said, suddenly wanting to be alone. His mind replayed their conversation. Why had he invited her to dinner? What was he thinking? Thank goodness she didn’t come, or he would have happily tightened the rope between them that he’d deliberately let fall slack.

He took his order back to the cabin and popped the top on a cold beer, stepping out onto the deck. The air was still and damp, lights reflecting off the dark water.

What he said to Tori couldn’t be further from the truth. He had feelings, all right. The kind that had him tossing and turning in his bed all night, imagining her warm body tucked between the covers right next to his. He was gaga for that girl. And that was dangerous territory for a man who would do anything to avoid falling in love.

His cell phone rang. “Trainor.”

“It’s Edward.”

Jed’s stomach clenched. There was no more putting this off. “I was just about to call you. There are a few things I need to talk to you about.”

“Tomorrow, around noon? You can come to the house.”

“I’ll be there.”

He ended the call and gazed out over the water. He would do what he had to do to save Trainor Enterprises.

~~~

Chapter 7

The house was wide and rambling, with a small front porch and dark wood shingles. A small sign hung at the entrance to the property, welcoming you to Crescent Moon Vineyard & Winery.

Jed got out of his car and stretched. He hadn’t paid any attention to the property the last time he was here, his vision clouded with anger at his father.

So this was where Tori grew up, overlooking the water and surrounded by grapevines. He imagined her here as a child, running between long rows of plants, the image drastically different from his own upbringing.

He walked to the door and pressed the bell, waiting only a moment before a man with dark hair and deeply tanned skin answered. Jed tilted his head, and the man smiled warmly. “I’m Rafael, the vineyard manager. You’re Edward’s son?”

“I am.”

Rafael extended his hand and Jed shook it, noticing its callouses. “You look like your father,” said Rafael. “Come on in.”

Bonnie walked into the foyer, drying her hands on a towel. “Good morning, Jed. Edward’s in the vineyard, checking on the vines.”

“Checking on the vines?”

She laughed. “You’d be surprised. Your father has taken quite an interest in the winery operations. He’s spent a lot of time with Rafael, learning all about what goes on here. I think Edward’s enjoying his retirement.”

“Retirement?”

“Yes. You didn’t know? He sold his company just a few months before he and I met. You should ask him about it.” She winked.

Edward Trainor, retired?

That was like a hawk deciding he was tiring of flying.

Bonnie led him through the house and out the back door, where rows of grapevines stretched over the undulating ground as far as he could see.

“This is incredible,” he said.

“Isn’t it? My husband planted these vines when we were first married. Hard to believe so much has changed while these plants have stood watch from this field, growing and flourishing, producing year after year of grapes that have become the wine for our celebrations and our heartaches.”

She pointed into the distance. “There. I see him, about ten rows up the hill.”

Jed nodded. “I see him too.”

“Tell him lunch is at one, would you?”

“Sure thing.”

He began walking down one long row, surprised by the pungent scent of fruit that surrounded him. Fall was clearly on its way, and though he knew nothing about vineyards, he could tell they must be getting close to harvest time.

Edward looked up and waved, though still at a distance. Bonnie’s words about the vineyard bearing witness to their lives rang through Jed’s mind, and he wondered what their eyes would see this morning.

I wish things had been different between us.

The thought surprised him, even as he nodded his head lightly. He’d been so angry with his father for so many years, never allowing himself to consider how much he had missed, or what could have been.

Edward stood up when Jed approached. “Hello, son.”

“Edward.”

“I was just helping Rafael monitor some late-season blight. Bonnie calls it tinkering in the field.” He chuckled.

“She told me you sold your company.”

He nodded. “Best decision I ever made.”

“Never thought you’d do it.”

“It was too important to me. It was all I had because I couldn’t let myself see anything else. Then I had a heart attack.”

Jed raised his eyebrows. “When was this?”

“August. Scared the bejeezus out of me.”

“You should have told me.”

Edward frowned. “Not an easy phone call to make, especially when you I hadn’t spoken in so long. Anyway, I was back at my desk in less than a month, but now it looked more like a prison cell than anything good. So I got up and I walked right back out again. Sold the company, rented an RV…”

“You rented an RV?”

“I know, it’s hard to picture, isn’t it? Your old man driving a Winnebago.” He laughed. “It was a dream of your mother’s when we were young. I never forgot it, almost like it was a trip I needed to take for her.”

Jed raised his chin at the mention of his mother, but let the feelings slide over his back. He hadn’t come here today to talk about the past.

“I met Bonnie six months later, and I’ve never looked back.”
 

“I need something,” said Jed. “Sell me the shares of Trainor Enterprises Mom left you in her will.”

Edward narrowed his eyes. “Someone’s got you over a barrel.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“When you were growing up, I always wished we had something in common. Something to talk about. When I’d see you, it was always so uncomfortable. Now here you are, a successful businessman. Owner of your own company, just like I was. We’ve never had more in common, and we’ve never been less inclined to share information.”

“It’s a little late for bonding, don’t you think?”

“Your mother didn’t think so. She wanted us to have a relationship, son. That’s why she gave me those shares you’re biting at the bit to get ahold of. She knew by giving me a piece of your company, she was ensuring we would cross paths, that you’d have to talk to me someday, let me back in your life.”

“I’ll give you five point two million.”

“You can have them. This was never about money.”

“If you won’t take my money, I won’t take the shares.”

“Stop being so stubborn, boy. Don’t you see? I want to be there for you. I want to help.”

Jed pointed his finger at his father. “You were never there for me. Not ever. I’ll be damned if I let you just waltz right in and be there now. I gave those shares to Mom for her security, to take care of her, something you never did. I gave her those shares because I loved her, and I won’t let you use them like some sort of gesture.”

“That’s awful thick-headed of you.”

“I learned from the best.”

Edward nodded. “I was thinking it was the kind of stupid thing I would do.” He spit on the ground. “I want a chance to do the right thing, Jed. For once in my life. Won’t you give me that chance?”

Emotions Jed didn’t even know he still possessed came rising to the surface in a powerful wave. He was sixteen again, watching his mother cry at the kitchen table when she thought no one was looking. He was ten, the only boy on the football team without his dad on the sidelines.

“I gave you plenty of chances, and you blew every last one.” He forced down the other words that wanted to come, the litany of offenses Edward Trainor had committed against his son and ex-wife. Jed began to walk away, yelling over his shoulder, “I’ll have my lawyer call you about the sale. Not a penny less than five point two.”

~~~

Tori changed the attachment on the flex shaft and began polishing her mother’s ring for the final time. All the stones had been set, the metal as perfect as Tori could make it, and now it was time for the glory.

Turning her music up louder, she put on her safety goggles and got to work, singing along with the words.

She was in a bad mood. The shop had been busy the last two days, yet she’d barely made enough money to pay her student loan, no less her mortgage. It seemed all of her efforts were falling short of where they needed to be in order to save Tori’s Treasures.

At least the plans for the wedding reception were all but finalized, and she’d even managed to sneak into Syracuse and buy herself a dress for her mother’s wedding. On credit, of course.

“Your treasure hunt is a sensation!” yelled her mother, not six inches from Tori’s ear, making her jump a mile and whip off her goggles.

“Mom, you can’t do that,” Tori snapped, exasperated.

“Oh, my goodness. Is that my ring?” Bonnie bent over to see it clearly, an astonished sigh coming out of her mouth. “It’s so beautiful, Tori.”

Pride at her mother’s words made her smile. “You like it?”

Her mother began to giggle, even as her eyes filled up with tears. “I love it, sweetheart. It’s absolutely perfect.”

Tori took the ring out of the vise and handed it to her mom, who quickly slipped it on her finger.

“You’ve always had such talent,” said Bonnie. “I’m so proud of you.”

A knot formed in Tori’s throat. “That’s the second time you’ve said that this week.” A long overdue conversation hovered on her lips. “I always thought you thought I was a screw-up.”

Her mother squatted down next to her. “Why would you think that?”

“Because you always pointed out what I was doing wrong. That I never had a plan. Whatever I did, I could have done better. Whatever I picked, I could have chosen better. Like I was never good enough for you.”