Grapes of Death (15 page)

As they walked back to the reception, Elise thought about what Harmony had said. Sometimes people did take different paths and grew apart when they found they wanted different things out of life.

Like you and Stuart
, a little voice in the back of her mind whispered. It was something she was going to have to face. And soon.

The Great Lawn was alive with activity when they returned to the reception. Harmony saw a group of her friends and headed off in that direction. Elise scanned the crowd for Stuart but didn't see him anywhere. Nor did she see Jackson, which was probably for the best. She needed some time to herself and decided to slip out to the greenhouse for a few minutes for a much-needed break.

On the way there she ran into Ross, who was obviously coming back from his house farther up the drive.

“Hey, sis. Where're you goin'? The party's that way,” he said pointing back toward Lodge Merlot.

“Very funny. I needed a break, so I thought I'd take ten minutes of quiet time and do a quick check of my hybrids. What about you? Why aren't you down at the reception dancing with your wife?”

“I'm on my way to do just that right now. The boys got into a scuffle that ended with Caleb scraping his knees in the gravel. I took them back to the house so Sancia could clean them up and watch them for the rest of the afternoon.”

“Aw, some adult time without worrying about what the kiddos are up to.” She laughed and began to walk backwards toward the greenhouse as he walked backwards toward the reception. “Enjoy your brief window of opportunity.”

“I intend to. And don't you take too long with your vines.”

Elise turned and made her way to the greenhouse with a smile on her face. Unfortunately, her joyful mood came to an abrupt end when she opened the greenhouse door and found her boyfriend standing at her desk, digging through her personal files.

Sixteen

“Stuart?” Elise stood just
inside the door, stunned that he would violate her privacy in this blatant manner. “What do you think you're doing?”

“Elise,” he stammered. “I didn't hear you come in.”

“Yes, that's obvious.” He looked as guilty as one could after getting caught going through someone else's personal files without permission.

“I was just …”

“Yes? Just what?”

She watched him struggle to come up with a plausible answer. When he couldn't quite find the words, she shook her head, disappointment bitter on her tongue. “How could you do this? I trusted you and this is how you honor that trust?”

He put out his hand in a plea. “Elise, darling, let me explain.”

“Seriously? I don't think a verbal explanation is necessary, do you? Here you are, rifling through my desk, through my personal papers and notes. When I've been very clear about boundaries.”

“Sweetie, I know how this looks, but I was just so darn curious that I couldn't help myself. I thought if we were going to be living and working together that I should get a handle on your process.”

“You mean you wanted to get your hands on my
hybridization notes
, don't you?” She narrowed her eyes and wondered how many times they were going to have this conversation.

He dropped the offending papers on the desk like they were on fire and took a step toward her. “Elise, be reasonable.”

“Be reasonable? Oh, that's rich. Did you really think invading my personal space would be acceptable?” When he didn't comment, only continued to stare at her, she shook her head. “My guess would be no since you snuck in here during the reception when you thought you wouldn't be caught.”

“Okay, now that's not entirely fair. I have asked to see the notes on your hybridization method. Several times.”

“That's right, and I've told you no. Several times. So, what? You thought you'd just come in here and steal them?”

“That's a terrible accusation. I was doing nothing of the kind. I was just looking.”

“You know, Stuart, I was going to tell you tomorrow that I'd decided not to accept your job offer, but in light of current circumstances, I think now is the perfect time.”

He came to her then and took her arm. “I've offended you, I see that now. But this isn't the time for rash decisions over hurt feelings. You have to know that I meant no harm by it.”

“Oh, I do know.” Tilting her head, she gave him a sad smile. “That's part of the problem, Stuart. You don't think about how your actions affect others.”

“Elise, I've offered you the opportunity of a lifetime. Please think about what you'd be giving up.”

“I've been thinking about the job offer—as well as our relationship in general—for several weeks now.”

Though he tried to hold onto her, she pulled away from him. “I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to move to Dallas. Yes, it's a terrific offer, but I'm happy working for the vineyard—working with my family. And they need me right now.”

“All right, we can talk about that.” He lifted his hands in a plea. “Maybe we could work out some kind of agreement where it's possible for you to do both.”

“It's not just about the job, Stuart. We both know that.” She heaved a sigh, knowing that she had to be honest, not only with him but herself as well. “I think the time has come to make a clean break—to move on with our lives—separately.”

He took a step back and stared at her with his mouth hanging open. “You're breaking up with me? Over this?”

“Stuart, you're not listening. It's not just about this, though it does emphasize the bigger issue. Our relationship hasn't been working for some time. I know you've felt it, too. Don't deny it. And that you would sneak in here like this shows how little you really know or understand me.”

“But to throw away the last six months without notice? Can't we at least discuss it?”

“I'm sorry, Stuart. I wish you all the best, I really do, but I don't think there's anything left to discuss. I know you'd planned on staying until tomorrow, but I think it might be best if you left now.
”

Stuart's features hardened with anger. “I can see that you've tried and convicted me without giving me a chance to state my case.”

“Stuart—”

“No, your mind is made up. You've made that perfectly clear. I'll respect your wishes and go. But you're wrong about one thing, Elise. I do know you. And you will come to regret this decision.”

She'd never been afraid of Stuart but now felt an odd chill skitter down her spine. “Is that a threat?”

“A threat?” He gave a disappointed sigh. “Really, Elise? I've gone from snooping to theft and now to threats—all in the space of five minutes? Maybe you're right. Perhaps we do need a break.”

The menacing feeling disappeared as quickly as it came, and Elise was sure he would have said more, but Jackson cleared his throat from the doorway, drawing their attention. “I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?”

Stuart sent a glare in his direction. “Not at all, Deputy Landry. It seems we're finished.” He spared her a brief glance and then stalked past Jackson and out the door without another word.

Elise let out a long breath and stooped to pick up a handful of papers that had fallen to the floor. When she stood up, Jackson took them from her and lifted her chin with a finger. “You okay, pal?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Do not be nice to me right now. I just hurt his feelings, accused him of awful things. I'm a terrible person.”

He made a
pfft
sound and waved the papers he held at her. “Sounds like he got just what he deserved.”

“Still, I was a little over the top with—wait.” Crossing her arms, she cocked her hip. “Jackson Landry, were you eavesdropping on a private conversation?”

“Uh, El … this is a greenhouse, remember. The walls aren't made of stone. Kinda hard not to hear an argument when it's being carried out at a supersonic decibel inside a plexiglass building. With the windows open, I might add.”

“I guess,” she said with a shrug.

“So, you'd already decided not to move to Dallas and take the job?” He crossed his arms and mirrored her stance. “Were you just messin' with me earlier?”

“Maybe.”

“I take it back … you really
are
a terrible person.”

That made her laugh, which she knew had been his intension. So she threw her arms around his shoulders and hugged his neck. “Thank you for showing up when you did. And for always being there when I need you,” she whispered in his ear.

Pulling back, he hesitated and then gave her a wink. “My pleasure, darlin'. Always. Now, let's go have some cake. If you're really nice to me, I might even spin you around the dance floor a couple of times.”

True to his word, Stuart's car was gone when she and Jackson passed the main house on the way back to the reception—which she found a relief.

Once she'd made the choice not to accept Stuart's job offer, the stress that had been plaguing her for weeks seemed to evaporate. She was able to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening in the pleasant company of family and friends without decision anxiety weighing her down.

It wasn't until she climbed the stairs to her apartment much later that she cast another thought in Stuart's direction. She found an envelope taped to the front door containing an apologetic card and her spare apartment key.

I really am a terrible person
, she thought again as she walked into her bedroom and dropped the card and key on the dresser.

She turned to find her fat cat sprawled in the middle of the bed. Kicking off her heels, she sat down next to him. “Well, you'll be happy to know that I gave Stuart his walking papers today, though I think I was a bit hard on him. So I guess it's just you and me.”

Chunk stood up and stretched as only cats can do and then meowed, promptly giving her shoulder a head butt.

“Yeah, yeah. Suck-up.” She scratched his head and ran her hand down his big body. “Come on, tubby. I'll give you a treat and then it's into bed for the both of us.”

She awoke early Sunday morning with bright sunlight streaming through her bedroom window and the beginnings of a dull headache.

Though she'd fallen asleep quickly, she hadn't slept well. Tossing and turning, she'd gone from one bad dream to the next all night long. Obviously that last glass of champagne at the reception had been one too many, hence the nightmares and the headache.

Adding to her concern, she'd initially thought her right foot may have become paralyzed sometime during the night. That was, until she popped her eyes open and realized Chunk had draped himself comfortably across her feet. He had to have been there most of the night, as she couldn't feel anything in that lower extremity.

“Hey. You big, fat tub of lard. Get off me.”

Nothing. The cat showed no reaction, not even an eyelid flickered. Unlike most cats, when Chunk slept, he slept like the dead—and he snored. She couldn't help but smile just watching and listening to him. He was such a putz, but he was her putz.

Just when she began to extricate her feet from beneath his girth there came a pounding at her front door.

Who the hell is at my door on a Sunday morning?

Turning her head, she craned her neck to see the alarm clock on the nightstand. Ten thirty-five. Okay, so it wasn't the crack of dawn, but still, it was freakin' Sunday.

“Okay, okay. Hold your water,” she grumbled when the pounding began again. “I'm comin'
.
”

Kicking the covers aside and a yowling cat to the floor, Elise rolled out of bed and tripped over one of the heels she'd been wearing the night before. “Geez, Chunk, quit your bitchin'. This isn't the way I wanted to start my day either.”

Grabbing her robe from the back of the door, she struggled to slip it on without tripping over the damn cat as he wound in and around her feet. “And why is there only one shoe here? What have you done with the other one, you little twerp?”

Meanwhile, the pounding at her front door wasn't doing her headache any favors. Scrubbing her hands over her face, she stumbled down the hall and through the living room. Yanking open the front door, a few really nasty words died on the tip of her tongue.

“Morning, sunshine.” Jackson stood on her doorstep looking quite tasty in a pair of washed-out jeans and a loose-fitting polo.

He held a cup of coffee in one hand, a bottle of soda and a bag from the bakery up the street in the other. Whatever was in the bag smelled heavenly, but his good mood was a tad annoying when she'd only just pried open her eyes.

“Jax, do you know what time it is?”

“I do. It's almost noon.” His white smile flashed. “I brought snacks to tide you over, so get your ass dressed.”

“It's not almost noon. It's not even eleven yet.”

“Close enough for government work,” he told her as he brushed by and headed for the kitchen.

“I don't even know what that means.” Closing the door, she followed him into the tiny space. “And snacks to tide me over for what? Why are you here in the first place?”

“You obviously need a shot of caffeine to fire up your brain and jog your memory.” He handed her the soda she craved and shook his head as he opened the bakery bag. “You told your mom and Miss Abby that we would pick up supplies and be out at the house by noon for a late brunch, remember?”

“Oh my God! I totally forgot we'd decided on brunch in place of Sunday family dinner. I should never drink that much champagne in one sitting.” She opened the soda and glugged down a quarter of the bottle.

Snatching a warm bagel out of his hand, she turned and headed for the bedroom. “I gotta get in the shower or we're gonna be late. Keep Chunk company, would you? And find out what he's done with my shoes.”

Forty-five minutes later, she was dressed and spackled up. She'd braided her hair and was feeling much more like herself. Now all she was missing was her other damn sandal.

“Chunk!” she yelled as she came out of the bedroom brandishing a lone shoe. “What have you done with the other one?”

Jackson lifted his elbow and laughed out loud as he watched the cat try to burrow underneath to escape Elise's scolding. “Chunk says he has no idea what you're yammering about.”

“Geez, he just will not leave my shoes alone. Some kind of weird fetish. Ah-ha! There it is,” she said, spying the matching sandal under the rocking chair.

Turning, she glared at the cat and a snickering Jackson before slipping the sandals on her feet. “Come on. Let's get going before I stuff him in the hall closet to make sure nothing else goes missing while I'm gone.”

By the time they'd stopped at H-E-B for the promised supplies and headed toward the vineyard, it was going on noon. Consequently, it was almost twelve thirty when they drove through the gates at River Bend.

“Well, for crying in a bucket, it's about time!” Abigail spouted as she watched Jackson set the grocery bags on the kitchen island. “Where've you two been? Out lollygagging, no doubt, when I've been waiting for these ingredients to finish my cabernet breakfast casserole.”

As she turned back to drain the bacon she'd been frying, Elise slipped an arm around her grandmother and gave her a loud smack on the cheek. “Sorry, Gram. It's my fault. I had a titch too much champagne last night and I'm moving slower than normal this morning, so we got a late start. Where is everybody?”