So Good: A Ribbon Ridge Novel (Love on the Vine Book 1) (25 page)

“Brooke is distributing our wine,” Cam said. “And she’s damn good at it.”

The blonde came toward them, and Brooke saw why she’d been busy in the backseat—she carried a baby. The infant’s chubby little legs stuck out from a ruffled romper, and she smacked her hand against her mother’s chest, clutching at her shirt between thumps. Brooke’s maternal instinct kicked into high gear, and she willed herself to keep it together. She could be around babies, for crying out loud—she had two nieces and a nephew.

Cam went straight for the baby, swooping her from her mother’s arms. He lifted her up, much to the baby’s delight. Her eyes shone as she giggled. He turned to Brooke. “This is my niece Emma. Oh, and her mom, Sara.”

Sara snorted. “This is what happens when you have a baby, you become a second-class citizen.” She gazed lovingly at her daughter. “Not that I mind.”

No, Brooke couldn’t imagine she would. She’d gladly become a second-class citizen in exchange for a baby of her own. “She’s beautiful. How old?”

“Five months,” Sara answered, watching Cam while he made ridiculous faces and silly noises.

Brooke watched him too, and in that moment, any hope she might’ve nurtured for a future with him evaporated like water on a hot summer day. Despite the blazing heat of the sun, ice coated her veins and chilled her mood. Yet at the same time, she told herself this was stupid—she didn’t want a future with him; she only wanted right now.

And right now he was snuggling his niece with adoring eyes.

Brooke urged a smile to her lips. “It was nice to meet you, but I should go.”

“I hope we’re not driving you off,” Sara said.

“No, no, I was on my way out. I have work to finish.” Brooke nodded toward Cam, feeling disjointed and irritated with herself. Maybe she’d drink one of those bottles of chardonnay when she got home. “See you later.”
 

She made a point of looking at Cam and wished she hadn’t. The picture of him with Emma in his arms would haunt her for a long time. He was an absolute natural as he held Emma’s wrist and helped her wave. He even said, “Bye-bye, Brooke. See you later!”

 
Brooke smiled because she really couldn’t help it—she loved children—and waved back. “Bye!”

She didn’t end up drinking the chardonnay, of course, but she did throw herself into work and then packing. And when Cam’s texts came and he asked if she was up for a visitor, she pretended she was already asleep.

Chapter Fifteen

A
fter spending the weekend with her sisters, Brooke felt absolutely rejuvenated. She realized she’d been vulnerable Friday after being with Cam, and seeing him with Emma had triggered all of her worst anxieties. Rhonda and Tracy had restored her confidence and successfully reminded her that right now in her life it was okay to put herself first and live for the present.

So that was precisely what she was going to do.

Once her sisters had left early Monday afternoon, Brooke finalized her schedule for the next two days and completed some other work. By late afternoon, she was ready to get out for a bit, so she went for a walk on the beach. The day was cloudy and a bit cool due to the wind. By the time she walked back up to the front of the condo building, she was eager to put on some sweats and kick her feet up with a glass of wine.

But when she rounded the corner to the door of the condo, she stopped short. There, propped against the wall with a lazy grin, was Cam.

He pushed off and walked toward her. “Hey, beautiful.”

She shouldn’t have been surprised to see him. In fact, during her walk, she’d thought it might be nice if he were here with her tonight. A light, giddy feeling bloomed in her stomach and spread. A warning fired off in the recesses of her brain—this could move beyond casual so fast if she wasn’t careful. “You’re lucky girls’ weekend is over.”

He winced. “I took a chance. I hope that’s okay.”

While her insides churned with anticipation, she tried to maintain an outward air of composure. She shrugged. “Surprises are nice sometimes.” She moved past him, catching the scent of his cologne, and managed to insert the key into the lock. Once she was over the threshold, she held the door open. “Come on in.”

He exhaled. “Oh, good.” The relief in his tone was evident.

She laughed. “Were you worried I’d send you away? After the other day?”

“Guys always worry about that kind of stuff.”

She closed the door behind him and locked the dead bolt out of habit. “I’m sorry, but I have a hard time thinking an über-confident guy like you worries about that sort of thing at all. Nice try, though.” She walked down the short hallway and turned to the kitchen, where she dumped her keys and purse on the island.

He came up behind her, his hands clasping her waist. “Maybe not usually, but you’re different. Special. You know that, right?”

She didn’t, actually, and the newfound knowledge sent tingles dancing over her flesh. She stepped away from him and turned, suddenly feeling shy. Or nervous. Or both.

“I didn’t know that. But thank you.” Part of her wanted to ask how she was special, but that would send them down a path she didn’t want to take. She wanted now, here, nothing “special.”

She moved around the island, putting space and the large slab of granite between them. “So you came down here to…?”

“Take you to dinner and…whatever else.” He took a step to the corner of the island but didn’t pursue her. “I really just wanted to see you. I was sorry we couldn’t see each other Friday night.”

She’d texted him back the next morning saying she’d already been asleep, but that she’d catch up with him when she was back in town. The whole time she repeated the word “casual” to herself over and over again. “Yeah, I’m sorry too.”

“So, can I take you to dinner?”

That sounded divine. And like a real date. Once again, the word “casual” became a mantra in her brain.
 

She hadn’t been on a real date in so long. The blind date with Justin didn’t count. They’d met for drinks and, given the blind-dateness of it all, the conversation had been a tad awkward and slow. This would be different. She and Cam knew each other. Well.

And yet there were so many things she wanted to know.

Careful, Brooke, casual.

“Where should we go?”

He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “As it happens, I have reservations at The Bay House in about twenty minutes.”

His thoughtfulness was awfully flattering.
 

“Oh, wow, I guess you really were worried that I wasn’t going to show up!” She laughed. “They’re on my schedule for tomorrow, but if Don’s around, we can pitch your wines together.”

He grinned, and his handsomeness rocked through her like a lightning bolt. “Sounds great. I like that—together.”

She did too, but cautioned herself not to like it too much. “Let me freshen up real quick.” She dashed back down the hallway to the master bedroom and checked herself in the mirror, fluffing her hair and spritzing on perfume.

When she went back to the living room, he was out on the deck, looking at the ocean. The sun was gliding toward the horizon, casting the water in a golden, shimmery glow.
 

She joined him at the railing, and a cool breeze made her shiver. She wrapped her arms around herself. “Fall’s in the air a bit.”

“It is. Just a few weeks away, really.”

“I know. Crazy. I’ve lived here—well, in Ribbon Ridge—for almost two months.”

He turned, leaning his hip against the railing. “And what do you think?”

She turned too, facing him, her arms still crossed. “I like it a lot. I’ve met some really nice people.”

“I hope that includes me.”

She rolled her eyes and pushed him lightly in the chest. “Don’t go digging for compliments. That’s obnoxious. Or so my mother says.”

He captured her hand in his. “Let’s go have dinner.”

They left the condo, and he drove them south through town to the restaurant, which had a lovely view over Siletz Bay. They’d be able to watch the sun set from their table by the window.

“Is Don here?” Cam asked the hostess who sat them.

“Not tonight. He’ll be here tomorrow, though.”

She smiled at the hostess. “That’s okay, thanks.”

The hostess gave them their menus and said their server would be right with them.
 

Cam went for the wine list first. He groaned, and it reminded her of the noises he’d made the other day in his office. “So many great pinots from Eyrie.”

Brooke forced herself to focus on the menu and not how insanely attracted she was to Cam. “I think I want to try the tasting menu, and there’s a wine pairing for it. What do you think?” It included a salad, three main courses to share, and a dessert trio.

“Looks great, and the wine pairings are spot-on. I’m game if you are—there’s a chardonnay, you know.” He looked at her in question, reminding her of the night they’d met and first discussed wine, including their mutual ambivalence toward chardonnay.

“I saw that, but I actually enjoy that one a lot.”

“Me too.” He glanced longingly at the wine menu.

Brooke laughed. “It’s like going to church for you, isn’t it?”

He smiled sheepishly. “A little bit. I’m rather passionate about it.”

“I can see that. It’s cool because I feel the same way—okay, maybe not quite as much as you.”

When the server came, Cam ordered for them. A few minutes later, they had their chardonnay, and he proposed a toast. “To being on a real date. Thank you.” He tapped his glass to hers.

She chuckled. “You’re welcome. I notice this date is happening a long way from Ribbon Ridge. We didn’t talk about whether this was a secret thing.” She sipped her wine. “I recall you didn’t want your mom to know you might be seeing someone.”

He flinched. “That was stupid of me. I didn’t want to be a piece of Ribbon Ridge gossip, but no, this isn’t anything I want to hide.” His gaze was warm and earnest and heated her in all the best physical and emotional ways. “And anyway, my brother totally saw us canoodling in the parking lot the other day and asked what was up. I told him we were dating—casually. I don’t mean to diminish it by saying that. I just want you to know that I respect our plan.”
 

She appreciated that and didn’t take it any other way. They were on the same page, and that was great. “I’m fine with you telling him. Or anyone else for that matter. Because I told my sisters the same thing this weekend.” Okay, she’d told them a bit more than that, but that was what sisters did.

He set his wine down after taking a drink. “Do I want to know what they said?”

She recalled her sisters’ reaction and decided it would be funny to share. “Hallelujah?”

His eyes widened briefly before he dissolved into laughter. “That’s funny.”

“It had been a while since I…but you know that.”

“Yes, but I don’t know any specifics. Like about your ex. How long were you married?”

“Almost five years.” She weighed what to say and decided to keep it simple. “We met in college and got married right after.”

“Divorce sucks. My dad’s divorce from Dylan’s mom was pretty acrimonious. It was awful for Dylan—just be glad you didn’t have any kids. What happened?”

Her brain tried to freeze up after his kid comment, but she willed herself to relax. He was right. Splitting up would be terrible if you had children, but in her case, the lack of them had been the cause. Or had it? She’d begun to think that their marriage wouldn’t have worked out either way. If he couldn’t stick with her through infertility, what other issue would’ve caused him to stray? “We just weren’t meant to be.”
 

It was like a weight lifted from her as she realized that wasn’t a trite phrase but the truth.

He curled his hand around the bowl of his wineglass and swirled the chardonnay without lifting it from the table. He looked from the wine to her, his gaze probing. “That’s a pretty romantic thing to say.”

She wasn’t sure what to make of that comment. “Well, marriage is romantic, isn’t it?”
 

“I only meant that you sound like a romantic—like you have a nice heart.” He smiled softly.