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The venue is small, at one of theso I planned to attend as well I’d already talked to the winery owner, giving him my card in the hopes he would discuss the offer I ht before the party started

The artisan breads o perfectly with his wines I’ve been trying this tactic for a while, approaching local businesses the bakery could pair with for pro to believe the word “failure” is tattooed on my forehead, and the only one who can’t see it is me

“Would you like a drink?” Gage asks When I look at him once more he inclines his head to the side “I’m headed to the bar Care to join me?”

I follow hi hellos to the people I knoe pass, which is most of them I’ve spent my entire life here The towns that e, but the community is small, and everyone seems to know each other

The gossip will probably be rampant with the fact that I spent ti real estate shark Gage Eet what I want

Though he probably won’t

He settles his hand at the base ofme toward the bar, and I feel his touch in the very depths ofin a short line to order our drinks

“So what brings you here this evening, Marina Knight?” he asks,idle conversation He doesn’t sound overly flirtatious, but I can never be too sure At least he’s not touching er I don’t know if I’d be able to foro into te him close

“My faive too ure out who I aive him any more hints

He lifts a dark brow “Your family?”

“We own a few businesses in Napa Valley,” I finally answer vaguely, stepping forward as the line moves

He keeps pace with ure out if we know each other “Family businesses? Have we met before?”

I slowly shake my head “Hmm, not that I can recall” I’d rather have hiettable

Not that he is Oh no It’s only been a few minutes, but I’m afraid he’s burned himself onto my brain forever

“Huh” He sounds stumped Looks it too Which means he looks adorable

His squeaky-clean ie is one of all business, no play Yes, he always has a beautiful woman on his arm at various public events Yes, he’s been linked to a few relationships, alomen who are as successful and powerful as he is

So what could he see in little ol’ iant fa its fortune, one buyout at a time?

Ugh, I need to push all the ugly thoughts out of the way and focus on the here and now Like how can I convince hienda is off li on very soon The deal my faer

I need to hold Gage off fro that purchase He buys up the strip of businesses my family owns in St Helena, and my career is over My entire life I’ve wanted to run one of the family businesses, specifically the bakery It was expected The bakery had been a part ofsold off, there won’t be any businesses left After all thatmakes me sick to my stomach

I’acy, one of the oldest fa I can do It’s slipping out of ht before h e for a little while

But how can I hold hi my life forever?

You’re a s

Sometimes I swear it feels like the voice inside my head is not my own

It’s our turn to order at the bar, and Gage asks for a beer while I order a glass of sparkling wine, locally produced I’ our area businesses After all, I’d hope for the saards to my business

My failing business, thank you very much

He pays for ure out who I am; I can tell by his scrunched brows, his narrowed eyes Wenearby His back is facing everyone else still in line, and he’s turned toward ot h I don’t feel it I rather like being surrounded by Gage Emerson

Even though I shouldn’t

Gage

I CAN’T PLACE her, but I swear I’ve heard of her before Maybe even , maybe? I don’t know I h they weren’t overly friendly Most everyone in the Napa Valley still treats me like an outsider

Marina Knightit’s her first na me up I don’t know many Marinas Or even one aside from her Who does? But this oneshe’s beautiful And not what I expected—though really? What the hell could I expect? I don’t know her