Awakened (Steel Brothers Saga #16) - Helen Hardt Page 0,19
hide, is the knowledge that I want to.
And that pisses me off.
Chapter Thirteen
Ashley
After a silent drive, Dale pulls into the driveway next to the main house. Night has fallen completely now, and I stare at the black sky when I get out of the car.
Stars!
So many stars!
The light of the harvest moon is bright, but still the stars shine. It’s never like this at home. I live close to LA, and the city lights and the smog cover most of the night sky.
“I’ll take you inside.”
I jerk slightly. Dale stands beside me, his voice coating me in the dark-red warmth. I was so entranced by the stars, I didn’t hear him get out of the car.
“I can’t stop looking,” I say.
“You should see the night sky from the vineyards,” he replies. “Makes this look like nothing.”
“If only we’d stayed a little longer.” I sigh. “It must be heaven out there.”
“Maybe not heaven,” he says, “but the next closest thing.”
I wrinkle my forehead. What an odd thing to say. I don’t question him, though. Maybe another time. I’ve gotten all I can out of Dale Steel tonight. Not nearly as much as I want, but I have three months to figure him out.
I’m not used to working so slowly with a man, but Dale will be worth it.
He walks me to the door and opens it.
“Hey, you’re back,” Diana says from the big country kitchen. “How were the vineyards?”
“Gorgeous,” I say. “The crop looks amazing.”
“That’s what Dale and Uncle Ry keep saying,” she says, laughing. “Not that I’d know a grape from a marble.”
“You like the end result,” Dale says dryly.
“True. My bro here is a master.” She gives Dale a hug.
And God, I’m envious. To be embraced in those strong arms… Our brief kiss surges into my mind—his firm lips on mine, his velvet tongue.
Damn. An arrow shoots between my legs. Luckily I brought my vibrator to Colorado. Tonight I’ll be putting it to good use.
Dale hugs Diana back. A brotherly hug, of course, but it shows me that he does have genuine affection for her and the rest of his family.
Does he love them as much as he loves his Syrah vines? He looks at Dee with affection, a sparkle in his green eyes. Is it the same sparkle I saw when he looked upon the vineyards?
Such a riddle, this man.
“Come on out on the deck,” Diana says. “It’s such a gorgeous night. You want a drink?”
“Maybe just some water,” I say.
“Sure. Dale, can you stay for a while?”
“He’s going back to the vineyards,” I say.
“Poo on the vineyards.” Dee pouts. “I haven’t seen my big brother in months. Come out and visit.”
I expect Dale to decline, but his gaze softens. “Okay, Sis.”
“I’ll get us some water.” She smiles at Dale. “Unless you want Peach Street?”
“Water’s good,” he says. “Where are Mom and Dad? Bree?”
“The three of them went over to Uncle Joe’s. I stayed here to wait for Ash to get home.”
He nods. “What are they doing over there?”
“Heck if I know. Just hanging, probably.”
That explanation seems to make sense to Dale. He and I follow Dee out onto the deck. I still have my jacket on, and I’m glad to have it. Dale and Dee seem fine without one.
Sometimes I realize just how much of a California girl I truly am.
Diana hands each of us a glass of cold water with a slice of lemon, pauses a moment, and then, “So…I have some news.”
“What’s that?” Dale asks.
“I got a phone call after dinner tonight. Remember that architecture internship in Denver I applied for this semester?”
“Yeah,” he says, “and the idiots chose someone else.”
She nods. “Apparently the idiots want me now. Their first choice fell through.”
A lump forms in my throat. “Does that mean…?”
“I told them I’d think about it,” she says.
“That’s ridiculous,” Dale says. “You really wanted that internship. What is there to think about?”
She looks at me awkwardly.
Me.
I’m what she has to think about.
Diana and I haven’t known each other for long, but we’ve gotten pretty close. Close enough that I don’t feel too weird living at her house for three months. If she’s not here, though? It’ll get weird real fast.
“I’m not sure it’s the right thing right now,” she goes on.
Dale shakes his head. “Sis, take it.”
“I don’t like being second choice.”
“Think of all the people who aren’t second choice,” he says. “This is a great opportunity for you.”