Descent (Steel Brothers Saga #15) - Helen Hardt Page 0,33
The three names were safe here.
Safe here, along with the other secrets.
The one about the girl named Sage. The one about the girl named Patty.
And all the ones about the young woman named Daphne.
All the secrets.
I snuggled Puppy to my face. Why hadn’t I brought him home before now? Yeah, it was a little juvenile to keep a stuffed animal from childhood. So what?
Brad had left an hour ago to go out. At ten. I sighed. I was used to his comings and goings at odd hours, but still I hated it.
Ennis was still in Brad’s office, reading through winemaker résumés.
The door was ajar, so I entered.
“Hey,” I said. “You want me to have Cliff go to town and bring your stuff from the hotel? It’s late. You may as well spend the night here.”
“Cliff isn’t supposed to leave you unguarded,” he said.
I let out a soft scoff. “This place is like a vault. No one can get in.”
“I’ll be fine. If it gets too late, I’ll just crash here and pick up my stuff tomorrow.”
“Okay. Whatever you want.” I nodded to the folder. “Any good prospects?”
“A few. It’s nice to have a project.”
“Ennis…”
“Yeah?”
“What happened in London? With your job, I mean.” Yeah, still wasn’t my place to ask, but I was curious. I cared about Ennis, and I knew enough about him to know he wouldn’t just up and leave.
“Nothing. I quit.”
Okay…maybe he would up and leave. “Why?”
“Simple. I asked for some time off to come here, and they said no.”
“Why’d they say no?”
“Because I haven’t worked there very long. They asked if it was an emergency, and I said no. I should have lied. Anyway, they said I couldn’t have the time off, so I quit.”
“Was that wise?”
“I didn’t come here for judgment, love. I told you how freaky the dream was. I had to come.”
I nodded. “I miss her too.”
“Daph, this isn’t about missing her. It’s about finding the truth.”
“If anyone can find the truth, Brad can.”
“That’s what I’m counting on,” he said. “Besides, maybe I’ll stay over here. Get myself one of those green card jobbies and work here in the States.”
“Won’t you miss your home?”
“Of course. But I was ready to stay for four years to study. I only went home because Patty jilted me.”
“And you came back because of Patty.”
“I did. Which makes me think this is where I should be now.”
“Do you think you’ll go back to school?”
“I might. My student visa is still valid.”
“What if we could find something for you to do around here? On the ranch?”
“I don’t think I’m qualified to do anything here.”
“Brad already offered you the job as winemaker.”
“And I told him I wasn’t qualified.”
“But you’re qualified to choose a winemaker?”
“More qualified than Brad is.”
I nodded. “All right. Assistant winemaker, then. That’ll be your job.”
He laughed. “Are you allowed to go around offering jobs on the ranch?”
“Why not? I’m mistress of the ranch, aren’t I?”
“I’d love to stay here, but let’s see what Brad has to say, okay?”
“All right. Wherever you end up, make sure it’s somewhere close. I’ve missed having a friend around.”
“You got it.” He shuffled a stack of papers. “These five look like they have the most promise. Where’d Brad go?”
“Out.”
“Out where?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Does he go out this late a lot?”
“More often than I’d like for him to, but not every night, if that’s what you mean.”
“I’m sorry, love.”
I sighed. “His father passed away, and now this place is his to run. He’s terribly busy. I understand.”
“But…”
“But…I miss him, of course. I need him. I feel completely self-indulgent saying so. I have so much help around here with the baby. I don’t have to cook or clean house. All I have to do is take care of Jonah. It’s a dream life, really.”
“You know what, love? It sounds like you need a hobby.”
“I help Mazie in the greenhouse sometimes.”
“Sure, but the greenhouse is Mazie’s hobby. What would you enjoy doing?”
“I guess I’d like to finish school. Learn how to write.”
“I bet you already know how to write.”
“You know what I mean. I want to write something that moves people.”
“Do you keep a journal?”
“Funny, Brad just asked me that a few days ago.” Of course, he’d asked me if I kept one while I was hospitalized. Ennis still didn’t know about that year, and I didn’t feel like enlightening him at the moment.
“Did he?”
“Yeah. Weird, I’ve never kept one.”
“You should start. Write down your feelings. What’s going on in your life. You want to write? Then