hugging the right lane the entire ride back to Wine Country, and it was midafternoon by the time I finally pulled up to Oak Valley, the old growth trees lining the drive greeting me with their gentle swaying in the breeze. Warm sunlight filtered through their leaves, casting beams of light across the winding drive, and the comforting scent of ripening grapes filled the air as I parked next to Ava's GTO.
My limbs were trembling with post adrenaline fatigue as I got out and stretched.
"Ohmigod, everything hurts," Ava said, mirroring my thoughts. I looked over to see her rubbing the back of her neck.
"Maybe we should have gone to the ER after all," I said, second guessing myself as the soreness set in.
Ava shook her head. "I'm sure it's nothing a heating pad and a couple painkillers can't fix."
"Or a glass of wine," I added.
Ava grinned. "Is that an offer?"
"You know my cellar is always open to you."
She glanced at the winery, then over to her car. "I feel like I should at least check in on the shop," she said, hesitating. "You know, make sure there's not a line of true crime enthusiasts outside the door."
I nodded my understanding. "Tell you what—go check in on Silver Girl, then come back for dinner. We can order in, and I'll open a bottle of our 2003 Reserve Petite Sirah."
Ava's eyebrows went up into her hairline. "Now that's an offer I can't refuse." She gave me a quick hug before hopping into her GTO and heading back to town.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I allowed myself a slow walk into the winery, my legs feeling like I'd run a marathon that day. My destination was a long hot bath followed by a large late lunch of comfort food.
But both indulgences were put on hold as I passed the tasting room and saw two familiar occupants at the bar.
David Allen was sipping a glass of Pinot Noir, a charming smile on his features as he casually brushed his too long hair from his eyes. The recipient of his charms had her back to me, but even from that angle I recognized the long, elegant neck of Jada Deveroux.
I paused only long enough to set my purse down behind the bar before approaching the pair.
David was first to look up, his smile breaking into a wide grin as he spotted me. "Well, there's our Emmy now," he said, gesturing toward me with his half-full glass.
Jada pivoted on her wooden barstool to face me.
"David." I nodded his way. "Jada—nice to see you again."
"We were just talking about you," David offered.
"Oh?" I gave him a questioning look.
"Your uh, bar manager said you were out." She gestured toward Jean Luc, whose mustache twitched at the "bar manager" moniker. Luckily he was practiced enough at dealing with customers that he covered it quickly and moved on to a couple with empty glasses.
"Yes, I just got back. I was, uh, running some errands," I hedged, covering the lump on the side of my head with my hair. "I hope you're enjoying our Pinot Noir."
"I found Jada, here, on your back terrace, taking in the view. I gave her the full winery tour then offered to buy her a drink." David gave her a wink. "It's not every day I run into a model."
Was he flirting with her? I wasn't sure why my stomach clenched at the thought, but I was pretty sure it had more to do with the fact I'd skipped lunch and not that I cared who David flirted with. Because I didn't. Not even if the recipient of such flirting looked like she might even be enjoying it.
"And did you?" I asked David, clearing those thoughts from my head. "Buy her a drink?"
David grinned, waving off the semantics. "I know you wouldn't dream of taking money from friends."
"Gee, with friends like you, who needs customers," I mumbled.
"What was that?" David asked.
"Nothing. What are you doing here, again, David?"
"Thought I'd pop in and see how everything went last night with Grant." He gave me a meaningful look, and I knew he meant about the fake emerald confession I'd meant to make and not the tenuous hold I currently had on our relationship status.
"Fine. Peachy. Great."
David cocked his head to the side, like he knew there was a lot more to that story, but thankfully he dropped it, sipping his red wine.
"I hope I didn't come at a bad time," Jada said, her gaze going from me to David. "But I, uh,