Saving Grapes - Madeline Kirby Page 0,16
like that.”
“That’s not what he told me.”
“What did he tell you?” Ben asked, his eyes narrowed and his lips in a thin line.
“Well, not so much told as implied that you two were together and that I… Oh, that sneaky bastard. He let me think the two of you were a couple so I wouldn’t ask you out.”
Ben didn’t say anything, just turned and made a beeline back the way he’d come.
“What did you do?!”
Thom tensed and straightened up from where he was crouched examining a spot on one of the vines. He turned to face Ben.
“I said, what did you do? What did you tell Ross?”
“I…”
“Don’t try to act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You told Ross that you and I were a couple.”
“No.”
“You let him think it, though, didn’t you?”
Thom was silent.
“Didn’t you?!”
Thom flinched. “I didn’t… I didn’t tell him we weren’t. He assumed the rest.”
“Jesus, Thom. Why? Why tell other people there’s something going on when there isn’t and you’ve made it clear there won’t be? I don’t get it.”
“I told you about Ross.”
“Yeah? Are you sure there’s not more to it than that? Maybe you’re hung up on Ross yourself? If you don’t want me, then you don’t get a say in who I see or what I do.”
“I’m not hung up on Ross,” Thom answered.
“What, then? And if you tell me it’s complicated one more time, so help me I will deck you.”
Thom hung his head. He couldn’t tell Ben what he really wanted – that he wanted to latch onto Ben, make him his, keep him here with him until they were old and gray and tottering up and down the rows with walkers. The kiss earlier had filled his head with visions of kissing and making love under the sun, surrounded by the vines, or holding hands as they walked down to the winery to taste the latest vintage. He could still taste Ben’s kiss, and he was drunk from it, but not a fool. He didn’t want to be a stop on Ben’s journey, he wanted to be the final destination. But right now, Ben was still figuring out what he wanted to do. If that didn’t include sticking around the vineyard, or at least around Cable’s Bend, then there could be no future for them.
“I need time,” he finally said, his voice so soft that Ben had to strain to hear him. “You need time.”
“Time for what?”
“Time for what, Thom?” Ben asked again when Thom remained silent. “Look, I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m attracted to you. I’d hoped you were feeling the same thing. But if you’re not, then I need to figure some things out. I’m not going anywhere, because I really do like it here, and I’m excited about the winery and everything, but if we’re not going to be, well, more than friends, then I need to get on with my life. And if you’re not going to do anything about what’s between us, then you don’t get to get between me and anybody else, okay?”
Thom nodded, “Okay.”
Ben stood there a little longer, hoping Thom would say something more, but when the older man remained silent, Ben sighed, turned, and headed back towards the house.
Ross was still hanging around the house when Ben got back to the yard. Didn’t the man have work to do?
“You get your problems worked out, lover-boy?” Ross called out as Ben approached.
“Shut up, Ross.” Ben didn’t care if he was being rude, he was in no mood for flirting or whatever it was Ross did that passed for flirting.
“I guess not.”
Ben stopped and met the red-head’s eyes with his own. The man really was a giant. Even at six-foot-one, Ben had to tilt his head back to make eye contact.
“You’re something else, you know that? Doesn’t anything ever piss you off or make you back down?”
“Not that I can think of.”
Ben had to chuckle in spite of himself.
“Forget about Debbie Downer out there. Why don’t you come out with me? I’ll take you out on what passes for a town around here. Show you a good time.”
“Yeah, right. I am not having sex with you.”
“Who said anything about sex?”
“You have a reputation, surely you know that.”
Ross shrugged one shoulder. “I can’t help it if most people can’t resist my rugged charm.”
“I’m telling you now, I’m not hopping in bed with you. If you want to go out, as friends, fine. But anything more will