Wright with Benefits (Wright Series #8) - K.A. Linde Page 0,38

I turned the ringer off and stuffed it back in my pocket. No more distractions.

“All set.”

“Well, I think you have an excellent starting point here. These barrels are in great condition. It’s lucky that they left you so much equipment,” Sophia said, finally standing and brushing her hands off on her skirt.

“Hollin said the same thing.”

“You’re lucky to have him on board, too.”

“We wouldn’t even be doing this if it wasn’t for him.”

Sophia smiled. “Well, I’m sorry we had to reschedule so many times, but I’m glad that I was able to see the property. It’s a smaller operation than the vineyards I worked at in Napa. With some care, I think it’ll be a great contender in the state. Get a good sommelier in here, get the right blend going, and you could be on your way to winning awards in a year or two.”

“Not that soon,” I insisted.

“You’d be surprised at how fast it can happen if the grapes are already set. If you’re starting with fresh grapes…” She waved her hand as if that would be the worst thing imaginable. “I was in Napa one year when a wildfire caught the edge of a grapevine. The whole field went up in a matter of hours. Six years of careful tending, gone.”

I blanched. “That’s horrifying.”

“It was,” she said with a sigh. “Truly. Now, what else can I do for you?”

“Honestly, I think that’s all for now. We’re having Wright Construction work on the barn. Hollin is managing the wine production. Julian is hiring. I told him that’s where I drew the line.”

Sophia laughed softly. “Well, if you get my sommelier to come interview, then be there with Julian. You’ll want to meet her. She’s whip-smart, really knows her stuff.”

“Deal.”

We headed back toward the entrance together. The night was beautiful in Lubbock this time of year. We were far enough out in the country that the stars were bright overhead, and the soft swish of the wind carried a tune with it. A chill, too. Sophia tucked her coat tight around her.

“Do you have plans tonight?” Sophia asked once we finally made it back to the cars.

“I…don’t,” I admitted.

“Care to get a drink? La Sirena has the best wine selection or the Funky Door?”

I wanted to say yes. No, actually, I didn’t want to say yes. I wanted to want to say yes, which felt even more ridiculous than the other options.

Truly, I just wished this were Annie and she wasn’t hundreds of miles away, doing who knew what with some blond dude. Unfortunately, I was my father’s son. And that temper led to possessive, jealous tendencies. All I wanted to do was convince Jensen to lend me the jet, so I could fly out there and figure out what the fuck was going on. But I knew that would be psychotic. Or at least, she’d take it that way. If she’d drawn a line in the sand at much simple things, then that would surely be literally flying over it.

“I think that we should keep our relationship related to business,” I said as gently as possible.

Sophia still colored. “Oh. Well, yes, of course. I understand.”

“I’d hate to lose your friendship.”

Which I was sure was the wrong thing to say as her blush darkened.

Then she stuck out her hand, ever the professional. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, Jordan. Let me know if you need anything or if you hear from my sommelier.”

“I will.”

We shook, and then she got into her car and sped off. I leaned back against my truck. What the fuck was I doing? If Annie was really leaving in a matter of months, was any of this worth it? Should we be doing this at all?

It wasn’t like friends with benefits kept either of us from getting hurt in all of this. And I’d broken enough hearts to know that I didn’t want to be the one hurting at the end of it all.

Still, I could have fucked Sophia tonight, and the inclination wasn’t even there. Not even a little. Maybe it was already too late.

18

Annie

Hours passed.

I’d stopped drinking so that I could sober up enough to get home and sleep instead of puke my guts up. Prisha and Virginia had left at some point. I’d waved them off, promising that I’d grab an Uber.

The rest of us stayed out until bar close. Taureen had an arm over Cord’s shoulders. Cord had an arm over my shoulders. We stumbled to the sidewalk to