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As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I wanted to pull them back in.
Connie threw me a look. “Yeah, funny how that works. Sometimes when I’m knitting, I lose all track of time.”
“That’s right. I still have that sweater you made me for Christmas one year,” Luke told her.
“That’s news to me. When I first mentioned that I could knit, you told me I made you a vest,” she countered, sounding angry.
“I got confused,” Luke countered.
“She made you a sweater?” Rascal asked, then he turned to Connie. “You never made me a sweater.”
We shut everything down, making sure all the equipment was in the same place we’d found it and in same state, then we followed Bobby out.
“We never officially dated,” she answered.
“Sure, we did. Didn’t I take you to some dance in our junior year in high school?”
“You did, but you took me right home afterwards,” she said. “I don’t think you even kissed me good night, or if you did, I don’t remember it.”
Rascal stood in front of her for a moment. “Believe me, lil’ bit, if we’d kissed, you’d remember it.”
Luke and I chided him for that statement. “Oooh, a real lady killer!”
“Look out!” Luke teased.
Rascal took it all in stride and had used his pet name for her, lil’ bit, from when we were kids. I hoped like hell that didn’t turn her off.
She stared up at him… toe to toe… placed a hand on her hip, smirked, and said, “Is that a promise?”
I half-expected Rascal to lay one on her, but he didn’t. Instead, he said, “Damn straight it is.”
Neither of them moved for a moment, and even I could feel the heat building in the air, until I said, “I got a scarf, and Luke got a whole sweater? Now, we know for sure who you liked best.”
“I liked you all equally,” she countered, letting out a little giggle this time as she moved away from Rascal.
“That’s not true. You never made anything for me,” Rascal said.
“Truth be told, I made you a scarfanda sweater but never gave them to you. I think I still have them in a box in my apartment somewhere. Of course, the sweater would never fit you now that you’re a giant.”
“How did he end up with a scarfanda sweater?” I wanted to know, as we followed Bobby through the house and outside to the back porch where a table had already been set for us.
“Do I detect a little jealousy?” she asked.
Of course, I was jealous, but I would never admit it, so I let the comment slide.
“Oh wow,” Connie said as soon as we piled out on the porch. “This is amazing. And that view. Just wow!”
And she was right. The view from the porch brought the land, the house, and the surrounding area into perspective, and it truly took my breath away. Then the oversized rectangular pool area off to our right dominated that part of the house. Simply spectacular.
But then the entire day had left me breathless, and it wasn’t over yet. I hadn’t had a day like this in… well, I’d never had a day like this. Not this good. Not ever.
“I’m glad you like it,” a woman in her mid-to-late fifties, dressed in dark-colored jeans, and a Western blue shirt said. She wore her graying hair back off her face, and deep-red lipstick rimmed her full lips. I supposed this was Mrs. Nash. “It’s a beautiful spot. I’m Mrs. Nash, and I hope you’re all hungry because I probably overdid myself tonight, but I had help. This is Tina.” She nodded to the other woman standing at the end of the table. She was probably in her mid-thirties, had jet-black, short hair and a warm, welcoming smile. “She’s also part of the staff here, and I couldn’t run this house without her.”
We introduced ourselves and offered to help, but Mrs. Nash wouldn’t allow it, nor would Bobby who joined us at the dinner table.
The surrounding hills were incredible, especially since most of the hills were covered in grape orchards, with row after row of deep green this time of year. Then there was the perfect weather. I felt as though I’d been transported into another world, one I’d only ever dreamt about. Rascal and Luke’s families did well, whereas my family struggled while I was growing up. I’d only gotten to go to UCLA, to the Herb Alpert School of Music, like both Rascal and Luke because of the scholarships and the grants I’d gotten, plus a few sizeable loans that I’d be paying off for years to come. This world I was sitting in right now was one I didn’t understand, but I’d sure like to.
“So, I take it you folks liked the music room?” Bobby asked once the dinner had been put on the table, so we could help ourselves.
