Page 67 of Wine & Dine

My head shakes. “You called my brother?”

“You sent me a text and then didn’t answer any of mine.”

I’m going home. I didn’t say more. I didn’t know what else to say. I’d turned my phone off the moment I purchased a plane ticket.

His eyes narrow. “Imagine my surprise when I looked over to see you talking to Ingrid and then notice you’d disappeared. Ingrid said you went to the restroom, but after ten minutes, I stormed the room myself. A maître d' at the hotel told me he saw a woman fitting your description leave while talking on the phone.” He pauses, cupping my face. “Why did you leave?”

I simply shake my head, feeling off-kilter with him standing before me. One minute, this man looks amazing in a suit; another, he’s impeccable in a tux. But he doesn’t wear anything better than these jeans and a puffy winter jacket. He’s casual, but something else is unusual about his outfit. The boots on his feet look like old work boots, scuffed and worn, and he wears only a white T-shirt under the open coat.

“I went back to the condo after you didn’t answer your phone or text messages. I didn’t think you’d be anywhere else. When you weren’t at my place, I banged on the door of Denton’s. At first, I thought you were just pissed off at me and punishing me for some reason by not answering. I waited half an hour before the neighbor below complained. Then I called your brother.”

“I’m sorry I made you worry.” Maybe leaving a quick note or sending a good-bye text would have been more appropriate.

“Mati…isn’t that her name…answered Denton’s phone,” he continues, ignoring my apology. “She told me she spoke to you, and you were on your way home. To Georgia.”

Mati. That little busybody. I need to hug her after I throttle her for not telling me about this mess.

“Why are you here?” I question, still holding him by his biceps away from me.

“Because you promised me you wouldn’t leave, and you did.” His tone softens. “I trusted you.”

“I’m sorry.” The words fall from my mouth, vomiting on the floor at his feet. Guilt ripples through me for leaving in the manner I did, and I’m about to step into him when the rustle of miniblinds collide with an opening door as Denton walks into the diner.

“Dolores?” he says in the same questioning voice as Griffin and Rusty.

“Why the hell does everyone keep saying my name like they don’t recognize me?”

“Because you look different,” Denton clarifies. “You look good. Healthy.” The final comment floats between us as if he’s surprised. “Well, despite the fact you look pissed off.” My hands fall from Garrett’s biceps, and Garrett shifts to stand next to me.

“Garrett?” Denton questions, stepping forward. “What are you doing here?” His eyes travel from Garrett to me and back. They widen, and a hint of panic fills them. “Are you here to sign the contracts?”

I experience a sensation of the world spinning into a vortex and sucking me down, down, down as I slowly twist to watch Garrett turn his face from my brother to me and then avoid my eyes.

“What contract?”

“I…” Denton closes his eyes and wipes a hand down his face. “I wanted to surprise you. I wanted to make things better. Make up for not being here.”

I’m outside myself, floating around the demolition of the diner and dreaming all of this, I think. I don’t understand what he’s saying to me. It’s as if I’m underwater, and nothing is clear. “What does this have to do with Garrett…” I pause a beat as my eyes shift to the man next to me, his head lowered. “…and contracts?”

Denton exhales, his eyes trying to hold mine. “I couldn’t just gift you the money. I have the money, but the amount needed is too large. It would be a tax issue for both you and me. I spoke with Garrett, and he suggested a low-interest loan, one he could foot, to make it look like an investment instead of a gift. This works better for both of us.”

“How is this better for me?” I snap, waving a hand at the demolition around me. Another thought occurs. “How are you covering Magnolia’s renovations? Are you gifting her?”

The two men fall silent, and my head swivels from one to the other.

“He didn’t tell you?” Denton asks, staring at Garrett in wonder, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Garrett scrub at the back of his neck.

“I was going to,” Garrett mutters.

“Tell me what?” I snap, glaring at the side of Garrett’s head. He inhales deeply and looks over at me, his eyes troubled as he speaks.

“A vineyard.”

I don’t understand. What is happening? I want to scream, but instead, I wait out his explanation.

“Your brother…” Garrett stops and shakes his head. “I met your brother when I came to Atlanta. We got to chatting about my idea, and he hinted at the land around your grandmother’s house. I didn’t give it a second thought, but then we went to Napa and…” The weekend rushes through my memory. The things he did to me. The talks we had about his future, his dream, his plan. He wants to own a vineyard, and he needs land.

My eyes jump to Denton, glaring at my younger brother. Hatred simmers beneath my skin. “What were you planning to do with Magnolia’s?”