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The Carro land had been in Vectra’s mother’s family for centuries. Rose was a descendent of the Pomo Tribe, one of several Native American tribes that called Sonoma home. Rose had come from a family that understood the value of their land and defended their right to keep it.
That very land had been the dowry Rose Wolf had brought with her when she met and married Oscar Bauer, a young African-American agriculture consultant who had been making a name for himself among area farmers. He’d brought his skills from the North Carolina farm country he’d called home. In time, he built a respected business that thrived and diversified once he and his wife joined forces to cultivate the property.
The Bauers had managed to cultivate more than a respected vineyard for themselves and their surrounding neighbors. They’d cultivated what many would call an enchanted life for their two children. Vectra never had a shortage of friends, primarily the children of the adults who worked her family’s land.
It had been Vectra’s athletic, outdoorsy personality that had brought her more male than female playmates.
“Right...” Vectra inhaled deeply, willing the air to work more of its magic on her mood. “Outdoorsy, yes. Athletic... Not so much now,” she criticized herself, but felt comforted by the fact that she still had her friends. At least, she considered them friends. Qasim obviously disagreed.
The visit to his office had gone nothing like she’d planned. For weeks, she’d wanted to confront him about withdrawing from their relationship, but had resisted the urge. Discovering the way he’d threatened one of their friends had given her courage to confront him. She’d hoped to get him to tell her why he’d done it and in turn spark a discussion about what more could exist between them.
Sadly, the conversation had derailed and she had no idea how to get it back on track. At least she’d gotten out of there without making an even greater fool of herself. He’d met someone. Someone he was interested in being more than friends with.
A horn honked and she looked back, a sunny grin appearing when she spotted the Jeep behind her car and the man inside. She waited, watching her brother hop out from the driver’s side.
Oliver Bauer glanced at her car. “Are you on your way in or out?” He opened his arms wide to greet his baby sister and gave her a hug.
“Just getting back from the city.”
Vectra relished the embrace but reminded herself not to lean in to the reassuring hold for too long. She didn’t need Oliver questioning her mood. Her brother and father already worried too much over her.
“All the way from Frisco? Gallery business?” he asked, referring to one of two galleries Vectra owned.
“Just went to see a friend.” She shrugged. “Needed to shop for Robb DeWitt. His birthday party’s tomorrow night, you know?”
“Yeah, yeah, I got an invite.” Oliver nodded, rubbing his jaw as he spoke.
“Who are you taking?” Vectra kicked at a loose thatch of grass and dirt, attempting faint interest.
“Not sure I’m even going.” Oliver rolled the sleeves of a black denim shirt over heavily corded forearms. “Guess you are?”
“I am.”
“Good for you.” Oliver gave her a sidelong glance. “You good?”
“Yeah...yeah, yeah.” She shifted her weight and cringed. “I just waited too long to get a date. I may have to go solo.”
“Solo.” Oliver made a face and moved past his sister to recline against the plank fence. “So all the good guys were taken, huh?”
“Not every good guy.” Vectra joined her brother, bracing her elbows against the fence and gazing up at him with an adoring smile.
Oliver grunted a laugh, his light, deep-set eyes reflecting more vibrancy in the sunlight. “The flattery, while true, will get you nowhere.”
Vectra rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
“What about Qasim?”
She did a double take, put distance between her and Oliver. “Where’d that come from?”
Oliver merely shrugged off the question.
Vectra reciprocated the gesture. “I already asked him, anyway. He turned me down.”
“Seriously? He really turned you down?” Oliver looked incredulous.
Vectra’s smile reflected sympathy. “He really did, but it’s fine. I understand why he had to. He’s seeing someone.”
Oliver’s incredulous expression seemed to intensify into devastation. “He told you that?”
“He didn’t have to, Olive.” Vectra slapped her hands to her thighs and turned to take in the view beyond the fence once more. “He doesn’t want to be friends anymore—told me so himself—said he couldn’t be. Isn’t that male-speak for ‘I’m seeing someone else’?”
