Given (Give &Take) by Kelli Maine Read Free Book Online Page B

of the language and wishing I’d had time to brush up on it before our trip.
    The woman ushered us through a large sitting room and through a pair of doors out onto a flagstone patio. That was when I realized the beauty of Mama and Papa Renault’s Inn.
    Acres of grapevines sprawled out before us over the hillside. Behind the ancient barn, the trees struggled to hold on to fall leaves of the most vibrant reds and oranges I’d ever seen. The sky overhead was a brilliant blue, so bright it hurt my eyes.
    While I marveled at our surroundings, Rachael took a seat at a battered picnic table and our hostess brought out wine, grapes, and cheese. At some time, Papa Renault had found his way around back and sat under a nearby tree smoking and watching us.
    “I think you’re in love,” Rachael said, pouring me a glass of white wine. “Funny how it sneaks up on you like that.”
    She was teasing, but it wasn’t far from how I felt. “It’s no Turtle Tear,” I said, stepping over the bench and sitting across from her. “But there’s something about it.”
    Rachael lifted her glass. “I think we were brought here for a reason. Someday we’ll know what it is.”
    I lifted my glass and clinked it against hers. She had an old soul that spoke to mine. “Here’s to someday.” The crisp, sweet wine tingled on my tongue, holding the promise of good things to come.

Ten
Rachael
    M y greatest weakness was my lack of patience. At the Renaults’ inn, it was easy to sit back, relax, and forget why we were in France, but when it all rushed back, it came with resentment. I wanted to enjoy this experience with Merrick, and Nadia had taken that from me. Even if she was the very reason we were in Nice in the first place.
    I ran my hand along the grape leaves as Merrick and I walked between two rows. “Reminds me of the key lime orchard at Turtle Tear,” I said. I couldn’t help the comparisons. It was like a French version of my favorite place on earth.
    “Uh-huh,” he said, distracted.
    I could only wait so long and it had been long enough. “Call her,” I said. “Nadia. Call her and find out where they are.”
    “I told you, I can’t do that.”
    “
I
did and here we are. You know if you’d left it up to her, we’d still be sitting in Paris going crazy. Probably ready to kill each other.”
    He stopped short and turned to me. “So you were right.Is that what you want to hear, Rachael? You were right and I was wrong.”
    Jesus, there he went again. I just wanted him to move the process along. “No, Merrick. I—”
    “You what? You think I’m stupid for wanting to trust Nadia. You think she’s playing me. Well, maybe she is. I don’t know what to think or what to do.” He threw his hands in the air and started walking again.
    I grabbed his arm. “Don’t be an ass. And don’t you dare walk away from me.”
    He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know what you want from me, Rachael. I’m going on instinct here.”
    I put my hands on his hips and stepped in to him. “I want you to let me help. You can’t keep me uninvolved. I’m
involved
! I’m here. I can’t just follow you around like a lapdog. I get a say in this, don’t I? I thought we were a team.”
    Merrick grasped my shoulders and pushed me back a step, drilling his eyes into mine. “No. You don’t get a say in this. You get to stay as far away from Enzo as possible. You’re here so I can have you with me and know where you are at all times.”
    “Are you fucking kidding me?”
My head was about to explode. “I guess that’s my answer. We’re not a team. There’s still you—in control, doing what you want—and I should just go along with it and like it. Well, guess what? I won’t do it!”
    I pivoted from his angered and bewildered expressionand yanked a handful of grape leaves from a vine. Behind me, I heard him groan. “Rachael—”
    “No!” I turned on him, pounded a fist against his chest. “If I’m not a