You're Still the One by Darcy Burke Read Free Book Online Page B

least two more years, assuming he took this job.
    â€œI bet. Their version of football just doesn’t cut it, I’m guessing.”
    Hayden shook his head. Not that he followed the sport. He’d been too busy immersing himself in the winery. He’d wanted to soak up all he could.
    She winked at him. “Maybe you should try to like it since you’re going to be living there for the foreseeable future.”
    He laughed. “Yeah, I guess. I’m still wrapping my head around it.” That was the truth. He’d thought of little else since spilling it to his siblings earlier. Well, that and Bex.
    â€œI get it,” she said. “I imagine it would be a hard choice for you to leave Ribbon Ridge in the first place, not to mention stay away.”
    Her empathy on this topic surprised him. But it had been five years. He couldn’t cast her as the young woman who’d broken his heart anymore. At least, he shouldn’t. That might be a tough adjustment. But it was one he’d have to make if he truly wanted to be friends.
    â€œThanks, I appreciate you saying that.”
    She looked away for a moment, and when she made eye contact once more, there was a depth of emotion in her gaze that he’d never expected to see again. “I’m sorry about the way things ended.”
    The wound had been raw for so long, but now it just felt . . . tired. “Like I said, it seems we’ve both come out all right.”
    â€œYes, it does.”
    â€œI’d go so far as to say thank you. I think you did me a favor when you broke up with me.”
    Her dark brows rose high on her forehead. “I did?”
    â€œSure. Can you imagine how different things would be? The experiences we would’ve missed out on?” It had taken him years to get to this place, but it felt good. “Anyway, I should get downstairs and break the news to my folks. I’ll see you later, Bex.”
    She reached out and touched his arm as he turned. “See you, Hayden.”
    The contact of her hand against his bare flesh, though brief, rocketed through him, leaving a blazing trail in its wake. What the hell? He’d just shaken her hand with no problem. He’d also braced himself before doing it. This touch—this caress—had taken him completely off-guard. Even more than when he’d seen her at The Alex earlier.
    He’d been startled, that was all. It didn’t mean a thing. He shook the sensation away and went downstairs.
    His parents were sitting together at the bar in the kitchen talking in low tones. Hayden felt like he was interrupting them. He briefly considered skipping this chat altogether, but knew one of his siblings would inevitably slip when they came around later.
    He cleared his throat, and Mom turned, her face lighting up. “Hayden, I just love seeing you come in here.”
    And, here he was about to drive a stake through her heart. No, he couldn’t think of it like that. This wasn’t about her. It was about him. “I need to tell you both something.”
    â€œUh-oh, this sounds serious,” Dad said, his mouth pulling into a slight frown. He turned on the stool and gestured to one of the chairs at the long farmhouse table. “Do you want to sit?”
    â€œSure.” Hayden took one of the chairs and instantly felt like a kid again. With his parents on bar stools, he had to look up at them. Not ideal when he wanted to feel like the master of his own destiny, but he’d make do. Might as well rip the bandage off quickly. “Antoine offered me a job as assistant winemaker, and I’m going to take it.”
    Mom’s mouth opened then closed. Her eyes widened, but she schooled her expression pretty quickly. “That’s wonderful.”
    He heard the tightness in her voice. “It is, but you don’t have to act enthusiastic, Mom. I know you’d prefer I moved back to Ribbon Ridge.”
    She relaxed and let her