Crush the Crescent Lake Winery Series Book 2 Read online

  “Then we’d better get walking.” He made a turn onto Oak Street.

  Colin was enjoying walking around town with Anna. She was easy to be with and so very knowledgeable about vintage cars that he felt out of touch. While he liked looking at cars, the truth was that he didn’t care what he, personally, drove as long as it started when he needed it to and got him from point A to point B.

  “After tonight, I have an entirely new appreciation for cars.”

  “They’re so entwined in our history. From the time Henry Ford rolled out the Model T, it changed everything, and even way back then, people wanted choices.” She swept her hand in a three-sixty. “This is what happened from that humble beginning.”

  “Why didn’t you do something with cars, like an engineer or something?”

  He watched as her face transformed into a mask. “My entire life, I knew my place was with CLW. It wasn’t optional.”

  Confused, he said, “But Leo and Liza don’t work for the business.”

  “I think by the time they came around, most of the positions Dad needed to have filled with family were already in the works. We were groomed for our roles.” She released his hand and stuck her hands in her capris.

  “Don was going to be president. Jack loved the land. Tessa’s business acumen was apparent from the time she opened her first lemonade stand, and I was passionate about science.” She gave a small shrug. “There was always room for the twins, but it wasn’t critical. However, it would have been the cherry on top of the sundae for Dad.”

  “Would you leave if you could?” He kind of felt sorry for Anna. It sounded as if she felt trapped.

  She shook her head. “We’re family. It’s been drilled into us from the time we were kids. My parents firmly believe we’re stronger together, and that includes the family business.”

  He dropped his voice so they wouldn’t be overheard in the crowd. “I don’t disagree with the logic, but you have the right to be happy, Anna.”

  She gave him a bright smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Who says I’m not?”

  “Are you?”

  Looking straight ahead, she said softly, “I’m working on it. In fact, Liza and I are doing a bike ride tomorrow night with a club in town. That should be fun.”

  He pulled her into his arms and held her close. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

  She relaxed against his body. Her breath caressed his cheek. “I thought you wanted me to pick out my favorite car.” She brushed her lips against his cheek. “And I’m going to see how much you’ve retained from our adventure.”

  He slipped his arm around her shoulders as they strolled down the street. “Maybe I’ll pick one out and you can quiz me to see if I paid close attention to what you’ve been teaching me.”

  She took a step closer so every part of their bodies was very close. “That smile on your face makes me think you’ve had fun.”

  “This was interesting and not that I want tonight to end, but I’m already looking forward to our next date.”

  12

  Anna hesitated with the phone in her hand. She and Colin had a fun time a couple of nights ago at the car show. Was it too soon to see him again? Who said there had to be rules? She dialed the phone. On the third ring, he picked up.

  “Hey, Colin, I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me.”

  “Hi, Anna. This is a surprise. I’m working today but if you wanted to come to the hospital, we could have lunch at the picnic tables.”

  “That’s sounds great, if you can take a break.”

  “For you, of course. Meet me by the duck pond at noon and I’ll grab sandwiches from the cafeteria.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll bring lunch. See you soon.” There, she had asked him out for lunch. Who said she couldn’t step out of her comfort zone? Now all she needed to do was run down to the bistro and see if there was something she could pack for a picnic.

  * * *

  Anna was setting out lunch when she heard someone whistling a tune behind her. She turned. Colin was striding toward her with a smile on his face. He looked handsome in light-green scrubs and the person who said scrubs were boring never saw the way they made the green in his eyes stand out.

  “Hi there.” He leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. He surveyed the containers, paper plates, and plastic forks on the table. “This is quite a spread.”

  The smell of the hospital clung to him even outside but for a change, it didn’t make her nerves jump into overdrive. “I wasn’t sure what to bring so I packed a little of everything that looked good.” Little did he know she agonized over each item she chose, wondering if he would enjoy it.

  “Everything looks delicious.” He gave her a smile. “You look beautiful too.”

  They sat across from each other as the light breeze teased her hair. She tucked the lock behind her ear. “Thank you.”

  “So did you and Liza have fun on your bike ride?” He scooped up some salad and sliced chicken onto his plate and handed Anna the containers.

  “We did, but I had no idea how popular this group was. There were a of ton people, but I felt like we were back in high school. It was kind of cliquey. And Liza, being the mom, was ready for anything. She had a checklist of things she wanted us to bring and she even picked up padded seat cushions since we haven’t done any serious riding in years. Even though it was our first time, we looked the part. Unfortunately, we didn’t think we could act the part, so we decided to bring up the rear. That way, we wouldn’t slow anyone down. We just enjoyed the scenery and the experience.”

  “It sounds like you and your sister had a good time.”

  She leaned forward and groaned for dramatic effect. “The hill was huge and it took forever to get to the top.”

  He chuckled. “But you can say you did it.”

  She pulled out her cell and showed him a couple of selfies they took. “I thought we might need proof we actually made it to the top of the falls.” She grinned. “You should come with us sometime. It’d be fun.”

  “It might be. When I was in my ER rotation, I saw a few nasty bike accidents, mostly from people who didn’t wear a helmet.” He gave her a quizzical look.

  She held up a hand. “Yes, before you ask, we both had on brand-new helmets. You can’t preach safety to the younger set if we don’t follow the same rules.”

  “Good, glad to hear it. I have some doctor friends who ride. Who knows, maybe if we find it’s one of our things, we could go with them sometime.”

  “Not that I don’t want to meet your friends but maybe we could try a different activity. I’m going to be sore for days.” She rubbed her backside. “I don’t think cycling will be my activity of choice unless the ride is a lot shorter.”

  “Maybe it’ll be golf; there are no helmets or padded seats necessary.” He reached across the table and gently wiped her cheek with his napkin. “Dressing.”

  “Thank you.” Her heart fluttered but her eyes never left his. “Tell me about your day. Why did you decide to become a nurse practitioner?”

  * * *

  Colin was enjoying this impromptu lunch. Anna was so different from other women he had dated, which said more about the type of women he had been attracted to than her. She was genuine and funny and smart; she was beautiful but that it came from within was the real attraction for him.

  “I’m sure your real question is why I didn’t become a doctor.”

  She shook her head. “Never crossed my mind. I think we all find the path that works for us, but I’m curious. Why go back to school? From what I remember, you were a good nurse.”

  “I did like being a nurse, but I realized being an NP gave me more influence over a patient’s treatment plan and I wanted to be able to spend more time with my patients. As a nurse in the hospital, they came and went. The only way I found out how people were doing after they had been discharged was if they either were readmitted or I happened to see them around the area. I wasn’t satisfied with just helping d
uring a crisis. I wanted to be a part of their good health all the time.”

  “That makes a lot of sense.” She had her hands folded on top of the table and was listening to every word. “So what is a normal day like?”

  “There isn’t a typical day; with cardiac patients, I have to be on my toes. Like your dad, for example. He was doing all the right things and had been feeling well, but there was something more going on and the heart attack was the indicator we needed to fix it. Or I could have a patient in rehab doing great, losing weight, exercising, watching what they’re eating, and when they get off the treadmill or bike, they might get dizzy or pass out.”

  Her eyes widened. “Why would that happen, and could it happen to Dad?”

  “Usually it’s a medication adjustment; blood pressure is coming down, but that’s why we do the cardiac rehab—to monitor these changes and get them corrected quickly.” He placed a hand on hers and caressed it tenderly. “Please don’t worry. It’s rare that something like that happens. But that is what I mean when I say nothing is predictable.”

  “You love it.”

  He wiped his mouth with the napkin and said, “I do. There’s nothing like it and I wouldn’t trade my job for anything. What about you? Do you love what you do?”

  “I guess. Once my dad realized I was good at math and science, he encouraged me to get a degree in chemistry, and here I am today.”

  This was curious. Anna didn’t look like a woman who was passionate about her career choice. “If you could do something different, what would it be?”

  “No one has ever asked me that before.” She stacked containers in a soft-sided cooler. “Maybe a teacher. So many kids get overwhelmed by the math and sciences. I’d love to excite someone about all the cool things those subjects touch.”

  “Why don’t you?” He checked his watch. It was time to go back inside, but this was an important conversation to have. He could hear the longing in her voice.

  Anna stood up and finished packing the cooler. “I have a career and I can’t make a change now.”

  “What about volunteering as a tutor or something?”

  She lifted her eyes and he could almost see the light bulb go off above her head. “There was a STEM program at my old high school. Maybe I could help.”

  He took the cooler from her hands as they strolled across the grass to her car.

  “You should check into that.” He stowed the cooler on the floor of the car and kissed her cheek. “Thanks again for lunch.”

  “I’m glad you could get away.”

  “I’ll call you later? My shift gets over around nine tonight. I need to fill in for someone.”

  “I have dinner at my parents, but I’ll be home later.” She slipped behind the wheel and he watched as she left the parking lot. Anna Price, you are an amazing woman.

  * * *

  When Anna got back to CLW, she popped her head into Liza’s office.

  “What’s going on here?”

  Liza looked up from her computer screen. “I stopped by your office earlier. Coming in late today?”

  “No, I was here, and then I had lunch with Colin.”

  Liza grinned. “That sounds promising. Things are heating up, huh?”

  “Maybe. Hey, while we were talking, I had an idea. What do you think if I were to volunteer

  at the high school? I know there used to be an after-school program for the girls’ STEM team. Maybe I could get involved.” She tipped her head from side to side. “Give me something to focus on where I’d make a real difference.”

  “That’s a great idea. You would be amazing.” Liza grinned from ear to ear. “They’ll be lucky to have you. Just realize you’ll need to have a background check and a bunch of other stuff before they let you participate.”

  “Good to know but I’m not saying I’m going to do it, just that it’s something to think about.”

  “Since you’re here and we have time before dinner, do you want to head over to Gear Up and see what other adventure clubs are available?”

  “Maybe there’s kayaking or something. After all, we’re trying to get out of our comfort zone.” Anna pulled her phone out of her bag. “First, we should check that app I overheard one of the guys talking about on the bike ride, Happenings. It’s supposed to have active clubs in the area. Biking was fun, but if we’re going to push the envelope, I’d like to try something a little more challenging: rock climbing, bungee jumping, or whitewater rafting.”

  Liza shook her head vigorously. “I’m not jumping off a bridge, tethered to an elastic band. I’m a single parent with responsibilities. What about horseback riding?”

  “Maybe, but that is less of a group activity and our goal was to meet people.”

  With a soft laugh, Liza said, “The last group wasn’t overly social and we did try. I said hi to at least five people with barely a smile back.”

  “We can’t assume the next group of people will be as standoffish.” Anna hopped up and held out her hand to her sister. “Ready to go?”

  * * *

  Anna was aware of Liza’s scrutiny as they drove out of the parking lot.

  “Hey, you’re awfully quiet.”

  “I was thinking about tonight.”

  “Are you worried?” Liza looked out over the sweeping views. “The last time, it was such a bombshell and we didn’t feel all the effects until Tessa bought Sand Creek Winery.”

  “That turned out to be the best thing for her. She fell in love with Max and now they’re married.”

  Liza clutched her heart. “So romantic.”

  “You’re such a softy.”

  Liza pulled at a thread on the hem of her shirt. “Dad’s already talked about the next generation running the business. I want my boys to have choices, and if they decide they want to be in the wine business, it will be their decision. They need to see that being independent is a good thing but also honoring the family’s business, able to work together or apart makes us stronger.”

  “That’s a long way off, but it makes sense. Don’t forget Don and Jack are happy with their roles at CLW. It doesn’t have to be a burden.”

  “Jack didn’t always feel that way. Remember, he spent almost eight years in California.”

  Anna tipped her head. “He did, but he wanted to see how other wineries worked in order to help us grow.” She felt bad, thinking that part of Liza’s concern was a direct result of her complaining. She needed to fix this. “Can I tell you something I’ve never said to anyone?”

  Liza’s eyes opened wide. “You can always confide in me.”

  “I never told Mom or Dad that I didn’t want to follow the path they laid out for me. I went along with it and never said a word. I made my decision a long time ago. Just like Jack and Don. We’re lifers.”

  “People change the course of their lives all the time.”

  “This is going to sound cocky, but I’m instrumental in creating the future of Crescent Lake Winery. I actually create wine formulations, and the only other person in our family who can do that is Dad. I’ll spend my career at CLW, and I’m okay with it.”

  “There are other people capable of doing exactly the same thing.” Liza gave her a playful shove. “Other wineries prove it, year in and year out.”

  Anna forced a bright smile. “I’m doing my part to secure the family legacy.”

  “What are you going to do so that you’re happy?”

  “With your help, I’m going to become a thrill seeker. I want to physically challenge myself and who knows? Maybe the volunteer thing will work out.”

  Liza said. “It will. I just know it.”

  With a laugh, she asked, “The adrenaline junkie or potential volunteer gig?”

  Liza released her. “The school gig, of course.”

  “And the adventure part of my plan?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t like the idea you’re going to become addicted to an adrenaline rush.”

  Anna parked in front of the store. “I promise we’ll
be careful while we take risks.” With a laugh, she added, “But not too careful.”

  13

  Anna sat in the car, looking at the house she grew up in, reluctant to be the first one inside, not because she didn’t want to see her parents but because she was nervous about what was so important that the entire family had been summoned for dinner. Nothing good ever seemed to come from this kind of command performance.

  Don’s large SUV pulled in next to her car, and Jack’s truck parked on the other side. Reinforcements. She pushed open the door and walked around the front of Jack’s truck. Kate got out of the SUV and joined her.

  “Hey.” She held up a covered glass pan. “I brought cookies.”

  “By any chance are those triple chocolate Romeos?” Anna smacked her lips. “Those are my favorites.”

  She nodded. “Your mom wouldn’t let me cook anything for tonight, so at least I’m contributing something.” She leaned forward and winked. “There’s a dozen on my seat for you to take home.”

  “Thanks. Why do I deserve special treatment?”

  “Two reasons. One, you love them and two, you don’t bake.”

  “True statements. I can barely cook anything but pasta.”

  As they approached the front steps, three more cars drove up. Kate said, “There’s the rest of the family.”

  Anna nodded. “Let the games begin.”

  Once again, the adults were gathered around the table, sipping wine or coffee, and the kids were happily playing a board game on a square table at the other end of the room. This scene was exactly the same as when Tessa had dropped her bomb that she had bought a vineyard.

  Anna wondered when Dad would fill them in on the reason they were all here. She glanced at her siblings and their spouses. The tension was beginning to be palpable.

  She said, “Dad, you look good. How are you feeling?”