So Good: A Ribbon Ridge Novel (Love on the Vine Book 1) by Darcy Burke Page B

few blocks from her loft, so she drove straight there and was lucky enough to park right outside.
    As she walked to the entrance, the door opened and out walked Cam sipping on a tall iced beverage. “Well, if it isn’t Brooke Ellis,” he said, smiling as he slipped his sunglasses on. His gaze dipped over her. “You already ran a race this morning?”
    She looked down and realized she hadn’t removed her bib with the race number. “Yeah, a 10k over in Newberg. And now I need a coffee if I’m going to make it through the day.”
    “Definitely—I know you have an important appointment this afternoon.”  
    She chuckled. “With you. Yes, very important.”
    “Hey, I’ve been looking forward to it since we set it up.”
    Had he? She had too, if she was honest, which she wouldn’t say out loud. He was already too flirty, and she shouldn’t encourage him. But hadn’t she done that the other night when she’d invited him to try to kiss her some other time?
    She’d thought about that over and over and cursed her stupidity. She didn’t want to hook up with some random guy… Granted, he wasn’t random.
    Yikes, what was she doing?
    Time to change the subject to something safer. She nodded toward the cup in his hand. “What’s your poison?”
    “Iced caramel macchiato.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “Don’t tell them inside, but I never order the same thing twice in a row—I like to keep them on their toes.”
    “Really?”
    He laughed. “No, I just like variety.”
    In coffee as well as women. Ugh, where had that icky thought come from? The vulnerable part of her that dictated she keep herself free and clear of nasty romantic entanglements. Only, it kept her free and clear of any romantic entanglements. Her divorce had been final for well over a year. Wasn’t it past time she moved on?
    She pushed her attention back to their conversation. “Since you clearly come here often, what’s your favorite drink?”
    He blew out a breath. “Whew, that’s tough. I love anything with caramel, but really espresso is my go-to. Here, try this.” He handed her his drink.
    Stupidly, she realized she was about to put her lips where his had been. She looked at him as she took the straw in her mouth but couldn’t see his eyes behind the sunglasses.
    “Are you trying to drink that in the most seductive way possible?” His voice had lowered but still held that sexy, flirty vibe.
    Her belly pitched in response, and she couldn’t suppress a smile. Nor could she avoid batting her eyelashes as she sucked on the straw. She handed it back and licked her lips, fully aware of how “seductive” she probably looked. Flirting with him was probably a bad idea, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. “Delicious. I’m totally ordering that.”
    “I’d love to stay and keep you company—really I would.” He sounded a bit pained. “But I have to get up to the winery. I’ll console myself with the fact that I get to see you in a few hours.”
    Her stomach was still full of butterflies. His voice was so sexy, particularly when he flirted with her. “That you do. After I shower and make myself more presentable.”
    He moved closer and leaned toward her ear. “Newsflash, sweetheart, you look absolutely stunning as is, and I’d bet you always do. See you later.”
    His words sparked a delightful shiver along her neck that worked its way down her spine. She pivoted and watched him walk away down the street. Eventually, she turned and went inside, confident she’d never look at a caramel macchiato the same way again.

Chapter Six

    T he bright August sun hit Cameron full force as he stepped outside the front door of the winery a few minutes before one o’clock on Saturday. He slipped on his sunglasses and inhaled the scents of cut grass and blackberries. A bramble of bushes grew along the opposite side of the road, and this time of year, the air was full of the fragrance of ripening fruit.
    At that moment, Brooke