Ignite (Cloverleigh Farms #6)(17)

Although part of me was tempted to make a run for the door, I let Ellie commandeer me, and we followed Chip out of the room. Before I could stop myself, I glanced over my shoulder to see if Dex was still standing there.

He was, and he was looking at my butt.

But as soon as he realized he’d been caught doing it, he turned around and walked in the other direction.





The large rectangular kitchen table was laden with dishes and platters and multi-tiered serving stands of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, but my eyes went straight to the bottles of wine lined up on the island.

It was self-serve, so while Chip went to drag Mariah away from April, Ellie chose a rosé for us and poured two glasses. She handed me one. “Here. This will help.”

Grateful, I took a few sips. “Thanks. But I think I have to leave after this drink. Will you go get my disguise from the back seat of your car?”

She laughed. “Will you stop? It’s fine. It’s hilarious, actually. I don’t know who was more embarrassed, you or Dex.”

“Me.” I took another swallow.

“You were right about him, by the way. The guy is gorgeous. And built.” She sipped her wine. “Doesn’t smile or talk much, but with that jaw and those shoulders, does it really matter?”

“Stop.”

“Maybe you should ask to see his bum, just to even the score.”

“No!”

“Why not? I bet it’s a nice bum.”

“You’re not helping, Ellie.”

Thankfully, Chip appeared with a beautiful young woman at his side I knew immediately was his fiancée, since not only was he holding her hand, but he was staring at her with the biggest puppy-dog eyes I’d ever seen. “Mariah, this is my cousin Winifred and her friend Ellie,” he told her.

“Hello,” I said, holding out my hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you.” She smiled and shook my hand, then she bit her lip. “You’re . . . Frannie’s daughter? One of Mack’s girls?”

I smiled, impressed. “Very good.”

She blushed a little as she laughed. “I’m trying. Chip went through all the family names on the drive here from the airport—”

“She took notes,” Chip said, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “And studied them like there was going to be a quiz later.”

“I did,” Mariah admitted. “But it’s really nice to put faces to the names. There are so many of you!”

Ellie held out her hand. “Don’t worry—I’m not a family member, so you don’t have to memorize me. But congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you so much.” Mariah smiled at Ellie. “Do you live in the area?”

“Ellie’s family owns Abelard Vineyards on Old Mission Peninsula,” I said. “It’s really beautiful—you should visit if you have the time.”

“Too bad our new restaurant isn’t open quite yet,” Ellie said. “You could come for dinner.”

Mariah, who didn’t appear to be much older than Ellie and me, looked up at Chip. “I really wish we had more time here. We just have the one night.”

“We’ll come back, babe.” He kissed her forehead. “Promise.” To us, he said, “Mariah’s family is from Michigan too, a little south of here.”

“I grew up in Bellamy Creek,” Mariah said.

“Oh, I know that area!” Ellie nodded enthusiastically. “It’s such a cute town. About two hours from here, right?”

Mariah nodded and smiled. “Yes.”

“Is your family here tonight?” I asked.

“No, we visited my family a few weeks ago, and we do want everyone to get together soon, but since Chip’s extended family is pretty big, I sort of wanted the chance to meet everyone first without having to make tons of introductions.” Mariah smiled at me. “I just met your mom and dad. They’re so nice—everyone is,” she said, laughing. “I just want to keep all the names straight.”

“You’re doing fine. Can I get you another glass of wine?” Chip asked his fiancée.

“Yes. I set my glass down somewhere outside—I think at Mack and Frannie’s table,” Mariah said.

“I’ll find it. Be right back.”

Mariah watched him walk away so adoringly, Ellie and I exchanged a private look of mock disgust.

“When will you get married?” I asked her. “Have you guys decided yet or is it too soon to ask?”

She laughed. “If it was up to Chip, we’d be married already—he does not care about having a big fancy wedding.”

“Most guys probably don’t,” Ellie said with a smile. “We do a lot of weddings at Abelard, and I had to meet with a couple today about theirs, and the dude could not have cared less about any of it. Meanwhile, the bride was like, ‘That’s not quite the right shade of ivory I want for the linens. Do you have anything closer to ecru? Perhaps more of a creme brulée?’”

Mariah laughed. “That will not be me. I don’t have the whole thing visualized in my mind or anything—and it doesn’t have to be huge. I’d like something intimate, just family and close friends. We’re sort of limited by the baseball calendar as to when we can do it, so we’re thinking maybe February.”