Love in the Vineyard (Tavonesi #7)(39)

Caught up in the anxiety of her rehearsal, she missed the turnoff for Ryan Rea’s ranch. She drove on, looking for a safe place to pull off and do a U-turn.

“That’s the town that has the great boogie-boarding beach,” Tyler said.

The vast Pacific Ocean spread out in the distance, its water sparkling in the late-morning light. A small town hugged the coastline, looking every inch like a photo out of a tourist bureau postcard.

“Albion Bay has rad waves,” Brandon said, leaning to peer out the window. “But we can go boogie boarding anytime. We might never get another chance to hit in a real player’s batting cage. Your mom rocks.”

“Ryan hit three thirty last season,” Tyler said.

Natasha caught the happy smile on Tyler’s face. She’d never had much of an opportunity to provide him with special experiences. That a chance meeting at a masked ball had made this one possible only added to her growing sense of discomfort. By the time she reached the drive to Ryan’s ranch, her stomach was in knots.

Two enormous barns and several fenced fields flanked the ranch house. She saw lots of animals in the fields. She squinted into the sun and made out the shapes. Donkeys. Adrian had told Tyler that Ryan had donkeys. Why anyone would have that many donkeys was beyond her.

They pulled into a drive at the west side of the house.

Tyler whistled. “A Bugatti,” he said almost prayerfully.

“Red,” Brandon said. “If I had one, it’d be yellow.”

“Bet it can hit eighty in six seconds.”

The thought of Tyler hitting eighty miles an hour in any vehicle stopped Natasha’s heart. But she had years before she had to add that worry to her list.

She didn’t expect to see Adrian riding up on a horse with a woman who could’ve been his twin. In tight-fitting riding pants and gleaming black boots, he looked like a hero out of a period film. Pride and Prejudice came to mind. But he was cheerier than Mr. Darcy. Maybe Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. But it’d been years since she’d seen that film and didn’t remember the hero too clearly. No, Adrian looked like the hero of his own story. A story that all the wishing in the world couldn’t make her fit into with any more than a bit part.

And though she’d battled with her feelings in the early morning hours, she’d made up her mind—he was going to have to find another heroine to chase down.

Not that she didn’t want to be his heroine. It was just that she knew that nothing ever turned out as it did in movies and books, and she wasn’t going to subject Tyler to another of her bad decisions. He’d already asked way too many questions about Adrian. And Adrian had led her son on with his promises of a fun-packed outing. They’d enjoy the day and then part ways.

Except for when she had to see him at work.

The staff had informed her that Adrian rarely came down into the kitchen garden area. Her heart would break, but she’d stop the damage and get on with the business of reestablishing a life for her and Tyler. That much she could control.

She had little confidence in her ability to shut down the yearnings of her heart, but fortunately she was better at ignoring the wanting he’d fired in her body. She’d had years of practice denying all that. Years when she’d sworn off men and focused on being the best mom she could be.

She’d manage.

Maybe.

Adrian waved as he leaped down off the horse. The boys ran to greet him and he introduced the woman as his sister Zoe. She dismounted with the same power and grace as her brother had. Natasha had no experience with horses. Or any animals for that matter. Over staff lunches Natasha had heard of Zoe’s prowess on the polo field, of her love of horses, but seeing the woman in action was like watching a creature from another world. Adrian handed over his reins to her, and Natasha reminded herself that they were from another world. An astonishing and intimidating world.

Adrian strode over, the shine on his riding boots near blinding in the noonday sun. But not nearly as blinding as his smile.

“Natasha, meet my sister Zoe.”

“Adrian’s told me so much about you,” Zoe said as she extended her hand.

She had the same charming Italian accent that Adrian did. It made simple phrases sound like invitations to unknown realms. Natasha clasped her hand, wondering what Adrian could have told her. He knew few facts of her life. And she planned to keep it that way.

“This is my son, Tyler, and his friend, Brandon. I hope we aren’t interrupting your ride.”

“Heavens no,” Zoe said. The woman’s smile was as beguiling and transporting as her brother’s. Their sister Coco was also a charming beauty. Maybe the whole family was charmed.

Zoe dangled the reins toward the boys. “Want to help me take them into the barn and brush them down?” She turned back to Natasha. “Ryan and Cara had to run into town. They’ll be back in half an hour.”

Tyler looked to Natasha.

“It’s okay, honey. I’ll wait here.”

With Adrian.

To have the conversation. It was the perfect opportunity to speak with him before her nerves betrayed her and she got pulled into the delicious feeling she had whenever she was near him.

The boys practically grabbed the reins out of Zoe’s hands.

“But do what she says, okay?” Natasha added.

Adrian laughed. “They won’t have a choice in that—Zoe is a taskmaster when it comes to animals. Animals come first with her. Way in front of brothers.”