“What?”
Then Patrick was on his feet, holding his hand out to Morgan, who had taken a seat on the ground before him. She laughed and let him stand her up.
“What’s this about?” she asked.
But as if the tension in the area had been pulled taut, everyone gravitated toward them as I started photographing.
Patrick dropped to one knee. Morgan’s jaw fell open. Her hands didn’t fly to her face, and she didn’t start crying. She wasn’t like most of my other brides. But her eyes were wide, and she was staring down at him in disbelief.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
Patrick retrieved a small blue box from his pocket and popped it open to reveal the glittering diamond inside. “Morgan Wright, will you marry me?”
She stood frozen in time, looking down at her boyfriend, the man she loved. I could practically feel her shaken world at the words out of his mouth. Everyone held a breath, waited. Morgan wasn’t the lovey-dovey type. But Patrick was her person. She’d always liked him, and now, they were inseparably in love.
“Yes!”
The word broke the tension and the dam on her tears. She cried happy tears as he stood and slid the ring onto her finger, pulling her lips to his. The crowd around them all cheered, applause coming from the entire Fourth of July event.
Julian wrapped an arm around my waist. “Your final shoot, huh?”
I laughed and swiped at my own tears. “It was beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
Then he kissed me. Right then and there in front of everyone. I came alive in Julian’s arms. In this place where I finally fit. With these people, where my skill was valued. I was finally right where I belonged.
Part V
Belonging
32
Julian
After Fourth of July, time passed both more slowly and also at hyper-speed. Waiting to hear from Jordan’s PI felt like it was taking a lifetime. And the delay with the distributor as they got the paperwork together only made me want to rage at the snail’s pace. I’d followed up twice already and kept getting the run around about when we’d finalize everything. But otherwise, day-to-day business at the winery flew by.
Without knowing how, we were halfway through July and coming up on the Wright party. Nora had been working nonstop to make it everything it could be. She’d even called Campbell to see if he could come in for it. That was still up in the air as well since the record label was apparently on his ass about a new album. It wasn’t enough to be a successful rockstar. He had to repeat the ability time and time again. I didn’t envy him.
I finished off the memo I’d been working on and pushed away from my desk. I hadn’t moved in hours. I needed a break.
Running a hand down my face, I shucked off my blazer and rolled my sleeves up as I exited into the cellars. The idea to purchase West Texas Winery and make it our own Wright Vineyard had truly been Hollin’s idea. And as I watched him lean over a barrel, explaining the process to a tour that had stopped in front of him, I could see why he’d wanted it so badly. He loved this place. He’d loved it for a decade. And I was coming to realize that it was entirely my sanctuary as well.
A flash of red hair, and then Tamara was standing in front of him. “Oh, this is a treat, ladies and gentlemen, both owners in one day.”
I laughed and put on my most charming smile to cover my exhaustion. Tamara was our latest tour guide hire. She was Nora’s best friend, and Nora had vouched for her. It didn’t hurt that she was a knockout. Hollin had wanted to hire her before interviewing her. Bastard.
“Hey, Tamara.” I nodded at the rest of the tour. “How’s it going?”
“We love it here,” a middle-aged white woman said.
“It’s lovely,” another responded.
“We’re just getting out to the vineyards. Beautiful day for it,” Tamara said. “Now, everyone, wave good-bye to Julian.”
I laughed and waved as they headed out of the cellar doors and into the vineyard beyond.
Hollin whistled low behind me. “She might take the prize from you, Julian.”
I raised an eyebrow. “For what?”
“Flirting.”
“Oh Jesus, I’m not that bad.”
“Not now that you’re with Jennifer maybe. But, yeah, Tamara is, like, the flirt. She’s touched me every time she’s seen me.”
“And you hate it?”
“She’s a bit young,” he said with a wince. “She grew up with Nora.”
“Yeah, a little creepy. Do I need to say something?”
“No, no,” he said quickly. “I can put her down gently.”
I snorted. “Sure you can.”
“Anyway,” Hollin said, clapping me on the back, “any word on the distribution? We’re ready to get going.”
“No,” I said with a sigh. “I don’t understand. They were all for it when I met them at the gala. They made it seem like I’d hear back from them immediately, and now, it’s so slow.”
Hollin shrugged. “Business.”
“I guess.”
“Well, are you excited for the Wright party here? That’s our first corporate event!”
“I am. It’ll look good to have the company here. The name carries.”
“That’s why we named it Wright Vineyard.”
“True.”
“But why we’re going to add Abbey vintages.”
I laughed at my friend and cousin. “Absolutely. And are you bringing someone with you to the party?”
Hollin crossed his bulky arms, the tattoo sleeve visible below his rolled-up shirt. “I like to keep my options open.”
“So, that’s a no.”
He snorted. “Whatever, dude. I like lots of hot pussy. Can’t keep me down.”
I shook my head. “How are we friends?”
Hollin cracked a smile. “Because I keep your life interesting.”
“Fact,” I said as we headed out of the cellars and into the open air.
The tour was already far enough away that they wouldn’t overhear us. Alejandra appeared then.
“New tour guide is on fire. I like her. If things keep up like this, then we might even need to hire another one.”
“That’s good news,” Hollin boasted.
“The Wright event should secure it. Any news on the distribution?” she prodded me.
“No,” I said, repeating to her what I’d told Hollin. “Hopefully soon.”
She cursed eloquently in Spanish. “I hate that they have all this control. But if we have to wait, then we have to wait.”
“I reached out to them again today. We’ll see what they say about the delay.”
“Keep us up-to-date,” she said with a nod and then returned to work.
Hollin clapped me on the back. “I believe in you. You got this. You’re business-savvy. You’ll make it all work.”
“Thanks, Hollin.”
He trailed off after Alejandra. He’d thought he was giving me a compliment, and I’d forced myself to take it as one. But it felt like a chain around my neck. Jordan was so proud of me. Hollin believed in me. I couldn’t fuck up. I had to make this right. I needed to get back in there and talk to the distributors again. George had made it seem like a done deal. Why wouldn’t I know by now?