Free Twice in a Blue Moon by Laura Drake

traced an X over his heart. “If you’d like, I can make out a list of things to be done.” He knew that would appeal to her bookkeeper soul. “I’ll prioritize it.”
    She picked up her spoon. “Good.”
    They ate in silence for a minute.
    â€œWhy wine?”
    He looked up. “You mean, as a career?”
    She nodded. “Is your family in the industry?” Her tone was casual, but she didn’t fool him.
    She’s digging
.
She doesn’t trust you.
    â€œHardly.” He wiped his lips with the napkin. “My father is a federal appeals-court judge, and my mother is the headmistress of a girls’ prep school in Georgetown. My brother is a Wall Street trader, and my sister is a partner in a big CPA firm in Seattle.”
    â€œWow.”
    â€œYeah, no pressure being the youngest swimming in that gene pool.” Seeing she was done, he lifted both their plates.
    She started to rise.
    â€œI’ll get the dishes and cleanup. It’s my apartment now, after all.” He carried the dishes to the sink. “I didn’t like school much as a kid. Didn’t get why I had to know about ancient Greece and quadratic equations.” He located the dish soap under the sink. “But I always loved growing things. My mom says I drove the gardeners nuts, digging up the daffodils as a toddler.” He ran the water until it was hot, then plugged the sink, squirted in some detergent. “The wine bug hit in high school. My parents appreciated a nice red and it turned out I was lucky to be born with a sensitive palate.” He started with their dinner plates. “I was subscribed to
Wine Enthusiast
by tenth grade and couldn’t wait until I could legally attend wine tastings.”
    â€œI’ll dry.” Indigo walked up, a kitchen towel in her hand. “I’ve heard high school drinking stories, but they didn’t sound like that.”
    He rinsed a plate and handed it to her. “You ‘heard.’ Does that mean you didn’t drink in high school?”
    â€œI mean I didn’t attend high school. I grew up on a commune in northern California. I was homeschooled. Nothing but natural, healthy living.”
    He started on the soup pot. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. You have a natural look about you. Sounds like an idyllic childhood.”
    â€œIt was.” Her smile was happy and sad all at the same time. “But, trust me, I made up for it later.”
    â€œIn Hollywood?” He wondered what was behind that bittersweet smile, but it winked out.
    â€œOh, I almost forgot the financials.” Her words came out snipped off at the ends. She wiped her hands on the towel and dropped it on the counter. “I’ll go get them.”
    Then she was gone, the door swinging shut behind her.
    Well, there’s a no-fly zone if I ever saw one.
He finished the dishes and rummaged in the cabinets until he found where they all belonged.
    She rapped on the door, pushed it open, but didn’t step in. She reached across the small space to hand him a slim file folder. “Here you go. I’ve got to get back to the cabin and feed Barney. I’ll see you in the morning.” She turned away.
    â€œHang on. It’s pitch black out there. I’ll walk you home.” He reached for his jacket.
    â€œNo, I’ve got it covered.” She waved a flashlight.
    â€œIt’s no bother. I don’t feel good about—”
    â€œLook.” She put a hand on her hip. “I’m not helpless, or incompetent. I’m capable of walking a hundred yards in the dark by myself.”
    He raised his hands. “Yes, ma’am.”
    She turned and marched down the hall.
    He closed the door. Better this way. He didn’t need to know what shaped the soft and hard edges of Indigo Blue in order to work for her.
    But he wondered, just the same.

CHAPTER FIVE
    â€œU NHHH .” I NDIGO COLLAPSED in a heap on