Free Somebody Like You (Starlight Hill Series Book 2) by Heatherly Bell Page B

for you to say yes to being my general manager, and this becomes the best day I’ve had in months.” The smile stayed in his eyes this time.
    Just like that she was thrown back to a time years ago when he’d kissed the fear right out her.
    “Look—” she began, and was startled by the sound of someone shouting Billy’s name.
    “Did you hear me, son?” It was Pop, the old man, calling out from his chair several yards away in the Chardonnay rows.
    Great. Had he seen the two of them? Brooke pulled out of Billy’s arms.
    “Yeah, Pop? I’m right here.” Billy marched in his direction. If he was disappointed at their interruption, he gave no indication.
    Brooke breathed a sigh of relief as she followed him.
    They found the old man staring at the grapes as though he could breathe in their goodness. She knew the feeling. “You know what I’m thinking?” he asked Billy.
    “What’s that?”
    “I’m thinking this is a real good start.” Pop said, winking from his chair.
    “Yeah,” Billy said, throwing her a panty-melting look. “I’d have to say the same.”
    “And who is this young beauty?” Pop asked, finally noticing her.
    “I’m Brooke Miller, sir.” She stuck out her hand. “I think I’ve seen you at the Farmer’s Market before.”
    “If we’re lucky,” Billy added, “she’ll be our new general manager. Brooke knows the business, inside and out. And we used to go to school together.”
    “Is that right? Well, well, well.” The old man said, and then shut his eyes like it was time for a nap.
    Brooke worried a nail between her teeth. If this were a family affair, Grandpa here should mostly serve as a mascot. She hated to break it to him, but the grapes didn’t need him to keep watch.
    “It’s time to go, Pop,” an older woman said as she joined them.
    “Mom, you remember Brooke Miller.” Billy turned to his mother. “We went to school together.”
    “I know Brooke.” Eileen Turlock enveloped her in a hug. “Nice to see you.”
    “Okay,” Brooke said, a bit unnerved. She saw Eileen Turlock on occasion around town and at Mom’s farm where Eileen bought organic tomatoes, but they’d never hugged before.
    Eileen Turlock was still attractive for her age, tall with short straight dark hair and gentle green eyes. Billy took after her.
    “We should talk ‘menu’ some time,” she directed this comment to Brooke, “but for now Pop has to get home for his afternoon nap which it appears he’s already started. C’mon, Pop, let’s get you home.”
    Brooke followed them up the hill, Billy doing most of the business of getting his grandfather moving, even if Billy grimaced and rubbed his shoulder. Eileen waved goodbye at the top of the hill, slapping Billy’s hand away from Pop.
    When Billy walked back to Brooke, he might have noticed the questioning look in her eyes. “My family is a little over-protective about the shoulder. I’m not an invalid just because I can’t pitch any more. So why don’t we go back to the house and discuss my offer?”
    Billy led the way and together they wound up back at the balcony, where rolling acres of ripe vines lay out before Brooke, like a magic carpet. A view she could grow accustomed to.
    “What did she mean by ‘talking menu’?” Brooke wanted to know how much of a family affair this would be, and how much control Brooke would have as general manager. All of it, she hoped, if this were going to work at all. They both needed this venture to be a success, for different reasons.
    He took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair. “I want to improve on the menu.”
    “Sounds great. I have lots of ideas for you, but what does your mother have to do with any of it?”
    “Not much, but could you use her help?”  Something unspoken remained in those green eyes, almost pleading, and Brooke’s stomach did a weird somersault.
    “This isn’t going to work if I can’t have control over every aspect. Do you want me to be the general manager or