Free So Good: A Ribbon Ridge Novel (Love on the Vine Book 1) by Darcy Burke Page B

cheese.”
    She gave him a quick kiss followed by a smile. “Thanks, babe.”
    He smiled back at her, and it was obvious they were still in newlywed mode or just that sickeningly happy. Brooke had thought that she and Darren had been that happy once, and she supposed they had. But it hadn’t lasted.
    Bex put the knife down on a cutting board with the cheese. “Help yourselves!”
    There was a fruit salad, a chicken salad, little rolls and crackers, a charcuterie plate, two cheeses, and a spread that looked like fig.
    Brooke’s stomach rumbled. Yes, she’d had “lunch” but decided a protein shake didn’t really count. Hadn’t she earned a second lunch after running a 10k and taking a brutal hike through the ninety-degree vineyard? “This is all for you guys?”
    Hayden picked up a plate as he tossed Bex a wink. “My wife knows how to put out a spread.”  
    “Did I hear lunch was ready?” The youngest Westcott, Jamie, jumped down the last few stairs and burst into the room.
    “Damn straight,” Luke said as he grabbed his plate.
    Jamie came forward and shook Brooke’s hand. “Good to see you again, Brooke.” He was a couple of inches shorter than Luke, but the same height as Cam. His eyes were a mix of his brothers’, with Cam’s green and Luke’s brown converging into a warm hazel. His hair was the lightest of the three, but still brown and thick.  
    “Nice to see you too.”
    Cam looked at Bex. “What, no wineglasses?”
    “Oh, I forgot. I admit I wasn’t thinking about wine.” Bex threw Cam a smile.
    “Your beer bias is showing,” Cam said.
    “I am not biased! You guys are the worst.” Bex laughed, which took any sting from her words.
    “I’ll get wineglasses,” Cam said, shaking his head good-naturedly.
    “I’ll help,” Brooke offered, feeling a bit like a fifth wheel since they all knew each other so well.
    He led her to the kitchen. Inside, he turned to her. “I know you said you ate, but how can you say no to that spread?” He opened a cupboard, which held three shelves of wineglasses stamped with their winery logo.
    “I can’t, so I won’t.” She joined him and took down two glasses. “How many do we need?” She started counting people in her head.
    “Just five. Bex won’t be drinking wine.” Right, because she preferred beer.
    Cam curled the fingers of his left hand around the stems of two glasses and picked up the last with his right before closing the cabinet. “Oops, almost forgot to get an opener.”
    Brooke transferred one glass to her other hand. “I’ll get it. Where?”
    “That drawer next to the fridge.” He gestured with his head.
    Brooke opened it and saw at least twenty openers. She laughed. “Um, you’ve quite a selection.” Like the wineglasses, they were all emblazoned with their logo. “You misled me—you have some swag.”
    “Wineglasses, openers, and four- and six-compartment bags to carry bottles. That’s pretty much it. I do have designs for several apparel items as well as a soft-sided cooler.”
    “Great idea with the cooler.”
    He pushed open the door and stood against it while she walked out of the kitchen. “Thank you. I have my marketing moments.”
    “I’m sure they’re more than moments. Your sales numbers from Blackthorn are legend.”
    He gave her a side eye. “Is that right?” He laughed. “Along with my reputation.”
    She appreciated that he had no problem with the way others saw him. He not only owned it—he seemed to wave it like a flag. “Yep.”
    They deposited the glasses on the table, and Cam poured Riesling for the two of them, while the other three guys drank a white blend from a local winery.
    Brooke helped herself to a plate of food. “No Riesling for you guys?”
    Jamie looked horrified. “Cam guards that stuff with his life. He only pours it for special people.”  
    “I thought you’d want the pinot blanc. Was I wrong?” Cam asked.
    “Nope, I’m good.”
    For a brief moment, it had seemed to