Oh, yes, they did threaten. Along with the contract sent to my mother, I’d found notes she’d written detailing strange calls received during the months prior to her death. There’d even been mention of her workers being on the receiving end as well. No wonder they’d all quit within two weeks of each other.

  If the bastards thought they were going to run me out of town that easily, they were wrong.

  “Only my friends are allowed to call me by my first name.” I held my stern look as I folded my arms, cocking my hip. The man dressed to the nines had been late, rude, and even said my mother hadn’t understood anything about business, which is why it had failed so miserably. I could handle almost anything, but no one could ever say anything horrible about the people I cared about.

  “Fine, Ms. Dayne. Mark my words. You’ll be in bankruptcy within six months.”

  “Get out before I throw you out.”

  My, oh my, the bastard actually looked incensed before spinning around on his expensive heels, taking long strides toward the open door.

  With that, he left the winery.

  Meanwhile, I sucked in my breath before fisting my hands, pretending I was issuing several brutal jabs into his face and gut. Maybe getting a punching bag would be a good idea. I’d never been so furious in my life. Okay, so I really didn’t know what I was doing and the amount of people I’d need to hire to get the winery up and running might break my budget given the repairs and updates needed, but that didn’t give the asshole the right to treat me like some idiot.

  I spun around away from the door, staring up at the oak barrels, wondering how much wine had been left inside and if that was the case, if the liquid was rancid. The facility was incredible. I didn’t care what the supposed expert had said. It wasn’t too countrified, not by a long shot. To me, the room was rustic but cozy, the gorgeous bar for the tastings an exquisite piece of furniture.

  All I needed to do was add festive lighting around the serving area, maybe a little music and some female touches and it would be good to go for a sinful wine tasting. Complete with baked goods and some yummy appetizers. A Halloween event sounded perfect. I could bake. I could invite everyone in town. I could… Have a nervous breakdown.

  I leaned against the bar, dropping my head into my hands. What was I doing? I had no clue. I was in over my head to the point I was already drowning, and I’d been here all of what, four days? “Damn it!” I’d found several boxes inside the winery storage room before he’d arrived. While I’d found the contract from Malcolm, the copy I had wasn’t signed. It was very lucrative, so much so that I’d almost considered it for about two seconds. I yanked it from the box, ripping it in half then half again.

  No one was going to take this away from me. I’d meant what I’d said. No one.

  Seconds later, I felt a presence, the stench of Mr. Stocker’s offensive cologne lingering in my nostrils.

  “Ms. Dayne. May I have a word with you?”

  Who was the asshole kidding? He’d returned?

  I reacted without thinking.

  “I told you to leave my property. I meant what I said.” I spun around, driving my fist against a hard jaw. I had no idea I had the strength to pitch a muscular giant to the floor. But I could and I did.

  And it wasn’t the clown I’d spent two hours with but the man I was falling hard for even if Mr. Grinch didn’t want me to.

  I’d attacked the wrong man, punching him hard enough I was certain I’d broke his nose. Jake had fallen onto his butt on the floor, the thud hard enough I gasped. Then he acted as if he’d passed out from the force used. Oh, no. No. This wasn’t happening.

  When he remained still on his back, his head lolled to the side, my heart fluttered. What had I done?

  “Oh, no. Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.” I scrambled forward, dropping to my knees. “Jake. Are you okay? I didn’t know it was you.” When he didn’t say anything, I pressed my hand against his face first, shifting two fingers to his neck. Thank God, he had a pulse. Was it thready? No. No. No. “Jake. Come on. Wake up for me.” I leaned over even further.

  Jake didn’t bother opening his eyes before tossing me over onto my back, pressing the full weight of his body on top of mine. Without hesitation, he dragged my arms over my head, wrapping his huge hand around both wrists. “Whoa. Who were you expecting, baby? The devil himself? Don’t you know attacking people isn’t in your best interest? Do I need to give you another spanking as a reminder?”

  “Maybe I was after the shit I just went through.”

  “What do you think you’re doing, Cinnamon Girl? Trying to kill me?”

  “No, just the wine expert.”

  “Tsk. Tsk. Nice girls don’t beat up wine consultants.”

  “Who said I was a nice girl?” I asked, fighting his hold again. When I managed to get an arm free, I tried to push him off, but he was having none of it, yanking my arm back over my head. This time, he dug his fingers into my skin.

  “You know. I was already almost beaten to death today.”

  “Oh, yeah. By whom?”

  “My brother and his buddies. Ouch.”

  “Poor baby,” I cooed. “Wait a minute. You played hockey today?” I was surprised I was so excited.

  “Yeah, if you can call it that. Did anyone ever tell you that you have an incredible right jab?”

  “Oh, all the time. You see what I do to guys I can’t stand.”

  “I thought I was included in that bunch.”

  “Eh, you’re growing on me.” The laugh that bubbled to the surface felt good and seeing the twinkle in his eyes, my heart fluttered as it had done after he’d left early that morning. “What the hell were you doing disguising your voice? I could have really done some damage.”

  “Sweetheart, you’re a girl. You couldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “Them’s fighting words.”

  He grinned like a kid and I had to believe his change in demeanor had everything to do with returning to the rink. “I was trying to make you smile.”

  “You always make me smile, even if you’re a pain in the ass. And why do I have a feeling there’s more?”

  “Hmmm… You’re the one who’s incorrigible. I came here to ask you on a date but if you’re too busy…”

  “A date? You? Someone stole your body,” I teased then undulated even more, fighting his possessive hold even harder.

  “If they did, it was some feisty brunette.”

  There was something so provocative about the way he held me that I was momentarily left breathless. As he lowered his head, I was thrown into a sweet vacuum. Everything else in the world faded to black. When he captured my mouth, my body responded without hesitation, my pussy throbbing and my nipples fully aroused. His scent of sandalwood, spices, and dried sweat became a powerful aphrodisiac. Stars skittered into my periphery of vision as he thrust his tongue inside.

  As he dominated my tongue, exploring as if he’d never kissed me before, I wiggled underneath him, fighting his hold yet adoring every second of the passion we shared. He was the most intense kisser I’d ever experienced, his soft lips and rough actions keeping me on edge, my muscles quivering.

  When he pulled away seconds later, he nipped my lower lip. “You were saying?”

  “Attacking people is in my best interest if they are the devil or the one who threatened me.” I didn’t recognize my voice. “And the jerk also told me the winery and my mother’s wine sucked.”

  He jerked his head back, his breathing instantly labored. “What?”

  “Can you believe that?”

  “The guy I passed coming in here said that shit?”

  “Yeah, the wine expert dressed in Armani. He was a jerk. He advised me to sell. He told me my mother was hated and that I’d go bankrupt and no one would ever work for me and…”

  “Calm down.”

  “I can’t calm down. I feel like I’m drowning.”

  Jake bristled and I could tell he was changing gears in being my protector. “Hmmm… What a jerk. Maybe I should give him a piece of my mind.”

  I knew what that meant from Jake. He’d land his ass in jail, friend or no friend of the sheriff.

  “He’s not worth it. I’m just going to prove him wrong.” I placed my hand on his cheek and at least some tension eased. He pressed his face against it, his eyes still full of fire.

  “You’re the one who’s worth it and you’re right, we’ll prove him wrong. Bastard.” He pulled away, helping me to my feet. “We can make this work, Cass. I know we can.”

  “We, huh?” His conviction pulled away all the shadows, allowing me to smile.

  “Well, you did ask for my help. Right?”

  “I did.” I rubbed my hands down my jeans, glancing at the shredded paperwork as well as the horrible scoring the man had used. “Would you look at this?” I tossed the piece of paper across the bar’s surface, immediately taking two glasses toward the spigot where I’d gotten the wine from before. I poured enough for us to enjoy, still grinding my teeth from everything I’d been told.

  “Just an opinion, Cinnamon Girl. You need to remember that it’s possible he’s buddies with Mr. Robinson.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. Taste this. Tell me if you think it’s sour.”

  He lifted the clear plastic glass, studying the color in the pendant lighting. When he took a deep whiff, I punched him playfully in the gut. “What?”

  “You remind me of Mr. Stocker.”

  “Jeremy Stocker?” He took a sip then drained the glass.

  “One and the same. Do you know him?”

  “Unfortunately, he’s on the city council.”

  “Uh-oh. Meaning he could have the place shut down.”

  “He has enough influence, but we’re not going to allow that to happen.”

  “You can’t fight all my battles, Jake.”

  “Maybe not all, but some of them. The wine is delicious. Stop worrying. Things have a funny way of working out.”

  “I can’t. I feel like I’m being railroaded to sell.”

  “That’s because the land itself is more valuable than the property.”

  I nodded. “As I suspected. Is it true what I heard about Malcolm?”

  “What did you hear?”

  “That he killed a man?” When Jake didn’t answer, another shiver curled my toes. “He really is dangerous.”

  “He’s an opportunist, Cassandra. I don’t know whether the stories I’ve heard are true, but he is a ruthless businessman just like his father. He’s stooped to methods of blackmail and extortion to get what he wants. What I do know is that he targets people then makes their lives miserable.”

  “He’s behind the threats.”

  “Possibly.”

  “I’m not going to let him drive me away.”

  Jake moved closer, eyeing the torn contract. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “We need to get to work. I have to put together a marketing plan and I want to have a huge party in October. A kickoff of sorts. You can get the work done by then. Right? I’d like to have plenty of guests, including for the holidays. If I can have the wine win some awards by spring, then I’ll be set. Yeah, I can do this. I’ll call some of the people I know who can help.”

  “Not so fast, Cinnamon Girl.”

  He grabbed my hand, spinning me around to face him. “What are you doing?”

  “Tangerine Sunset can wait. We’re going out tonight.”

  I don’t think anything could have shocked me more. “Are we celebrating something?”

  “Wasn’t it you who reminded me that we needed to enjoy our lives?” He took the cheap glass from my hand, placing both on the bar.

  “Yeah, but that was before⁠—”

  Jake placed his finger across my lips, cocking his head as he gave me a stern look. When I refused to stop talking, he did the only thing he could to shut me up. He captured my mouth all over again.

  If it was possible to melt in someone’s arms, then that’s exactly what I was doing. The feel of being so close to him created vibrations that were sweeping through every cell, heading directly to my toes. The kiss made me lightheaded, the taste of peppermint reigniting all the filthy thoughts I’d had before about him.

  He lifted me off my feet and immediately, I wrapped my legs around him. In his arms I felt tiny, something I’d never felt before. I stroked the back of his neck as the kiss went from being passionate to needy, the hunger we shared creating a wave of electricity. I swept my tongue across his, refusing to allow him to dominate me.

  But Jake wasn’t the kind of man to be toyed with, smacking my bottom several times with his huge palm, adding to the ache that was already there. When he finally eased me to my feet, breaking the contact, he slipped his index finger under my chin, lifting it. “I’m a famished man.”

  “You feasted this morning,” I purred.

  “Don’t you know I’m a growing boy?”

  For a man who’d perfected the ability to scowl, he was certainly doing his best to entice me with his hooded eyes. “Yes, but I’ll be the responsible one. Time is ticking.”

  “Nope. You’re going to change and we’re going out to dinner. My treat.”

  “Hmmm… Is this a date?”

  “I don’t date, Cinnamon Girl. I already told you that.”

  “Yes, you did. Pray tell, what do you do?” I asked coyly.

  “I make things happen and take what I want.”

  Why was it that I shuddered at the thought?

  CHAPTER 21

  Jake

  “All I’ve ever wanted to be is you.”

  For some reason, even though I was sitting with a gorgeous woman on a beautiful late afternoon, what Riley had said had stuck in the forefront of my brain.

  “Earth to the big man,” Cassandra said quietly.

  “What?”

  “That’s what I wanted to know.”

  “Just thinking about my brother.”

  “You’re angry with him about leaving you here, taking your spot on the team?”

  “Nah, it wasn’t my spot to begin with. It was what my father wanted,” I said, lifting the glass and sucking on the ice cubes. Where the hell was the waiter? The Tylenol I’d popped wasn’t doing a damn thing. “He’s trying to please our father and it’s making him do stupid things.”

  “Did you talk to him?”

  “Yep, and it didn’t end well.”

  “Talk, not bark, Mr. Grinch.” Her eyes twinkled in the dim lighting.

  “You’re a psychiatrist too? I don’t need another one.”

  “Nope. Just someone who cares about you, although you’re tough to like.” When I reached for her face, she giggled and pulled away.

  “You are one bad woman. Do you know that?”

  “That’s why we get along so well.”

  Maybe so. I sat back, glancing at the view she’d been staring at, constantly moving her upper body to the light jazz music.

  Depoe Bay had a few decent restaurants, fewer still that had live music, which is what I wanted. Tidal Raves would do for the night. At least the weather was warm enough to enjoy the outdoor seating, which happened to appear only feet away from the jagged cliffs leading to the Pacific Ocean.

  The sun was setting magnificently against the shoreline, the vibrant colors more intense than I’d seen in a long time. But I only had eyes for the woman sitting in front of me. She was stunning in a body-hugging crimson dress, which even in the candlelight on the table brought out the color in her eyes. I had filthy thoughts running through my mind, enough that I wanted dinner to be over with.

  While she appeared more relaxed than before, holding her wine in her hand while staring into the waning sun, I could tell the news that had finally broken about the murder in Depoe Bay was weighing heavily on her mind. The two women had been identified, which I was certain had Bart in a tizzy.

  “Remember, family is important, Jake. You never know when someone is going to be ripped away from you. Take those two girls for example.”

  “I thought we were trying to have a nice dinner and not talk business or murder.”

  She dragged her tongue across her lower lip then took another sip of wine. “I know, but I can’t get them out of my mind. I just can’t imagine what those two women went through,” she said, which confirmed her mind was far removed from the seafood we’d just enjoyed. “There are some horrible people in this world.”

  “Yeah, but there are some amazing people as well.”

  “Coming from the Grinch, that’s good to hear.” She threw me a playful look, but I sensed she was nervous, even frightened.

  That made me angry as fuck. Whoever was trying to terrify her would end up facing me in a dark forest one day. Maybe I’d tie the asshole to a tree like had happened with Moose and throw in some bloody meat to entice the wildlife. “You can’t worry all day about what you heard on the news.”

  “It’s hard not to, Jake. What if I’m next? What if the threat I received has nothing to do with Malcolm Robinson and his determination to buy my place?”

  I’d thought about that more than a couple of times, but the last thing I wanted to do was to scare her. “I talked to my buddy at the sheriff’s office, including dropping off the cigarette butt for him to see if he could get any DNA.”

  “And?”

  “And it’s going to take time.”

  “What if we don’t have time? I feel like whoever threatened me is watching all the time. It’s like having creepy crawlies that will never leave.”

  I reached across the table, taking her hand into mine. “Hey, stop worrying. I’ll keep you safe.”

  “You will, huh?”

  “Yeah, I plan on it.”

  “That means you’ll need to camp out at my place.”

  Her playful side kept my cock twitching, so much so I was thrown by the sensations. Maybe I’d drag her into the bathroom, fucking her brains out. Oh, great. The vision of doing that reminded me how bad I was at this kind of thing.

  “I was only teasing, Jake. I’m not trying to push anything. While I’ve enjoyed seeing another side of Mr. Grinch, I have no illusions of grandeur about what we’re sharing.”

  I pulled my hand away, placing my palm against my chest. “Ouch. That hurt.”