Embrace My Heart. AlTonya Washington

truth, she thought while speeding down the winding dirt road leading to Carro.

      Named for Vectra’s parents Oscar and Rose Bauer, Carro was a remarkably breathtaking wine-country estate in Saint Helena, California. It was Vectra’s home and her oasis—a place for rejuvenation and meditation. A place to hide? She shook off that difficult truth and then thought, What the hell? So what if she wanted to hide? It was time to retreat a little.

      She’d had her fill of humiliation. Qasim Wilder was a man who didn’t want to be friends with her. Fair enough. Fair enough. Only... Well, jeez, he had to know she wanted more than that. She should’ve told him so long ago. Now, she was happy that she hadn’t. Humiliating, indeed, once he had given her such a polite brush-off. Of course, there may not have been someone else had she not been too much of a coward to tell him that she’d wanted their friendship to take a more beneficial turn.

      Vectra parked her luxury crossover a short distance from the turnoff leading to the main house. Leaving the vehicle, she walked a few feet to the wooden fencing that marked the entrance to Carro’s lush vineyards.

      Unmindful of her pumps, Vectra propped a foot on one of the planks that constructed the massive fencing. Resting her elbows on the top plank, she bowed her head and made a weak attempt at working the kinks from her neck. She inhaled, at once comforted by the fragrant air kissed by the plump, sweet fruit that clustered about vibrant green vines.

      The Carro land had been in Vectra’s mother’s family for centuries. Rose was a descendent of the Pomo Tribe, one of several Native American tribes that called Sonoma home. Rose had come from a family that understood the value of their land and defended their right to keep it.

      That very land had been the dowry Rose Wolf had brought with her when she met and married Oscar Bauer, a young African-American agriculture consultant who had been making a name for himself among area farmers. He’d brought his skills from the North Carolina farm country he’d called home. In time, he built a respected business that thrived and diversified once he and his wife joined forces to cultivate the property.

      The Bauers had managed to cultivate more than a respected vineyard for themselves and their surrounding neighbors. They’d cultivated what many would call an enchanted life for their two children. Vectra never had a shortage of friends, primarily the children of the adults who worked her family’s land.

      It had been Vectra’s athletic, outdoorsy personality that had brought her more male than female playmates.

      “Right...” Vectra inhaled deeply, willing the air to work more of its magic on her mood. “Outdoorsy, yes. Athletic... Not so much now,” she criticized herself, but felt comforted by the fact that she still had her friends. At least, she considered them friends. Qasim obviously disagreed.

      The visit to his office had gone nothing like she’d planned. For weeks, she’d wanted to confront him about withdrawing from their relationship, but had resisted the urge. Discovering the way he’d threatened one of their friends had given her courage to confront him. She’d hoped to get him to tell her why he’d done it and in turn spark a discussion about what more could exist between them.

      Sadly, the conversation had derailed and she had no idea how to get it back on track. At least she’d gotten out of there without making an even greater fool of herself. He’d met someone. Someone he was interested in being more than friends with.

      A horn honked and she looked back, a sunny grin appearing when she spotted the Jeep behind her car and the man inside. She waited, watching her brother hop out from the driver’s side.

      Oliver Bauer glanced at her car. “Are you on your way in or out?” He opened his arms wide to greet his baby sister and gave her a hug.

      “Just getting back from the city.”

      Vectra relished the embrace but reminded herself not to lean in to the reassuring hold for too long. She didn’t need Oliver questioning her mood. Her brother and father already worried too much over her.

      “All the way from Frisco? Gallery business?” he asked, referring to one of two galleries Vectra owned.

      “Just went to see a friend.” She shrugged. “Needed to shop for Robb DeWitt. His birthday party’s tomorrow night, you know?”

      “Yeah, yeah, I got an invite.” Oliver nodded, rubbing his jaw as he spoke.

      “Who are you taking?” Vectra kicked at a loose thatch of grass and dirt, attempting faint interest.

      “Not sure I’m even going.” Oliver rolled the sleeves of a black denim shirt over heavily corded forearms. “Guess you are?”

      “I am.”

      “Good for you.” Oliver gave her a sidelong glance. “You good?”

      “Yeah...yeah, yeah.” She shifted her weight and cringed. “I just waited too long to get a date. I may have to go solo.”

      “Solo.” Oliver made a face and moved past his sister to recline against the plank fence. “So all the good guys were taken, huh?”

      “Not every good guy.” Vectra joined her brother, bracing her elbows against the fence and gazing up at him with an adoring smile.

      Oliver grunted a laugh, his light, deep-set eyes reflecting more vibrancy in the sunlight. “The flattery, while true, will get you nowhere.”

      Vectra rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”

      “What about Qasim?”

      She did a double take, put distance between her and Oliver. “Where’d that come from?”

      Oliver merely shrugged off the question.

      Vectra reciprocated the gesture. “I already asked him, anyway. He turned me down.”

      “Seriously? He really turned you down?” Oliver looked incredulous.

      Vectra’s smile reflected sympathy. “He really did, but it’s fine. I understand why he had to. He’s seeing someone.”

      Oliver’s incredulous expression seemed to intensify into devastation. “He told you that?”

      “He didn’t have to, Olive.” Vectra slapped her hands to her thighs and turned to take in the view beyond the fence once more. “He doesn’t want to be friends anymore—told me so himself—said he couldn’t be. Isn’t that male-speak for ‘I’m seeing someone else’?”

      “I don’t know, Vecs... I think you might be way off.”

      “Well...” Vectra dismissed the issue with an airy wave.

      “So? Are you still gonna go even though no one asked you?”

      Vectra accepted her brother’s good-natured ribbing with a laugh. “I already told Robb I’d go, and I’m having a new gallery event soon.” She shrugged, inhaled the fragrant air and sighed. “It’ll be good to get out and be seen before that.”

      “New gallery thing, huh?” Oliver nodded approvingly. “That’ll be good for you. We—me and Dad—were wondering what your plans were for the place. You haven’t been spending a lot of time at either location.”

      “Guess I have been a little preoccupied,” Vectra admitted. She kept quiet about the fact that it was because she’d been more interested in being available for Qasim Wilder whenever he called.

      Oliver nudged her elbow.

      “I suppose I could lower my standards yet again and take you since I haven’t had the time to get a better date.”

      “Well, I appreciate your sacrifice!” Vectra laughed. “I’ll be sure not to depend on you for a ride home, though.”

      “You offend me, Vecs.” Oliver planted a hand to the middle of his chest. “So it sounds like we have a date, but let me know if you get a better offer.”

      “Doubtful.”