Gaining Miles (Miles Family #5)(8)

I hesitated in the hall where I had a view through her half-open door. She was there, sitting at the vintage desk that had once been her father’s. Her office was small but filled with natural light from the window behind her. She had photos of her family on a shelf and framed prints of different Salishan wines on the wall.

She sat with a pen in hand, leaning over a notebook. Her eyes flicked to her computer screen, then back to her paper. She wrote something, then her gaze went back to her computer.

So beautiful.

Her dark hair was streaked with silver, and she wore it back in a ponytail. She had a pair of reading glasses perched on her nose and her nails were painted a soft rose color. That was unusual for her. Brynn or Amelia—or both—had probably taken her for a manicure. That made me smile. Shannon didn’t do enough for herself, and I knew spending time with the girls made her happy.

She tapped her pen against her lips. I gazed at her mouth, imagining those lips against mine. I’d been close enough to get a whiff of her hair a few times—she smelled like lavender—but what did she taste like? What would her breath feel like on my neck? Her naked body pressed against—

“Hey, Ben.”

I nearly jumped out of my boots at the sound of Brynn’s voice behind me. I cleared my throat, trying not to look too guilty. “Hi there, Sprout.”

Her eyes flicked to her mother’s partially open door, then back to me. “Are you okay?”

Damn. How long had I been standing here, staring? Fantasizing.

“Yes, fine. Just lost in thought for a minute, there.”

“Okay. I just need to go talk to my mom.” She jerked a thumb toward Shannon’s office. “Did you need to see her about something? I can wait if—”

“No, you go right ahead.” I couldn’t very well say what I wanted to say to Shannon with her daughter standing a few feet away. Especially right after I’d been picturing Shannon naked. “I can wait.”

Instead of loitering in the hallway, I went back downstairs while Brynn talked to her mom. I felt like I needed something to do, so I pretended to check on the wine fridge again. It was humming along nicely, but I gave it a once-over anyway.

I peeked out into the lobby and saw Brynn leave. Took a deep breath. Now was my chance.

“Ben,” Roland said behind me. “I’m glad you’re here. Do you have a minute?”

I swallowed back a frustrated growl. “Sure.”

“We’ve been looking at options for upgrading the wine presses. I had Mom and Cooper take a look, but I wanted to get your opinion.”

“Yeah, of course.”

I followed Roland up to his office, casting a quick glance at Shannon before I went in. She looked up and for a second our eyes met. She gave me a quick smile, then went back to whatever she’d been working on.

God, that smile.

I sat down in Roland’s office and we went over the equipment options. Even though I was anxious to speak to Shannon, I appreciated Roland including me on this decision. I wasn’t the wine expert around here, but I’d been working on the winery’s equipment for over twenty-five years. I knew a thing or two.

But my attention was half focused on the office down the hall. I was afraid I’d miss her—miss my chance to talk to her before she got busy.

“Thanks for your input,” Roland said, turning his screen around. “The rep from the manufacturer will be out here next week if you want to talk to him.”

“Good. I’ll be around.”

I tried not to look too eager to leave, but Roland’s phone rang. I gave him a nod, which he returned, and ducked out into the hall.

Shannon was still in her office. My heart beat faster at the sight of her. I’d held back from her for so long. Kept my feelings buried deep. Now I was ready to explode like a fireworks show. Like I could walk right in there, pull her to her feet, push her up against the wall, and kiss the hell out of her.

She looked up and our eyes met again. I’d never once felt awkward around her, but right now, I felt as nervous as a boy about to ask a girl on a date for the very first time. Fifty-eight years old, and this woman made me feel like a shy kid again.

I nodded to her and approached her half-open door. “Morning.”

“Good morning.” She took her reading glasses off and set them on her desk. “What brings you up here?”

“Oh, the usual. Discussing wine presses with Roland.”

Her eyes lit up. “That’s going to make such a difference. The new one we’re looking at is supposed to be so gentle. The lower pressure reduces oxidation. It’s amazing.”

“Sounds like it’ll be an improvement.”

“I think it will be,” she said. “And it’s such a relief to be in a place where we can consider new equipment. It seems like it wasn’t that long ago we were wondering if we’d be able to stay in business.”

I remembered that all too well. Her ex-husband had been the cause of it. “I’m glad those days are over.”

“Me too.”

We both paused for a few heartbeats, our eyes locked. Hers were clear and blue, her eyelashes fluttering a little as she blinked.

“Shannon, I wanted to ask you—”

I faltered at the sound of a crying baby behind me.

Shannon looked past me, into the hallway. “Uh-oh. Can you excuse me for a second?”