Crushing (The Southern California Wine Country Series) Read Free

with a practiced hand on a crescent wrench.
    Kyle’s black hair hung almost to his shoulders over the black leather jacket, cut square at the ends as if recently trimmed. His angular face displayed purposefully forgotten beard stubble that defined his jaw and highlighted his lips and teeth. Kyle scanned the drum cases. Not seeing what he looked for he grabbed several empty cases in each hand and trudged back to their car. Amanda and Julie’s eyes followed his classic jeans move with the stride of an athlete until he shimmered around the corner of the building.
    Amanda said, “That sun is really bright this morning.”
    “Dangerously bright, my eyes are watering … Well; I must get to the rest of the appetizers.” She scurried toward the kitchenette. “I think I should make something with chocolate for today, one of Debra’s famous recipes.”
    “That’s a good plan. Let me know if you need a taste tester, ok?” Amanda grinned. “I’m off to set up the bar.”
    “– You should talk to him.”
    “Have you?”
    “Yes. He wasn’t interested. All business.”
    Amanda wondered how she might keep her attention on the customers and the wine since she only needed to glance sideways and see them playing. She told herself that it would be dark when they play and they are probably some raspy, croaking, death-metal singers anyway. Although Martin had said, one of them could sing nice. She wondered which one?
    Amanda lined up the wine glasses and arrayed the first sample bottles, carefully peeling the metal foil capsules back so all she needed was to pop the corks out with the bench top cork remover. She placed water decanters and cracker trays along the bar top and stood back waiting for the arrival of their first customers.
    The big oak doors to the patio swung wide as Kyle pulled them open. Sunlight streamed through the doorway and outlined Kyle in silhouette. Amanda’s eyes locked with his, how the crystal blue of those eyes pierced her soul. She could feel the sun’s sudden warmth bounce through the door around Kyle and caress her arms and shoulders like a divine hug. He pushed back his black hair and stepped forward. His all-black guitar was slung over his shoulder so it hung across his back, the headstock of the guitar dripping from his side like a tomahawk.
    “Hey, I wanted to check the sound of our setup. Do you know if anyone minds if we make –” Kyle’s precise stride faltered, the closing oak doors appeared like the ruffled wings of anxious gods, and he hesitated, “– some noise?”
    Amanda shook her head in a way that seemed more like her body shivered from the cold.
    Kyle came close to the bar. Amanda felt the swinging doors pinch off the light and ensconce the tasting room in darkness. A brooding dangerous coldness compared to the reaching rays that followed Kyle in.
    “I’m Kyle. What’s your name?” He held his hand out to her. She saw Aztec-motifs carved into the pewter beads.
    “Amanda,” She said, his hand warm and strong, difficult to release from hers. She withdrew her hand before their touch became awkward. He smelled of leather and dangerous music – the dangerous and delicious smell of a rebel. She ran her fingers through her hair to push it away from her face, twisting a few strands behind her ear. All she could think of was dangerous . If he rides a motorcycle then he would be the perfect man to screw up her life, but she would secretly love the entire ride.
    “I’m going to have to ask you to please stay in here tonight when we’re playing, I can already see you will distract me too much.” Kyle turned and banged his guitar tuners against the bar. The strings twanged a mixed spiel of embarrassed notes. He spun the guitar around to check that nothing was damaged. His eyes came back to Amanda’s, “Sorry.”
    Amanda put her hand over her mouth to hide a sudden smile. Then she asked, “Is it just the two of you playing?”
    “No, besides my brother Sardis, we have a friend