Crushing (The Southern California Wine Country Series) Read Free Page A

that plays bass guitar. He’ll arrive tonight, hopefully on time. Though, I have a couple of songs we can get by with if he’s late.”
    “What’s that wrapped around your hand?”
    Kyle uncoiled the strap, “This is my necklace. A leather lace through a hole in an old penny. I wear it as a necklace when I’m not playing but I use it as a pick when I do.”
    “Why do you use that for a pick?”
    “It gives me a sharper attack and better tone than any other pick I’ve tried. It's easy to grip and the lace keeps me from dropping it.”
    “It’s really worn.” Amanda looked back into Kyle’s face, “Anything special about it?”
    “I got this penny in change for a candy bar I bought in Wisconsin when I was a kid. I saw the California Mint made it. I saved it and kept thinking about it and soon realized I wanted to leave for California.” He did not tell her that this particular penny was the only money he had in his pocket when his father threw him and Sardis out of the house. A few times, he almost spent it covering sales tax but put it on the lace to keep from losing it. “I knew my future was tied into this lucky coin.” Kyle pushed through the doors. He signaled to his brother who sat down and began tapping on a snare drum while Kyle plugged in his guitar. He glanced along the ray of sunlight that illuminated Amanda’s face through the windows and the corner of his mouth curled into a small smile.
    Amanda watched Kyle. She saw him start his fingers along the low notes of the guitar neck. He leaned into the volume pedal and his notes swelled as the chords reached across the patio and vibrated Amanda’s lungs. She gulped for air. The lightly distorted rock music that came from his guitar brought Julie from the kitchenette and several workers with wine splashed on their coveralls came up from the wine cave.
    Kyle’s effervescent notes filled her with awe while his voice gripped her with longing. Something in the timbre of his voice tugged at her. She had a boyfriend once that she loved talking to on the phone when he went away to school because of the sound of his voice. She kept that long distance relationship going too long. Kyle’s singing was more though, something rugged and hot – it wrapped her desire tighter.
    His music quickly found the toy wind-up key sticking from her body and each strum of his guitar twisted the brass flanges around and around, ratcheting up the spring dozens of notches at a time. Amanda squeezed her thighs tighter, fearing that she might suddenly uncoil in a mouse nest of uncontrolled spring wire. The drums kept a beat like sharp rubble under it all that allowed the guitar music to tug at her and soar. She watched his fingers and wanted them running up and down her in as rapid bursts as he did across his fret board during a guitar solo. She listened as he bent the strings in yearning notes that yanked her higher.
    Then Kyle waved to his brother and they changed into several other song pieces as Kyle kicked a few more pedals at his feet. Sardis’ dirty blond hair shook from his hammering arm blows to the drumheads. Then they stopped, the sound echoed away across the wispy grape vines among the vineyard surrounding the winery. Kyle closed up his pedal board and carried it like an executive briefcase with the guitar again slung over his back.
    Applause from everyone came as he stepped into the tasting room. He grinned. “Thanks. Sorry for the noise, but we’re done checking the setup. See everyone this evening.” He caught Amanda’s eyes and winked at her before turning and leaving through the open oak doors.
    Amanda saw that Julie stood beside her, “I didn’t hear you come up.”
    “Loud music.” Julie said, still watching out the windows at the empty band kit waiting for the evening. “He liked you, Amanda.”
    “I thought you were in the kitchenette?”
    “My lurking skills are improving. Or you were too distracted.”
    “Yeah, must have been.” Amanda looked