My head cocks to the side. “I don’t elevate your game?”
He shrugs a shoulder.
“Shep, I will beat you tomorrow. I will likely beat my father as well. Pretending otherwise is just … beating a dead horse. And I know how much you don’t like to beat a dead horse.”
A funny expression steals his face. Does he honestly not remember saying it?
I stand and straighten my T-shirt before folding my arms over my chest. “If you can’t hold your own tomorrow, physically or emotionally, then you shouldn’t have invited yourself on this trip.”
“I can hold anything I need to hold or that you need me to hold. Thanks for your concern.”
“Hey!”
Our attention goes to the doorway and Taryn’s bleached smile with red lips. I catch my nose crinkling into something distasteful while eyeing her black braided pigtails wound into two buns on the top of her head like a young girl in middle school. She looks too young for my dad. Hell, she looks like she could be my daughter.
“Hi, Taryn.” I pad my way to her and submit to her open arms. She’s decorated like a Christmas tree in necklaces and bracelets.
Nose ring.
Half dozen earrings in each ear.
A full sleeve of tattoos on her right arm.
“Taryn, this is my friend, Shep.”
Taryn eyes Shep a little too long before shifting her gaze to me. “Just friends?” She holds out her hand, all the while giving me a conspiratorial look.
I think she’s salivating, seconds from sprinkling a little salt onto him and devouring him right in front of me.
“Just friends,” Shep says while taking her hand and giving her his best smile. “Nice to meet you, Taryn. Thanks for allowing me to stay in your beautiful home.”
“Mi casa es su casa,” she says without releasing his hand.
“What’s for dinner?” I ask, forcing the lingering handshaking to end.
“Fish and wine.” Taryn smiles. “Good for the heart. In fact, let’s open a few bottles now. Shep, did Sophie mention my family owns a winery?”
We follow her to the kitchen, where my dad is already opening a bottle of wine that I know he hates. She has him trained quite well. As much as that thought disturbs me, it’s amazing what a guy will do when he’s thoroughly pussy whipped.
“She did. My ex and I used to visit wineries all the time.”
That’s right. How did I forget that?
“Shep’s an expert brewer,” I say.
He coughs, shaking his head. “I’m not. To put it in my sister’s words, I’m a man child conducting science experiments in my garage.”
Everyone laughs. He’s probably right. After seeing his setup and all the bottles of failed attempts, I now realize his brewing talent is about as well-honed as my crocheting talent.
“We should go to the winery,” Taryn says. “If you’re not into golfing, I’d be happy to take you there tomorrow while Dalton and Sophie golf. They are so competitive; it’s not exactly an enjoyable outing.” She winks at my dad and takes the glass of wine he offers her.
“As tempting as that is … I actually love golf. I think I elevate Sophie’s game. Without me, I’m certain Dalton will win.” Shep is so full of shit.
“Then you should go with Taryn tomorrow,” Dad says to Shep while smirking at me.
I roll my eyes at the absurdity of everything that’s being floated in the air to get a reaction out of me.
“Sophie?” Taryn tries to hand me a generous glass of wine.
“I’m uh … off alcohol for a bit.”
She and my dad eye me with suspicion because I love wine. It’s really what won me over with Taryn. I hated that he chose someone young enough to be his daughter, but since her family owned a winery, I was willing to overlook it.
“Are you cleansing?” Taryn asks.
I smile and shrug. “Uh … yeah.”
“Oh! I did one last month.” Taryn sets the glass of wine down on the counter. “I’ll make you a green juice.”
“Water’s fine. Really.”
“No. You need to keep things moving. Since you’ve been in the car all day, I bet you haven’t pooped much. Have you?” She breaks out her juicer and retrieves a head of kale and a lemon from the fridge.
Through the corner of my eye, I notice Shep’s hiding his grin behind his glass of wine.
God … I miss wine.
I also miss having dinner with my family and not talking about my bowel movements.
“I had to incorporate a little smooth move tea to keep things going. Ya know?”
Shep can’t hold it. He sniggers and so does my dad.
“I’m good, Taryn. Really. It’s not a hardcore cleanse. It’s really just … no alcohol, less salt and processed sugar …”
“And no fish.” Shep feels the need to add that.
“Of course,” Taryn flicks her wrist. “I’ll throw some things into a pot for a detox soup. You can basically eat that for all your meals. Easy peasy.”