Every Time I Fall (Orchid Valley 3)

Stella arches a brow and tries to peek around me. “Who’s the cutie?”

“Wine distributor,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t give away any of my nervousness. He isn’t just a wine distributor. Frankie Perez has a smile as warm as the sun and a tendency to aim it right at me. I look forward to his visit every month.

He’s one of the few guys I can comfortably flirt with. And if he didn’t live in Atlanta, maybe I would’ve had the courage to ask him out by now. But probably not.

“Hmm,” Stella says, biting back a smile. “Okay, then. I’ll see you soon.”

I take a deep breath and head to my office at the back of the kitchen, where Frankie is waiting, a leather messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

“Abbi!” His brown eyes are pools of melted chocolate as he looks me over, and when he looks at me again, he’s grinning. “Thanks for coming in on your day off.”

I wave a hand. “I needed to do some paperwork anyway.” Kind of true, but there’s always paperwork.

“I have a few things to go over with you,” he says, pulling a manila folder from his bag. “If this is an okay time.”

My smile falls away, but I quickly replace it. Usually, Frankie’s in no hurry to get out the door. I can always count on him to ask about my mom, whom he met at a wine-tasting event we did here at the spa once, or my latest offerings at the restaurant. He’ll typically entertain me with some story about his home-brew experiments or the best new restaurants in Atlanta.

But none of that today, I guess.

I pretend I’m not disappointed and lead him into my office, where we go over my order and some changes his company is making to bulk order pricing. It’s over far too quickly for something I’ve looked forward to all day long, but I don’t let my disappointment show as I stand to show him out.

“This is the last time you’ll see me in this capacity,” he says, tucking his folder back into his messenger bag.

My heart sinks, and this time I can’t keep the disappointment from my face. This guy is so sweet. He’s kind of like a big teddy bear—on the shorter side, with a barrel chest, dark hair, and dark eyes. He’s a little goofy and awkward around my employees, but always smiles when he sees me. He makes me feel cute in a way girls like me don’t usually get to feel. “Why’s that?”

“I’ve taken a new job.” He nods. “All the traveling gets really old.”

“I’m sure,” I say. Failing. I’m failing at keeping the disappointment from my voice. And how lame am I that this once-a-month sales call is the most exciting part of my romantic life? Okay, that’s just sad. Social life, maybe? Even that’s a stretch. It’s not like we’ve ever been involved. I might’ve imagined we could be . . . someday . . . but the most physically intimate we’ve ever gotten is an accidental brush of fingers when I’m signing my order.

This isn’t romance. It’s just Frankie selling me wine, but his flirty eyes and warm smile are the closest thing to romance in my life.

“I’ll miss having an excuse to see you all the time,” he says, and my stomach jumps. He grins. “But . . . after I finish training in Atlanta, the new job will actually mean me living in Orchid Valley.”

“Really?” I squeak. Down, girl. I have zero chill.

His grin widens. “Really. I’ll be moving into those new downtown condos in six weeks and opening a tasting room for Montgomery Wines. I wouldn’t mind having a friend to show me around town.” He cocks his head to the side. “Maybe someone who can introduce me to the best place to get a beer or a nice meal.”

Oh, God. I can’t decide if I’m grateful I get to see him again or if I’m terrified I’ll no longer have the security blanket of professionalism as an excuse not to make this into what I’ve wanted since the first time I met him.

The truth is I suck so badly at real relationships that I’ve avoided them altogether since I dropped out of college and moved home almost five years ago. So, yeah, chalk this one up to terrified.

“You know where to find me.” My voice squeaks again. Oh my God. I’m a mess. He’s going to think I’m crazy and then straight-up avoid me.

“Yeah.” He steps a little closer. He smells warm and spicy, like pine and coriander. “But maybe I should give you my number, just in case?”

My heart is hammering so hard. “Sure. Just in case.”

He pulls his business card from his wallet and hands it over to me then winks as he shoves his wallet back into his pocket. “I’m looking forward to it, Abbi.”