> “Sorcha sent me a message saying she thought you might be hungry. I’m sorry to say there is no pasta left. I could make a quick sandwich if you’d like.”
“I can make it,” said Dutch, standing and walking toward the kitchen. “You sit back down.”
“He’s one of those,” giggled Bradley once Dutch was out of the room.
“Those?”
“All of Kade’s partners are so alpha, aren’t they? I mean it isn’t just his partners; his brothers are all the same way.”
“There’s my Charlie,” squealed Sorcha, walking in the front door with Burns and Naughton in tow.
“Onyx is taking Sofia back to the airport,” Burns told Malin. “She said she’d be in touch.”
Moments later, they heard the whir of the helicopter’s blades.
“Is he coming back?” Malin asked.
“Straight away,” he told her. “Would you like me to show you where you’ll be staying.”
“Um, yes please. Dutch is just making a sandwich.”
“We’ll wait,” said Burns, smiling. “I’d rather not wind up on Miller’s bad side for whisking you away.”
“I’m here,” said Dutch, carrying what looked like two sandwiches.
“You’ll stay in the cottage that used to be Maddox’s,” Burns told them, motioning to the various structures once they were outside. “Onyx will stay in the apartment.”
“Is that the winery?” Malin asked, pointing to a building that looked as though it had once been a barn.
“And tasting room, although we are no longer open to the public for tasting here at the vineyard unless it’s a special event. Our two daughters-in-law operate a tasting room in Cambria, the little village due west of here, right by the ocean.”
“How did you get involved in the business?” Malin asked. She didn’t know much about wine, other than that she liked it.
“I promised Sorcha that we’d retire to the ranch and that we’d raise our family here. My father was the one who started growing grapes, and my mother made wine.”
“It seems like a very nice life.”
“It is,” said Burns, leading them into the stone cottage.
Malin saw that her bags and Dutch’s were already in the entryway.
“After you,” Burns said, leading them into the living room.
Dutch went into the kitchen with his sandwiches and came back empty-handed.
“You can eat,” Malin told him.
“I already had one. Those two are for later.”
“I’ll let you get some rest,” said Burns. “I’m sure you’ve had a very long day.”
“Doc mentioned you might want to talk to me,” Malin said to him.
Burns waved as he went out the front door. “Plenty of time for that tomorrow. Sleep well.”
Malin plopped in a chair similarly to the way Bradley had earlier.
“You’re exhausted,” said Dutch, pulling her from the chair and over to the couch to sit beside him. “Do you want something to eat before we head upstairs?”