Page 32 of Tryst's Temptation

She rolled her eyes. “Where else, Tryst?”

“There are many advantages to you being there.”

“Name one that has nothing to do with you and me and kissing.”

“I have been working with you, have I not?”

“You could work with me in California.”

“I could. However, there is another reason I think you should consider Mexico instead.”

“What?”

“Cariño.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “You don’t play fair.”

I nodded. “I play to win.”

“What is winning, Tryst? What do you see happening between us?”

It was the hardest question she’d asked thus far. “I don’t know, but I’d like to find out.”

“I don’t know either, and it frightens me.”

When she went inside, I didn’t follow.

Brix and I didn’t speak much on the plane ride from San Luis Obispo to Napa, nor did we on the hour drive from the airfield to the Barrett estate.

Over the courseof the next three days, thecaballeros—both the youngsters, as I’d begun referring to them, and theviejos—did our best to support Martin, Press, and Beau Barrett, helping them navigate the loss of their wife and mother.

Susannah Barrett was buried on the morning of the third day, and that afternoon, I offered to stay on longer if Martin wanted me to. When he insisted it wasn’t necessary, I caught a flight to San Luis Obispo, unsure where I should go from there. I was about to book a commercial flight to Alamos when I received a call from Sorcha Butler.

“Martin and Press are on their way here now,” she said. “Press misses Luisa, and she misses him. As for Martin, I don’t think he’s quite ready to be on his own yet. Will you join us?”

Rather than respectfully decline, I shamefully took advantage of the opportunity to see Jaicon once more before returning to my ranch. “I will, and thank you for the invitation, my friend.”

“You are always welcome here, Tryst. This, you know. Besides, I think there is another person here who will be as happy to see you as I will.” I didn’t need to close my eyes to picture her winking with her words.

Driving through the gates reminded me of being here only a few days ago and of the way Jaicon and I left things—again. I hadn’t thought much about it while I was in Napa. My focus had been on a man who was like a brother to me and his sons. Now, though, the separation I felt between us came roaring back at me like the onset of a powerful and deadly storm. If I hadn’t told Sorcha I’d come, I’d turn around, return to the airfield, and catch the next flight home.

Instead, I parked the car and made the trek up the porch steps. When I walked into the house, the first person I saw, even though she was on the opposite side of the room, was Jaicon. I greeted the others as I hurried past them in her direction.

“Hello,” I said, stopping abruptly but not until we were almost toe-to-toe.

Her smile warmed my chilled heart. “Hello, Tryst.”

My arms dangled at my sides, fists clenched, wishing I could cup her cheek with my palm instead, kiss her, tell her how painful every minute away from her had been.

We chatted amiably for what seemed like mere minutes but in actuality was closer to a couple of hours. I filled her in on Cariño’s progress and shared a video I received from Tex. We talked about how Sorcha made it her mission to get everyone to eat five times the amount they’d normally consume.

All too soon, Martin and his son announced they were leaving for Seahorse, Press’ oceanfront estate in the coastal community of Cambria.

“I suppose I should leave as well,” I said when I realized they’d been gone for close to a half hour.

Jaicon’s eyes bored into mine. “What’s your plan?”

“I’m not sure I understand the question.”