Chapter 30 – Lena

“Stupid piece of crap, let’s go.” I urged my not-so-trusty moped forward, willing her to make it to Ashford Estates in one piece. I had to see Conner. 

The old girl shook like a bucket of bolts about to explode all over the deserted road. I’d made it over the bridge and almost to the gates when she started to crap out on me. I was barely moving now, wobbling down the street like a six year old on a bike for the first time. 

“I’m sorry, girl, I didn’t mean it.” I rolled to a stop to give her a rest. I could walk the rest of the way. Blowing the hair out of my face, I pushed my moped alongside of me, making my way to the end of the street. 

“What in the world are you doing, Lena?” A car rolled up beside me, and Carter gaped at me, shaking his head and trying not to laugh at my predicament. 

“Shut up and give me a ride.” I steered my moped to the side of the road. “You think she’ll be okay out here?”

“Trust me, no one is going to steal your girl. Get in, loser.” 

“Shut your face.” I ducked into the passenger seat of his tiny sports car. 

“I take it you’re headed to the estate?” His brow lifted in question. “I don’t recommend it. I gave it two stars on Yelp.”

“Normally, I’d agree, but I need to see your brother. I’m guessing he’s at his barn office and not answering his phone.” 

“If he’s not answering your calls, he’s with his grapes.” Carter pulled away from the sandy shoulder, kicking up dust behind them. “Why haven’t you bought yourself a car yet? You have the funds for it now, and it’s kind of a necessity with all you have going on these days.” 

I picked up on the note of hurt in his voice. I hadn’t had much time for my best friend lately, and I felt bad. I needed to check in with him more often. “What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?”

Carter turned to me with a huge grin. “Car shopping, I hope?” 

“It’s a date.” 

“Yes!” There wasn’t much Carter enjoyed more than shopping for a new car. “I think you’d love a cute little Mercedes. Red, of course.”

“Slow down, Mr. Trust Fund. I’m not spending business funds on an expensive car. We’re going to look for something used. A Chevy maybe.” 

“Ugh, on second thought, I think I’m busy tomorrow.” Carter shot me a dirty look. “A Chevy, she says.” He shook his head in disgust. 

“Okay, maybe a Nissan or a Toyota. A sedan,” I added when his eyes lit up again. “A moderately priced sedan.”

“You just don’t know how to have fun, Lena.” He sighed. “But we’ll find you a perfectly reasonable, boring, turd-brown car that will at least not leave you stranded on the side of the road.” 

“You can choose the color.” I nudged him playfully. 

“And the sound system?”

“Sure, as long as it’s not expensive.” 

“Deal.” Carter turned toward the golden gates of the Ashford Estates and laid his palm on the fancy scanner. The gates opened after scanning his palm print. 

“You’d think we were visiting royalty.” 

“As far as my father is concerned, we are.” 

“Man has a high opinion of himself, doesn’t he?” I frowned as Carter sailed along the tree-lined drive, right past the barn and the enormous estate. 

“Where are we going?” I looked behind us, searching for Conner’s car. It was parked by the barn. “His car is back that way.”

“He’s not there.” Carter turned down a narrow road that led through the forest areas surrounding the house. “How do you feel about riding a horse?”

“Hard pass. Can’t we just drive to wherever he is?”

“Yes, but not in my precious.” Carter swerved into a gravel lot beside an adorable white bricked barn, much like the one I’d visited last time I was here. Except this one was twice the size. 

“The stables,” Carter explained as he stepped out of the car. 

“Not riding a horse, Carter.” I followed him around the side of the barn to a garage. 

“How about a four wheeler?” He pointed to a row of ATVs. 

“Um …” I glanced around the display of wealth. So many toys and none of the Ashfords had time for such things. “How about that?” I pointed to a safe-looking vehicle. 

“That’s the custodian’s golf cart, Lena.” Carter rolled his eyes. 

“Will it get us where we need to go?” I gave him a pleading look. My moped was about as adventurous as I was going to get. 

“Yeah.” Carter groaned and stepped into the driver’s seat. “Let’s go.” 

“Thank you.” I slid in beside him and clutched the arm rest. “Not so fast!” I gripped the seat with my other hand as we shot out of the barn and zoomed down a grassy hill. 

“Live a little, Lena.” Carter laughed, driving the death cart along a bumpy path over an open field. The house and barns faded quickly behind us. 

Acres of vineyards spread out across rolling hills. It was beautiful but also kind of intimidating to witness first-hand how much the Ashfords owned. 

“I thought we were going to the vineyard?” I frowned when we turned away from the rows of vines. 

“We are, just not that one.” 

“Oh, of course you have others.” I shrank in on myself, second guessing all my worries over the last few weeks. No wonder Conner was always so calm and collected about our partnership. It was small potatoes compared to this empire of his. 

“Just Connor’s hybrids.” Carter shrugged. “Dad makes him keep it far away from the “real” vineyard so it won’t taint his precious grapes.”

I laughed at that. “Those two aren’t at all alike, are they?” I’d always thought of Conner as a carbon copy of The Ashford, but the man I’d grown fond of recently was nothing like his abrasive father. 

“This place is in Conner’s blood in a way it never has been for the rest of us. That’s the only similarity they share.” Carter glanced at me. “You get that now, right?”

“I do.” I nodded. “He’s stuck behind his father’s shadow.” 

“But he won’t be forever,” Carter added. “And that will be a great day for everyone. The day Conner Ashford realizes he’s a better man than the one who raised us.” Carter turned a corner, and we were driving along a cliff over the ocean. 

“You slow your butt down right now, Carter.” I clutched the armrest, staring down the rocky slope to the narrow strip of beach below. 

“Relax, Lena. I’ve been driving this road since I was a kid.” 

“Well, I haven’t, so slow down.” 

“Conner likes his hybrid grapes to breathe the ocean air.” Carter pointed to the rows of vines stretching from the cliff to a brick shed across a wide, grassy slope. “Dad insists the salt air kills the sweetness of the grapes. As you can imagine, I’ve been subjected to some super boring dinner conversations that always turn into heated arguments.” 

“You sure he’s here?” I scanned the rows of grapes that were clustered into groups of different species. I couldn’t see Conner anywhere. But as soon as we came to a stop near a small brick shed that was a mini version of the barn I’d first visited, Duke came bounding out to greet us. 

“Hey, Duke.” I stepped out of the cart to greet my favorite Ashford. 

“He’s probably lost in his work inside.” Carter let out a sharp whistle. “Conner, you have a visitor!” 

“Get lost, Carter,” Conner called back from the shed. “I’m busy.”

“Your visitor is much prettier than me, and that’s saying a lot.” 

“What are you babbling about?” Conner stepped out of his shed, and my jaw almost hit the ground. 

I’d always thought Conner was handsome. Who wouldn’t? But this Conner was shirtless and sweaty, with grubby old jeans sitting low on his hips. He ran a hand through his sweat-damp hair, and he looked like one of those ripped calendar guys come to life. 

“Put your tongue back in your mouth.” Carter elbowed me. “That’s my brother you’re gawking at.” 

“You can go now, Carter.” I stepped forward. 

“What am I, a chauffeur?” 

“Pretty much,” I called over my shoulder. “I’ll get a ride back with Conner.” 

“You realize that’s going to be by horseback?” Carter pointed at the black as night stallion grazing nearby.

“Take Ares back with you.” Conner reached back into the shed for his t-shirt. “I’ll drive Selena back later.” He gestured to the golf cart. 

“Fine. That horse hates me, though.” Carter shot a glare at me and his brother. “And I don’t like this … whatever this is.” Carter took his time approaching Ares and lifting himself up into the saddle. “If he throws me, and I come up damaged, you’re a dead man, Conner.” 

“Send me the bill.” Conner cracked a smile, but he didn’t spare a glance for his retreating brother. 

“Call me if you need me, Lena. I’m serious.” Carter reluctantly left us alone. “Duke, watch our girl,” he called over his shoulder and cantered away on Ares. 

Duke took his orders seriously and came to lean against me.

“You named your horse Ares, after the god of war?” I asked, hoping to break whatever tension there was between us. 

“He has a bad temper. Won’t let anyone ride him but me.” Conner grinned. “Carter’s probably going to end up walking home.” 

“Why did you do it?” I blurted. But I needed to understand his motives for visiting my family. 

“Do what?” He folded his arms across his chest as if to protect himself from whatever onslaught he anticipated. 

“Why did you talk to my family behind my back?”

“It wasn’t about keeping anything from you. It was just something I needed to do.” 

“Why, Conner?” I sank my hands into Duke’s fur to keep myself steady. 

“I didn’t see it, Lena. For a long time, I missed it, overlooking you with your crappy mode of transportation, your messy hair and overalls.” 

“Ouch.” 

“I was a fool, Lena.” He took a step forward. The only thing between us was Duke, who thought this was a pet-Duke party. “I didn’t see what kind of powerhouse you were all this time. I didn’t see who you were and how amazing you are. I underestimated you in every way … and I didn’t want the people you love the most to make that same mistake. I know how much your family means to you, and I knew you’d never be able to make them see you as anything more than their daughter. Like my father will never see me as anything more than the less-than-perfect Ashford heir.” He took a step back, shaking his head. 

“I know your family doesn’t see you like that, but I wanted to show them what they were missing. I didn’t do it as your business partner overstepping. I did as your friend who cares.” 

“I didn’t see you either.” I finally managed to get a word in. “Not until I saw this place.” I turned toward his vineyard. “This is everything you are, Conner Ashford. From the horse, the dog, and the pretentious little building you guys call a shed.” I laughed. “And the grapes, and the whole thing about how you want your grapes to breathe the ocean air and your dad thinks that’s stupid.” I shook my head, not sure if my ramblings made any sense. “You’re so much more than I gave you credit for. And I think you’ve been dealing with that all your life. I’m sorry I didn’t see you before, but I see you now.” I moved around Duke and stepped into Conner’s arms, sliding my fingers into his messy hair. I didn’t hesitate as I kissed him. His lips parted in surprise, and his arms wrapped around me.