Despite her protest, I cut a generous piece of pancake, making sure to get plenty of syrup, and held the fork out to her. "One bite won't kill you. Scientific comparison."
She hesitated, then leaned forward and took the bite directly from my fork. The casual intimacy of the gesture caught us both by surprise, and for a moment, we just stared at each other.
"Good, right?" I said finally, my voice rougher than I intended.
She nodded slowly, licking a drop of syrup from her lower lip. "It's... not terrible."
"High praise indeed," I laughed, trying to ignore the way my pulse had kicked up at the sight of her tongue darting out to catch that syrup.
The rest of breakfast passed in comfortable conversation. Lila relaxed more with each cup of coffee, her earlier embarrassment fading as we fell into the easy rhythm we'd established yesterday. She even stole another bite of my pancakes when she thought I wasn't looking.
Flora dropped the check on our table with another knowing smile. "You two have a safe trip now. And don't be strangers next time you pass through."
"We won't," I promised, leaving a generous tip.
Outside, the day had warmed considerably, the sun bright in a cloudless sky. Perfect driving weather. We got into my truck and hit the road, Lila checking her phone for messages as we pulled onto the highway.
"Everything okay?" I asked, noticing her frown.
"Just an email from Madeline Foster, the general manager at Sparkling Oak. I was supposed to meet with her today, but obviously that's not happening now." She sighed, tapping out a quick message. "I'm explaining that my car broke down and asking if we can reschedule."
"Will that be a problem?" I asked, feeling a twinge of guilt. I'd always been clear we needed to stop in Foxfire Valley to deliver my equipment, but I hadn't anticipated how much the delay might affect her plans.
She shook her head as she finished typing. "Actually, she's responding now... she says they've had an issue with their bottling equipment and need a few days to sort it out anyway. She's suggesting we reschedule for Friday." Lila looked up with a relieved smile. "Looks like this detour might have been perfect timing after all."
"See? Sometimes things work out better when plans change," I said, oddly pleased that the universe seemed to be aligning to give us more time together.
"Don't get used to it," she warned, but her tone was lighter now. "This is still a temporary deviation from my master plan."
"Of course it is," I agreed solemnly. "Wouldn't want you to lose your reputation as the woman with a plan for everything."
She made a face at me, but I could see she was fighting a smile.
The scenery was changing as we drove, desert giving way to rolling hills dotted with vineyards. The neat rows of vines stretched across the landscape like a living quilt, some still bare from winter pruning, others already showing the first green shoots of spring growth. Wineries appeared at regular intervals, their architecture ranging from rustic farmhouses to grand chateaus.
"It's beautiful," Lila murmured, leaning toward the window. "I've seen pictures, of course, but being here... it's different."
"First time in wine country?" I asked, slowing slightly to let her take it all in.
She nodded. "I've studied every aspect of winemaking, but I've never actually visited a working vineyard. Bowie handles the supplier visits for Sunset Vines."
There was something touching about her wonder, about seeing this familiar landscape through her eyes. I'd driven through this area countless times, but I'd never really stopped to appreciate it.
"We should pull over," I suggested, spotting a scenic overlook ahead. "The view from that ridge is something else."
She looked surprised but pleased. "Don't we need to keep moving if we're going to make it to Foxfire Valley by afternoon?"
"We've got time," I assured her, already signaling for the turn. "Trust me—this will be worth a short detour."
The overlook was deserted, a small parking area with a stone wall along the edge of a cliff that dropped away to reveal a breathtaking panorama of vineyards, forests, and distant mountains. I parked and we got out, making our way to the wall.
Lila stood at the edge, the breeze catching her ponytail as she gazed out at the vista before us. The sunlight caught in her dark hair, highlighting strands of deep mahogany among the black. She looked lost in thought, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Worth the stop?" I asked, moving to stand beside her.
"Definitely," she said softly. "Thank you for this."
"For what?"
