LITMIR.BIZ

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think that we can make this something,” Lindy said, turning a circle in the large, vacant room and holding her hands out. “It’s like girl power.”

      “No one has said girl power since 1996,” Sabrina said, but she couldn’t help but smile.

      “I’m saying it,” Lindy said, slapping her hands down at her sides. “Because I feel it. Because I’m optimistic.”

      It was nice to see Lindy smile like that. Nice to see her excited. Nice to not see her heartbroken by Sabrina’s douchebag brother.

      “I’m glad,” Sabrina said.

      “I notice you didn’t say you’re optimistic too,” Lindy said.

      “It’s not my job to be optimistic, Lindy,” Sabrina said. “It’s my job to make it happen. You don’t want optimism from me anyway. You want realism. Active realism.”

      “Okay, my little active realist.” Lindy reached out and patted her shoulder. “Can you get everything accomplished in time for us to take advantage of the holidays?”

      “I think we can,” Sabrina responded. “I think we can and we will. Because I’m determined.”

      And because it regrettably seemed like Liam Donnelly knew what he was doing. Though, Sabrina supposed that since she did have to have her wagon hitched to him, it was best that he be a competent wagon partner. Because if she had to work with him and he sucked, it would be untenable.

      Realizing he had grown into an adult man who was responsible, smart and resourceful was goading in other ways.

      She was going to focus on the business aspect though. And from a business standpoint, Liam was exactly who she should want to work with. And really, what better way to strike back at Liam? To show him how competent and amazing she was.

      She had just thought earlier that she and Lindy had different goals. That Lindy wanted to do this to stick it to Damien, and that Sabrina just wanted it done to get away from Liam.

      But they were more similar than she had initially imagined.

      Why not use this as an opportunity to show him that she was a kick-ass woman and not a girl he could just walk away from while she wept on the floor of the cabin he’d been staying in on the winery property.

      “We can even get a Christmas tree. Christmas lights. It will be festive. The most festive grand opening Copper Ridge has ever seen!” Lindy said.

      “Wait,” Olivia said, looking suddenly envious. “I kind of want to work here if there’s going to be a Christmas tree.”

      “I’m sure we can schedule you for a shift. I bet Bennett won’t mind coming down to pick you up and see the new location.”

      Olivia smiled. “You’re right about that. And I’m thinking he might even propose before Christmas. So that means he could do it here. It would be so picturesque. The photo you would, of course, take of the moment would be so perfect.”

      Sabrina exchanged a glance with Lindy, and in that wordless exchange, Sabrina could tell that her sister-in-law thought much the same thing about Olivia’s boyfriend. That the proposal was likely not as forthcoming as the other woman hoped.

      Still, neither of them said anything.

      Lindy walked across the space, rubbing her hands together. “This is what I’ve always dreamed of doing. And Damien wouldn’t consider it. Not at all. He wouldn’t entertain any of my ideas.” She shot Sabrina a glance. “I’m sorry. I know he’s your brother.”

      “Yeah, he’s my brother. But you know that I’m mad at him for what he did. You know that I don’t support him. I love him, I always will. But I can’t be comfortable around him and that woman. Whatever her name is.” Sabrina knew Brandy’s name. But she didn’t like to acknowledge it. Especially not in front of Lindy.

      She could tell Lindy appreciated that. Even if she knew it was a put-on.

      “Thank you. But you know it’s not like you have to choose between the two of us. I’m actually just happy that you still want to be in my life at all.”

      “Family is about more than blood,” Sabrina said.

      It was a difficult thing for families like hers, families like Olivia Logan’s, to acknowledge anything other than blood. But everything she’d been through in the last thirteen years had taught her that blood really wasn’t the be-all and end-all. It wasn’t even half of it.

      “You know,” Olivia said, her expression turning mischievous—a side of her Sabrina thought she didn’t express enough. “Instead of putting up the first dollar we earn here at the tasting room, we could always put up a picture of your divorce papers. Since the loss of Damien is what made this possible in the end.”

      Both Sabrina and Lindy let out a shocked laugh. “I suppose we could do that,” Lindy said. “Oh, your parents would have a fit.”

      “Don’t worry.” Sabrina waved a hand. “You know that Jamison and Suzanne Leighton are never going to darken the door of this establishment. They have washed their hands of the winery and all it entails.”

      “Unless they can get ownership back somehow. You know your parents’ lawyer called me again the other day. Asking if I was interested in selling.”

      Sabrina’s mouth dropped open. “I’m completely shocked that my parents would broach the subject of buying something they believe is rightfully theirs.”

      “They probably shouldn’t have given full ownership to Damien in the first place. And he shouldn’t have signed that prenup.” The corner of Lindy’s mouth lifted. “Not that I’m sorry about any of it. But why on earth he decided that in the event of infidelity the wronged party would get most of the assets is beyond me.”

      “Well,” Sabrina said, lifting her shoulder. “You are the undesirable one. I mean, the one from the wrong side of the tracks. I’m sure that he assumed you would be the one to stray. Or that you wouldn’t be smart enough to know that he had.”

      Lindy snorted. “Right. Of course. How could I forget that pedigreed Damien Leighton would never be so foolish as to get caught with his penis in the wrong honey jar.”

      The color heightened in Olivia’s cheeks. “That’s descriptive.”

      Lindy smiled. “I can be much more descriptive if the occasion calls for it. Believe me.”

      “I trust you,” Olivia said, holding up a hand.

      Then they all stood there for a moment, taking in their surroundings, and Sabrina suddenly felt wholly optimistic. Perhaps it was the vision of this place bedecked in Christmas decorations. Perhaps it was just being here with these women, determined to accomplish something. Whatever the reason, it didn’t feel as hard as it had earlier today. Right now, it felt possible. More than possible.

      Liam Donnelly thought that he knew her. But he knew an insecure girl who had been easily wounded by his rejection. She wasn’t that girl anymore, and she wasn’t going to allow being around him to make her backslide. No. It was time for her to take a step forward. Time to shake it off, and all that.

      She was going to make sure this was the best damn opening any business had ever had in the town of Copper Ridge. She was going to knock Liam Donnelly on his ass—metaphorically—with her awesomeness.

      And if he was the one who left with a sense of unfulfilled longing after all this? All the better.

       CHAPTER FIVE

      “DON’T YOU LOOK FANCY!”

      Liam looked over at his sister-in-law, Alison, and lifted a brow as he simultaneously raised his coffee cup to his lips. “Unlike your husband, I know how to dress for the venue.”

      Alison

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