LITMIR.BIZ

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a little silly sometimes, but it almost seemed the more ridiculous the description, the better the sales. Still, Honor would kill her if she heard. She took wine descriptions very seriously.

      “Oh, yeah,” the man said. “Pencil lead. I love it!”

      At that moment, her dog bounded over to her. “Hi, baby!” she said bending over to ruffle his wet fur. “Where’ve you been? Did Ned take you swimming?”

      “My brother and your dog just took a shower together,” came a voice. “Kinda pervy, if you ask me.”

      Faith looked up. “Sarah! I haven’t seen you in a long time. How’ve you been?”

      Faith had always envied Levi for having a little sister; he’d always been very protective of her, one of his few (only?) redeeming qualities. Sarah had the same green eyes as Levi, though hers weren’t filled with dismissal. Yeah. That was it. Levi could dismiss a person in one glance. He was, in fact, doing it right now.

      “Keep a better eye on your dog, Faith,” he said, deigning to speak to her. “He was terrorizing the Knoxes’ chickens.”

      Right. Like Blue would terrorize anything. “Branch,” she said. Ass, she mouthed.

      “Chief Cooper! You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Mrs. Johnson said, getting a kiss on the cheek from Levi. Weird, seeing him acting with social graces.

      Faith turned back to Sarah. “You must be in college now, right?”

      “Yeah, I just started at Hobart.”

      “Great! Do you like it?”

      “I hate it, actually.”

      “Hey, Sarah,” Ned said, coming over and slinging an arm around Faith. “Faith, I’m here to take over, because Honor says you don’t know what you’re doing.”

      “Hi, Ned.” Sarah blushed. Ned was very cute.

      “How’s school?” he asked, and the two started talking about classes and clubs. They looked nice together, Sarah with her blond hair, Ned tall and dark. And while Ned was already out of college, that didn’t really matter. He didn’t have a girlfriend that Faith knew of, and she interrogated him frequently on the subject.

      Levi was watching the two of them. No smile. He glanced at her, scowled, then resumed his staring. Faith suppressed a sigh. It wasn’t like she was playing matchmaker; she was just standing there. Like a lump, now that she thought of it.

      Dad came over and handed her a bottle of water. “Make sure you drink enough, sweetpea,” he said, his kind blue eyes crinkling. “It’s hot compared to what you’re used to.”

      Alas, Lorena appeared at his side. “Finally!” Lorena boomed. “Something decent to drink around here! Blue Heron has the best wine ever! I haven’t had anything but swill all day long!” She gave Dad an exaggerated wink, and Faith suppressed a cringe. The winemakers in the region were a very tight bunch; there was some quiet competition, of course, and everyone wanted to win a medal or snag a great review. But what was good for one vineyard tended to be good for them all, so Lorena’s type of PR wasn’t scoring any points.

      “Hi there, Sarah,” Dad said. “How are you, sweetheart?”

      “Fine, thanks, Mr. Holland.”

      “Levi,” Dad said, “you’ve seen Faith since she got back, haven’t you?”

      She was abruptly aware that Levi was standing very close to her, smelling like soap, his hair damp. What had Sarah said? He’d given Blue a bath?

      He gave her a look that fell around an eight on the Boredom Scale, something she’d first invented sophomore year of high school, when she’d asked if he wanted to sign up to tutor with her in Corning. One was Oh. It’s you. Ten was You’re invisible. And today’s look, the eight, was Really? You’re still here?

      “Yes, sir,” he said to her father. “Gave her a speeding ticket the other day.”

      Irritating. Then again, he hadn’t mentioned the fact that she’d been wedged in a bathroom window, either. Points for discretion.

      Dad gave her a surprised look. “You, honey? You’re usually so careful.”

      “I didn’t realize they’d dropped the speed limit, that’s all.”

      “Well, you let me pay for that,” he said.

      Goggy appeared from the crowd. “Faith, take a look at what your grandfather is wearing. He knows I hate that shirt. It’s polyester! And it’s from 1972.”

      “A classic,” Pops said, though he was already sweating from the airless fabric.

      “Levi,” Goggy said, laying her hand on his forearm. His tanned, smooth, muscular forearm. Little golden hairs caught the light. Faith cleared her throat and looked at something else. “The squirrels in our attic. They make noise every night! Faith can hardly sleep.” This earned her another disgusted look from Levi.

      “Goggy, it’s fine. I’ll go up there with some Havahart traps.”

      “I’ll take care of it,” Levi said.

      “Oh, thank you, sweetheart,” Goggy said. “I don’t want Faith to fall.”

      Pru returned to the Blue Heron table, Abby in tow, and cuffed Levi fondly on the shoulder. “Here he is. Viagra for women.”

      “Mom, please! We’re in public!” Abby said.

      “You said it, Pru!” Lorena answered. “Can I get an amen? Right, Faith?”

      “Yeah, no, I’m not feeling it,” she murmured.

      “Sorry, Sarah, didn’t see you there,” Pru said. “Didn’t mean to ogle your brother in front of you. And what can I say? He’s cute. Levi, you’re cute.”

      Abby rolled her eyes. “Sarah, want to go find something to do? Get away from these horrifying adults?”

      “Sure,” Sarah said. “See you later, big bro.” She smooched Levi on the cheek, who took it manfully. Even smiled.

      It was just a small smile, but it took Faith unawares. Granted, she’d seen him smile over the years. Plenty of steamy looks at Jessica... Honestly, he probably practiced those in the mirror. Otherwise, it was the Boredom Scale for her.

      Except for that one day when he’d shocked the living daylights out of her and kissed her. Chances were, he’d smiled then. And yes, there’d been a steamy look or two. Something else, too. Something...protective.

      Or not. He was looking at her now, the smile gone and that much more familiar bored look...a six...now a seven...getting close to an eight. He crinkled his brow at her as if to say, What, Holland?

      “Johnny!” Lorena boomed. “What’s a girl gotta do to get a meal around here? Buy me a sausage, what do you say? I love me some sausage! Right, Faith? Us girls love sausage!”

      “I’d say she has some nerve, calling herself a girl,” Mrs. Johnson muttered darkly.

      “What would you like, Lorena?” Dad asked. “Faith? No? Mrs. Johnson, how about you? Can I buy you some of that kettle corn you like? Hmm? I’ll take that silence as a yes.” He winked, then walked away, Lorena and her mammoth breasts flopping along beside him.

      “Think he even knows she’s interested?” Ned asked.

      “Your grandfather is too good-hearted,” Mrs. Johnson said. “That woman.”

      The next customer at the wine tasting was a familiar face. “Hi, Mrs. McPhales!” Faith said, her throat tightening. “It’s so nice to see you!” Mrs. McPhales had been Faith’s Girl Scout leader one year, one of those die-hard types who actually made scouts earn the badges. Ned, who was on the Manningsport Volunteer Fire Department, said they went up to her house fairly often these days. Apparently she was heading down the sad road toward dementia...today,

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