Somebody Like You (Starlight Hill Series Book 2) by Heatherly Bell

about her, she’s gone back to LA. Mostly we talk over the phone, but every once in a while there will be a chill in the air. My skin will crawl, and I know Gigi must be thinking about me.”
    Brooke smiled, and holy shit, she should do that more often. Why had she stopped smiling like that, and what was the jerk’s name? “First things first.” Brooke tapped the pen on her notebook. “A name.”
    “For…?”
    “The winery, of course. I mean, I figured you’d want to rename it the Billy Turlock Winery or something like that.” She looked serious.
    He couldn’t help but laugh. “No. Doesn’t have a nice ring to it. Too bad I’m not Italian. They have the best names for wineries. Turlock— now that sounds like a good bat, but not a great wine. What do you think?”
    “Well, hear me out.” She looked tentative, unsure for once. “I was going to suggest we keep the name. The Mirassu winery has a long history in Starlight Hill, and for years it was a good one. We could say it’s under new ownership and management.”
    “Fine with me.” Billy reached for his cup and took another gulp of coffee. “I don’t even think Pop would mind, but I’ll run it by him.”
    “That was easy,” Brooke said, making a note, even if she did sound surprised.
    He leaned back in his chair, gratified he’d straightened her out on the assumption that he was another big headed narcissistic jock.  Even if something told him he still had a long way to go in convincing Brooke. “I aim to please. What’s next?”
    “An opening date.”
    He set down his mug and studied Brooke. “How soon can we be ready?”
    “Soon, I think. How do you feel about the holidays?”
    “It’s the best time of the year.” Yeah, he was a guy but he still appreciated the parties, the food, and giving gifts to his family and friends. He also appreciated all the Victoria’s Secret commercials and the red frilly lingerie. He found himself wondering if Brooke had red panties. Probably best not to ask.
    Brooke frowned. “I think most people feel that way, so I was going to suggest December fifth. It’s also the day of the town parade. Santa comes through town with his big float. You know the one that’s supposed to look like a sleigh but looks like a boat?”
    “They’re still doing that?” As a kid he’d ridden on that boat once or twice with his Little League team.
    “Yeah,” Brooke sighed. She didn’t look happy as she made a note. “So is December fifth okay?”
    “That’ll work.”
    For the next hour, Brooke talked about the harvest, crush, marketing, a new website, appointments with some of the restaurants in town with which she had connections, and hiring a staff.
    “I’m sure I can get Eric to come over from the Serrano winery, and he’s a good employee. It’s hard to find good help. I believe in holding on to what you have when it’s working.”
    “I’ll trust you with those decisions.”
    “Great. I like that you’re giving me all this control, but don’t forget I’ll need you to be around. To attend meetings and be the face of this business. I’m not naïve enough to believe that our success won’t partially hinge on one popular baseball player.”
    “You’ll have me whenever you need me.” He meant that in more than one way, but it likely went right over Brooke’s head.
    “Thanks, Hotshot.”
    He met her eyes. “You know, you’re the only one who ever got away with calling me that. I’ve decided I’ll let you keep doing it.”
    Brooke leveled an uncertain gaze in his direction. “O-kay.”
    He glanced at his watch. “We’ve talked business for over an hour. For two people who hadn’t talked in ten years before a few weeks ago, we haven’t talked anything personal yet.”
    “Billy, you saw me half naked and haven’t even bought me dinner yet. How much more personal do you want to get?”
    Well, for one he’d actually like to get underneath those panties but that wasn’t something he would share. Yet.