A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2) by Darynda Jones

“That Wynn Ravinder isn’t as bad a guy as one might suppose.”

“And you’re certain your gut doesn’t need therapy?”

She gave him a knowing glance.

“Fine. Let’s say you’re right. He’s still a Ravinder. He could be a domestic terrorist and rise above the fold.”

The guy had a point if they were talking only about the brothers. But Levi and Hailey were a different story. With Levi becoming a wildly successful distiller and Hailey turning her life around when her son, Jimmy, was born, they were outliers in the Ravinder clan. Hailey now worked for Levi in the office of Dark River Shine and was going to school at night to get a degree in business. Not to mention the fact that she was secretly reporting Clay Ravinder’s comings and goings to Sun. An activity that was infinitely more dangerous than either of them were admitting.

Speaking of secrets … “Who are you seeing?” she asked Quince.

He turned an astonished expression on her. “This again?”

“This again.”

He put on his sunglasses and turned away. “I’m not seeing anyone.”

“Is she married?”

“No.”

“Is that why you won’t tell me?”

“No.”

“That’s why you won’t tell me.”

“No, it’s not.”

“You’re coveting thy neighbor’s wife.”

“I’m doing no such thing.”

“C’mon,” Sun said, turning into the lot of St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery. “I tell you everything.”

He snorted.

“Dude, who did I call first when I got my period?”

“Christ on a cracker.” He covered his ears.

“My mom? My dad? No. I called you. My best friend on planet Earth.”

“Which goes to show there is such a thing as TMI.”

“You’re really not going to tell me?”

“That I’m not seeing anyone? I just did.”

“Then what are you hiding?”

“Oh, that. Well, if I told you, I wouldn’t be hiding it anymore. That makes zero sense, Sunbeam. How can I hide something if I tell you?”

She groaned and put the cruiser in park.

“We have no lives,” she said, suddenly depressed. “We’re young-ish, oddly attractive human beings.”

“Speak for yourself.”

“What’s wrong with us?” She looked at him.

“I don’t know.” He seemed to deflate, as though he felt her words on a deeper level than she’d expected.

“Quincy?” She put a hand on his arm.

He turned back to her. “We really are pathetic, aren’t we?”

“Hey,” she said, trying to be offended. She failed. “We are. We’re losers. Also, if I guess right will you tell me?”

“I’m not seeing anyone.”

“Then you’re pining for someone.”

“I’m not pining for anyone, either.”

“Besides my mother?”

“Besides your mother.” They sat contemplating their circumstances when he seemed to come to an important decision. “You know what? Enough is enough.”

“I agree. Completely. One hundred percent. What are we talking about?”

“Us.” He gestured, indicating the two of them. “And our general pathetic-ness.”

“Oh, then I absolutely agree.”

“We need to stop pining after something we can’t, for whatever reason, have and take a look at what’s in front of us.”

After some thought, she concurred with a nod. “Absolutely. What’s in front of us?”

He paused a long moment, then said, “Us.”

She tilted her head in confusion. “Us?”

“You and me.”

He turned in his seat to better face her and removed his shades. This must be serious. “Think about it. How long have we been friends?”

“Forever.”

“And who do you love more than anyone?”

“Auri.”

“Okay, besides her.”

“My parents.”

“No, I mean, I know that,” he said, getting flustered. “Besides your family.”

“Levi,” she said, trying not to grin.

He rolled his eyes. “Besides Levi. Wait.” He puffed out his lower lip. “You love Levi more than me?”

“Hmm,” she said, having to think about it. “Not more. Just differently.”

“And where has that gotten you?”

“Nowhere fast?”

“Exactly. Maybe that’s our problem. Maybe deep down we’re attracted to each other.”

Sun couldn’t help the look of horror on her face. “Really deep down.”

“And we just need to work out our true feelings for one another.”

“Way, way deep down.”

“And maybe once we do that we can move on.”

“Like almost nonexistent deep down.”

“I get it,” he said, holding up a palm in frustration. “Your feelings are really deep. Look, what do you want in a relationship?”

She lifted a shoulder. “The usual. Someone I can share my life with who’ll leave me alone most of the time.”