The sun had barely crept above the horizon when Isabella found herself standing in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold. The familiar sounds of her parents moving about the house filled the air, but her focus remained on the vineyard stretching out before her through the window.
The tranquility of the scene couldn’t quiet the storm inside her. David’s arrival in Sonoma lingered in her thoughts, an unwelcome shadow cast over the fragile progress she’d made since returning home. She hadn’t yet shared his sudden appearance with her parents, nor with Ethan, despite their intimate moment the night before.
Her mind wandered back to Ethan—his touch, his steady presence, and the way he’d made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to in years. She wanted
