He kissed her again.
“You are in the window seat, I’ve been out to dinner with you enough to know that you always want to sit by the window. But even if I was wrong about that, I would have switched with you. And you’ll be pleased to know that I got some expert advice on restaurant reservations.”
“Wait. You told Sydney where we’re going?”
He laughed. Sydney had been very helpful.
“No comment. And do not even try to tell me you had to pack blindly, I gave you a very detailed packing list.”
He hid a smile at the thought of the packing list he’d given her. It had been carefully calibrated to give her no real idea where they were going.
She rolled her eyes.
“Yes, I was referring to your packing list when I said I had to pack blindly. I know that was a fakeout, but I did what it said and packed a sun hat, swimsuits, two sweaters, and a cocktail dress, along with all of the other random stuff you came up with. Don’t ever tell me I’m not obedient.”
He pushed her onto her back and rolled on top of her.
“I would never tell you that.”
She laughed again and pulled him down to her. Her hands roamed from his shoulders down to his waist.
“Have I told you recently how much I love you?” she asked him.
He raised his eyebrows at her.
“That depends on what you mean by ‘recently.’？”
She laughed at him again, her hands on his hips.
“Okay, but I have one question—how much time do we have before we have to leave for the airport?”
He let his thumb circle her nipple.
“I allowed enough time in our travel schedule today for any necessary . . . distractions.”
She smiled widely.
“I love you so much.”
He bent down to kiss her, then stopped.
“Oh, wait! I forgot to put hiking boots on the list. Do you have room in your suitcase for them?” He waved that away. “That’s okay, you can just wear them on the plane.”
She put a hand on his chest.
“Luke Williams, I know that in the seven months that we’ve known each other, you have absolutely not come to the conclusion that I would want to go on any sort of vacation where hiking boots were necessary. Or that I even own hiking boots. Do you think I would even go on vacation with someone who wanted me to bring hiking boots, let alone trust them enough to let them plan it? Do not even think you can fool me that way.”
He grinned at her.
“It was a good try though, right?”
She laughed, and rolled on top of him.
“A very good try.”
Acknowledgments
Every single book feels like a small miracle. I am so grateful to everyone who played a role in helping this book come to life.
Cindy Hwang, thank you for your support, guidance, and laughter. It’s been a joy to work with you from the very beginning; I’m so fortunate to have you as my editor. To the entire Berkley and Penguin Random House team: you are all superstars. Angela Kim, Fareeda Bullert, Erin Galloway, Kristin Cipolla, Craig Burke: thank you for your emails and phone calls and tireless work on my behalf. I appreciate all of you so much. Megha Jain, Christine Legon, Dasia Payne, Randie Lipkin, Daniel Brount, Rita Frangie, and Janine Barlow, thank you for everything you’ve done in support of this book. Every time I think there’s no way I could love a cover or a design more, you surpass yourselves; I’m in awe.
Jessica Brock, you tried to leave me, but I wouldn’t let you go. Kristin Dwyer, you are a magician. Thank you both so much for your hard work, patience, and enthusiasm; I adore you.
Holly Root. I mean, what can I say about you at this point that I haven’t already said? You are the best agent anyone could ever dream of, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for you on at least a weekly basis, if not daily. Enormous thanks to you and the entire team at Root Literary, especially Alyssa Maltese and Melanie Figueroa, for how hard you work on my behalf, and just for how great you all are.
Thank you so much to every person at every winery I’ve been to in the last few years who answered my endless questions （and for pouring me all of that delicious wine）， especially those at Brown, Schweiger, Hall, Robert Sinskey, Schramsberg, Paradigm, and Elizabeth Spencer. Any detail I got wrong is on me. Special thanks to Prema Behan of Three Sticks Wines, and Ryan Gallagher of Anaba Wines, for all the incredibly helpful information you both shared with me. I’m so grateful to have known you both for so long, and I’m in awe of your accomplishments.
Joy, Jon, Oliver, and Eden Alferness: I started writing this book at your home in Calistoga, and I hope that helped give it some of the magic, love, and joy that surrounds that place （no pun intended!）。 Thank you for opening up your home and your lives to me. I love you all so much.