Let It Breathe by Tawna Fenske

nodded. “Sure, no problem. I can replace that board in just a few minutes.”
    Eric grabbed the wrench Clay had left sitting on top of a wine barrel and handed it over. Hell, had he really walked out earlier with his tools lying around like that? He’d been more distracted than he’d realized. He should have noticed the termite damage, should have realized someone— Reese —could get hurt.
    “You sure you’re okay, Reese?” Eric grumbled. “Looks like you scratched your arm.”
    Clay looked up and saw the angry red mark near her elbow. He felt like a jerk all over again.
    “I’m fine, really,” Reese insisted. “I’ll just get a Band-Aid.”
    Clay picked up the board and thought about kicking something, but figured he’d already done enough damage. The front door of the winery swung open, and Clay looked up to see Jed holding the door open for June. She breezed through with a quick kiss on her husband’s cheek. Jed followed, smiling at his wife as he limped along behind her. When he paused to adjust his junk through his bike shorts, Clay had to look away.
    “I fed Leon,” Jed said. “Damn animal butted me in the nuts again.”
    “He got me yesterday,” Eric muttered.
    “Who’s Leon?” Clay asked.
    Eric shook his head. “Asshole alpaca. Reese’s pet. Doesn’t like to hang out with the rest of his herd, so he just stands there by Reese’s place and waits to head-butt men who come near. Does it to every guy he meets except for Axl.”
    “Right in the gonads,” Jed added. “Hard.”
    June gazed up at him with a look of concern. “Are you sure you’re okay, sweetheart? That one was a pretty hard hit.”
    “It’s fine,” he said, kissing his wife on the forehead. “You’re a nice distraction.”
    “Maybe a bubble bath later would help,” she murmured.
    “That sounds nice.” He nuzzled her neck. “I call dibs on choosing the music.”
    “I call dibs on picking the candles. How about those ginger ones you like?”
    “Guys!” Reese interrupted. “Come on, cut it out! I’m right here.”
    June laughed and gave her daughter a fond smile. “Oh, Reese. Are you going to do that thing where you put your fingers in your ears and hum?”
    “I might if you and dad don’t stop the sexy talk in the middle of the damn barn.”
    June’s smile deepened, but she let go of her husband’s arm, grabbing Reese’s arm instead. “Come on, dear. You said you wanted to go over the numbers for the materials to see if we can figure out how to make this LEED thing work. You ready?”
    Reese flinched and looked down at the spot her mother clutched just below the elbow. Clay felt guilt pooling in his gut as June held up her daughter’s arm and frowned.
    “What did you do, sweetie? That scratch looks awful.”
    Reese shrugged. “It’s fine. Just cut it on our new bar.”
    “A new bar?” Jed said. He stepped up to admire it, running his hand over one of the wood planks still in place.
    Somehow, watching Jed stroke the wood didn’t have the same effect on Clay as when Reese had done it.
    “Did you build this, son?” he asked Clay.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Nice work. We’ve needed something like this.”
    “My pleasure,” Clay said, his mind more on Jed’s daughter than on Jed. “Reese, I have a first-aid kit in my truck. Let me—”
    “It’s okay, really,” Reese said. “I’ve got Band-Aids in the office.”
    “Let’s get some ointment on it, too, sweetie,” June said as she led her daughter away. “You don’t want it to get infected.”
    He watched them walk away, trying hard not to stare at Reese’s ass. He looked back at Jed, who, thankfully, was not a mind reader. Jed was more interested in adjusting his bike cleats than recognizing the fact that Clay was having impure thoughts about his daughter.
    “I have to run, guys,” Sheila said as she stood on tiptoe to kiss Eric. “Have a good day, okay?”
    “Sure,” Eric mumbled. “You mean assuming the damn termite-infested building