Over A Barrel: Stafýlia Cellars Duet: Book 1

Book 1: Stafýlia Cellars Duet

by Kelly Kay

Genres: Contemporary Romance; Romantic Comedy; Small-town Romance; Friends to lovers; friends to lovers; steamy; contemporary romance; political romance; small town; wine country romance; opposites attract

Synopsis

Over A Barrel: Stafýlia Cellars: Book 1 takes place over the course of 30 years and the events of one night. It tells the story of two lifelong friends who can't stop crossing the line. But they have to learn or they could lose everything, including each other.

Friends to lovers, opposites attract story about the steamy and stormy history between US Senate Candidate Baxter Schroeder, and bold, brash Tabitha Aganos. Best friends who think they can ignore fate.

Bax
It's a lovely formal event, where I'm playing my part in my custom cut tuxedo, fiancée tucked into my side and a plastered candidate smile. I've shaken the right hands and laughed at the right jokes. I've worked tirelessly and now I'm ready for the culmination of my life's work, a run for the US Senate.

Then the evening shatters in the best way. She's the light in all the rooms. She's a bright shiny ball of crazy. My gorgeous raven haired lunatic best friend always reminds me to be both the buttoned-up version of myself and the kid I was growing up. Something always pulls me back to my twerking explosion of a best friend, who has kept a F@#% IT List for over a decade filled with people, places, and things she's explored. I can't stop myself from thinking Hurricane Tabi is the key to staying grounded as I head out on the campaign trail. Our past is so complicated but I need a little of that unhinged enthusiasm around me to lighten up my already predictable path to DC. We can be the counterbalance friends we always were, just without the complication of sex.


Tabitha
In 24 freaking hours, I ended up catfighting, homeless, arrested for peeing on a duck and my boob popped out à la Janet Jackson style during a formal event. All of this further proves to my father why he was right in denying me more responsibility at our family winery. And then good ole, sexy as hell Bax, figures out a way for me to adult. My best friend once again catches me as I free-fall. Work for him to prove I'm responsible and can be trusted. If anyone can help me “grow up” in the eyes of my father it's the most adult person I know.

Bax & I have steered clear of spending time together since he decided to run for Senate and become engaged because we mostly end up naked when left to our own devices. But this is a grown-up job I don't want to risk losing. I don't want to let down the only person who has always believed in me. I can keep the secret of our history tucked away just like I can tuck my boob back in my bra and get on with not being in love with Baxter Schroeder.

The Stafýlia Cellars duet is a spinoff and features characters who originated in the LaChappelle/Whittier Vineyards trilogy.

A Five Families Vineyards Series book

Release date: February 23, 2021

Publisher: Decorated Cast Publishing, LLC

Print pages: 338

Sample

Baxter / 7:16 p.m.

Present Shawna’s diamond ring keeps catching the light and making little rainbows on the floor. I bought the ring I knew she wanted, instead of the one I should want to give her. She’s everything I need in a partner—smart, attractive, and accomplished. As I shift into the next phase of my life, with Shawna at my side, there’s no way I won’t be successful. It’s a daunting path, but it’s one I’m well prepared to walk.

It’s weird being home in Sonoma. My life is in DC now and standing here, I realize this is the most distanced from winemaking I’ve ever been in my life. I grew up living and working at my family winery, Schroeder Estate Winery & Vineyards. But these days, I have a stake in a boutique label, Prohibition Winery, with my friends, the kids of the five vineyard families who are like blood to me. My life isn’t here anymore. Pro/Ho remains and keeps me connected to my four best friends, but I mostly just drink the wine my friends produce. Lately, we’re only together around a crisis, so tonight’s fundraiser should be a hell of a lot more fun, despite the cause.

I scan the room, and my dad is talking to his best friend. They met in their early twenties when they were figuring out how to run their respective wineries. They’re the core of the five families. They pulled in the other families to share in their winery highs and woes. They built an infrastructure to raise a tribe. My entire childhood was in and around these people. Josh Whittier, Sam Langerford, David Gelbert, and Tabi Aganos. I trust no one like I trust these assholes. I don’t even trust my sisters as much. But there’s one who knows me better than the rest.

I adjust my bow tie and pull my sleeves down through my jacket. I glance up and wince. I reflexively put my arm around my fiancée to brace her against my approaching best friend. Tabitha Aganos. Her almost empty glass of ruby-colored wine dangles from her fingers. Her nails are pointed and red. Not sure why she opted for claws, but who knows why Tabi does anything. Her ebony hair is less severe than the last time I saw her. It’s falling in such a feminine way. It skims that spot on her neck between her ear and shoulder and ends just above her collarbone. Her pouty lips are as crimson as her claws. She’s wearing a body-hugging black dress that plays off her Mediterranean skin tone. She always says her skin is yellow and sallow, but I’ve always found it sun-kissed, rich, and radiant. The dress doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, but Tabi rarely does. No one is blunter than Tabi.

Her curves are on display like an all you can eat buffet. She sways over to us, her bourbon eyes alight with some inner fire I’m sure she’ll let spill out. Shawna settles into me, and I glance down. Her golden blonde hair is set off by the black of my tuxedo. I kiss the top of her head and her intricate and precise updo. Her golden floaty dress and peachy skin are in direct contrast to the girl approaching us. Her gilded gown crinkles as she snuggles into my arm. She’s not one for public affection. I’m sure it’s a show for hurricane Tabitha.

Tabi and I have always had something inexplicable between us. It’s faded lately, but there’s no woman on the planet I know better than Tabitha Aganos. Despite my efforts to alter that over the years, she’s ingrained in my DNA. And unfortunately, I know that look in her eye. She’s bored and looking to stir any pot she can find. Any peace we’ve found in the night will be destroyed the moment that woman opens her mouth.

It’s like it’s all happening in slow motion, my heart freezes, and despite our formal setting, I burst out laughing. The first beats of Janet Jackson’s “It’s All For You” starts playing. Tabi shoves her wine glass onto some stranger and throws her hands in the air staring directly at me. “OH, MY DAMN. That’s my jam. Oh, shit. Yeah. It’s happening, Bax! This IS happening.”