Between the Vines

by Tricia Stringer

  She put a hand to her mouth. “Ed, you gave me a fright.”

  “Just called in to let you know I’m back.”

  She crossed the room and hugged him. “How was your trip?”

  “Good but long.” He held her at arms-length. “I’m going to shower then I’ve got a stock inventory to do. Are you happy here with Noelene?”

  “Of course. It’s quite busy at the moment.”

  “Cass’s gone?”

  A small frown creased Taylor’s brow. “She had to get back early.”

  A raised voice could be heard from the cellar door followed by laughter.

  Taylor picked up a tray of clean glasses. “I should get back. Can we catch up later?”

  “I’ve got a bit to do.”

  “Maybe dinner.”

  “I’m out for dinner.”

  “Oh.”

  “Sorry. I might not see you till tomorrow.”

  Noelene stuck her head around the door. “Can’t you find them…Oh hello, Edward.”

  He nodded. “Noelene.”

  “I’ll take the glasses.” Noelene reached her hands towards the tray Taylor held.

  “No that’s okay. Ed has to go.”

  Taylor turned and followed the older woman back to the front room.

  Edward stared after her. Had she been a bit cool? He’d thought he could wait Taylor out. He fully expected she’d succumb to him eventually but he was getting a bit sick of the chase. He’d thought she was different, worth the wait, but maybe he’d been wrong and she was just a tease. He pursed his lips. Two could play hard to get and then see what happened.

  CHAPTER

  27

  “So what’s this dinner about?”

  Pete stared at his brother across the small table. Ed lifted his gaze from the paper he’d been perusing. “Let’s order first.”

  Pete drew in a deep breath and looked back at his menu. They’d only just sat down in the quiet nook at the back of the restaurant but he was eager to find out what Ed’s plans were. He didn’t want it dragging out over dinner or he wouldn’t enjoy the delicious food the place was famous for.

  The waiter arrived and explained the specials. They ordered a good bottle of wine from one of their competitors and then the food.

  Pete poured them each a glass of water. “Is it something to do with Barry and the distribution?”

  “No, that’s all good. I told you when I got back from my Sydney trip we’ve managed to get some of our sauv blanc and our shiraz into another bottle-shop chain.”

  Pete pressed his lips together. Getting their wine into chain suppliers wasn’t the direction he wanted to go but this time he let it go. It kept Ed happy. “What’s up then? What’s the secret?”

  Ed glanced around. Pete did the same. There were several other diners at tables in the restaurant but he hadn’t recognised any of them.

  “It’s not a secret,” Ed said. “At least not between us. I’d rather we keep it to ourselves for now though, until it’s all sorted.”

  “Until what is sorted?”

  “A new partner.”

  “Damn it, Ed, I told you I–”

  Ed put up his hand. “Hear me out before you say any more.”

  The waiter appeared at Ed’s elbow with the wine. He tasted it and nodded. They watched in silence as the waiter poured both their glasses.

  As soon as he’d finished Pete pushed against the back of the comfortable chair and folded his arms. “Tell me.”

  “Aren’t you going to taste the wine? It’s good.”

  “Ed.” Pete was fed up with his brother’s delaying tactics.

  “Okay.” Ed put down his glass. “I have a Chinese businessman who is very interested in a partnership.”

  “Mr Cheng?”

  “Yes. Well Mr Zhu actually. Cheng is his Australian contact.”

  “You said that had fallen through.”

  Once more Ed put his hand up. “Hear me out.”

  Pete took a deep breath. “Okay.”

  “I had arranged to meet Mr Zhu in Melbourne but, as you know, his message didn’t get through and he came to the winery. I missed meeting him and I didn’t have a contact number. I thought the chance had gone but he got Cheng to call me again.”

  “Cheng was with him when they came to the cellar door.”

  “I met with him yesterday in Melbourne.”

  “And?”

  “They were impressed with our wine. They’re looking for a unique winery like ours to be a part of.”

  “A part of.”

  “They’ve agreed to a partnership.”

  Pete leaned forward and glared at Ed. “I haven’t.”

  “You said you’d hear me out.”

  Pete pressed his lips firmly together and gave a small nod.

  Ed took another sip of his wine. “I offered them twenty-four per cent of my share and twenty-four per cent of yours.”

  “Forty-eight per cent!”

  “Keep your voice down.” Ed glanced around. “It still gives us the majority share.”

  “Only if we vote together.”

  “Why wouldn’t we?”

  “What if you and I don’t agree? Your share combined with theirs would shut me out.”

  “I have the majority share now.”

  “I know. And right now we don’t agree.”

  Once more the waiter arrived, this time with their food. Pete looked at his lamb dish and his mouth watered in spite of the tension that churned within him. He swirled the deep-red wine in the glass and sniffed. Automatically he took in the lavender and the blackcurrant and the background scents of sage and brown butter. The taste confirmed what his nose had detected. It was all there with the French oak keeping the delicate balance. He was impressed.

  They both tasted their food. The lamb and its accompanying jus melted in Pete’s mouth. In spite of his brother’s bombshell he was enjoying the food.

  Once they’d eaten a few more mouthfuls, he put down his cutlery and studied Ed. “I guess you can sell what you like of your share. I can’t stop you. But I’m not selling. We pride ourselves on being a family-owned winery, that’s our story.”

  “We still will be, Peter. Zhu will be a silent partner.”

  “We’ve seen how silent partnerships don’t work out.”

  “And there are plenty of examples of how well they do.”

  Pete sighed. “Why do you want this so badly?”

  “I want it for us. You make the wine. It’s good wine. We’re not doing too badly placing our wines in the market considering we’re at the smaller end of the scale but all our eggs are in the Coonawarra basket, so to speak. If we have a bad year here it affects our whole vintage.”

  “Our sauv blanc comes from Mount Benson.”

  “But we don’t own those vines. They sell to us but they could just as easily sell to someone else. I think we should look for land there as well but this vineyard to the north in the Wrattonbully region is ready to go. It’s a perfect situation for us.”

  “It’s not that far away. If things go bad here they probably will there.”

  “Not necessarily. You know how different the weather conditions can be just a short distance away. You’re the winemaker, Peter, but I’m the business manager. I know this will be good for the future of our business. It’s a chance for us to expand.”

  Pete studied Ed for a moment. His eyes glittered. Pete hadn’t seen him this excited about something in a long time.

  “If it’s such a good buy why hasn’t someone else snapped it up?”

  “They might soon.” Ed tapped the table with his finger. “I’ve put a hold on it.”

  “How much has that cost us?”

  “Nothing actually. Just an old-fashioned gentleman’s agreement.”

  Pete let out a snort.

  “But they won’t hold it for much longer unless we commit.”

  Ed took another sip of wine and returned to his food. Pete looked down at his own half-eaten meal. He ate some more.
He wasn’t against the idea of expanding, just the taking on a partner.

  “Are you sure there’s no other way to get the money?”

  “I’ve thought of everything. I even had someone lined up to buy the NS18.”

  Pete’s cutlery clattered to his plate. “You what?”

  “If we want this vineyard and you won’t come at a partnership it’s the only other way. It wouldn’t be the amount I need but I hope I can convince the bank–”

  “You’d sell the NS18 without consulting me?” The food and wine that Pete had enjoyed turned sour in his stomach.

  “No. I’m just saying I’ve put out some feelers.”

  Pete couldn’t believe Ed would do something as terrible as selling their special cabernet. The new variety their parents had planted with so much anticipation.

  “Do we need Mr Zhu to take up nearly half of our ownership?”

  “It’s the best option but we could manage on less. Forty per cent. We could sell him twenty each.”

  “Our individual shares are still too low. If you’re so keen on selling him forty per cent you put up thirty and I’ll do ten.”

  “So you agree to a partnership?”

  “No.”

  “But–”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “We don’t have long.”

  “You’ve obviously been working on this deal for a while. I’ve only just found out about it. I need some time to think it over.”

  “How much time?”

  “A week.”

  “Too long, Pete. I need to give Mr Zhu and the vineyard offer an answer sooner than that.”

  “Till Wednesday then. You’ve got to give me some time to think it over properly. I want to see the vineyard and look at your figures.”

  “Okay. You can come with me to the office now. I’ve got all the paperwork there.”

  “It’s late Ed, and I’m tired. I’ll think on what you said. How about we take a drive to look at the vineyard tomorrow afternoon and then you can show me the paperwork. I’ll still have a day to think on it before I give you my answer.”

  “Okay.” Ed picked up the bottle. “We might as well finish the rest of this. It’s not bad.”

  Pete felt physically and emotionally drained but Ed was right. The wine was good. It would be a shame to leave it.

  CHAPTER

  28

  Edward parked near the quarters and got out of his four-wheel drive. The mid-morning sun was warm on his arms as he stopped to look at the vines stretched out beside him. He’d been going to send Taylor a text saying he wouldn’t be there for this evening’s meal then thought better of it. Perhaps the personal approach was still the best for now.

  The screen was closed but the old wooden door was open. Music played and he could smell something savoury cooking as he approached. It was a shame to miss Taylor’s cooking tonight but he had planned to touch base with the bloke over the Wrattonbully deal.

  “That’s the spot.”

  He hesitated at the sound of Taylor’s voice.

  A male voice murmured a response. Edward couldn’t hear what he said but he recognised Antoine’s voice.

  They both chuckled. It was gentle, almost intimate. He yanked the screen open and stepped into the room.

  Taylor and Antoine were sitting at the table, the laptop between them. They looked up, surprise on their faces.

  “Hello, Ed.” Taylor’s face changed to a smile. “Have you come for morning tea? I was just showing Antoine some pictures I took of his home town when I was there a few years ago. They’re on my blog.”

  “Blog?”

  “It’s an online–”

  “I know what a blog is. Why would you bother to have one?”

  “I…” Taylor looked back at the screen. Her cheeks turned pink.

  “It’s quite interesting,” Antoine said. “Other travellers or even those who can’t travel enjoy reading this kind of thing.”

  Taylor stood up. “I’d better check these pasties.”

  “And I’d better get back to work.” Antoine got to his feet.

  “Morning tea’s usually in the winery with the others.”

  Taylor straightened and gave him a sharp look. Perhaps he had been a little short with Antoine.

  “It’s Monday.” He forced a grin. “Felicity will have brought cake.”

  “I know.” Antoine spread his arms wide. “I came back to change my shirt. The dregs from a hose ended up all over me this morning.”

  “Does she always bring cake on Mondays?” Taylor asked.

  She was studying Edward with a strange look. What was up with her?

  “Usually.”

  “An office manager with many talents.” Taylor’s voice carried a trace of sarcasm.

  Antoine patted his stomach. “With your delicious meals and Felicity’s cakes I’m going to put on weight again. You ladies look after us far too well.” He chuckled as he let himself out the door.

  Edward and Taylor were left alone, the only sound the hum of the oven.

  “I just called in to let you know I won’t be here for dinner tonight.”

  “Okay. Do you want me to put some aside for you?”

  “What are we having?”

  “Pastie slice.”

  “Is that what smells so good?”

  “I’ve never made it before. I hope it turns out.”

  “Maybe I can have some for lunch tomorrow.”

  “Sure.”

  “Sorry about tonight.” He felt he should give her a hug but she was staying put, the kitchen table between them.

  “That’s okay. I know it’s a busy time.”

  “See you tomorrow.”

  “Sure.”

  He let himself out the door, feeling as if he’d been dismissed. So much for the personal approach, he may as well have sent the text. He got back into his four-wheel drive. The tyres spun in the gravel as he backed away.

  Taylor finished the baume testing and recorded the last of the figures in the book. She felt more comfortable in the lab now. At first she’d hardly dared to move in case she mucked something up, but after observing Pete she realised most of the clutter wasn’t important. She picked up some jugs and tubes and rinsed them in the sink then took a cloth and wiped down the benches.

  She left the lab, wandered out into the passage then opened the door that led to the winery offices. She’d come in that way but Felicity hadn’t been at her post, though now she could hear her voice. Taylor stood in the big space that acted as a lunchroom. Set in the middle of the table were two containers. She’d noticed them on her way in. Both had the remains of cake in them. No doubt from Felicity.

  There was a pause in the receptionist’s speech. A male voice spoke, Ed’s voice. Taylor had assumed Felicity had been on the phone. Ed’s tone was jovial, almost flirty. Taylor crossed the room. Through the gap in the walkway between the lunchroom passage and the front office she could see Ed’s back. He was standing, looking down at Felicity who was perched on the edge of her desk, her hands propped behind her. She was side-on to Taylor. Her low-cut shirt revealed the tops her ample breasts, aided by the way she leaned forward from the desk. Her eyelids fluttered. In fact they batted up and down so much it was a wonder Ed’s hair didn’t ruffle in the breeze she was creating.

  “You’ve got something on your sleeve.” Felicity slid from her desk, reached up and plucked at his shirt. “Looks like a cobweb.” Now there was barely a gap between them. Taylor tensed. Felicity was openly flirting with her boss and what was he doing? Encouraging her by the sound of it.

  “Hello.” Taylor plastered a broad smile on her face and stepped around the partition wall.

  Ed almost jumped away from Felicity, who didn’t have the good grace to act the slightest bit repentant.

  “Where did you come from?” Ed asked.

  “I’ve been testing in the lab. I came through earlier but you weren’t here, Felicity.”

  “Oh, that must have been when Edward had me in the
shed sorting through the inventory.” Felicity gave him a sweet smile.

  “Maybe.” Ed shifted from one foot to the other.

  Taylor put her hand on his arm. He looked from Felicity to Taylor. Amusement twinkled in his eyes. He gave her hand a pat.

  “I’d better get going,” he said. “Sorry about tonight, Taylor.”

  He bent to brush her cheek with his lips but she turned and pushed back, kissing him firmly.

  He looked at her with mild surprise.

  Taylor winked back at him. Felicity’s flirting had stirred something inside her. She wasn’t going to sit back and let the little madam have the upper hand.

  “I’d better be off,” he said.

  “I’ll walk with you.” Taylor gave a little wave to Felicity who had sat back at her desk, her lips pursed. Now there was another name for her, Flirty Felicity.

  Once they were outside Ed rounded on her.

  “What are you playing at?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “One minute you’re almost too hot to touch and the next you’re cool as a cucumber. I never know where I stand with you.”

  “You never will if you flirt with other women while we’re supposed to be getting to know each other.”

  “Other women?” He looked back at the office door. “Felicity?”

  “She’s besotted with you.”

  “She’s not.”

  “Ed.” Taylor put her hands to her hips. “If she had batted her eyelids any faster you’d have been blown over.”

  “Are you jealous of the hired help?”

  Taylor glared at him. She wasn’t keen on Felicity but neither did she like the way Ed belittled his secretary. “You should make the line clear between you.”

  “Like you have with me?” He crunched one hand inside the other. There was a sharp clack as his knuckles cracked.

  Taylor had felt a pang of jealousy at Felicity’s flirting but now that jealousy had turned to anger. She hated to think Cass had been right but ever since her friend had left Taylor had been unsettled. She’d been mulling over her feelings for Ed and was coming to the conclusion they’d lost the spark that had ignited between them. She had been annoyed by the flirtatious behaviour she’d witnessed but now she realised she had no right to be.