Seductive One

by Susan Mallery

  “You’re a good man,” he said, releasing Joe. “Come to see me again. I will show you that you’re wrong about us not being your family. You belong here.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Lorenzo reached up and cupped his face. “Your work. I know it is dangerous. Be careful. Now you have a family to come home to.”

  Joe didn’t say anything, but Lorenzo thought he understood. They shook hands and the younger man left.

  When he was alone, Lorenzo once again touched the map. He traced the outline of Marcelli Wines. Joe had accused him of playing a game. There was no game. But a plan? Ah, that was something different.

  Brenna stood in the center of the vineyard and watched as the last of the Cabernet grapes were harvested by the awkward-looking machine being driven between the rows. The difference between her own small winery and this one could be measured in the number of days it took to bring in the grapes. Marcelli would produce over ten thousand cases. Hers would number in the hundreds.

  But it was a start, she told herself, basking in a glow of pride. She’d done what she wanted and everything had gone well. Now she just had to wait for time and chemistry to produce magic.

  She bent down and touched a denuded vine. The mechanical harvester was only used on the less-than-premium grapes. She hated how the machines stripped away too many leaves and left tire tracks on the hard earth. While she understood the financial necessity, she wished each cluster of fruit could be treated with gentle reverence.

  “Okay. I’ve been out in the sun too long,” she murmured as she straightened and laughed. Having philosophical thoughts about grape picking couldn’t be good. Next she would be waxing poetic about each fallen leaf. The bright spot in her morning was that she’d managed to think about something other than Nic. Given their last very intimate encounter, that was something close to a miracle.

  Nic. Just letting his name echo in her brain made her smile. She wasn’t clear on what exactly had happened or what it meant. Three days after the fact, she was still experiencing aftershocks. She had a suspicion it was illegal for sex to be that good.

  Feelings she didn’t want to acknowledge or name fluttered through her. Something had happened that night when they’d finally talked about the past. Clearing the air had changed things between them. She wasn’t ready to deal with it, but in time she would have to. What happened after that was anyone’s guess.

  “What are you so happy about?”

  The voice came from directly behind her. Brenna jumped and screamed. When she spun around, she saw Joe standing less than three feet away.

  “Don’t sneak up on me. What is it with the men around here. First Nic, then you.” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “Pretend I didn’t say that.”

  “About Nic? Too late. The Grands told me all about you bringing one of the enemy to the engagement party. They were pretty shocked.”

  “I’ll bet. Fortunately you showed up and offered a fine distraction. Did I ever thank you for that?”

  “Just doing my job, ma’am. Speaking of which.” He glanced around at the vineyard. “I wanted you to know I’m heading out.”

  “What?” She stared at him. “You’re leaving?”

  “That’s the general idea. I need to get back to work. This has been a great vacation and all, but a guy can only take so much of the Marcelli clan.”

  Leaving? “But you can’t,” she said, stunned. “If you go…You’re supposed to stay and inherit everything. What about the money?”

  He shrugged. “Get real, Brenna. Lorenzo was just jerking both our chains with all that talk.”

  “No. You’re wrong. He would gladly leave you everything.”

  “What does that mean? He’d leave me the winery? Like I know what to do with that? You think I’d own Marcelli outright? No way. He’s a wily old coot. I guarantee you everything would be tied up so tight, I couldn’t get so much as a bottle of wine for myself. He offered the winery as a bribe to get me to stay and as a way to piss you off. I’m not sure why, but I think that was his plan. Judging from how you two go at each other, I’d say it was working.”

  Brenna couldn’t breathe. The earth seemed to be moving beneath her feet, but she didn’t think it was because of an earthquake. Could Joe be right? Had her grandfather just been playing with them both?

  “What did you tell him?” she demanded. “What did you say?”

  “That I was wise to him. And if he tried to leave me everything, I’d just give it to you. He didn’t like that.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  Her brain wasn’t working. She couldn’t think straight. Was this really happening? Was Joe not a threat anymore?

  She touched his arm. “Stay a little longer. Please.”

  “Oh, sure, now that I’m not a threat, you want me around.”

  “Hey, I wanted you around before.”

  “I know.” He glanced around at the vineyard. “This has been great, but I don’t belong here. Not yet.”

  “What does that mean? Will you come back? Is the family too much to deal with?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “That’s understandable.” Lord knows they got to her and she was used to them. “Are you glad you came?”

  His dark gaze settled on her face. “Absolutely.”

  “I’m glad. I know my folks have been thrilled having you around. And my grandparents. I guess all of us.”

  “Even you?”

  “Especially me.”

  “Good. You’re the one I worry about the most.”

  “Why?”

  “I just do.”

  She sighed. “I worry about you, too. You’re the one putting your life on the line.”

  “I’m a pro. Don’t sweat it.”

  She didn’t know what to say. “Thank you” seemed wildly inadequate after what he’d done.

  “You could have had it all,” she said.

  “Not even on a bet. Not with the old man’s rules. You’re the only one who can handle him.”

  “I don’t do a very good job.”

  “Joe! Joe!”

  Brenna looked past her brother and saw Mia running toward them. Her baby sister crashed through a row of vines, making Brenna wince.

  “Walk between the rows!” she yelled, but Mia ignored her.

  She stumbled through another row of vines and came to a stop in front of Joe.

  “Say it’s not true,” she demanded. “It can’t be true.”

  Tears filled Mia’s brown eyes.

  Joe shifted uncomfortably. “If you’re talking about me leaving-”

  He never got a chance to finish his sentence. Mia flung herself at him and clung as if she never wanted to let go. “You can’t go. Not yet. I’ve never had a big brother before, and I really like it.”

  Joe stood awkwardly for a couple of seconds, then gingerly patted Mia’s back. He was big and broad to Mia’s petite frame. He looked like a bear hugging a kitten. As Brenna watched, his expression tightened and something that might have been regret twisted his mouth.

  “I have to go,” he said gently. “I have a job.”

  “A dangerous job.” Mia stepped back and jammed her hands onto her hips. “Don’t you dare die. That would really piss me off.”

  “I’ll do my best to stay safe.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “You’d better. I swear, Joe, if you don’t come back, I’ll hunt down every single one of your friends and have sex with them. I’ll even let the others watch while I do it.”

  He winced. “Okay. I’m motivated to stay alive.”

  “You’d better.”

  He turned to Brenna. “I guess this is good-bye.”

  She nodded and stepped into his embrace. He hugged her hard.

  “Stay strong,” he whispered in her ear. “Everything’s going to work out.”

  She hoped he was right. “Ditto what Mia said,” she told him. “Minus the sex part. We want you to come back to us. We’re your family now, and the fact that we give you the willies is no excuse
to stay away.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Mia moved close and he hugged them both, then bent down so they could kiss his cheek. With a last wave, he turned and walked away. Brenna watched him go. Like Mia, she would miss him.

  “The time will go fast,” she said. “Before we know it, he’ll be underfoot and getting on our nerves.”

  Mia sniffed. “You’re not a very good liar.”

  “I know.”

  When Nic stepped out of his office, he saw an unfamiliar SUV pulling up beside the building. The door opened and a tall man stepped out of the Jeep Wrangler.

  It took Nic a second to place the guy, then he recognized Brenna’s long-lost brother.

  Max pushed past him and raced toward the visitor. As usual, the pup tried to wiggle the stranger to death by leaping and licking, then rolling onto his back to beg for a belly rub.

  Joe crouched down and obliged, then looked at Nic. “You’ve got yourself a real watchdog here.”

  Nic strolled toward the duo. “I’m figuring he’ll grow up and turn vicious.”

  “Not likely.”

  Max sprang to his feet and got one good swipe on Joe’s face before taking off for a run around the yard.

  Nic held out his hand. “We weren’t introduced the night you came home. I’m Nic Giovanni.” He grinned. “If you’ve spent any time with your grandfather, then you know I’m the enemy.”

  “So I’ve heard.” Joe rose and shook his hand. “Joe Larson.” He looked around at the winery. “Nice place you got here.”

  Nic nodded, but didn’t speak. There had to be a reason Brenna’s brother had stopped by, although he couldn’t think of one offhand.

  Joe leaned against the fender of his Jeep. “Lorenzo told me a lot about the feud between your two families. It sounds like something right out of Shakespeare.”

  “It’s old news. Lorenzo worries about the past, but the rest of us are willing to let it go.”

  Joe nodded. “Makes sense. Things change. People move on.” He jerked his head toward the back of his SUV. “Which is what I’m doing. Heading back to work.”

  Nic couldn’t have been more surprised if Joe had started line dancing. Leaving? Did that mean he wouldn’t be inheriting? If so, Marcelli Wines was still up for grabs.

  He did his best to act as if Joe’s announcement didn’t mean anything to him.

  “Brenna mentioned you were a Navy SEAL.”

  Joe’s gaze narrowed. “That’s true. I have a lot of specialized training.” He paused to let the words sink in. “I guess it’s not right for a brother to have a favorite sister, so I worry about all of them. But sometimes I worry about Brenna the most. I wouldn’t want anything happening to her. Anything that would…hurt her.”

  Nic didn’t know if he should laugh or prepare for a fist-fight. Logic told him that Joe was pissing in the dark, but he couldn’t be sure. Had he learned anything or was he fishing?

  “Are you threatening me?” Nic asked mildly.

  “Sure. Whatever it takes.”

  Damn it all if Nic wasn’t pleased that Brenna had someone on her side. Which made him the village idiot, seeing as the person on her side was capable of killing him with little more than dental floss.

  “Brenna’s a grown-up,” he said. “You don’t get to interfere.”

  “Says who?”

  Nic chuckled. “Brenna for one. If she knew you were here, she’d have your hide as a rug.”

  Joe shrugged. “She’d have to catch me first.”

  Nic realized he liked Joe. “Hurting Brenna isn’t part of my plan.”

  “Want to tell me what is?”

  “No.”

  “Is she going to get hurt anyway?”

  Nic considered the question. Would Brenna be hurt by his plan to buy Marcelli Wines? His humor faded. Easy question, easier answer.

  Joe pushed off the Jeep. “You’re right. I can’t protect her, as much as I want to. But something tells me you can. You might want to think about that.”

  He opened the door and slid onto the driver’s seat. “Guess I’ll see you the next time I’m in town.”

  Nic nodded.

  As Joe drove away, Maggie stepped out of the office and walked toward Nic. “Who was that handsome stranger?”

  “What happened to being happily married?”

  “Oh, I am. But I can still look.” She stopped in front of him. “Are you going to tell me who he is?”

  “No. Do you have the final numbers on the financing for buying Marcelli?”

  She nodded slowly. “Everything’s ready. Lorenzo Marcelli simply has to sign on the dotted line. But I thought you weren’t sure he would be willing to sell.”

  “That just changed.”

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry to hear that. I wish you wouldn’t do this. It’s wrong.”

  “I’m not asking for your opinion, I’m asking you to do your job.”

  “Sure, Boss.”

  She sounded fine, but he saw the flash of hurt in her green eyes.

  “I’ll leave the information on your desk,” she said.

  “Thanks.”

  She started back for the door, then paused. “You used to be one of the good guys, Nic. Why did that have to change?”

  Before he could come up with an answer, she went inside.

  He stalked toward the house. One of the good guys. What did that mean? She was-

  He stopped in the center of the path and turned to look at the building Brenna was using. Just a few nights ago she’d forced them both to relive the past. For the first time in years he’d found himself locked back in the hurt and the anger. At one time he’d thought it would destroy him. It hadn’t and he’d moved on. Everything was different now.

  Or was it? They’d made love. Somehow, despite the harsh words and aching feelings, they’d come together in a way that had both exhilarated and terrified him. As much as he’d tried to ignore it, he’d known that night that something was different.

  No, he told himself. Nothing was different. The past was long gone and the future had nothing to do with it. What could have been didn’t matter. He and Brenna were old news. He had a plan and he was going to stick with it no matter what.

  16

  Brenna sipped her double mocha latte as she exited the Starbucks and crossed to the tables and chairs set up along the wide sidewalk. She chose a seat in the shade.

  The midafternoon was quiet, with few people around. Warm temperatures and a light breeze made her feel sleepy, so the coffee would provide a much-needed jolt.

  September had come to an end. Harvest was finished, and all across the valley, wine makers were taking a moment to draw a breath. There were the usual tasks to tidy up at the end of the season, barrel orders to be placed for the following year, discussions about more plantings, what vines to rip up, and how everyone expected the wines to be when the first barrels were opened and tasted.

  Every so often Brenna wished she’d picked another line of work, but not today. Today her world was exactly right. All of her wine was in place, and the future of Four Sisters Winery was in the hands of yeast microbes and fate. And at Marcelli, well, life was good. Even her grandfather couldn’t destroy her good mood. No matter how much he disagreed with her, argued his points, and ignored her advice, the truth was he had no one interested in the winery but her. Not her sisters and not Joe.

  “Someone should nominate him for sainthood,” she murmured to herself as she set her coffee on a small round table and took a seat. He’d turned down the chance to be a part of the family business, leaving her free to take over.

  Assuming her grandfather didn’t up and sell.

  “Don’t go there,” she told herself. “Not today.” Not when the sun was shining and the air was warm and everything was as it should be.

  She’d weathered the latest storm and she’d survived. She would get through the next one and the next one. Some she would endure with grace and style, and some she would simply endure. But that was okay. She�
�d moved on.

  Look at how far she’d come. A year ago she’d been working two jobs she hated, while going through the motions of having a marriage with a man she’d never truly been in love with. How sad was that? Now she was happy, living her dream, and starting her own business. She had-

  Brenna sat up straight, then tried to calculate the date. It was the beginning of October.

  “Well, hell,” she said as she picked up her coffee and took a sip. Her divorce had become final and she hadn’t even noticed.

  Now that she thought about it, she remembered receiving a thick, legal-size envelope sometime in the past couple of weeks. But between harvest and arguing with her grandfather and Nic and Joe and everything else going on, she’d tossed it onto a shelf in her bedroom and had never given it another thought. No doubt the final papers were inside. She was a free woman. Even better, Jeff would be sending her a fat check every month for three years to pay her back for putting him through medical school and supporting him during his internship and residency.

  While she wasn’t going to be wealthy by anyone’s standards, she was about to have a cash flow that set her heart to fluttering. So the five-thousand-dollar-a-month question was what did she do with it? Use it to make payments on her loan? Save it? Get a new car?

  She eyed her battered Camry parked on the street and figured she probably needed to pay for a tune-up and some tires, but other than that, it should last her a few more years.

  A sound caught her attention. A familiar sound that got louder. The way her heart had fluttered at the thought of money was nothing when compared with the kickboxing style workout it was getting now. Brenna rose and shaded her eyes as she looked down the street. Sure enough, a good-looking guy on a motorcycle was headed in this direction.

  What was it about a man in a leather jacket? She was too young to remember James Dean, yet that’s instantly who she thought of as Nic pulled up in front of her car. He cut the engine and turned toward her.

  Neither of them spoke. They hadn’t seen each other since “the night,” so this moment was supposed to be awkward. She probably should have wanted to bolt. Instead she found herself smiling.

  A helmet covered his hair and dark glasses shaded his eyes. She didn’t know what he was thinking, which was probably for the best. She didn’t know what she was thinking, either. The situation with Nic was more complicated than ever, thanks to what had happened a week before. Intellectually she knew that making love with him had been foolish. Emotionally she’d never felt happier about anything. No doubt the differing sides of her brain were at war, meaning she should probably schedule some quality time with her sister, the psychologist. Or at the very least visit her doctor and find out if the pharmaceutical community had a pill or two to help her out. Instead she sipped her coffee.