Captivated by the Brooding Billionaire

by Rebecca Winters

  “Yes. I’ll tell my father what I think should be done, but he’ll fight me on it like he always does.”

  “I thought you were the head of the domaine.”

  “He may be living inside a crippled, arthritic body, but there’s nothing wrong with his mind. My father’s a raging anachronism, still believing in the divine right of dukes. He resents his disability.”

  “So he takes it out on you. What was his excuse before he was afflicted?”

  Raoul rubbed the back of his neck. She doubted he’d ever been asked that question before. “That my grandfather was still looked to as the true head.”

  “And now it’s the way everyone looks to you.” They stared at each other. “You rarely talk about your mother.”

  “She’s lives for my father and what he decides. If she’s ever defied him, I don’t remember it. I’m sure she loves me and my siblings in her own way, but it has always been clear our father came first with her. I learned early that trying to appeal to her for something that went against my father’s wishes fell on deaf ears.”

  On that note he started for the door. “We’ll have to talk later. I don’t know how long this will take, but I’ll call you.”

  She followed him. “I’ll find a way to stay busy.”

  He left without kissing her. Since leaving the cemetery his behavior had changed. For the time being she was helpless to do anything about it.

  * * *

  Raoul left her apartment and drove to the château. His parents’ suite was on the second floor in the opposite wing from his grandparents.

  “Maman.” He kissed her cheek after entering their salon.

  “Now that you’ve come, I’ll be in the garden.”

  Maman was too thin, but with her strawberry blond hair and fine features, she was still attractive. He watched her leave the room like the good wife his father had trained her to be. Jean-Marc stood near the fireplace with a foul expression on his face.

  Their uncle Pierre, filled with resentment to have to be in this situation at all, sat in a chair across from their father whose wheelchair had been rolled in. He couldn’t manage it alone. Josette and Paul sat on the couch.

  Raoul lounged against the wall and looked at his father. “What is it you want to say?”

  “Jean-Marc has undermined Pierre twice on prices to foreign buyers.”

  “Because they’re too high!” his brother argued. In principle he was right, but the Vosne-Romanée wine region would always demand the highest prices.

  “Did you hear that?” his father almost shouted. “This can’t go on. I won’t allow it. You said you had an idea.”

  His father wouldn’t be happy, but Raoul had to try for all their sakes. “Forget what’s happened in the past. Jean-Marc has always been very good with people. He knows how to handle them. If you want my opinion, he should be working where he can do the most good.”

  With that remark, surprise broke out on his brother’s face.

  “Go on,” his father barked.

  “Pierre and Grégoire see eye to eye. Why not let father and son work together from now on? I’d like to pull Jean-Marc from the exporting department and give him a new position that’s been needed for a long time.”

  “What do you mean?” His father always seemed to growl.

  “For want of a better word, let him be the concierge of the estate with an office in the main building of the domaine. We’ve never had an official one, but I believe it’s time to make some important changes. We need someone to meet and greet, to act as a liaison for all the different aspects of the business.”

  “That’s part of your job as CEO,” he fired at Raoul.

  “When you can find me.” He shook his head. “I have other concerns to do with our investments that require my full attention these days. Jean-Marc and I learned the business from you. No one knows more about our history than he does. He’d be our most valuable asset.”

  For once his father didn’t have a comeback.

  “I recommend that he and Grégoire start their new jobs today. Then everyone should be happy. Now you’ll all have to excuse me.”

  “Where are you going?”

  He glanced at his brother-in-law. “I was hoping to have a business conference with Paul. Are you free now?”

  Paul eyed him in surprise. “Of course.”

  “Good. Then I’ll leave it to you to sort everything else out, Papa.”

  “I want an answer to a question before you go. How soon will the American be leaving?”

  His father couldn’t resist. “You asked me that before. Remember she and her friends were cheated out of their vacation in Switzerland because Auguste’s estate had to be sold. She’s still not through sightseeing.” How he enjoyed saying that. “À bientôt.”

  He left the room with Paul and they drove away from the château.

  * * *

  Abby had no idea how long Raoul would be. Since she had the afternoon ahead of her, she decided to go for a walk through the vineyards.

  The sky had darkened by the time she stepped outside moments later. Not used to the climate yet, she couldn’t tell if it might rain later. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to explore for as long, but it didn’t matter. She started out on the main road, then took a different road to the left. The workers were already out. Some waved to her and she waved back.

  Every so often she passed little huts or shacks. There were a couple of men in pants and work shirts talking outside the third one. They eyed her with unmistakable male interest.

  “Eh, bien. Mademoiselle Grant.”

  “Oh—Jean-Marc!”

  He turned to the other man who seemed close to his age. “Gilles? This is the Americaine I was telling you about who’s visiting the domaine.”

  The other guy flashed her a smile. “You’re the one from California.” He spoke with a heavy French accent. “I saw you with Raoul at the dinner last night.”

  She nodded. “He thought I’d enjoy seeing what goes on in the world of a vintner.”

  His eyes squinted at her. “How do you like it so far?”

  “I’m still trying to take it all in.”

  Gilles smiled. “I’d be happy to show you more after work.”

  With that comment, Jean-Marc moved closer to her. “I’m free now and will do the honors. We’ll talk later, Gilles. À bientôt.”

  Abby hadn’t expected to run into Jean-Marc. “I don’t want to interrupt your work.”

  His beguiling smile was reminiscent of Raoul’s. “I’ve just been made the new concierge for the estate. Since this is my work now, visitors are our first priority.”

  “Well, thank you.”

  So their father had listened to Raoul and now his brother had been given a position of importance. His compassion, even in the midst of turmoil, made Abby love him all the more.

  “It’s going to rain soon. I’ll accompany you to the main domaine building. In my private office you’ll see some ancient maps of our ducal land dating from the fifteenth century.”

  Abby assumed it might have been an office Raoul had used and had just relinquished in order to keep the peace.

  “I’m a history buff and would love to see those.”

  His dark brows lifted. “What do you do when you’re not traveling?”

  “I’m a teacher of early nineteenth-century romance poets and writers at San José State University. My classes start again in the fall.”

  They started walking back to the main road. He cocked his head. “Even if you are on vacation, there must be a man in your life.” Her heart jumped. Only one. “Is he anxiously awaiting your return?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Because if there is no one, I would like very much to get to know you better while you’re here. Not long ago Raoul buried his heart with his wife and daughter. What you woul
dn’t know is that Solange de la Croix Godard, the woman you would have met at the dinner, is waiting for him to come out of his mourning period so they can be married.”

  Abby was aghast that Jean-Marc would warn her off his own brother that way when he knew nothing about their relationship. “I heard about their deaths” was all she said in a quiet tone.

  They came to the domaine’s headquarters where half a dozen cars were parked. He took her inside, introducing her to several people working in the different offices, among them Félix Moirot, Raoul’s sandy haired private secretary.

  “Come with me.” Jean-Marc showed her inside a huge office that was more like a museum. The maps and charts of the estate with its hectares of vines on every wall, all under glass, fascinated her. “You start in that corner. By the time you’ve made a tour of the whole room, you’ll have seen the entire Decorvet chronological history.”

  “I’ve never seen anything like this!”

  “I’m not surprised Raoul hasn’t shown it to you. He has too many calls on his time.”

  “I’m sure that’s true,” she murmured.

  The less they talked about him the better. “Do you mind if I study these for a little while?”

  “Be my guest.”

  He stayed at the desk to make phone calls, leaving her to examine the earliest wall hanging. It was a charter with the ducal insignia of a lion, just like the one on the gate at the entrance to the estate. The handmade drawing showed two terroirs, intricate and incredible.

  The rain pounded on the roof as she moved around the room, examining each step of history. Abby marveled at the artwork. The wording of the earlier drawings was done in old French. But her heart was heavy. Raoul had said he didn’t want their relationship blighted by his complicated family. Jean-Marc had done a good job of putting a damper on this day.

  He eventually walked over to her. His dark eyes were smiling. “I never saw anyone take this kind of time to look at everything.” It sounded like a genuine compliment He was quite attractive in his own way. Abby felt sorry for him. To live in Raoul’s unmatchable shadow wouldn’t have been easy.

  “Only a few people in the world have a heritage like yours. It’s wonderful and different from anything I’ve ever known. I’m grateful you’ve let me browse to my heart’s content.”

  “Grateful enough to let me take you for an early dinner? The rain has stopped and I need to eat.”

  It was getting late. Already ten to five. Abby had to do some quick thinking. She hadn’t heard from Raoul, and she was hungry too. Why not agree with him so he wouldn’t know his remarks had gotten under her skin?

  “I’d enjoy that as long as it’s close to the estate and doesn’t keep you from your work too long.”

  He shook his head. “Entertaining a guest is part of the job, especially one as attractive as you.”

  Oh, dear. “Thank you. You make a great tour director.” The remark was meant to put him off any ideas he had.

  He led her out of the office to a silver Mercedes and unlocked it with a remote. The parking area still had puddles from the rain. She hurried to get in before he could help her, already fearing this wasn’t a good idea.

  To her relief he drove them to a small bistro in the village called Le Petit Pinot Noir. She pronounced the name out loud, loving the sound of it. When he asked her why she chuckled at the sight of it, she said, “I think it’s a very clever name.”

  Again, she got out before he could come around and went into the restaurant first. Jean-Marc found a table by the window and gave their order to the waitress. “I’ve ordered us boeuf bourguignon, a regional favorite.”

  “That sounds good.”

  He ordered a bottle of red wine and poured some for her. “Try this, then later tonight I’ll take you to our wine cellars where you can taste our superior cru.”

  “I did have some at the dinner last night. I’m no connoisseur, but it was like velvet.”

  “But they didn’t serve you from a fifteen-year-old bottle. That’s an experience.” His eyes traveled over her while he drank his wine. She hadn’t changed her mind about him. He was a flirt. She would simply have to see this through.

  Within minutes the waitress arrived with their meal. The meat had been cooked in wine with baby onions and mushrooms. What made the difference in the flavor were the little bits of bacon. “This is delicious.”

  “I thought you’d like it.”

  When she lifted her head to smile, a gasp escaped her lips and every thought went out of her head. Raoul, dressed in a polo shirt and chinos, had just entered the bistro with another man who was dark-blond and looked to be in his mid-thirties. Then she remembered seeing him at the funeral. It was Paul. He’d been the one sitting next to Raoul’s sister.

  Raoul’s black gaze surveyed the room, looking for a free table when he zeroed in on Abby. Lines darkened his features to see that she was with his brother. He walked over to them without hesitation and drew up two chairs.

  “So this is where you are. Mind if we join you?” he asked, staring directly at her.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ABBY WAS SO happy to see him she blurted, “I’m glad you’ve come!”

  The waitress came over and took their orders.

  “Abby? You met our brother-in-law, Paul Ridoux, at the funeral. He’s married to Josette.”

  “Hello again.”

  “Have you enjoyed your day so far?” Raoul inquired as if they were the only ones at the table.

  “Very much because I’ve learned a lot. While I was out walking in the vineyard, I met your cousin Gilles and your brother. He took me to the domaine office so I could see all the maps. I’m afraid I studied them too long.”

  “You liked the display?” His eyes seemed to pierce hers.

  “Who wouldn’t? But a lot of the script was in Old French. I would imagine that would take a long time to learn.”

  “Not if the interest is there.”

  What did he mean by that? “Do you know this bistro has the funniest name? The Petit Pinot Noir has a ring to it that makes me laugh.”

  “I can’t figure out why,” Jean-Marc interjected.

  But Raoul could. Suddenly she saw amusement light up his eyes, melting the frost.

  Had he been upset because she’d come with his brother? Raoul had given her a look she never wanted to see again. When she got him alone, she’d explain the circumstances.

  Soon their meal arrived and the waitress brought two more wineglasses. Raoul reached for the bottle and filled three of the goblets. The other one was Abby’s, but she’d barely touched hers.

  “Let’s drink in celebration. The domaine has a new concierge in Jean-Marc, and Paul has just accepted the management of our European investment accounts.” When their father died, Raoul would make Josette the head of the company. “My workload has just been cut in half and no one could be happier than I am. Next week we’ll fly to Paris, Paul, and I’ll introduce you to the groups I’ve been working with.”

  “I’ll look forward to that.”

  Abby rarely drank alcohol, but this was one time she felt she needed it and picked up her glass to sip some. After they ate, Raoul was the first to break up their meal. He put some bills on the table that covered everyone’s food and got to his feet.

  “We’ve all got more work to do before this day is out. Since I have to run Paul back to the château, I’ll take you with us, Abby.”

  Thank heaven he’d said that.

  He looked at his brother. “That’ll free you to meet the Spanish ambassadeur from Madrid. Félix just informed me that he and his entourage will be arriving within ten minutes. I have no doubts you’ll have them eating out of your hand.” He eyed Abby. “Shall we go?”

  She stood up. “Thank you so much for the tour, Jean-Marc. It’s been one of the highlights of my trip here. And this is a charmi
ng little bistro.”

  “À tout moment,” he said through wooden lips.

  Abby didn’t know what that meant. But she did know that the advent of Raoul coming into the restaurant had changed Jean-Marc’s mood and she couldn’t have been more grateful to leave.

  When they walked out to the Jaguar, Paul climbed in back and Raoul helped her in the front passenger seat. On the short drive back to the estate, she turned to him. “I’ve never heard the expression à tout moment.”

  “My brother meant that he would be glad to do it for you anytime.”

  “Oh. Thanks for telling me.” She looked over her shoulder at Paul. “I understand you and your wife have one child and another one on the way.”

  He nodded. “Maurice is three and waiting for a brother.”

  “How exciting! When’s the due date?”

  “Two months.”

  “Have you thought of a name yet?’

  “No. We’re still arguing over it.”

  She smiled, but talk of babies was no doubt painful to Raoul. If he married again and had a child, would it help fill the hole in his heart? Every day he had to live with the loss of his little girl.

  Before long they arrived at the estate. Raoul stopped at the petit château and let her out. “I’ll call you in a few minutes.”

  She nodded. “It was nice talking with you Paul.” Abby got out of the car and hurried inside her apartment, wishing Raoul didn’t have to leave.

  * * *

  Much as Raoul wanted to follow her, he had to drop Paul off first.

  His brother-in-law leaned forward. “She’s one beautiful woman. Nice.”

  “I agree. If we hadn’t happened to stop in there, Jean-Marc would have forgotten all about the appointment with the Spanish contingent.”

  Except that it wasn’t an accident. Raoul had seen Jean-Marc’s car. He was curious why he’d gone there to eat so late on his first day as concierge. It wasn’t his kind of place. Seeing Abby at the table explained everything.

  Raoul wound around to the east entrance. Paul got out. “I can’t thank you enough for giving me the new job. I know Josette complained to your father.”