by Joleen James
At the sound of a motorized vehicle, Danielle turned. A golf cart came toward her, Nico in the driver's seat. She groaned.
He pulled up beside her. "Trying to avoid me?"
"Of course not." Seeing him stirred all her emotions: her guilt over selling, her upset over being home, her complicated feelings for him.
"How about a short tour?" His tone, soft and unsure, coaxed her.
She was curious about the place, about the winery her father had built while she'd been absent from his life. Curiosity won out.
"All right." Danielle got in the golf cart.
Nico made a U-turn, starting back toward the fields.
He drove past the workers she'd already met, then took a sharp turn. They drove down a dirt road that skirted the edge of the planted vines. Dust rose around them. Danielle couldn't help but be sucked in by the beauty. The grape leaves stirred as they passed, the dusky green leaves supple and tender. She filled her lungs with the scent of earth and fresh morning air.
To her surprise, she realized the golf cart was climbing. They'd driven out to the edge of the property, to the place where the land became the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The hillside was fully planted with grapes, the vines reaching up and worshiping the sun. When the road came to an end at the base of the foothills, Nico stopped the cart.
"Come with me," he said.
Danielle followed him. They hiked up a steep, narrow path, and she wished she'd worn sturdier shoes instead of leather sandals. The day had warmed considerably. A trickle of sweat ran down her back inside her blouse. Great. She'd have to go back to Whitney House and change before her meeting with the employees.
When they reached the end of the path, Nico stopped. "Turn."
Danielle swiveled around. Her breath caught in her chest.
Whitney Vineyards unfolded in a velvet tapestry of deep greens and warm browns below her. Row after row of grapevines filled the landscape, from here the look of the fields soft and lush. In the distance, Whitney House sat, like the queen of the vineyard, tall and proud. To the right, winding through the valley like a bright blue ribbon, the Snake River flowed, an oasis in the dry, desert land.
But it was the grapes themselves that stunned Danielle. So many. She'd had no idea. The word awesome popped into her mind, but the word wasn't big enough to describe the beauty. Her father had built a kingdom, a beautiful, breathtaking kingdom.
"What do you think?" Nico asked in a neutral tone.
"It's glorious," Danielle said.
"Does it make you want to change your mind about selling?" His eyes held a challenge.
She understood his need to make sure of her plans. He wanted the vineyard. She wasn't going to disappoint him, no matter how much his indifference to her disappointed her.
"No," she said. "It's gorgeous, but I'm not going to stay."
He nodded, and his obvious relief filled the space between them. "I had to know, to show you what you'll be giving up."
"Where did it happen? Where did he die?"
Nico pointed to the left. "In Block 8."
Her heart flooded with unexpected pain. Unable to stop herself, she asked, "What happened? I know it was a heart attack and that you were with him. But why? Had he been sick?"
"I'm not sure." Nico glanced away. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" she repeated, sure now that he was hiding something from her. "Did you know he wasn't feeling well?"
"I suspected." He looked her square in the eyes. "I asked him to see the doctor, but he refused."
"Why didn't you make him go?" she asked, surprised by the protective surge she felt.
"He was a proud man," Nico said with respect. "No one made Phillip do anything he didn't want to do. If you'd been around more, you'd know that."
Danielle balled her hands into fists. "That was low, Nico." Anger burned in her chest, anger at Nico and at her father. "You don't know anything about me and neither did my father."
She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her arms with her hands. Something softened in Nico's eyes and he stepped toward her. She backed up.
"Don't." She shook her head. "Don't touch me. Not now. I'm too upset."
"Danielle -- "
"Take me there," she said.
"Where?" Nico's brow creased.
"To Block 8."
"Why in God's name do you want to go there?" He looked at her as if she were some sort of deranged mental patient.
"Will you take me or not?" She stiffened her spine.
Nico gestured to the golf cart. "Come on."
Danielle followed him down the path. They didn't speak on the short drive to Block 8. Nico turned the cart down a row, and Danielle's stomach clenched. The path was littered with broken vines and dropped grapes. Clearly the emergency vehicles had driven down the narrow path. What had her father's last minutes been like? How did one greet death: with fear or with peace?
Nico stopped the cart. Just ahead, pounded into the ground was a plain, white cross, a wreath of grapevines hanging on it.
Danielle climbed out of the cart on shaky legs. When Nico moved to follow, she whispered, "Please, give me a minute."
She walked to the cross, staring at the crude wood, letting the image burn into her brain. Her father was really dead. Seeing the cross made it seem so final, so much more real than the funeral. Oddly, she didn't feel like crying even though her insides heaved with sadness. Phillip Whitney had died with his beloved grapes; it was a fitting ending to a life that had revolved around the fruit.
"Are you all right?" Nico called from the cart.
"I will be," she said, surprised to find she meant the words. She would be fine once she got the hell away from Sun Grove. "Will you take me back to Whitney House? I need to freshen up before the meeting."
Danielle slid into the passenger seat, and Nico started the cart.
"I'm sorry if coming here upset you."
"It's funny," she said, "you are just as much of a pawn in all of this as I am."
"What do you mean?" Nico glanced over at her.
"Nothing," she said, regretting her words. "Let's just forget this morning ever happened."
For a moment their eyes met, then Nico looked away, shifting the cart into reverse. The cart shot back in a cloud of dust, heading out of Block 8, away from the ghost of Phillip Whitney.
***
The offices for Whitney Vineyards were small, but modern. Decorated in the style of old Italy, the woods were dark, the artwork showcasing the vineyard, the floors Italian marble. Nico stepped inside the building, the air-conditioning a welcome balm to both his heated skin and his bad mood.
"Hi, Nico," Joyce, the receptionist greeted. Near forty, with faded blonde hair and bright blue eyes, Joyce always had a smile for everyone. She possessed fantastic people skills, making her an instant hit with the others in the office and with the public.
"Morning, Joyce."
"Any idea what the meeting is about?" Joyce asked. "We're all wondering if we'll have jobs after today."
"You'll have jobs," Nico said but he wondered what effect seeing that white cross had had on Danielle. She'd been eerily silent on the drive home. "Is Jacques here?"
"In the conference room." The phone rang and Joyce excused herself to pick up the call.
Nico strode to the back of the building where the offices were to the formal conference room where the meeting would take place.
"Well? What happened last night?" Jacques asked the minute he saw Nico. He sat at the long table, a cup of coffee between his suntanned hands. At fifty-eight, Jacques looked years younger. He had a wiry runner's body. His face was anchored by a hawk-like nose, and hazel eyes that missed nothing. Those eyes searched Nico. "Did you talk?"
"Yes." He frowned. "She wants to sell."
"So why aren't you smiling?" Jacques asked.
"It was too easy," Nico said. "She came to see me last night. She seems agreeable to me buying the vineyard, but she won't wait around past the ninety days. It's going to be
tough for me to secure the capital in that short a time."
"You can do it. Take on a partner if you have to."
"I don't want a partner; what I need is an insurance policy. I need to keep Danielle happy until I'm ready to buy."
Jacques sipped his coffee. "Did you take her to the mountain, show her the view?"
Nico nodded, unconvinced his plan had worked.
"If she didn't change her mind about selling after seeing the view, you're probably safe." Jacques grinned.
"I don't know," Nico hedged. "She loved the view, but then she asked me to take her to the place Phillip died."
"Did you?"
"Yes. After that, I'm not sure. She didn't say a word on the drive back. I can't begin to guess what she was thinking. I just hope she hasn't changed her mind. I guess we'll know in a few minutes." Nico paced over to the window. "Phillip's death was so sudden. I wasn't prepared. And Liz. I've placed calls to her, but she's not calling back. Even if she does call back, I'm not sure I want to sell the house. You know how unstable Maria's been. I'm afraid that losing her home will send her right back to where she was when Liz and I first split up. She's come so far."
"She's a child. She'll bounce back," Jacques said. "You need the cash. Call Liz again. Get her to sign off on the house and the cabin. Sever all ties with her once and for all."
He wanted to. Oh, how he wanted to. But more than that, he wanted to be a good father to Maria. His heart broke all over again every time she cried herself to sleep or woke up from a bad dream. She'd taken her parents' divorce hard. And he had a hefty bill from her counselor to prove it. Selling her childhood home, her security, out from under her was something he wasn't willing to do if it meant another setback for his daughter.
"Are you sure I can't convince you to be my partner?" Nico gave Jacques a weak smile.
"I wish I could help," Jacques said with sympathy, "but retirement is calling me. Besides, it's time for you to run things your way."
"I know," Nico agreed. "And believe me, I want to, but until I get things straightened out, I need Danielle on my side. She has to want to sell to me. Germaine Cellars is going to make her one heck of an offer, an offer I'm not sure I can top."
"You're the sentimental favorite. Charm her." Jacques took a sip of coffee. "Play up your loyalty to the employees, to the vineyard's integrity. She must have some feelings for Lola, if not for the land. Everyone here will help you with Danielle. They want you for a boss."
"I just hope it works. There's a fine line. If we make her too welcome, she might decide to stay; then where will we be?"
They stopped their conversation as people began arriving. Tom and Sally from Marketing were first. Gayle, Phillip's personal assistant was next. The foremen from Blocks 1 and 2, Jose and Carlos, followed, bringing with them two of the farmers, Nicandro and Marcos, men who worked the fields under Nico's supervision.
The room buzzed with conversation as everyone asked the same question, "Why did Danielle call the meeting?"
When Danielle walked in, everyone fell silent. Nico noticed that she'd changed into a coral colored top and white slacks. A silver chain belt rode low on her hips. The outfit hugged her curves in all the right places, and man, did she have curves. She'd pinned her hair up, leaving her neck bare, a creamy column of skin Nico couldn't help but notice. She sought him out, and he could see a plea for help in her green eyes. Did he want to help her?
Knowing he had no other choice, he excused himself and walked to her.
"I'm sorry about earlier," she said when he reached her. "About my melt-down."
"Don't apologize," he said. "Come on, I'll introduce you." He took her arm, her skin cool and soft under his fingers. One by one he introduced her to the staff. Everyone had a smile for Danielle and a kind word about her father. She smiled in response, but Nico could see the tension on her face.
When the introductions were over, Danielle said, "Please sit, everyone."
Nico caught the slight tremor in her voice. She was nervous.
Gayle came forward, smiling. "Before you begin, we'd like to welcome you home, Danielle." She motioned to Joyce, who stepped up bearing a beautiful bouquet of exotic flowers in a crystal vase. Others followed until the table in front of Danielle was filled with gifts, everything from a bottle of 2009 Whitney Cabernet Reserve, to an enormous fruit and cheese basket, to fine Belgium chocolates.
"We're so happy you're here," Gayle said. "We know you don't officially take over the vineyard for ninety days, but we want you to feel at home. Each of us will help. We are as committed to you as we were to Phillip."
Danielle fidgeted in her chair, looking at everyone but Nico. Why? Had she changed her mind about selling? His stomach turned.
"Thank you, everyone," Danielle said. "I never expected anything like this. Nico was kind enough to take me on a short tour this morning. I'm so incredibly impressed by everything I've seen so far."
"That's good," Jacques said cheerfully. "We want to impress you."
Laughter filled the room.
She gave them a small, uncertain smile. "I'm sure you all know that I wasn't on good terms with my father. When he left me the vineyard, it was a shock." She paused, nervously chewing her bottom lip. "I'm still adjusting to the news and need some time to sort things out. But I came here knowing I wanted to sell. I've been worried about what that would mean for all of you, but Nico and I talked last night. He wants to buy the vineyard from me, and if he can meet the price, I think he'd be the best choice to head Whitney Vineyards."
Relief filled Nico.
Jacques clapped him on the back. "Congratulations," he said with great enthusiasm.
Everyone started talking at once, their voices high and excited.
"Tom," Jacques called. "Get Danielle a glass of wine. In fact, get us all a glass of wine. It seems we have a lot to talk about."
Nico couldn't take his eyes off of Danielle. She stood with Gayle, listening to what the older woman said. His dream of owning the vineyard was coming true, but his gut told him the sale wasn't a done deal. Ninety days was a long time. Danielle could change her mind.
He wasn't about to let that happen. Someone handed him a glass of wine. Nico again looked at Danielle, and this time she stared back, her eyes guarded and distant.
"Salute," Jacques said, raising his glass. "To Whitney Vineyards."
Nico raised his glass to Danielle, but she didn't raise her glass in return.
***
After the meeting, Danielle needed time alone to sort out her feelings for Nico, and for the vineyard. She'd been grateful when Maria had suggested she and Kaiden go for a bike ride. She'd given the kids one hour, asking them to meet her at the swimming hole when they returned. After they'd left, she'd told Lola about her plans to sell to Nico, and although Lola didn't say she was disappointed with Danielle's decision, the old woman's disapproval had been written all over her face.
Thinking a walk to the river would allow her a few moments of peace, Danielle started down the path, eager to reach the water, eager to put the events of the morning out of her mind.
She broke through the trees. The Snake River sparkled in the sunlight taking Danielle straight back to her childhood. The large madrona tree still stood guard on shore, but the swing was gone. No doubt the original rope had rotted years ago; she wondered what it would take to make a new swing for Kaiden?
Danielle sat down on the grassy bank and removed her sandals. At the river's edge, she waded in. Cold water washed over her toes, and she bent down to cup the water in her hands, splashing it on her face and neck. Ah, heaven. She'd heard on the radio the temperature had hit ninety-five degrees by noon. She understood why the workers were up before the sun. No one could work in this heat.
She climbed out of the water and resumed her seat in the shade. Every time she thought about the way the meeting had gone this morning her stomach ached. Everyone had wanted Nico to take over, and to her surprise, that reality had stung. Her reaction made no sense. Sh
e didn't want to stay, but she couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to really be a part of the vineyard, to be loved the way the employees loved Nico. It wasn't fair. She was a Whitney and she didn't belong here, but Nico did. Danielle lay back in the grass, her eyes on the endless hot aqua sky.
After the meeting she'd been so upset, she'd called the realtor her father's attorney had suggested and set up an appointment in town next week. She wanted to test the waters, see what the vineyard was worth, even though she couldn't sell yet.
She'd thought taking steps to sell would cheer her up, but instead depression blackened her mood. She had the feeling her melancholy had to do with her father and the white cross she'd seen that morning. Everyone here had known her father better than she had. Most, it seemed, had loved him. She'd loved him once, too, and as much as she didn't want to admit it, she still loved him. But it bugged her that he hadn't earned her love like he'd earned the love from his employees.
Maria's excited chatter reached Danielle and she sat up just as Maria and Kaiden broke through the trees, large beach towels in their hands. Nico trailed them by a few feet.
Danielle's pulse sped up. What was it about Nico that made her heart skip a beat, even when they were at odds? She chocked her feelings up to physical attraction, pure and simple. There were some reactions she just couldn't control.
"Hey, you guys." She focused her attention on the kids. After wallowing in her own self-pity, she wanted to be with her son, even if he didn't want to be with her.
"Hey," Kaiden said.
She smiled at him. "I see you brought towels."
"That was my idea," Nico said. "When Maria told me they were meeting you here, I thought, why not take a swim?"
"I wasn't sure how the place would look," Danielle admitted. "I'm glad to see the river's virtually unchanged."
Maria had already kicked off her rubber flip flops. "Last one in is a rotten egg."
Kaiden forgot all about Danielle as he kicked his own sandals off and jumped in after Maria.
"Mind if I sit down?" Nico asked. He'd lost the white collared shirt he'd worn earlier and was dressed more casually now in a bright white t-shirt and navy swim trunks.
