by Lucinda Race
She looked at her dress and had to smile. It was a deep-pink floral with a matching cardigan. They were on the same wavelength. To some, it would look like they deliberately matched their clothes for the evening. She brushed her newly clipped short blond hair into place. She was ready to celebrate.
* * *
When Sherry stepped into the spacious living room, she took his breath away. His eyes slid from the tips of her bright-pink painted toes, high-heeled sandals, and that dress. It skimmed the middle of her thigh and just about stopped his heart. She was more beautiful each time he laid eyes on her. If he sounded like a sap, he didn’t care. This woman had captured his heart and soul.
He took a step toward her and lightly kissed her cheek. “You look incredible.” His breath tickled her ear.
“You look pretty handsome yourself.”
Mom and Dad watched them with a smile on their faces. “You kids have fun tonight,” Dad said.
“Good night.” She blew them a kiss and clasped Sam’s hand. At the car door, she asked, “Where are we going?”
“That’s a surprise.” He opened the door and waited until her dress was tucked under her leg before he closed it.
“Will I need a coat?”
“Nope.” He started the car. “Top down okay?”
She dropped her head onto the back of the seat. “The sun is wonderful.”
He eased onto the road and drove through Main Street and turned toward the winery.
Confused, she said, “Sam, what have you got up your sleeve?”
“Patience.” He took her hand as they drove. She was lost, looking at his profile. Soon he slowed and turned his blinker on.
She looked confused. “This was the road I took when I got the flat.”
He glanced her way and smiled. “Is that so?” he teased.
“Sam Price, where are we going?”
“Patience, love. Give me a couple of minutes and you’ll see.” He slowed the car in less than a minute and stopped. “This is the spot where you abandoned your car and went in search for help.”
She smiled. “This was where we began.”
He eased off the brake and drove in the direction she had walked. They approached the intersection Sam had been coming out of and this time, he pulled off the road and shut the car off. He got out and came around to the passenger side. After he opened the door, he held out his hand. “Come with me.”
She placed her hand in his and he pulled her against his chest. “I wanted to kiss you that first time I saw you walking down this road with your sandals in one hand and that cute but annoyed look on your face.”
Her mouth dropped open and he eased her face up before lowering his mouth to hers. “Like this.” Tender and sweet, he kissed her. “Let’s walk.”
“Sam, these shoes are made to look pretty, not go for walking.”
“Trust me?”
She kissed him her answer.
They turned and that’s when she saw a small canopy, the sides draped in fabric to create an oasis-like setting straight out of a movie. Her breath caught. It was so romantic. He held her hand as they walked toward it. She could see a table set for two, a wine bucket stand, and bouquets of wildflowers in large vases. She clapped a hand over her mouth when she saw the carpet over the grass at the edge of the vines.
“You did all of this for us?” She blinked away a happy tear.
“No. For you.”
They stepped inside and she saw that on the back side of the tent, he had placed a small loveseat just right for sitting close.
“When did you have time to do all of this?”
With a mischievous grin, he said, “I had to work in the fields today.” His arm swept the space.
He ushered her to the loveseat. “Have a seat and I’ll pour wine and set out our appetizers.”
He moved with ease and placed a small plate with crackers, grapes, and brie in the center of the small table. He poured her a glass of sparkling wine from none other than Crescent Lake Winery, then sat next to her. “Do you like your surprise so far?”
She placed her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. “I love it, and I love you.” She kissed him. “Your dad was okay with you creating this oasis in the field?”
“Are you kidding?” he chuckled. “He’d let me do just about anything for you. I swear you’re his favorite person in the world.”
They clinked their glasses and sipped the wine. She said, “This is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it. I thought we could serve it at our wedding.”
She took another sip and her eyes grew wide. Sputtering, she said, “Our what?”
Sam dropped to one knee and from his shirt pocket pulled out an oval diamond ring. He took her left hand.
“Sherry, I fell in love with you the moment you smiled at me as you stood barefoot in the middle of the road. You are the only woman I want to walk through this vineyard with for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”
She blinked away tears of happiness. “Yes! I love you with all my heart and I’ll walk through life with you.” She took his face between her hands and kissed him. She laughed and cried at the same time. “You created a moment I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.”
He slid the ring on her finger. “I’ll treasure you and our life together always.”
* * *
The End
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Order Breathe, Book 1
Breathe: Book 1
Chapter One
This is it, Tessa thought and rose to her feet, ignoring the heavy pounding in her chest. The sound of her chair scraping across the hardwood floor was muted by the buzz of conversation around her parents’ enormous dinner table.
She cleared her throat and said in a loud, clear voice, “Can I have everyone’s attention? I have some exciting news to share.” Eight pairs of eyes with laser-like focus rested on her. For a second, she wondered if her family would throw her out of the house after they heard what she had to say.
“Tessa?” Dad’s deep baritone cut the din with quiet authority. He sat at the head of the table with her older brothers, Don to his right with his wife, Kate, and Jack to his left. He sat back in his chair, his fingers curled around the base of his wineglass as he casually swirled the burgundy-red liquid. Dad’s deep-brown eyes were fixed on her, his expression unreadable. Despite having had a serious heart attack over a year ago, he was a formidable man. Tonight, he reminded her of a king holding court.
“I hope you’ll understand what I’m about to say.” Her heart continued to race as the beeswax candles flickered in the center of the table. Her voice seemed to echo off the high coffered ceilings. “Crescent Lake had a great year and the winery is flourishing.” Her gaze moved over her family and came to rest on her sister, Anna, who sat beside her and gave her an encouraging nod. “This was my last harvest with Crescent Lake Winery.” Before anyone could speak, Tessa’s next words came out with quiet confidence. “I’ve purchased and closed on Sand Creek Winery.”
The silence was deafening. Don, her oldest brother and president of the family’s winery, slowly shook his head and scowled. “Did you know anything about this?” he asked their father, his voice flat and his mouth in a thin line.
Dad shook his head; his eyes searched Tessa’s. “Why would you do such a thing?”
Standing tall, with her back ramrod straight, she said, “It was my dream to manage CLW, until Don moved home and you turned the reins over to him. I realized then the only way I would ever run a winery would be if I struck out on my own.”
“How long have you been thinking about this?” He deliberately enunciated each word, his body rigid.
“Nine months.” Tessa studied his expression as he came to terms with her announcement.
Don and Jack had been researching the purchase of Sand Creek for the last six months. And while the family had always put their cards on the table when it came to business, she hoped this time, they would understand why she had put the brakes o
n CLW purchasing the floundering winery. She understood they would feel she had gone behind their backs, but she still hoped they would be excited for her anyway.
Anna sent Don a censuring look before she turned to Tessa and clasped her hand. “Congratulations. You must be very excited.”
Tessa sent Anna a small grateful smile. “Thanks, sis.”
The youngest of her siblings, Leo and Liza, also offered their congratulations but otherwise remained silent. They weren’t actively involved in the winery.
Mom pushed back her chair. She picked up two empty serving bowls. “Tessa’s news calls for a celebration. Will someone please help me pour the sparkling wine?”
Everyone but Don, Tessa, and her father picked up their empty plates and followed their mother into the kitchen. Tessa appreciated a moment to talk more with them alone.
“I’m surprised you did this without talking to us.” Dad looked her in the eye.
“I had assumed Don and Kate would stay in Loudon and I’d be the one to take over, Dad.” With her head held high and her voice unwavering, Tessa said, “I’ve been considering a winery of my own since Don returned and became president.” She looked at Don. “To be clear, I’m angry with the way things evolved, but I understand. You were groomed for this job since you were a child. I worked hard to become a good marketing manager. I know what I’m capable of, and I want more.” She tapped her red-polished fingernail on the table. “You weren’t here to run the winery, Don. I was. But then the prodigal son returned, and it became apparent the only way to achieve my dream would be to strike out on my own.”
Don stood and paced the length of the dining room. “Tessa, think of Sand Creek differently. We could fold the new winery into CLW as part of our expansion plan. The cost is higher doing it your way. I had hoped to buy it from the bank at a lower price than you likely paid.”
Stunned by his presumption, Tessa just stared at her brother.
Dad nodded and ran his thumb and forefinger over his chin. “You might be right.” His face turned contemplative. “Why don’t you go to the winery tomorrow with Tessa and take inventory of what they have? We can have an impromptu board meeting on Tuesday. We’ll go over the details of the acquisition.”
“You two are forgetting a very important point.” She addressed them with a sharp inflection to gain their attention, but also because their plotting was making her blood pressure spike. “Sand Creek Winery belongs to me. I have no intention of merging it with the family business. If that’s a problem for you, I’m prepared to sign over my interest in CLW if you think that is best.”
At that moment, Mom entered the dining room holding a tray of glasses. “You will do no such thing.” She shot her husband a sharp look. “Isn’t that right, Sam?”
Without looking at Don, her father said, “Your mother is correct. Your share of CLW is yours. But I want you to think about this. Kevin Maxwell has proven he didn’t know how to handle a winery. You may have assumed a mountain of debt. Suppliers and small business owners might be reluctant to do business with a new owner despite the Price reputation.”
Tessa fumed.
Anna returned to the dining room, Jack at her side. Kate, Leo, and Liza followed and they all sat down.
“Dad,” Anna said, “Do you remember when Leo was in a similar situation after he bought the garage? He does quite well now. Tessa is honest and I’m sure vendors and store owners will give her a chance. She’s going to be an excellent wine mogul.” She gave Tessa a quick wink.
Tessa looked at Jack. “You know the vineyard. What do you think?”
“When we were considering buying Creek, I inspected the fields. You’re getting good vines. If you need to make personnel changes, I’d be happy to make some recommendations, but I’m sure you’ll hire good people.” He leveled his gaze at her. “What about Maxwell? He’s hardheaded. You’ve got a tough road ahead of you if he stays on. I never understood why he never joined the wine growers council. We could have offered him support.” Jack glanced around the room. “Then again, you’ve got the courage to make this announcement in front of the entire family. I think you can handle Maxwell.”
She clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head to one side. “Thank you, Jack. I’ll be fine, but I appreciate your support.” She couldn’t help but notice Don and Dad looked less than enthused. “I hope you can try and be excited for me.”
“Sis, I think you’re in over your head.” Don crossed his arms over his chest. His voice was flat.
“Don.” His wife, Kate, spoke for the first time, her voice sharp. She glanced over her shoulder at the kids watching television and then back to Don.
Tessa could feel heat burn her cheeks. “I’m not a novice in this business. And while you were off cutting trees, I was here working and learning as Dad’s right hand. I’m better prepared than you give me credit for.”
This was what she had expected from the men—zero understanding, at least not today or maybe ever—but the women in her family were thrilled. With a heavy heart, she pushed her chair back so that she could step away from the table. “Since I put a damper on the evening, I’m leaving.”
Dad looked at his dessert plate and pushed around the remnants of his pie. “Come by my office tomorrow. Don and I will discuss your exit from CLW.”
He had dismissed her. At least she had expected it. In a quiet voice, she said, “I’ll be in at nine.”
Dad gave her a curt nod but didn’t look at her. With her head held high, she walked out of the room. Her heels clicked against the floors. She paused in the front hallway as the swell of voices reached her ears. She put her hand on the doorknob.
“Tessa, wait.”
Kate hurried toward her and gave her a squeeze. “I’m really proud of you. Following your dream can be tough. But you’ll prove to all of them that you’ve got the grit needed to be a smashing success.”
“Thanks, Kate. I knew it would be a shock, but Don acts as if I’m destined to fail.”
“You know he wants us all to be pulling in the same direction. His opinion is family first and always.”
“I didn’t disown the family. I want to have something of my own. Succeed or fail, it will be a direct result of my hard work. Leo did it.”
“I get it.”
She pulled open the door. “I’m exhausted. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Kate said, “I’ll walk out with you.”
Tessa knew she was doing the right thing for her future, and if the family couldn’t see that, it was their problem and not hers.
Kate closed the door behind them and smiled. “For the record, I think the guys were overly harsh on you.”
Kate’s support meant even more. “I’m pretty excited.”
“You’re fearless and more than ready to run your own business.” Her eyes grew serious. “I’m sorry you feel Don took away the opportunity you really wanted when we moved back.”
“The experience helped me to realize I want to be in charge of my destiny, not merely working in the shadow of my father and brother.” She looked at Kate, who had become like another sister. “I’m sorry how that sounded. But it’s a fact.”
Kate nodded. “I get it. When I opened the bistro, I had to make it clear to Sam it was my business. He gave me complete control over every facet and never tried to influence me in any way. I had the experience of running a kitchen when I worked for my mom at her coffee shop, but it was never really mine. No matter how many changes I made to the menu, it was always her vision. I admire you. Hell, you jumped off the cliff when I stepped off the sidewalk!”
Tessa laughed. Her heart felt lighter than it had all evening. “Good visual.” She added, “The bistro has really helped the winery grow and it’s given the family amazing opportunities.” She gave Kate a quick hug. “I really appreciate your support. Thank you.”
Kate nodded. “And if there is anything I can help with, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I have to talk to Kevin Maxwell tomorrow and a
sk him if he would consider staying on and working with me.”
Kate winced. “That will be awkward. He’s not exactly a fan of the Price family. Do you want him to stay?”
“Other than what happened to the business, he has good instincts and an excellent palate to make good wine. I firmly believe that long term, he’ll be an asset.”
“Have you thought about what you’ll do if he doesn’t want to work for you?” Kate asked.
Tessa gave a one-shouldered shrug. “If he doesn’t, I have a few people in mind.”
Kate pointed to the house. “No matter what their initial reaction was, you know the entire family is behind you.”
Tessa gave a snort. “Once they get over the shock.” She walked to the steps. “I’m going to take off. Big day ahead. Wish me luck.”
“Want to meet after work tomorrow and we’ll have a glass of wine? You can share all the details of your conversation with Mr. Maxwell.”
With a grin, Tessa said, “Meet me at my house at seven and I
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