Page 27 of The Vineyard Crush

Ethan blew out a harsh breath, raking one hand through his tousled chestnut waves - a gesture I recognized as his way of gathering his thoughts before diving into something heavy.

“I got a call from Leone,” he admitted at last, referring to our eldest brother.

I felt the tight knot of tension in my stomach loosen slightly at the words, a relieved breath puffing past my lips. “Oh? What did he say?”

There was a stretch of silence as Ethan seemed to wrestle with how to articulate what was on his mind. His moss-green eyes were uncharacteristically shadowed, mouth turned down at the corners in a pensive frown.

“Not much, really,” he said finally, shoving his hands into the back pockets of his worn jeans. “But I could hear it in his voice, you know? Leone’s struggling again - with the job, with feeling adrift and unsettled…”

My heart panged in sympathy at the thought of our perpetually unsatisfied older brother trapped in yet another round of unhappiness and restlessness. Of the three of us siblings, Leone had always been the most driven for success and security, yet also the most devotedly unmoored. Nothing ever seemed to satisfy his relentless ambition for long before he grew discontent and began casting around for the next opportunity to chase. He is RICH yes capital letters rich, he makes money off the stock market but I don’t know why he works for some bitch boss at some company.

“I don’t understand why he works at the job that just burns him out,” I murmured, watching as Ethan’s expression grew more somber. “And I’m sure being alone in the city, without any of us nearby, isn’t helping matters either. Specially after the incident.”

Ethan made a gruff noise of agreement, his jaw ticking with frustration. “Leone’s latest ‘dream job’ with that massive corporation has clearly turned into another disappointment. He’s miserable, Em. And I’m sick of watching him run himself into the ground trying to find whatever-it-is he thinks will make him happy.”

There was an undisguised protectiveness in Ethan’s tone, the nearly obsessive fraternal loyalty that caused all three of us to look out for one another with fierce tenacity.

Looping my arm through Ethan’s, I leaned my head against his sturdy shoulder, seeking to soothe the worry clear in the taut lines of his body. Beneath the blustery overprotective exterior, Ethan carried the weight of his dreams and somehow ours too like a cross on his back. As the second son, he seemed to have been hardwired from birth with that burden of solidarity and support. Since Dad died Leone went into this spiral of need for success and security and maybe so did I and Ethan has been the one trying to provide that for us, even if it meant coming back from France to now getting us to work with him at this million dollar vineyard business he built himslef

“So what are you thinking?” I asked softly, recognizing the glimmer of an idea beginning to form behind those pensive green eyes. “I can see the wheels turning up there, brother. You’ve got a plan brewing to save our wayward big bro from himself, don’t you?”

Ethan’s arm came around my shoulders, squeezing me to his side as his mouth curved into a tiny, wry smile.

“You know me too well, Emma-rae,” he murmured, using the childhood endearment that never failed to fill me with a sense of safety and warmth, even now into our adult years. “I’ve actually been kicking around an idea about bringing Leone out here to Amor Di Vino.”

I pulled back slightly to catch his gaze, intrigued. “As in…offering him a job out here with us and your businesses?”

The excitement began building as Ethan continued, laying out his thought process so far. “Think about it, Em. We’re getting ready to break ground on that huge expansion into a full-service luxury vineyard resort and wedding destination, right? A project of that magnitude is going to require a ton of hands-on leadership beyond what you or I can dedicate while keeping our own duties here handled.”

He paused, gauging my reaction before pressing on with one of those looks - the understanding glimmer in his eyes that said he alone recognized my limitations and fears, even when I did my best to mask them.

“We both know your true passion lies in the creative side of things - the design, the decor, crafting those romantic over-the-top wedding ceremonies and receptions you’re so brilliant with. And me?” Ethan shrugged, “You know I’m much more suited for the real wine-making, getting my hands dirty in the vineyards we’ve been cultivating. But neither one of us has the head for big-picture logistics and operations management required for something as huge as the resort rollout.”

Warmth bloomed in my chest at the care and consideration in his tone, not wanting to overstep or impose something massive without my input. Ethan knew me inside and out - knew that as the youngest of our ragtag trio, I often felt overlooked and underestimated. Always having to chase after my big brothers somehow I was always too much if I asked for something for myself.

Which was why he was coming to me now about this idea, leaving the decision in my court. Giving me an equal say in the direction our lives and the businesses would take from this point forward.

“And you think Leone could be the key to keeping all these new expansion plans on track?” I asked thoughtfully. Despite his mercurial tendencies, our eldest brother did have a razor-sharp business acumen that had seen him build corporate empires from the ground up, only to turn around and walk away just as quickly once ennui inevitably set in. “You’re proposing we bring him on to…what? Be the CEO of Amore Di Vino Resorts or something?”

The idea was thrilling and terrifying all at once. Involving our nomadic, outrageously competent eldest brother in the ranch’s operations could be the missing piece that rocketed us into a new stratosphere of success. But it also felt vaguely ominous - like ringing the bell that summoned the all-devouring beast from its lair.

Leone leaving in his customary whirlwind of enthusiasm and ceaseless venture-chasing was one thing. But entrusting the future of our generational family legacy into his capable yet fickle hands? It left me feeling nervous and strangely unsettled for a reason I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

Ethan must have picked up on my mixed reaction, his calloused palm finding the nape of my neck in a reassuring squeeze. “I know it sounds a little crazy at first,” he soothed in that deep, rumbly tone meant only for me. “But hear me out, okay? Leone’s talents are utterly wasted rotting away in some stuffy corporate box, and we both know it. He’s at his best when he can put that freakish intellect and drive to work building something incredible from the ground up.”

Thirteen

Emma

The warm summer breeze carried the sweet fragrance of ripening grapes as I wandered through the vineyard rows. My brother Ethan had flown to New York earlier, hoping to convince our oldest brother Leone to join us as CEO for the new vineyard resort and events venture. Leaving me to get started with promoting the property as a premiere wedding destination.

“Emma!”

The high-pitched squeal was my only warning before a tiny tornado of untamed brown curls slammed into my legs. Lily’s embrace nearly knocked me off balance, but I managed an awkward spin and crouched down to her level.

“There’s my favourite little grape,” I chuckled, ruffling her hair. She beamed up at me with those big hazel eyes, cheeks flushed from running.

“What is she doing?” Lily bounced excitedly, pointing toward the photographer adjusting her camera near the terrace.

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