Page 21 of Twin Babies For The Grump

Owen nods, offering me a hand. I take it, letting him help me up.

“We’re going to do a full start over,” says Owen.

“What do you mean?” I ask, honestly curious.

“All of it,” says Owen. “I thought about it, and I don’t want any of the samplings that were made for my father. He was at a standstill because it didn’t really sit right with him. I want new batches, new tastes. I’ll send you an email later today about what I’m thinking. You’re on file, right?”

“Yes?”

“Good, I’ll just get it off the computer then.”

“You want… whole new batches, new flavor profiles, everything?” I ask, just trying to make sure that he understands that the contest isn’t that far away.

Owen just nods. He reaches down with one hand, petting Tipsy. I don’t know where Blanc has gotten off to, but for the moment, it’s not my job to keep track of her. “That’s right. A full start over. I don’t want anything hanging over my head, nothing that could be misconstrued as lucking into a win.”

That makes sense, but I know that no one here is going to like it. Also, it’s pretty obvious that Owen is bringing his big-city attitude into Napa with him. That’s… Not going to be taken so well by a lot of the employees here, especially the older ones.

The vineyard and the winery have always been very easy-going places, with a nice relaxed almost family-style atmosphere clinging to it. Open views, fresh air, and people that, for the most part, care both about each other and about the place where they work.

Are there exceptions to the rule? Sure. There are always exceptions. But the majority has always won out here.

“That includes the two of us,” Owen says.

I fumble for a moment. “What?”

“When I say that I don’t want anything hanging over my head, that includes the two of us,” says Owen. “Do you have a problem with the fact that I’m your boss now?”

“No,” I say, maybe a little too quickly. It’s true. I want to impress the guy, and I want him to think highly of me. And sure, I wouldn’t have minded if he came over here and tried to sweep me off my feet—that actually would have been pretty hot—but the bottom line is, I love my job. I love this place, I love what I do.

And I’m not going to put that in jeopardy over a one-night stand.

I breathe out hard, and then give him a smile and repeat myself, “No, it’s not going to be an issue. I was surprised to see you.”

“I wasn’t expecting you either. When you said your name was Tess, it sounded familiar but… I dealt with a lot of people at my work.”

I stop myself before I comment on the name he used when he first introduced himself. If he had said his name was Owen, I might have— What am I thinking? There’s no way I’d have made that connection.

“Advertising, right?” I ask, and at his confused look, I offer, “Your dad spoke about you a lot. He was really proud of you.”

“He was?” Owen asks, sounding a bit surprised. “I always thought that he was angry I hadn’t stayed to help him.”

“He was proud of you,” I insist, and then I add on, “Besides, you came back at the end. Isn’t that what matters? It’s the same with wine. It can be messy while you’re making it, you just need the end—”

“Result to come out perfect,” finishes Owen. “Yeah, Dad used to say that to me when I was a kid, too. He loved that one.”

“I like it too,” I admit, feeling a bit more confident around him. “I think that there’s a lot of truth to it.”

“Maybe there is. I did take a leap of faith by selling my company to dedicate myself to this. I want to do this right by him.”

He really let go of everything that his previous life encompassed, didn’t he?

Before I can ask more about that, he continues, “So let’s just hope this winery can make a perfect bottle by the time that Grapefest comes around,” says Owen, with a shake of his head. Then he snaps his fingers at me. “Keep an eye on your email. I’ll have it to you before five.”

“Will do,” I say and watch him leave a little too intently. Well, it’s not my fault that he’s walking around in those criminally tight slacks!

Chapter Nine

Owen

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