Page 12 of Vineyard Dreams

Why couldn’t Harper just walk away?

8

Elle descended the stairs into the cool cellar, her footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The dim light cast shadows across the rows of closely packed barrels as she navigated the narrow space, searching for the perfect bottle for the upcoming wine tasting.

As her fingers traced the dusty labels, her thoughts drifted to Harper. Elle could still picture the intense, anxious look in her deep brown eyes as the panic had overtaken her. In that moment of vulnerability, Elle had witnessed a side of Harper that few others had likely seen.

Elle hoped that Harper was okay. She hadn’t spoken to her since that day in the cellar, which was almost a week ago now, and she knew how much Harper valued her privacy, her space. Elle had already wandered up to her house and knocked on her door to officially welcome her. She didn’t want to keep reaching out. Harper had her number if she wanted to spend any more time together, and Elle smiled to herself as she thought about how crazy that idea was.

Why would Harper Reeves want to spend more time with her? She was one of the world’s most famous actresses. Elle had offered to show her around, and that’s what she’d done. It was anoffer she made to help Harper figure out what she wanted to do with the business side of things.

Harper wasn’t looking for a friend. Elle might have found her easy to talk to, but Harper had said she was here to relax, and to Elle that meant being left alone.

Elle’s hands moved on autopilot, selecting a bottle she knew her guests would appreciate. Her mind, however, was far from the task at hand. She was still thinking about Harper. Elle couldn’t imagine what it must be like for her to think that she was coming back to her childhood home, to take over her father’s vineyard, and then to find it abandoned.

Clearly, money was not an issue. Elle would never spend any kind of money without carefully considering it, and it sounded like Harper had offered to buy her uncle out on a whim. Elle didn’t even want to think about the kind of money Harper must have spent and to get so little in return for it… Even if money wasn’t a problem, it still would be a blow, especially when it was her own uncle who had essentially swindled her.

As she made her way back up the stairs, she shook her head, but then a thought began to take shape. If Harper felt like she was in over her head… Elle paused at the top of the stairs, the idea quickly coming together in her mind.

What if she rented Harper’s vineyard? She could use the space to expand her own operations. It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement, allowing Harper to see her father’s vineyard thriving again, but without all of the stress of actually making it happen.

Elle hesitated, her thumb hovering over Harper’s contact in her phone. She had just convinced herself that Harper wouldn’t want to keep spending time with her, that she was here for solitude and relaxation. But this was different. This was a business proposition, an opportunity to take some of the pressure off Harper’s shoulders.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Elle typed out a message.

Hey. I had an idea I wanted to run by you. Would you be interested in coming over for dinner tonight?

Elle hit send, her heart racing as she wondered if she was crazy for even thinking this would work. She knew it was a long shot, but when Stephanie was alive, she’d dreamed of expanding someday. They were only starting to see their first signs of success back then, but Stephanie was already thinking ahead, wondering how they could grow their business.

Elle clutched the bottle in her hand as she closed the cellar door behind her, swallowing down the grief that bubbled up every so often. The last ten years had gone by in a blur. She’d worked harder than she ever had. Life went on and it was just her running the vineyard without Stephanie by her side.

The second year had been the hardest. The first, she couldn’t even remember. She’d hardly slept, always the first to arrive here and the last to leave, almost afraid to go back to her empty home, knowing that everything around her would remind her of Stephanie.

But the second year was when it really hit her that Stephanie was gone.

And now, with the prospect of expanding the vineyard right there in front of her, Elle felt that burning in her chest, that feeling that life wasn’t fair hitting her harder than it had in years.

9

The perfectly seared ribeye melted in Harper’s mouth, its peppery crust giving way to a tender, medium-rare center that needed barely any pressure from her knife. The homemade red wine sauce drizzled across the plate added a rich depth that brought everything together. Harper savored the last bite of the meal Elle had prepared.

The conversation had flowed effortlessly between them all evening, but she kept thinking about Elle’s text from just a few hours ago, telling her that she had an idea she wanted to run by her, but Harper was still waiting to find out what that idea was.

As Elle cleared the plates, Harper tried to help, but Elle insisted on taking care of it. So, Harper leaned back in her chair, sipping the last of the wine Elle had paired with their dinner.

The curiosity had been building throughout the evening, but Harper had patiently waited, enjoying the company and the delicious food, and just as she was about to bring it up, Elle returned to the table, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Harper, I’ve been thinking,” she began, her hazel eyes meeting her gaze. “I have an idea I’d like to discuss with you.”

Harper set her wine glass down, giving Elle her full attention. “I’m all ears,” she said, a smile playing at the corners of hermouth. She tilted her head as she tried to figure out why Elle suddenly seemed a little nervous as she sat down across from her again.

Elle took a deep breath, as if gathering her thoughts. “I’m not sure if this is something you’d be open to or not, but I’m just going to say it.” Elle’s fingers slowly slid up and down the stem of her wine glass before she looked up and held Harper’s gaze. “I was wondering if you’d consider renting your vineyard to me,” she said. “It would allow me to expand my business while honoring your father’s legacy. We could work out an arrangement that benefits us both.”

Harper blinked. She hadn’t expected this, but as the idea sank in, she found herself intrigued. Elle’s expertise and passion for winemaking were undeniable, and the thought of her father’s vineyard thriving under Elle’s care was appealing.

“When did you think of this?” Harper asked, leaning forward, her elbows resting on the table.

Elle shook her head, a tiny smile coming to her lips. “About two minutes before I texted you.”

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