Page 81 of Wine & Whiskey
“You’d better go.” He swallows hard although it doesn’t diminish the huskiness of his voice. “Or I’m going to follow you up there, and we’ll never get out of here.”
With a goofy smile curling on her lips, she jogs upstairs. “I’ll be back.”
* * *
When the jetbegins its descent, Shae turns from the window and looks at him. “Now are you going to tell me where we are?”
Nick holds up his finger. “Patience. I said when we land.”
His breath catches as she rolls her eyes and laughs, soft and silky, warming him in the cool cabin. He didn’t think it was possible for her to be more beautiful than she already is. Her face flushes and eyes sparkle with excitement, matching the hint of glitter across her bare shoulders, completely exposed with her hair in loose curls behind her head. He would take a beating just to taste the soft, sweet skin at the base of her neck.
At the bump of the landing gear rolling across the runway she looks back at him again. “We’ve landed. Tell me!”
“We’re slightly northeast of wine country. I read an article in one of the business journals about a man from Indiana re-opening his grandfather’s winery. I thought we could check it out before he launches.”
“Oh, I love it. I can’t wait.”
Once the pilots open the door and disembark, Max and the two security men accompanying them file out. She starts to stand up, but he puts his hand on her arm. Loath to rouse any uncertainty, he attempts a casual tone. “Just a minute, sweetness. Let Max take care of things first.”
Two black SUVs sit on the tarmac with a young woman wearing a navy blazer standing next to them. Max talks to her as the other two men open the doors and inspect the interiors. A slight frown darkens Shae’s angelic face, and his stomach clenches at her anxiety.
“Is everything okay?”
“It’s just a precaution. I don’t want anything to ruin our day.”
Her lips curl into a smile and she squeezes his hand, releasing some of his tension. “Nothing will.”
After the inspection is complete, Max signs the woman’s clipboard and takes the keys from her. Nick pulls Shae up from her seat and leads her down the steps. “Let’s go.”
They drive along the countryside with Max and his team following behind. Tall trees border farm fields, separating them by owner or crop. A few stray clouds float above the distant mountains, no barrier to the abundant sunshine.
Resting her head against the seat, she turns to him. “How did you arrange for us to have such beautiful weather?”
“I’m good at charming angels.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “You’re still as slick as the day I met you.”
He brings her hand to his mouth and kisses each knuckle. Somehow, she saw past his arrogance and gave him a chance. And somehow, he’s lucky to earn more even when he fucks up. “You’re still as beautiful.”
“What am I going to do with you?”
“Love me.”
The fresh smell of cedar welcomes them as they enter the winery. Reminiscent of a ski chalet, the exposed wood beams and stone fireplace create a warm, relaxed atmosphere. A barrel-chested man with salt-and-pepper hair and goatee strides toward them, hand extended. “Mr. DeMarco, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s Nick, and this is my girlfriend, Shae.”
“Nice to meet you too. I’m Erik Altmeyer. Please have a seat.”
He gestures toward two high back, brown stools facing a large picture window overlooking endless rows of grapes. As they sit, Erik tells them about the winery. “My grandfather started this place about sixty years ago. After he died, no one was left to run it. I flew out here and fell in love with the place. I’ve been restoring it for three years, and I’m almost ready to open. You’re my first customers.”
Shae gives Erik a small smile. “Thank you for having us. Did you know anything about wine making before you came here?”
Nick wraps his hand around hers as it rests on his leg. She leans in to the proprietor, enjoying their conversation, laughing at his stories. No smoothing of her dress or picking at her fingernail polish. She’s utterly content.
Her fingertip traces the lettering branded into the wooden countertop. “How did you pick the name Heaven’s Devil?”
“Wine tastes like heaven when you drink it, but can make you feel like the devil got ahold of you the next day.”
