Page 68 of A Baby for the Texas Cowboy
“No one will sit outside at night if it’s chilly even with a gas fireplace, heat lamps and blankets.” The woman had shaken her head as she’d written up the purchase. “But I thank y’all for shopping local. You won’t return the blankets, will you?” Tinsley had reassured her that wouldn’t happen.
And now, long after the tasting room had closed for its first official day, Tinsley and her first employee hire for Verflucht—Isla Velazquez, a recent graduate from St. Edwards University in Austin—had started to hang the strings of lights from the wooden poles that two of the ranch hands had installed yesterday in the transformed back patio.
“Does it look magical? Does it look like a star-spangled sky?” Tinsley asked from up on the ladder.
“It’s almost overwhelmingly beautiful and cheerful,” Catalina said.
Isla popped down off her ladder and dutifully crouched on the ground and looked up. The smile that lit her features reinforced Tinsley’s belief that hiring her had been a good decision.
She was a few years older than the typical small, private liberal arts college graduate because she’d worked her way through school, as her music and academic scholarship hadn’t covered everything. Today Isla had proved to be a hard and willing worker. She’d jumped in and hadn’t required much direction.
“Not sure why we need so many pretend stars when we have the real thing,” Catalina said, not for the first time, but her eyes barely blinked and she’d yet to take her focus off the growing cover of “stars” on the tasting room’s back patio.
“I want people to come to Verflucht not just for a tasting but to meet up with friends, enjoy a glass of wine or two, relax, chat and enjoy a snack that’s been thoughtfully paired with our wines, and I want them to feel a touch of magic—transported from their daily life for a fun and relaxing experience.”
Catalina sat up and looked at Tinsley. “That sounds like exactly what I want for the tasting room—an experience.”
“Do you plan to ever have music on the patio?” Isla asked as she hooked on another set of lights.
Tinsley looked at Catalina and then back at Isla as she tied a string of lights to the other pole.
“I like that idea,” Tinsley mused. It would be a way to draw in a local crowd on evenings. “Maybe weekend evenings. Definitely during events and wine pickups.”
Tinsley remembered Isla had been in a band in college and perhaps still was. She might have connections or insider knowledge of potential acts—or maybe she’d like to play, although Tinsley was hoping that Isla would be willing to work a few evenings, especially as she continued to grow the tasting room staff. She had five more interviews lined up tomorrow morning.
“Hey.” Strong hands spanned her waist. “I told you I would be by to help finish up any work on the patio tonight.” Anders lifted her off the stepladder.
Tinsley stared up at him, a little shocked at the happy jump her heart gave. She tried to dig up some resentment that he was interfering, but instead she just found herself smiling back. She handed him the string of lights.
He kissed her lips lightly, and even as she felt herself begin to melt and didn’t try to resist the sensation, he took the strands of lights from her hands.
“I can finish this up for you.”
She remembered Catalina and Cruz’s advice to pick her battles. And after the warmly sensuous bout of lovemaking last night and again this morning, she wasn’t in the mood to assert her independence.
“Good day?” he asked. His blue eyes were so beautiful and intent on hers that she felt that melty thing again in her body that she didn’t have the energy to resist.
“Yes, we had a steady crowd, and I added a few people to the wine club Catalina and I are still figuring out how we want to run. You?”
“Better now,” he said, his blue eyes lingering on her.
August and Axel arrived carrying the supplies to build the pizza oven.
“We will build it tomorrow and Tuesday. The weather will be co-operating and you can close off the patio for a few days, especially as it’s not officially open until this coming weekend,” August announced, leaving the wheelbarrow full of bricks off to one side of the patio. Then he scooped up Catalina, pressed a kiss on her rounded belly, then kissed her mouth and said something softly to her.
Anders introduced himself to Isla as did August and Axel, and then Anders took her place on the stepladder.
Axel took the lights from Isla, who hopped off her stepladder.
“Umm, what time do you want me to come in tomorrow?” she asked Tinsley.
“We open at noon, but I was thinking ten if that works with your schedule,” Tinsley said. “I thought we could prepare some charcuterie trays. Also I have some new local cheeses and I would love to have a volunteer taste tester.”
“I’m in.” Isla smiled.
All the Wolf brothers shouted out their willingness to taste test.
“Are you going to learn how to do the shipping, cleaning and opening and closing procedures as well?” she demanded sweetly.
