Page 1 of Champagne and Daisies

Chapter One

Chelsea wiped her eyes as she drove. She shouldn’t be this upset. She and Adrian hadn’t been going anywhere anyway. She’d known that for a while. She sniffed and shook her head. She shouldn’t be surprised. She wasn’t, if she was honest. She was crying because she’d messed up again, more than she was crying over Adrian. So, he was leaving for Nicaragua on Monday. So, what? They’d had some fun; now it was over. They might have talked some big dreams about him opening a restaurant here, but that’s all they were—dreams. Adrian was no go-getter. That was part of his attraction. She turned into the driveway of her parents’ house and waited for the wrought iron gates to swing open. As she pulled forward through the gates, she made a face at the realization that she’d been attracted to Adrian because he was so different. He wasn’t driven, he wasn’t an over-achiever—if she was honest, he wasn’t even an achiever, but he was kind and sweet. And now he was leaving. He’d asked her to go with him, but only because he’d known she’d say no. She couldn’t just leave like that. She had ties and responsibilities—two things Adrian didn’t believe in. She had a winery to run; he had a life to drift through.

She brought the car to a stop in the circular driveway and rested her head against the steering wheel for a moment. Adrian’s timing couldn’t have been worse. Her father had summoned her here this evening to talk business. She straightened up and pulled herself together. The winery washerbusiness. He’d told her she could run it as she saw fit, and she had been doing. It wasn’t exactly thriving—not yet, but it would. At least she hoped it would do well enough to satisfy her father. He cared about the bottom line. Her priorities were a little different. She wanted to create wonderful wines and take good care of the people who worked for her. They were her two biggest goals. The bottom line was a secondary consideration, and as long as she was making a profit, she didn’t need any interference from anyone.

She got out of the car and slammed the door. She needed to remind her father of that, and she needed to do it calmly. She had to get her emotions under control before she went in there or she’d end up fighting with him—she knew it.

She trotted up the steps to the huge oak front door and then took a deep breath before pushing it open. She was going to try to go with being the trite, dutiful daughter who just needed a little more time to get things running as smoothly as her father would like.

“Hello?” she called from the grand hallway.

“Chelsea, come on through, darling; we’re in the kitchen.”

That was hopeful. The kitchen was always warm and cozy and homey feeling. Perhaps her father would be feeling relaxed and forgiving. No such luck. He was perched at the counter, a glass of bourbon in his hand and a dark look on his face. She didn’t let that deter her. She went and pecked his cheek.

“Hey, Dad. How are you?”

His lips twitched into a smile. He loved her; she knew that much. She might irritate and frustrate him, but he did love her. Even she knew he just wanted what was best for her. It was just unfortunate that he had a very different idea than she did of what that was.

“Chelsea. How are you?”

She nodded. She’d thought it best not to mention Adrian. Her dad didn’t exactly approve of him, but now she decided that she would. Maybe he’d feel bad for her and wouldn’t lecture her about the way she was running the business.

“I’ve had better days.”

“Is everything all right, dear?” asked her mom.

“It will be. I’m just feeling a little sad right now. Adrian and I just broke up.”

Her mom came and put an arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

Her dad narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m not.”

Chelsea shook her head. “Thanks, Dad. It’s nice to know you care.”

He scowled at her. “When will you get it into your stubborn little head that I do care? It’s because I care that I want to see you succeed. It’s because I care that I’m not sorry to hear that your relationship with a no-good, freeloader is over.”

“He’s not a …” Chelsea thought better of it and stopped herself. They’d had that argument time and again while she’d been seeing Adrian. There was no point getting into it again now that she wasn’t. “Whatever he is, that’s not the point. The point is. I’m upset, and you don’t care!”

“Chelsea!” Her mom looked shocked.

Her dad had gotten that stubborn look on his face, and she knew that she’d just blown any chance of getting him to understand—again.

“I care that you’re upset,” he said in a slow, measured tone. “However, I’m more concerned with your overall long-term well-being, than with your latest crush. Right now, at this moment, I am sorry that you feel upset, but looking at the bigger picture, I am glad for the reason you’re upset. Short term pain, long term gain. It’s the lesson you need to learn in life—and in business. The right choices aren’t always the easy ones. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.”

Chelsea blew out a sigh. “I guess.” There was no point arguing with him.

“I’m glad you understand.”

“Why?” She looked at him warily.

“Because I’ve made a choice that wasn’t easy, and I know you’re not going to like it, but it’s the right choice for you and for the winery.”

“My winery, Zosca? Or Hamilton-Groves in general?” Her heart was pounding in her chest wondering what choice he’d made, and knowing that whatever it was, there’d be no talking him out of it.

His eyebrows knit together. She knew he didn’t like it when she referred to Zosca as hers, but it was. At least in her heart, it was.

“I’m referring to Zosca. The winery we have allowed you to run as if it were your own.” He sighed. “The winery that isn’t on track to return much of a profit this year. I’ve decided to bring someone in to help you turn things around before it’s too late.”

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