Page 9 of Lochlan

“I know how to build a winery, distillery, anything with alcohol, but I'm out of my depth coordinating a project of this size. I only suggested the idea because I knew he was going to send me to New Zealand. They're kin, but I can't stand to be that far away, and you know they have aggressive creatures that can kill you.”

“I think you mean Australia. If you prove to him this is a go, you can leave the wilderness and go back home.”

I think about that for a minute. There's nothing in Scotland to go back to and there's nothing here as well. “Are you happy here, Geordie?”

“I'm happy enough. Why are you asking?”

“Because Granda didn't banish you; he kicked my backside out and the imprint of his boot is still visible.”

“Wherever you goeth, I will go,” he says with a grin. “Coming to America was an easy decision. I could continue to toil away at the MacTavish headquarters hoping to get a chance at being the Master Blender or come here and be the winemaker and put my considerable education to use.”

“If I get the nod to go back home, will you come?”

“I might have to rethink my earlier statement. If you're summoned back home, someone has to run this place, and it might as well be me. At least I won't have the upstart manager second-guessing me.”

“Aye, someone who always pulls your arse out of the fire. Don't thank me.” I raise a hand. “We can talk more later. I've a training.”

* * *

It'sa few-minute walk from Geordie's office to the public buildings. I weave my way through the back halls, seeing few people. The tasting room is slower in the middle of the week. I'll put this new lad we just hired through his paces. If a few people wander in for a tasting, he can put his knowledge to use. We're lucky to have a graduate from Cal Poly who just completed their viticulture program. I plan to get him working with Geordie after he's put in enough hours in the tasting room to understand how we work. Everyone here needs to be ready to assume other jobs if needed.

I push my way through the doors. A female is at the far side of the bar, studying her phone. Her head lifts up and she shoves her cell into her back pocket. I must have startled her coming in.

“Lass, are you here for a tasting?” I walk up, able to get a better look at her. The large brown eyes watch me with some curiosity. She's tall with black hair down to her waist. She seems familiar; have I served her in the tasting room before? The red of her lips are what I can't look away from, wanting to know what they'd taste like. It's fortunate she can't hear my thoughts, because they're wandering into some interesting depravity. It's been too long, if the customers are affecting me this way. I need to call Amber tonight and see if she can meet me for some quality time.

“I have a few whites open you can start with. It's a nice starter to tickle your palate, or do you prefer red? There's a rosé chilling.”

“Lochlan.”

I glance at the door to see Layla bustling in with a navy shirt thrown over her shoulder. “Sorry I kept you waiting,” she says to the lass. “I'm glad you came into the tasting room anyway. Lochlan, this is your new tasting room associate.”

“I thought you said we hired Fergus.”

She hands the shirt to the female, who continues to stare at me as though I'm an interesting specimen. “I want you to meet Kenzie MacGregor. She was referred through the network.”

This is going to be more difficult. She's too bonnie. She'll be a distraction. Then, I realize who she reminds me of and the thought fills me with anger.

Layla leans over the bar, grabbing a glass and a bottle. “It's unfortunate, but Fergus declined our offer. Foxton, I think, snapped him up.” She turns her attention to the female. “Kenzie, the restrooms are out this door and to the left past the storage at the end. You can change and come back here.”

We watch her as she exits the door, me staring at her round bum. “You need to get Fergus back, unless she has a degree in viticulture.”

Layla pours a glass. “Offering Fergus more money to accept our position would bust our budget, and we don't need anyone to help Geordie at the moment, but we are shorthanded in the tasting room and the holidays are coming. If you train Kenzie, you can spend less time helping out in the tasting room.” She waves her glass at me, then takes a sip and frowns. “Did no one taste this bottle after they opened the wine? It's corked.”

I swipe the bottle from her and sniff the opening. She's right. The fruit is dead; it smells like a wet paper bag.

Kenzie returns, striding towards the bar. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail, accentuating her dark eyes. “Mr. Lochlan. Maybe I'm not what you expected, but I can be an asset if you give me a chance.”

“See, Lochlan, you can't ask for a more eager employee. Kenzie is going to be brilliant as a tasting room associate. I'll leave you to the training. The stack of paperwork on my desk is calling my name.” She places the glass on the bar. “Try not to break this one; she's a good girl.”

Layla always feels the need to mother me. What is she trying to say, that I'm not good with the staff? Maybe this is just her teasing me to lighten my mood. I swing back to the female. “Good to meet you, Kenzie. How much wine knowledge do you have?”

“Moderate,” she admits, “but I want to learn more.” She gives me a sweet smile. It puts me in a foul mood. At least she has an understanding of wine, and we don't need to begin at square one.

“Aye, we'll start with wine tasting room basics. You need to welcome the customers when they walk in...”

The brief orientation doesn't last more than ten minutes. We'll discuss more about how she's to talk about the wine to the customers. I don't want to overwhelm her; it's wasted without practical experience. She appears to have listened well enough, while staring a hole into me. There were a few intelligent questions she asked, giving me hope that she can handle the job. “Do you understand my instructions? Is there anything you'd like me to repeat?” I ask.

She nods. “I understood everything,” she says, with an enthusiasm that I can't muster any more.

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