Between the Vines (13 page)

“No. He didn't speak English but his friend, Mr Cheng, said they'd rung here and left a message to say they were meeting you here instead of Melbourne.”

Ed stopped polishing, his jaw clenched.

“I gather you didn't get the message.”

“No.”

“Taylor saved the day. The guy who drove them was a bit of a pompous ass but she sold him the last of our cabernet sauvignon reserve.” He smirked at Ed. “For ninety dollars a bottle.”

“You're kidding.”

Pete shook his head.

“Far out.”

“My sentiments exactly. It's like I've been trying to tell you. We need a top-of-the-range wine and the NS18 could be it.”

“It'll be years before it's ready to drink.”

“We have to start somewhere.”

“We need capital now.” Ed tossed his tea towel on the bench.

“Why are you so hell-bent on buying more land? Why can't we keep building our wine list? We've already added three wines to Mum and Dad's original collection. The new cabernet will be the next.”

“We've got all our eggs in one basket. The vineyards at Wrattonbully could give us an option if the vintage went bad here.”

“Could.”

“It's planted with pinot and chardonnay vines. You've always wanted to make a sparkling.”

“I do make one. We have a sparkling shiraz.”

“But you could make a sparkling white.”

Pete stared at his brother. They'd had this conversation again and again and yet Ed had gone off to make a business deal behind his back. “Who's this Mr Zhu?”

Ed's eyes narrowed. “We want to get into the Chinese market. I heard he was looking for wine he could export.”

“So this meeting wasn't to look for a partner?”

“Getting wine into the Chinese market would help our cash flow.” Ed put both hands on the counter and leaned in. “Looks like we've missed that particular opportunity.”

“You should have let me in on it. I could have talked to him about it.”

“I didn't know he was going to turn up here. Bloody Felicity didn't pass on the message.”

Pete felt sorry for Felicity. She was normally so efficient. He'd loved her once, back when she first started working for them. She was bright and bubbly and he saw her nearly every day. Then Ed had returned from holiday and it had all gone pear-shaped. Pete had found her flirting with Ed once too often. Once he'd discovered she'd been Ed's girlfriend that had been the end of it for Pete.

“He wouldn't talk to me anyway,” Pete said. “And it could have been Noelene who took the message. Felicity's been away nearly as long as you. Came down with the flu. Noelene and I have been doing everything. Then she got an infected tooth, Ben had a crisis on the farm, and if Taylor hadn't turned up when she did I don't know what I would have done.”

Ed pursed his lips and sucked in a deep breath. “I'm sorry. I hadn't intended to go for so long. I'd already lined up a meeting with our distributor and there was that sommeliers' dinner in Sydney. It sounded too good an opportunity to miss.”

“How'd it go?”

“Should have missed it.”

Pete studied his brother's gloomy expression. Ed took some things so seriously and others he brushed off.

“You may have sown a seed for next time.”

“Maybe.”

“There will be other Mr Zhus.”

“I guess. Anyway, no use crying over spilled wine. Who's going to do the cellar door today?”

“Noelene messaged me. She'll be back on deck. I'll keep an eye on things. Why don't you spend some time with Taylor?”

Ed's charming grin returned to his face. “Sounds like we should have her in the cellar door. Why weren't you selling that bloody wine for ninety dollars a bottle when we had more of it?”

“Wouldn't have got it back then. But we do have the next lot nearly ready to bottle. All the signs are that it will be an improvement on the last. We should think carefully about the price we market it at.”

“Maybe.” Ed glanced around, distracted.

“Why don't you go and see Taylor. I've got everything covered today. The cleaning's finished in the winery. Just a few pumps and hoses to be packed up. The sauv blanc will be ready to pick next week. Providing we can get the–”

“Machine harvester.” Ed waved his hands in the air. “I know, I know.”

Pete shook his head. “I can fill you in on everything else later. Nothing urgent.”

“Thanks. I'll go talk to Taylor. Perhaps the three of us can have a meal together tonight?”

“I'll leave you to it. I took her out for dinner last night.”

“Did you now?” Ed gave Pete a playful punch on the arm. “Moving in on my girl?”

“It was a thank you for all her hard work.”

“Yeah, I didn't think she'd come back but she has. Thanks for looking out for her.” Ed winked and let out a whistle. “Ninety bloody dollars a bottle. Who'd have thought it?” He turned on his heel and left. His laugh echoed in the back room as he let himself out.

Pete collected the tea towels and went in search of fresh ones.
He whistled as he walked. He'd known the cabernet reserve would cellar well. He was also glad to see Ed's good humour return. Taylor's arrival had helped. With her around Ed might stay happy and not worry so much about the money.

Taylor jumped as two arms slid around her from behind.

“Hi.” Ed drew her back from the side of her van where she'd been cleaning out the last of her things. He smelt like soap and aftershave. She twisted her head to look at him. The dark shadow that had been around his chin was gone. He rubbed his smooth cheek against hers. “I can't believe you came back.”

She turned herself in his arms. “I was a bit worried when you weren't here. I lost your phone number when I lost my phone.”

“Sounds like Peter's been looking after you.”

“He's been very kind.”

“And I hear you've earned your keep.”

She smiled. “I like to help out where I can.”

“Speaking of my kind brother, he's given us the day off. What would you like to do?”

Taylor thought a moment. Apart from her walk between the cellar door and the quarters she'd seen little else of the winery. “I'd like a guided tour.”

“That'll take ten minutes, what do you want to do for the rest of the day?”

“I'm serious, Ed. I really would like to find out more about your winery. Pete explained to me the importance of the soil. The tessa–”

“Terra rossa.”

“That's it, and the cellar door work was interesting. Your brother's passionate about his wine.”

“Our wine.”

“Of course. I'd like to learn more about everything you do here. Pete's been so busy.”

A small furrow creased Ed's brow. “Peter,” he dragged out the name, “isn't used to dealing with more than the winemaking process. It won't have done him any harm to manage the lot for a while.”

Ed made it sound as if she'd been blaming him for Pete's workload. “I'm just interested to see what the rest of the winery is like,” Taylor said.

“Okay, let's go.”

“I'll grab my sunnies and my hat.”

Ed followed her. He stood just inside the door looking around the living space. “You could move in with me, you know.”

“I'm comfy here for now.”

She slid on her sunglasses and walked past him to the door. He wrapped an arm around her as she passed and pulled her in close. His breath tickled her ear.

“If you're sure,” he said.

A shiver went through her. Damn, he was hot but something held her back. She wasn't ready to jump into bed with him yet and if she moved in with him it would be a given. His hand gave her a little squeeze that sent another shiver through her. If he kept this up she didn't know how long her resolve would last.

“I am.” She slipped from his arm and took his hand instead. With her other hand she pushed the broad-brimmed hat she'd found in the quarters and taken a fancy to firmly onto her head. “Let's go.”

They walked towards Pete's cottage. To the left the track ran between the vines to Ed's house in the distance. They turned right. Ahead of them were large sheds on either side of the track that led to the gate and the dirt road.

Ed took her into a corrugated iron shed that had various sized stainless steel tanks.

“These tanks are for storing wine and these for fermenting it.” He pointed at the tanks as he walked her quickly past and out the door to the shed on the other side of the track. Inside he whizzed her past a mini tractor and a trailer with a tank and what looked like
giant octopus tentacles protruding from it.

She made him stop. “What's that for?”

“It's specially designed for spraying chemicals on the vines” Ed waved his arms about, swaying as he did looking like an uncontrolled drunk.

She laughed and he moved on.

There were assorted barrels, crates and pipes and then he was leading her through another door into what he called the barrel cellar. Barrels were stacked on metal cradles four high and a forklift was parked nearby.

Taylor stopped to read some of the names and codes written on the end of each barrel but Ed was in a hurry.

He took her through a door into a brick section that housed a lab and office and finally through another door into a lunchroom, Ed's office and reception area for the business.

Ed locked the front door and slipped the keys in his pocket. “That's it really. You've seen the cellar door but we'll go and say hello to Noelene, then lunch. I don't know about you but I'm hungry.”

He took Taylor by the hand and walked her back between the sheds to his four-wheel drive. She glanced from side to side as they walked. It had been a quick trip and had only piqued her interest more to find out what went on behind the scenes at Wriggly Creek Winery.

“Who's the blonde?”

Pete looked up as Noelene entered the cellar door.

“Lots of curves.” She jerked her thumb back over her shoulder. “With Edward at the winery. I saw them as I drove past.”

Pete smiled. Noelene always cut straight to the chase.

“Taylor,” he said. “Ed's friend. She's visiting for a while.”

“Hmph! You want to take bets on how long?”

“No.” Pete set down the pen he'd been using to tally the wine. He really hoped Taylor wouldn't be another of Ed's statistics. “How are
you feeling?”

“Much better now.” She gently tapped her cheek with her finger. “Ended up having the rotten tooth pulled out.”

“You sure you're okay to be here today?”

“Positive. I'm feeling much better. Hubby was driving me mad. I need to be out of the house.”

“How is Frank?” Noelene's husband was a long-distance truck driver and not home on a regular basis.

“He's fine but he's got a week off and he's spent it telling me what I should be doing. I'm sure that's what set the tooth off in the first place.”

Pete smiled. Noelene was not one to be bossed about in the home she'd managed alone for most of her thirty-odd years of married life.

“I'm glad to have you here. I'm going to shift some more stock in. I'll be back and forth. Give me a call if you need me.”

“Sold a bit without me?”

“It was busy without you. Ed was away, Ben had a crisis on the farm.”

“Sorry I left you in the lurch. You know I'd have been here if I could.” She gave him a concerned look.

Noelene had worked at the winery ever since the cellar door had opened back when Pete's parents were alive. She was a good friend to his parents. Now she imagined herself as a bit of a mother figure to their sons.

“Of course I do,” he said. “Anyway, lucky for me Taylor turned up.”

“Worked in wineries, has she?”

“I don't think so but she picked it up quickly. Which reminds me, there won't be any of the reserve cab sauv for tasting. She sold the last of it yesterday.”

“Okay.” Noelene worked her way along the bar wiping and straightening. All jobs Pete had already done but she was a cleaning fanatic. “Anything else I need to know?”

“Don't think so.” Pete went to leave then stopped as he recalled
Mr Zhu's visit. “You remember the day you did in the office last week?”

“For Felicity? How is madam? Recovered from her sniffle?”

There was no love lost between the two women but they were both good workers and one could cover for the other when needed. Pete tried to keep out of any disagreement between them.

“Not sure,” he said. “She was still unwell Friday.”

Noelene's finely plucked eyebrows arched higher. “She must be sick.”

“Said it was the flu. Anyway, do you remember getting a call about a meeting between a Mr Cheng or a Mr Zhu and Ed?”

“I don't remember it but I logged all calls in the book as usual. Did you check there?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps it went straight to Edward.”

“No.”

Noelene shrugged her shoulders and looked at her watch. “Look at the time. We should have the sign out.” She bustled around the counter to the front door.

“I'll see you in a while.” Pete made his way back to his cottage to pick up his ute. If it wasn't Noelene who'd taken the call the only other possible woman was Felicity. Not that he cared about the Mr Zhu meeting but Ed had been so fired up about it he could go mouthing off at Felicity and the last thing they needed was to have her offside.

Taylor followed Ed in to the front of Wriggly Creek cellar door. There was no-one there apart from the woman behind the bar.

“This is Noelene. We couldn't run the cellar door without her,” Ed said with a flourish.

“Flatterer.” Noelene gave him a stern look then smiled at Taylor and offered her hand over the bar. “They manage quite well without me. They just need someone to keep the place clean and tidy.”