Corked by Cabernet (2 page)

Ollie stood up and walked out of the kitchen, heading to the sofa where Nikki had given up trying to make the dog understand that he was a dog and not another human. Ollie had decidedly made the couch
one
of his beds.

“I can see, you’re busy making your new
love nest
, but Derek said that you’d help us.” Simon smiled his pretty-boy smile and ran his hand nervously through his platinum-dyed buzz cut.

“He did not. He wouldn’t do that to me. He knows I’m behind and swamped.”

“Yeah, he did. He said so,” he replied, punctuating his words with a loud cluck of the tongue.

She unwrapped one of the plates and opened Derek’s cupboards. Oh jeez, she was going to have to rearrange everything in the kitchen. The man had been a bachelor far too long. Nikki couldn’t believe she was standing in Derek Malveaux’s kitchen moving in her things—because yes, they were doing it, “shacking up,” as her aunt Cara had put it to her over the phone when she’d told her. She preferred “living together.” It didn’t sound seedy that way.

Since their trip to Australia they’d spent almost every waking hour together. Slowly but surely her
stuff
gravitated to his house. It seemed to make sense to both of them to do the right thing and shack up. Well, live together. It was a financially and logistically sound idea. Even though she only moved from the Malveaux Boutique Hotel on the property.

Simon, Derek’s brother, also lived on the vineyard with his partner, Marco. They were two of her good friends, but could definitely be royal pains when they wanted. This latest antic they were pulling on her was bee-lining them smack dab onto that pain-in-the-ass list again.

She sighed, not believing that Derek would do such a thing. This was only Simon trying to manipulate her. “Let me get this straight. Your guru, the Guru Sansibaba”—God, that was the most ridiculous name she’d ever heard—“his family, his people, and some of his followers are planning to come here for a weeklong workshop?” She shook her head. “And the Malveaux Spa and Winery is hosting them?”

“No, now it’s not like that. We’re not
hosting
them. It’s big money, and it’ll be good promo for us. Think of it like that. It’s the Baba himself and his crew, which apparently does include his wife and three grown children, but we aren’t talking about hordes of people. See, Marco and I just joined the Source Enlightened Elite group, otherwise known as S.E.E. Get it—as in see the light. Isn’t that clever?”

“The what group?” She took a couple of empty jelly jars out of the cupboard. Interesting. She doubted Derek ever did any canning. Recycles.

“It’s the
it
group for enlightened souls, and we made it in.” Simon clapped his hands together.

“Uh-huh, why don’t you
enlighten
me, and explain what your joining this group means exactly in regards to this workshop thing? And what did this cost you guys? An exclusive club is never free.”

He sighed and she could tell by the way he fidgeted around, moving like a kid needing to pee, that he was considering telling her a lie. “It was a little expensive. But we had to go through an application process. It’s not like just
anyone
can get in. It’s like the Harvard of enlightenment teachings.”

She frowned. “Harvard? A
little
expensive? Like how little?”

“A hundred thousand dollars,” he muttered and lowered his head.

“A hundred thousand dollars! You better have a ticket straight to heaven for that kind of cash. Does your brother know about this?”

“No.” He shrunk back. “I don’t have to tell Derek how or where I spend my money. And don’t you say anything. I only told you because I trust you.”

Ooh, he knew how to get to her. “Tell me, Simon, what do you get for that kind of money? I hope you get a contract stating that it’ll be God himself, not Saint Peter, who’ll be opening the pearly white gates for you. And you get an automatic ‘Go on through’ pass.”

He rolled his eyes. “Please. We don’t follow any one religion. We believe all faiths have validity to them. But I’m so glad you asked about the money, because after I tell you, you’ll see how great all of this is going to be. For the big hundred thou, we get to be with only a handful of other people in our group. We get all of the guru’s books, CDs, and DVDs for free, plus we get to be seated in the first front rows at all of his celebration seminars. That means we get to be seated first
and
we get our photo taken with him at each event.”

“Ooh, a picture. Impressive.”

“Come on,” he whined. “You haven’t even heard the best part.”

“Do tell.”

“Well, three times a year we get to go on vacation with him to some exciting locale and learn from the master himself.”

“Oh yeah, I can see how that would be the best part.”

He smiled as if he were the cat who swallowed the canary.

She stared at him. “Come on, Simon! You’re kidding. My God! When are you going to see that this guy is simply a master in making money?”

“You are so not hip or fun anymore. Now you’re like Suzy homemaker and I can see it, you’re gonna be a buzz kill from now on. You’ll be all brownies in the afternoons with a glass of milk, and watching soap operas. Your ass’ll get wide and, gawd, just no fun. Domesticated. That’s what you’re becoming.”

“Sounds like me. Actually sounds kind of good. I like brownies.” Except for the expanding backside. That didn’t sound too appealing. “Soap operas, I don’t know about. Reruns of
Will & Grace
? Maybe.”

“Oh I loved that show. I wish they’d never taken it off TV. See what happens when you settle down? Next thing you’ll be like Debra Messing, baby and all and blah, blah, blah . . .” He lifted himself up onto the counter and sat on the edge.

Nikki stomped her feet. “Shut up!” Simon went wide-eyed. “Look, I’m only trying to help you see that this guru Sansibaba nut knows how to market and sell his product, which he labels ‘enlightenment.’ That’s crazy. Enlightenment comes from within.”

“I know that. But he’s not what you think. And you know what? It doesn’t matter what you think. The plan for S.E.E. was to go to Bali, but then a typhoon hit and so the winery is what we’ve come up with. You be a good girl and play nice. You don’t have a choice anyway. Since Marco and I are the newest members, we thought it would be good to start off by giving back. You know, paying it forward from the get-go. Everyone will be here next week, and you are going to help me and Marco see that it runs smoothly. Just ask the boss man himself. He said it would be no
problema
.”

Excuse me?
Nikki found herself speechless. Simon never took that tone with her. He could be bitchy—yes. He was always that way and she played right along—it was just Simon. But downright bossy? That was new. “Good, I’m glad we’re in agreement.” He glanced at his watch. “Gotta run. I have a manicure scheduled. I’ll be back at six for a little powwow. I can see the wheels churning, Snow White.” He jumped off the counter. “I know you. You’re already getting on board, aren’t you? That’s what I love about you You’re a regular Pollyanna. Good karma coming your way. Before long you’ll have the domesticated gig down and it’ll be everything you ever dreamed because you are a good person. See you later, love.” He blew a kiss at her, scrambling to get out the front door.

She watched him, unable to grasp the entire reality of what he’d just told her. Next week? Next week this freak show and his cronies were coming to Malveaux Estate? She shook her head and picked a plate up off the counter. Without another thought, she threw it against the wall and watched it shatter into pieces while yelling out, “Simon!” Ollie let out a loud yelp as if he’d been kicked. It wasn’t the dog who was going to get a swift kick in the rear. But Simon was another story.

Derek had gone into the city to personally take care of a larger account that they’d recently had problems with, making him incommunicado all day. He’d called on his drive home, but his cell died right after he said something about being on his way home. Nikki’s irritation had reached a high note after hanging up the phone. By the time Derek got home, she had worked herself into a tizzy.

“Did you tell Simon that I’d help him out with this guru thing he and Marco have going?” Nikki asked as she set aside the onion she’d been chopping. “Because if you did that, well, first of all, what are you thinking letting those two have that, that, guru guy and his entourage here? We can’t have that. Think of all the work. I mean one week, plus I understand this guy is gaining in popularity. We don’t need a bunch of tourists coming in here all at once. We can’t handle that. We don’t have the staff right now.”

Derek had barely closed the door, wine bottle in hand, which he set down on the table. As irritated as she was at him, she couldn’t help noticing his golden looks. Her stomach sank. Don’t pay attention to those blue eyes, wavy blond hair, and that six-pack she knew was under the suit. Don’t even think about it. He had some questions to answer first. Ollie had finally gotten off the couch when he’d heard Derek’s voice and was now stuck to his side. The dog was smart enough to understand Nikki’s state of mind.

Derek walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Hi to you, too, and I don’t think I’ll ask how your day was. Should I? I hope you had nothing to do with this.” He glanced down at Ollie, who cocked his head to the side.

“I’m serious. What’s the deal?” She picked the onion back up, but while slicing through it, the knife nicked her thumb. “Dammit!” She pulled the knife back and blood trickled down her hand. Ollie hightailed it back to the couch.

Derek rushed over and looked at her thumb. He quickly grabbed a paper towel from the rack and ran it under cool water, then began dabbing at the injury.

“It’s only a little cut. I wasn’t paying attention.” She tried to yank her hand away from his. She knew she shouldn’t jump to conclusions about him telling Simon that she’d handle the details of the event. But she had and she was kind of grumpy from moving boxes all day, her back now hurting.

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her thumb, then turned it over and kissed her palm. “Better?”

She looked at him and realized how horrendous she’d just behaved. Man oh man; he was sure easy on the eyes—all blond and rugged-like, and blue-eyed, and sweet and sensitive. Maybe it was time to lose the attitude. “A little. But one right here would make me feel even better.” She pointed to her cheek.

“Ah, now c’mon, I think I can do better than
that
.” He kissed her hard and long on her lips. “Better now?” She nodded. He walked over to one of the cabinets above the sink, and got a Band-Aid to wrap around her thumb. “I know it seems strange to keep my medicine cabinet in the kitchen but this is where you’ll find all of the antacids, pain relievers, and vitamins you might need.”

“I already discovered that.”

“You’ve been snooping.”

“Snooping in what is also my house is sort of impossible. You did say that it was my house, too, now. Even when I said that it was still your house . . .” She lowered her voice, mimicking him. “ ‘No, Nik, my house is going to be your house. Our house. You know the saying,
mi casa es su casa.
’” She winked at him, imitating him. “Ring a bell?” She couldn’t believe how comfortable their relationship had become. Joking with him like this less than even a year ago wouldn’t have happened.

He laughed. “Do I sound like that?”

“Exactly.”

He put the Band-Aid on her thumb and opened the wine, handing her a glass. “Now would you like to get back to the interrogation? By the way, what are you making for dinner? It smells delicious. Garlic, onions, hmmm. Girl, with you around, something tells me I won’t starve.”

“Ah, a little something, something, like portabella mushroom drizzled with a balsamic sauce, a classic Caesar, and braised pork loin with pearl onions and grapes.” She smiled proudly, leaning back against the counter.

“A little something, something, huh? Yeah. I think I can get used to having you here. Go ahead and call it your house, too. I think I do remember that
mi casa es su casa
part.”

“Good. So, do you also recall telling Simon that I would help him and Marco out with this event their guru wants to have here? Or should I assume what I have been all day and know that Simon was trying to undermine me?”

He sighed and set his wine down. “Yes,” he said slowly. “I did do that. Simon wasn’t trying to work you.”

“Well, do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Come on; let’s go sit down in the family room. I don’t want you chopping off your hand, much less my head, in case you get mad at me.”

“Are you thinking I might?”

“You might.” He smiled sheepishly and grabbed their wineglasses, taking them into the ranch-style family room, replete with leather sofas, a cow hide rug, and wooden floors. “Look, sweetie. First, here’s to you. To us. Our house.
La casa
.”

Please. Oh yeah, he so knew he was busted. He never called her sweetie. Neither of them was into mushy name-calling. She sat down on the couch and smiled back at him. “Okay, sweetie. Here’s to us.”

“To us.” He clinked his glass with hers. “I see you got some more things moved in today. I told you to wait until the weekend and we can get it all in here.”

“No you don’t. I’m not falling for that. Don’t try to change the subject. Lay it on me. What did you tell your brother dear?”

He sighed and set his glass down on the coffee table. “Okay, I did tell him that you would help.”

“What? Do you realize how many orders are going out right now? Plus, I have three major restaurants breathing down my neck because they’re all sold out of the Cab, and with our change in distributor last month, things are screwed up. Oh, and that charity event I promised to take care of. You know, the one you said would be good for Malveaux to be a part of? Now I’m going to have to play cruise director for a group of lost souls! Lovely. People who have enough money to buy their bliss at seminars that teach them how to breathe and chant.”