Corked by Cabernet (5 page)

“Hello, Simon and Marco. You can call me Alan, remember?”

Was Simon blushing? “You two have perfect timing,” Nikki said, wondering if the boys hadn’t been lurking around the corner.

“Everything is already in perfect alignment. There is nothing out of balance,” Alan commented, folding his arms across his chest.

“Of course you’re right.” Simon clapped his hands.

“We’re all right. All right?”

The group behind Alan Sansi started laughing almost on cue when he laughed.

Was this a sitcom Nikki was watching? She cleared her throat. “I have everyone’s rooms set. If you would step forward or have a representative of the group give me the names, I can direct you to your rooms. I have an itinerary that I worked on with Hayden.”

“Of course, I couldn’t do anything that I do without my Hayden.” He turned and motioned for a young woman in a light pink knit suit—very Chanel, very springy. Nikki wanted it. She was surprised at the woman’s appearance. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but Hayden Sansi was Alan’s daughter. Again, the family appearance didn’t fit the original image she’d had in her mind. What had she expected? A group in Birkenstocks and white robes, maybe some dreadlocks? A little Bob Marley playing in the background? Patchouli flowing through their auras or chakras, or whatever they were called? Not this, though. This was a total surprise. Here was Alan Sansi, polo shirted out, and his daughter, looking as if she’d just walked out of a store on Rodeo Drive with her light brown hair stylishly cut into a layered bob, and her makeup looking as if it had been applied by a professional.

“Nice to meet you.” Hayden shook Nikki’s hand.

Strong, confident handshake.

“I appreciate you having my father and the S.E.E. members here at Malveaux.”

“Certainly.”

“While you two work out the schedule and arrangements, we’ll take Alan and everyone for a tour of the grounds and over to meet with Derek,” Simon said.

“Can I get some wine first?” A striking young woman with long brown hair and dark brown eyes approached the counter.

“Sierra,” Alan said with a hint of warning in his voice.

“What, Daddy?”

Daddy?
The other daughter—Sierra Sansi. Nikki knew there was a son as well, but she didn’t spot him. There was only one other woman with the crew, and Nikki was banking that it was Mrs. Sansi.

“I think it will be time for a glass of wine when we have our meals. Timing is everything.” Alan looked at his daughter and smiled.

“I thought it was everything happens at the perfect time,” she said with a hint of sarcasm. “And
now
is the perfect time for me to have a glass of wine. We are in Napa Valley, for God’s sake. If I want a glass of wine, why should you care? I’m perfect. You’re perfect. We’re all perfect, remember?”

Whoa, ho, ho. What was this? A little family dysfunction going on with the guru and his grown kid? Might be interesting.

The pretty, middle-aged woman who looked like her daughters—but a bit rounder and with shorter hair—placed a hand on Sierra’s shoulder. “Of course you’re perfect, as your dad says, but it will be a long day and you’ll need to be available to the attendees. And isn’t it true, Ms. Sands . . .” the woman began as she reached her hand out elegantly. “Sorry, I’m Mrs. Sansi. Call me Lulu.” Nikki nodded and Mrs. Sansi continued, “We do have a lovely train ride trip planned for this evening, isn’t that right? The dinner train, I believe.” Lulu Sansi had a style all her own, with a page boy haircut and a poet blouse that flowed over a long flowered skirt that almost reached the ground, where pretty white sandals with a faux yellow daisy in between each big toe adorned her feet. She wore a half dozen gold and silver bangles on her wrist.

“We do. The Napa Valley Wine Train. I’m sure we’ll see a beautiful sunset and I promise there will be plenty of wine and fantastic food.”

Sierra frowned but reluctantly agreed to hold off on drinking any wine. “Okay then.”

“Thank you,” Alan said. “I think we’ll take that tour with Simon and Marco now. If you and Hayden want to go over the rest of the details together, that would be perfect. I know that my publisher, Rich Higgins, should be arriving shortly, along with my son, Eli.”

Sierra rolled her eyes. “What? You didn’t tell me that Hayden’s fiancé and Eli were coming. That’s great.
Perfect.
I can deal with Eli, but Hayden with Rich? God! She’ll be pouring on her holier-than-thou act. Give me a break. Why didn’t you bring the entire family with us, Dad? Yo could have asked Aunt Fran, Uncle Joe, every cousin . . .”

Simon immediately wrapped his arm through Lulu’s, obviously sensing the tension. “Shall we?”

Marco strolled up next to Sierra and almost forcefully wrapped his arm through hers. She squirmed, but then received a stern look from her mother and sighed, allowing Marco to lead the way. “Come now, Bellissima, there is so much to see here at the winery. Let me escort you,” Marco cooed.

That was Marco—full of charm.

Alan got in behind the group, his hands clasped behind him, chin slightly down, as in either deep concentration, or else distress.

Hayden turned to Nikki. “Oh yes, this will all be perfect. You have no idea just how perfect this will all be.”

Nikki didn’t have a clue how to respond. She wasn’t even sure what the woman meant, but she figured that Alan Sansi’s definition of perfect was probably radically different from her own. From what she’d seen and heard so far, this entire event was going to be less than
perfect
.

What a buzz kill that Rose Pearlman is! Poor Nikki. She handled her in stride, though. It’s just too bad she didn’t get a bit more time to smooch with her guy before being interrupted by the rude woman. One way to handle rudeness, though—food and wine. Seemed to work like a charm with Mrs. Pearlman. Nice job, Nikki!

This is a rich and delicious recipe. It’ll please even the most uptight, silly, sour person you know. Pair it with the Nickel and Nickel Chardonnay, which is produced at True Chard Vineyards. It’s a Napa Valley Carneros Chardonnay that is similar to a French white Burgundy. It’s not over-oaked, and is lean and clean with good acids.

 

In a food processor, grind walnuts with salt and paprika. After walnuts exude their oil and the mixture is pasty, scrape into a small bowl. Crush garlic with a pinch of salt. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and cilantro and cook, stirring, until oil just begins to sizzle (maybe 2-3 minutes). Add to the walnuts along with the lemon juice and half-and-half.

Heat frying pan to high with butter. Salt and pepper chicken breasts, dredge in flour, shake off excess, and when the pan is very hot but not burning, place the chicken in and sauté for 1 minute on one side, turn, and sauté on the other side for a minute—the meat is done when just springy to the touch.

Remove chicken to hot plates and pour sauce over chicken. Grilled asparagus and roasted red potatoes make a nice accompaniment.

IT was getting late in the day and Nikki needed to get home and change for dinner on the wine train. Plus, she wanted to see Derek again before he left for New York.

There were still a few guests who hadn’t checked in, including Alan’s son, Eli. The publisher, Rich Higgins, who was evidently engaged to Hayden, had checked in late.

“Sorry to get in so late. It was one of those situations where I got caught up at the offices and it took me some extra time to get out here with the traffic and all. I’m sure Hayden is wondering where I’ve been. I’ve tried reaching her, but either her cell is off or she’s busy.” Rich Higgins opened his leather briefcase and set one of Alan’s books on the front desk. “His latest. I’m looking forward to showing it to him.”

Hayden’s fiancé and also Alan’s publisher was a nice-looking man, probably somewhere in his thirties, with blondish hair, hazel eyes, and a decent build suggesting he worked out. He wore a coat and tie, which threw Nikki off, yet again. The group that had appeared throughout the day didn’t strike her as New Age, feel-good types. Maybe she’d had this Alan Sansi guy wrong all this time? Maybe she’d been worrying for nothing?

She picked up the book.
Living Well in a New Age.
“Huh. Great. I should get you settled in. I think the Sansi family may be in their rooms but Alan is meeting with the owner here.”

“Oh. Was there a problem?”

“No. They had a scheduled meeting.” Nikki wondered if she shouldn’t have said anything. Maybe Alan wasn’t ready to tell his family or his publisher about his outside interests, like the aromatherapy line. “Where are your offices? Are you in New York?”

“No. Actually we’re in Santa Barbara. Not too far away. Wine country there, too.”

“Lots of it,” Nikki agreed. “I’ve got your keys to your room here. The transportation for the wine train will be leaving at six-thirty tonight.”

“Thanks. Just enough time to get settled and cleaned up. See you tonight, right? You’ve been working with Hayden on everything?”

“Yes. I’ll be there.” All she wanted to do was go home and curl up with a book, Derek, and Ollie. But there would be no Derek tonight, and by the time she got home from the event, she doubted even a good book would thrill her.

Rich nodded his thank-you, rolled his bag out of the lobby, and headed to his room.

Nikki closed her eyes and shook her head. She needed a break. She wished everyone would hurry up and arrive so she could get started on the evening’s plans. Just then she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders and jumped back.

“Oh, God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” It was Alyssa Pampas. Alyssa had joined the Malveaux team about a year earlier after meeting Nikki in an odd place—a strip bar in San Francisco. Alyssa’s little boy had a heart condition and the young woman worked at the bar to make enough money to support her child while she attended school. She’d helped Nikki put some bad guys in their place and Nikki had taken a liking to her, suggesting she interview for the job at Malveaux as a taster. Alyssa had sailed through the interview and then accepted the winery job, where she more than proved she was skillful at her job and quickly climbed her way to a better position as a supervisor at the hotel and spa.

“I was lost in thought. I still have quite a bit to do,” Nikki replied.

“Why don’t I finish checking the guests in for you? I’ve already completed my reports and handled the charity event stuff. You’ll have a late night being ‘on.’ I can do this.”

“Really? You sure? What about Petie? It’s almost four. Don’t you have to pick him up?” Nikki asked, referring to Alyssa’s three-year-old.

“No. He’s staying a bit later with the day care. They had a little party for him today and his teacher called and said he’s still playing and wants to stay longer. Kathy has been a lifeline for me. I get pretty tired, you know. She’s really like a grandma for Petie.”

“I know. She’s a good lady,” Nikki replied. She’d met Alyssa’s day care provider a few times when she’d gone to pick up Petie with her. “But why don’t you go home and rest? I know you’re tired and stressed. You need to take care of yourself.” Nikki laid a hand on her shoulder.

Alyssa shook her head. “No. Working helps me keep my mind clearer and off of things. Petie and I are so close that I’m realizing we need space once in a while. If we get through this . . .” She choked up.