Under A Harvest Moon (5 page)

"She's a child. She'll bounce back," Jacques said. "You need the cash. Call Liz again. Get her to sign off on the house and the cabin. Sever all ties with her once and for all."

He wanted to. Oh, how he wanted to. But more than that, he wanted to be a good father to Maria. His heart broke all over again every time she cried herself to sleep or woke up from a bad dream. She'd taken her parents' divorce hard. And he had a hefty bill from her counselor to prove it. Selling her childhood home, her security, out from under her was something he wasn't willing to do if it meant another setback for his daughter.

"Are you sure I can't convince you to be my partner?" Nico gave Jacques a weak smile.

"I wish I could help," Jacques said with sympathy, "but retirement is calling me. Besides, it's time for you to run things your way."

"I know," Nico agreed. "And believe me, I want to, but until I get things straightened out, I need Danielle on my side. She has to want to sell to
me
. Germaine Cellars is going to make her one heck of an offer, an offer I'm not sure I can top."

"You're the sentimental favorite. Charm her." Jacques took a sip of coffee. "Play up your loyalty to the employees, to the vineyard's integrity. She must have some feelings for Lola, if not for the land. Everyone here will help you with Danielle. They want you for a boss."

"I just hope it works. There's a fine line. If we make her too welcome, she might decide to stay; then where will we be?"

They stopped their conversation as people began arriving. Tom and Sally from Marketing were first. Gayle, Phillip's personal assistant was next. The foremen from Blocks 1 and 2, Jose and Carlos, followed, bringing with them two of the farmers, Nicandro and Marcos, men who worked the fields under Nico's supervision.

The room buzzed with conversation as everyone asked the same question, "Why did Danielle call the meeting?"

When Danielle walked in, everyone fell silent. Nico noticed that she'd changed into a coral colored top and white slacks. A silver chain belt rode low on her hips. The outfit hugged her curves in all the right places, and man, did she have curves. She'd pinned her hair up, leaving her neck bare, a creamy column of skin Nico couldn't help but notice. She sought him out, and he could see a plea for help in her green eyes. Did he want to help her?

Knowing he had no other choice, he excused himself and walked to her.

"I'm sorry about earlier," she said when he reached her. "About my melt-down."

"Don't apologize," he said. "Come on, I'll introduce you." He took her arm, her skin cool and soft under his fingers. One by one he introduced her to the staff. Everyone had a smile for Danielle and a kind word about her father. She smiled in response, but Nico could see the tension on her face.

When the introductions were over, Danielle said, "Please sit, everyone."

Nico caught the slight tremor in her voice. She was nervous.

Gayle came forward, smiling. "Before you begin, we'd like to welcome you home, Danielle." She motioned to Joyce, who stepped up bearing a beautiful bouquet of exotic flowers in a crystal vase. Others followed until the table in front of Danielle was filled with gifts, everything from a bottle of 2009 Whitney Cabernet Reserve, to an enormous fruit and cheese basket, to fine Belgium chocolates.

"We're so happy you're here," Gayle said. "We know you don't officially take over the vineyard for ninety days, but we want you to feel at home. Each of us will help. We are as committed to you as we were to Phillip."

Danielle fidgeted in her chair, looking at everyone but Nico. Why? Had she changed her mind about selling? His stomach turned.

"Thank you, everyone," Danielle said. "I never expected anything like this. Nico was kind enough to take me on a short tour this morning. I'm so incredibly impressed by everything I've seen so far."

"That's good," Jacques said cheerfully. "We want to impress you."

Laughter filled the room.

She gave them a small, uncertain smile. "I'm sure you all know that I wasn't on good terms with my father. When he left me the vineyard, it was a shock." She paused, nervously chewing her bottom lip. "I'm still adjusting to the news and need some time to sort things out. But I came here knowing I wanted to sell. I've been worried about what that would mean for all of you, but Nico and I talked last night. He wants to buy the vineyard from me, and if he can meet the price, I think he'd be the best choice to head Whitney Vineyards."

Relief filled Nico.

Jacques clapped him on the back. "Congratulations," he said with great enthusiasm.

Everyone started talking at once, their voices high and excited.

"Tom," Jacques called. "Get Danielle a glass of wine. In fact, get us all a glass of wine. It seems we have a lot to talk about."

Nico couldn't take his eyes off of Danielle. She stood with Gayle, listening to what the older woman said. His dream of owning the vineyard was coming true, but his gut told him the sale wasn't a done deal. Ninety days was a long time. Danielle could change her mind.

He wasn't about to let that happen. Someone handed him a glass of wine. Nico again looked at Danielle, and this time she stared back, her eyes guarded and distant.

"
Salute
," Jacques said, raising his glass. "To Whitney Vineyards."

Nico raised his glass to Danielle, but she didn't raise her glass in return.

***

After the meeting, Danielle needed time alone to sort out her feelings for Nico, and for the vineyard. She'd been grateful when Maria had suggested she and Kaiden go for a bike ride. She'd given the kids one hour, asking them to meet her at the swimming hole when they returned. After they'd left, she'd told Lola about her plans to sell to Nico, and although Lola didn't say she was disappointed with Danielle's decision, the old woman's disapproval had been written all over her face.

Thinking a walk to the river would allow her a few moments of peace, Danielle started down the path, eager to reach the water, eager to put the events of the morning out of her mind.

She broke through the trees. The Snake River sparkled in the sunlight taking Danielle straight back to her childhood. The large madrona tree still stood guard on shore, but the swing was gone. No doubt the original rope had rotted years ago; she wondered what it would take to make a new swing for Kaiden?

Danielle sat down on the grassy bank and removed her sandals. At the river's edge, she waded in. Cold water washed over her toes, and she bent down to cup the water in her hands, splashing it on her face and neck. Ah, heaven. She'd heard on the radio the temperature had hit ninety-five degrees by noon. She understood why the workers were up before the sun. No one could work in this heat.

She climbed out of the water and resumed her seat in the shade. Every time she thought about the way the meeting had gone this morning her stomach ached. Everyone had wanted Nico to take over, and to her surprise, that reality had stung. Her reaction made no sense. She didn't want to stay, but she couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to really be a part of the vineyard, to be loved the way the employees loved Nico. It wasn't fair. She was a Whitney and she didn't belong here, but Nico did. Danielle lay back in the grass, her eyes on the endless hot aqua sky.

After the meeting she'd been so upset, she'd called the realtor her father's attorney had suggested and set up an appointment in town next week. She wanted to test the waters, see what the vineyard was worth, even though she couldn't sell yet.

She'd thought taking steps to sell would cheer her up, but instead depression blackened her mood. She had the feeling her melancholy had to do with her father and the white cross she'd seen that morning. Everyone here had known her father better than she had. Most, it seemed, had loved him. She'd loved him once, too, and as much as she didn't want to admit it, she still loved him. But it bugged her that he hadn't earned her love like he'd earned the love from his employees.

Maria's excited chatter reached Danielle and she sat up just as Maria and Kaiden broke through the trees, large beach towels in their hands. Nico trailed them by a few feet.

Danielle's pulse sped up. What was it about Nico that made her heart skip a beat, even when they were at odds? She chocked her feelings up to physical attraction, pure and simple. There were some reactions she just couldn't control.

"Hey, you guys." She focused her attention on the kids. After wallowing in her own self-pity, she wanted to be with her son, even if he didn't want to be with her.

"Hey," Kaiden said.

She smiled at him. "I see you brought towels."

"That was my idea," Nico said. "When Maria told me they were meeting you here, I thought, why not take a swim?"

"I wasn't sure how the place would look," Danielle admitted. "I'm glad to see the river's virtually unchanged."

Maria had already kicked off her rubber flip flops. "Last one in is a rotten egg."

Kaiden forgot all about Danielle as he kicked his own sandals off and jumped in after Maria.

"Mind if I sit down?" Nico asked. He'd lost the white collared shirt he'd worn earlier and was dressed more casually now in a bright white t-shirt and navy swim trunks.

"Be my guest." His eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses. Eyes told so much. It bothered her that she couldn't read him. Would she see victory in the depths of his dark eyes?

"I'm surprised to see you," Danielle said. "I thought you'd be working this time of day."

"Nah. I like to hang out with Maria in the afternoons." Nico grinned.

Something wild and wonderful stirred inside Danielle, making her remember every good feeling she'd ever had for him. Why would he smile at her like that? They'd barely been civil to one another since she'd been back.

"I'm in the fields by three a.m. most mornings," he said. "I usually knock off around this time."

"That's nice." She wished Kaiden's father wanted to spend time with him. "Maria's a lucky girl."

He studied her for a second, then said, "Thank you for today."

"Don't thank me, Nico." She watched as Kaiden splashed Maria, glad her son was having fun. "Whether you believe it or not, it's hard for me to sell."

"I don't doubt that."

His words were warm and oozed sincerity. She almost believed he cared about her. Almost. She was no longer so naïve she believed everything a man said to her. No, now she was cynical and didn't trust anyone.

"I don't want to talk about the vineyard." Danielle returned her attention to the kids. "I'm glad the kids are getting along."

"Me, too," Nico said. "Maria gets lonely. It's her first summer here without her mother. Liz is with her new boyfriend in Italy for five weeks. I know Maria's glad for the company."

"So you share custody with your ex-wife?" Danielle asked.

"Yes. Liz lives nearby. So far it's working okay. How about you? Do you share custody with your ex?"

"I wish he was that interested in Kaiden, but he's not," Danielle said, not wanting to get into the sordid details of her divorce. "I have Kaiden all to myself right now."

"I'm sorry," Nico said, his voice gentle.

"I'm sorry, too." She was so sorry for Kaiden, sorry she couldn't have chosen a better father for him.

"Come in, Dad," Maria called, her dark, wet hair shining in the sun. Her smile lit up the afternoon, her enjoyment of the water contagious.

"I'm coming." Nico removed his sunglasses, and then pulled his T-shirt up over his head, tossing it onto the grass.

All thoughts of her ex-husband fled Danielle's mind when Nico's naked torso appeared -- all that tanned, smooth skin. His chest, shoulders, and arms were well-muscled, his stomach flat and corded. He definitely had the abs of a man who did hard, physical work. A fine sprinkling of dark hair covered his chest and stomach, disappearing into the waistband of his trunks. The words Italian Stallion came to mind. What would he be like in bed, hot, erotic, sensual?