have already put the necessary inquiries in motion to
find out who did this. You may think the worst of me over forcing your hand
into this marriage, but I did never want our family business plastered over
some gossip rag.”
Grey sighed, noting that everyone was now waiting for him to
finish the conversation so they could get going. “Look, we will discuss this
further when I get back, but I have to cut this short now.”
Meeting the gaze of his two bodyguards who knew the tenuous
relationship he had with his father he shook his head in warning not to ask
what he said.
“Sorry about the hold-up. I’m ready now.” Grey looked
apologetically in the general direction of both Indi and their guide.
They spent the remainder of the morning riding in the
direction of the northeastern slopes of the volcano for Grey’s second planned
excursion. They hadn’t been able to make the whole way there by horse in the
time they had, but had been picked up at a pre-arranged point by car by Adam as
only Hayden had accompanied them on the final leg of the ride.
Grey had promised his sister, Olivia that he would go look
over a vineyard that she wanted to purchase to add to their growing wine
property portfolio. He’d looked into purchasing the vineyard on a previous
trip, but the asking price had never been right.
Grey’s assistant, Sam had prearranged for them to be greeted
by the vineyard’s owner, Pepe.
“Grey, it’s delightful to see you again.” The older man of
about sixty greeted Grey first with a firm handshake. “It has been a year, or
two. I believe.”
“Yes, indeed it has, Pepe. This is my friend, Indi, who
will be accompanying us today.” Grey gave the Pepe a sincere smile, relishing
the fuzzy feeling he gained from introducing Indi to people of his
acquaintance. He had never been serious enough with a woman before to feel the
need to introduce them to his business acquaintances, but Indi’s presence made
him strangely content with the idea.
“Enchanted,” Pepe spoke English reasonably well. The man
kissed Indi on either side of her cheeks in greeting.
“So, have you simply come to taste our wine this time, Grey,
or maybe prepared to make an offer a tired old man can no longer refuse?” Pepe
smiled, as he placed a friendly pat on Grey’s back. Although the deal had
fallen through last time, Pepe and he had shared many pleasant meals together
with Pepe’s family.
Grey chuckled “Well, maybe both.”
Indi looked on as they chatted some more, but Grey could not
tell what she was thinking.
As Pepe led the way into the winery, he placed a hand on the
small of Indi’s back, guiding her to walk in front of him slightly, leaving
Adam and Hayden to remain by the vehicle.
For the next hour, Indi was shown each stage of the process,
of how they made their wine before they finally entered the cellar where
previous vintages were stacked high.
“How long have you been making wines here?” Indi asked,
staring in awe at the vast cellar full of bottles.
“My family has been doing this for nearly 90 years, my
grandfather starting it from scratch, then my uncle, father and me.
Unfortunately, my sons have no interest in taking it over, so I’m going to sell
it, so I don’t have to work so hard for what is remaining of my life.”
“It is sad that something so beautiful will have to leave
your family.” Indi said, looking out over the green span of grape vines
monopolising the horizon. “My own family had to do something similar when my
grandfather died. He owned a successful horse-breeding ranch in America that
had been in our family for generations, but his beneficiaries weren’t
interested in taking it on, so it had to be sold.”
Grey raised an eyebrow at this revelation. He’d not
realised her family was anything but English. He made a mental note to ask her
about it later. Regardless of his initial intention not to share much of his
life back home with her,
find out who did this. You may think the worst of me over forcing your hand
into this marriage, but I did never want our family business plastered over
some gossip rag.”
Grey sighed, noting that everyone was now waiting for him to
finish the conversation so they could get going. “Look, we will discuss this
further when I get back, but I have to cut this short now.”
Meeting the gaze of his two bodyguards who knew the tenuous
relationship he had with his father he shook his head in warning not to ask
what he said.
“Sorry about the hold-up. I’m ready now.” Grey looked
apologetically in the general direction of both Indi and their guide.
They spent the remainder of the morning riding in the
direction of the northeastern slopes of the volcano for Grey’s second planned
excursion. They hadn’t been able to make the whole way there by horse in the
time they had, but had been picked up at a pre-arranged point by car by Adam as
only Hayden had accompanied them on the final leg of the ride.
Grey had promised his sister, Olivia that he would go look
over a vineyard that she wanted to purchase to add to their growing wine
property portfolio. He’d looked into purchasing the vineyard on a previous
trip, but the asking price had never been right.
Grey’s assistant, Sam had prearranged for them to be greeted
by the vineyard’s owner, Pepe.
“Grey, it’s delightful to see you again.” The older man of
about sixty greeted Grey first with a firm handshake. “It has been a year, or
two. I believe.”
“Yes, indeed it has, Pepe. This is my friend, Indi, who
will be accompanying us today.” Grey gave the Pepe a sincere smile, relishing
the fuzzy feeling he gained from introducing Indi to people of his
acquaintance. He had never been serious enough with a woman before to feel the
need to introduce them to his business acquaintances, but Indi’s presence made
him strangely content with the idea.
“Enchanted,” Pepe spoke English reasonably well. The man
kissed Indi on either side of her cheeks in greeting.
“So, have you simply come to taste our wine this time, Grey,
or maybe prepared to make an offer a tired old man can no longer refuse?” Pepe
smiled, as he placed a friendly pat on Grey’s back. Although the deal had
fallen through last time, Pepe and he had shared many pleasant meals together
with Pepe’s family.
Grey chuckled “Well, maybe both.”
Indi looked on as they chatted some more, but Grey could not
tell what she was thinking.
As Pepe led the way into the winery, he placed a hand on the
small of Indi’s back, guiding her to walk in front of him slightly, leaving
Adam and Hayden to remain by the vehicle.
For the next hour, Indi was shown each stage of the process,
of how they made their wine before they finally entered the cellar where
previous vintages were stacked high.
“How long have you been making wines here?” Indi asked,
staring in awe at the vast cellar full of bottles.
“My family has been doing this for nearly 90 years, my
grandfather starting it from scratch, then my uncle, father and me.
Unfortunately, my sons have no interest in taking it over, so I’m going to sell
it, so I don’t have to work so hard for what is remaining of my life.”
“It is sad that something so beautiful will have to leave
your family.” Indi said, looking out over the green span of grape vines
monopolising the horizon. “My own family had to do something similar when my
grandfather died. He owned a successful horse-breeding ranch in America that
had been in our family for generations, but his beneficiaries weren’t
interested in taking it on, so it had to be sold.”
Grey raised an eyebrow at this revelation. He’d not
realised her family was anything but English. He made a mental note to ask her
about it later. Regardless of his initial intention not to share much of his
life back home with her,
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