The Winemaker

by Charmaine Pauls

“Luca,” Ana’s voice held a warning, “you’ve heard your father. Enough.”

  All four people turned as Zenna re-entered the kitchen. At the sight of the obvious confrontation and the sense of the tension filling the air, she stopped in her tracks.

  “What’s up? Dog fight?” She shot a dashing smile at the two men facing her.

  Her lips were painted a dark shade of red, almost black, and the way in which the morning sun caught them made them look like ripe, soft plums. Etán discovered he couldn’t tolerate the thought of any other man’s lips on hers. It was a shocking realization; one he preferred to write off to the sense of protectiveness he felt toward her. He wanted to honor her by not taking advantage of her. He sure as hell wasn’t going to stand by and watch anyone else take advantage, either. He had seen her reaction to that billboard. She still had feelings for her ex with which she had to deal. Until then, he would fight tooth and nail to keep every Tom, Dick and Harry out of her pants.

  “What’s going on?” Zenna repeated.

  Etán felt his body tense further. He looked at Luca. “I’m sending a team out to prune the vineyard along the border of the caves.” His voice deepened. “You won’t be alone. Just remember you will have company.”

  Luca’s lips twisted into a mocking smile. “Since when have you known me to mind an audience?”

  When Etán’s eyes narrowed, his muscles tensed like a lion ready to jump his prey, Ana moved to him, gently laying a hand on his arm. “Why don’t you and Dad take your coffee on the veranda?” She moved him toward the door. “Pedro, didn’t you say you wanted to talk to Etán about that nasty land reclaim scheme?”

  She turned to Luca. “You, Mister, better take sun block. . And get your lazy bum out of here and fetch me that milk I’ve asked you for.”

  Zenna regarded the two men with open interest. Etán moved to the door, his lips tight and his back rigid.

  Luca smiled at her. “I’ll be back in a dash, Sugar. Be ready.” He walked through the kitchen door leading to the hallway.

  Pedro sighed heavily.

  “What’s up with those two?” Zenna gave Ana a quizzical look. “Everything was just hunky dory a few minutes ago.”

  Ana chuckled. “Boys.” She didn’t say more.

  “I’m going to work in my room for a while if you need me.” Zenna excused herself.

  Pedro waited until Zenna was out of earshot, before he turned to his wife. “Anita...” Even as he used her pet name, his voice was strained, his expression worried. “I’ve never doubted you in anything. Especially not when it comes to our family. This ... our boys ... the one playing up the other, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

  “I’m not doing anything. I’m not playing them off against each other. They’ve lost their paths, but they’ll find them again.”

  She sounded sure of herself, and he needed to hold onto that. He looked at her sideways. “The girl, are you using her, then, Anita?”

  She shook her head, smiling reassuringly. “No, my darling Pedro, I am not using her.” She reached out and touched his cheek. “Trust me.”

  He sighed. “I wish I could be as sure as you are that everything is going to work out fine. I’m afraid Etán and Luca may not come out of this as best friends.”

  Her head tilted, the sun reflected in the white of her hair. “Pedro, we have been too hard on Etán, laying the heavy burden of the vineyard on his shoulders. As for Luca ... with all that responsibility going to Etán, Luca feels worthless. It’s our duty to make it right. Our boys are well raised. We did a good job. We just lost our way a little bit, but we can find it again. Luca needs that and so does Etán, and Zenna is the one who is going to put them back onto that path. If not, they both may be lost to us forever. It will work out fine. You’ll see.”

  “What about her? What about her best interests?”

  “She needs us as we need her. It was destiny.” She gave him another calm smile. “Now, stop worrying and drink your coffee with Etán on the veranda. It’s getting cold.”

  Pedro’s gaze flickered to the veranda where Etán sat on the wall, his foot on a chair, his gaze brooding. “I hope you’re right, Anita. I hope you’re right.”

  * * * *

  Etán waited at the office building for Zenna and Luca to return from their walk to the caves. He knew they had to take the path past the office. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was frantic Luca might have done something stupid, like seducing Zenna. He leaned on the wall and then straightened when they came into view from behind a cluster of Eucalyptus trees. He felt sulky and angry as he walked up to Zenna and took the small backpack from her.

  She didn’t protest. “Thank you.” She dusted the jeans into which she had changed before heading out with Luca.

  “How was the walk?” Etán studied her face.

  “Marvelous,” she said with a pinch of sarcasm.

  Luca swung the heavier backpack with their picnic things to the ground. “She kicked dust in my eyes all the way, man. She walks like a fanatic.”

  She laughed. “Thanks for not telling Etán the truth and embarrassing me.” She waved at Luca. “I’m heading back to the house. Thanks for the outing. I really enjoyed it.”

  Luca leaned against the wall, a piece of grass clutched between his teeth. “Any time, Sugar. Let me know when you’re up for it, and I’ll take you out for a spin.”

  “Sure.” She nodded stiffly at Etán and turned, making her way back to the house.

  “What was that about?” Etán asked with narrowed eyes.

  “I offered to take her out one night on my bike. A night on the town. Clubbing. Whatever she wants. To take her mind off Marcos.” He looked intently at Etán. “And you.”

  Etán stiffened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Luca spat the piece of grass onto the soil. “Do you seriously think I don’t know what’s going on? Are you helping her or hurting her?”

  Etán pointed a finger at Luca. “You don’t know enough to throw accusations at me. I’m looking out for her. For what’s in her best interest.”

  Luca smiled lopsidedly. “And you think I don’t?”

  “If you lay as much as a finger on her, Luca, I swear to God...”

  “What, Etán?” Luca straightened. “Why can’t you admit you’re jealous? Why can’t you admit you care?”

  “Just keep your hands off her. I know what I’m doing. You obviously don’t.”

  “Yes, Etán. This is about you. All about you. It’s not about helping her. It’s about you feeling good about yourself for helping her. You can’t sleep with her because you’re running so fast from your feelings they may never catch up with you, and then you’ll just end up hurting her worse. Yet you don’t want anyone else to have her either. So you play her like a yo-yo. She’s going to snap, man.”

  “Zenna needs a hell of a lot more saving than a cheap fuck.”

  “You want to be the savior, the hero. You have to do it all on your own. Like you always do. Fix the world. Well, you can’t fix her like that. She’s a person, with feelings, and I’m telling you, she doesn’t need a kick after every kiss.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Getting into her panties is not going to fix her feelings, Luca. I need to help her. I know I do. I’m not going to help her by sleeping with her. I don’t want to catch you giving it a thought. I’ll help her, but I’ll do it my way.”

  “Your way? It’s always your way. Like Catalina, Etán? Do you want to save her, all on your own, to undo what happened to Catalina or to you and Sanita?”

  Etán froze.

  Luca took another step forward. His expression softened. “It wasn’t your fault, man.”

  Etán held up his hands. His voice was strained. “Don’t. Don’t even think about going there.”

  Luca shook his head. “Run and hide, Etán. That’s what you do best.”

  “Like you, Luca? How long do you want to run from your responsibilities? How long before you’re going t
o grow up and get a real job? How long are you going to pretend this estate means nothing to you, that you are not interested in our heritage? That you don’t give a damn one way or the other about anything?”

  He looked at his younger brother for a long moment. “We’re both bloody excellent at hiding, aren’t we?”

  Luca’s hands slipped to his sides. “You’re on your own. I’m out of here.” He turned on his heel.

  “Keep away from her, Luca.” Etán directed his warning at Luca’s back.

  Luca swore over his shoulder. “I told you, Bro, she’s not your type. She’s too much woman for you to handle.”

  From where Zenna stood with her back against the side of the office wall, she shook in rage. She had turned back for her mobile, which she had left in the backpack, and she had been just in time to catch the heated part of the argument. She quietly made her way back to the house through the denser part of the garden. She didn’t want to face Etán. She didn’t trust herself. If she aired her opinion right now, she might just get herself fired. How dare he insinuate she would have a quick shag with either them? It infuriated her he considered her such an easy pick-up she had to be protected from herself.

  When she was sure she was out of sight from the offices, she stomped back to the house. Luckily, Luca had left her mobile phone with Teresa, and he had already left.

  Seeking a place to escape, she took a sheepskin jacket and headed in the direction of the vineyard. She wandered through the rows of pruned vines aimlessly for at least an hour, until her legs grew tired. Eventually, she sat down on the ground and rested her back against one of the vine trunks. Closing her eyes, she lifted her face to the sun. She needed to find some calmness in the havoc of her emotions.

  Zenna wasn’t sure how long she sat there before she heard Etán calling her name. Cursing, she shifted her position to hide her body better. If she got up and scurried away, her chances of being spotted were a sure thing. Instead, she stayed put and prayed he wouldn’t discover her hiding place. She should have known better. Etán knew the vineyard better than anyone, and it didn’t take him long to find her sitting in the middle of it.

  He stopped short of her, his hands on his hips. “Zenna, what the hell are you doing here? I was worried sick. I’ve been looking for you all over.”

  She plucked a dry twig from a nearby branch and crushed it between her fingers, watching the flakes fall to the ground. “Go away, Etán. I came here to be alone.”

  He crouched next to her. “So I gathered. Why?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  His eyes searched hers, but she looked away.

  “I think it is. My mother said she saw you returning from the office shortly after Luca. Did you come back to the office while Luca and I were talking?”

  She swung back to face him. “Yes, Etán. I came back. I heard your argument.”

  Etán sighed, and sat down next to her. “It’s not what you think, Zenna.”

  She shot him a skeptical look. “Oh? What am I supposed to think? Wait. Hold on,” she said, syrupy sweet. “I think you accused Luca of wanting to shag me, and me wanting to shag so badly you had to protect me from myself. How terribly embarrassing.”

  She regarded Luca like a brother. They shared some fun, but it wasn’t what Etán made it out to be. Now Etán had gone and spoiled it all by accusing Luca of wanting to get into her pants. How was she supposed to look Luca in the eye ever again?

  “I was trying to protect you.”

  “Listen, Etán, I’m not some save-the-rebel or little sister project. You don’t need to protect me.”

  “I never said you were either.”

  “Then stop treating me like that.”

  “I’m not. As long as you live under my roof, you’re my responsibility as much as everyone else here. I’m protecting you. I said I would.”

  “I work for you. Nothing more. My personal life is my business.”

  “Not if it’s going to get you hurt, it’s not.”

  She sighed. “What is it with you? I’m not Catalina.” The minute she said it, she wanted to bite her tongue. She watched his skin blanch and the black irises reduce in the pale green pools of his eyes.

  Her hand shot to her mouth. “Etán. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

  “You did,” he said bitterly. His eyes narrowed. “You’re right. I’m not your brother. Neither is Luca. Remember that before you get into something so deep you can’t get out.”

  “Is it so insulting to you to think I could be a part of your family? That someone who is related to you in blood could think me worthy enough to give me the time of day?” Her temper rose with her voice.

  “Luca is not the committing type, Zenna. So, unless you’re up for a one-night stand, let it go. He will only break your heart. Again.”

  It wasn’t Luca she was worried about. She scrambled to her feet. “Thanks for your concern, but maybe a one-night stand is exactly what I need.”

  He could have given it to her the night before, but he obviously didn’t want to. Ouch. That thought still hurt. She realized she was being unfair because Etán was right. She wasn’t up for a one-night stand, and he wasn’t the type. Yet she couldn’t let go of the humiliation and the hurt she felt at his rejection. “Yes, I think that’s what I’ll get.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You don’t strike me as the type.”

  She gave a sarcastic little laugh. “No? As what type do I strike you, then? I’m not a keeper, like Sanita, am I?”

  He looked at her for a long moment. “I think I clarified that when I gave you a bottle of wine I said suited you. I’m not going to ask where you heard about either Catalina, or Sanita because both subjects are off limits. I will pretend you didn’t just mention that because you are upset about overhearing a part of a conversation of which you understand nothing.”

  “I’ve heard enough. Then, and now.” She cocked her hip, looking down at him. “The brochures are on the desk in the study. You should sign off on them. I don’t agree with the graphics you are planning on adding. It won’t hurt to ask someone else’s opinion from time to time. I’ll be happy to give you my input should you ever decide to ask me.

  “I’m starving. I’m going back to the house and you’re not coming with me.” She turned and marched away from him.

  Etán looked at her swaying hips as she stalked away, her hair bouncing on her shoulders. He could smell her scent trailing behind her, pure female aggravation and irritation. It smelled like cinnamon and honey. He almost found it irresistible. Despite himself, a smile curved his lips. You would swear she was the boss around here.

  Etán gave Zenna enough time to sufficiently cool down before he went in search of her. Ana served the afternoon coffee on the veranda and his parents sat there together, talking. Teresa had left after lunch to visit her family until Sunday. The noises coming from the kitchen had to be the trail that would lead him to Zenna.

  As he rounded the corner, he came to a dead stop in the doorway of the kitchen. His nostrils flared. At first, logic defied his sense perception, but his visual affirmation confirmed his mind was not playing tricks on him. Zenna sat at the center counter, a pineapple peeled and diced in front of her, and she was dipping the pieces into curry powder before popping it into her mouth. She devoured the curry coated pineapple chunks with a speed and enthusiasm that almost bowled him over.

  He took a step forward and motioned to the plate in front of her. “Having fun?”

  “What?” Zenna said defensively, shrugging. “I eat when I’m upset. This is comfort food. My dad used to prepare it for me as a teatime snack when I was little and I came home from school, upset or angry.”

  Etán approached the counter and bent over her plate, sniffing. “And I guess that happened a lot?”

  “Me indulging in food to calm my nerves?”

  He smiled. “No, you coming home from school angry.”

  She shrugged and popped another piece into her mouth. “I got tease
d a lot.”

  “You must love going home for the holidays. Does your dad still cook for you?”

  Something in her eyes, only for a second, before she steadied her gaze warned him. “He left when I was eight.”

  Etán could only look at her for a long time. He wanted to make it all better. “You never saw him again?”

  “No.”

  “How did they meet, your mother and father?”

  She gave a bitter laugh. “He came to my grandparents’ house in London to work as an au pair. He was studying in London. My mother was much younger. He was nothing more than their houseboy at the time, cooking, cleaning, and helping with some chores. Before my grandparents realized what was happening, my mother was pregnant with me.”

  “They must have been livid.”

  “No, they were quite liberal for their time. They welcomed him into their family. My mother was so in love. They got married before I was born.”

  “What happened? Why did he leave? You don’t mind me asking you such personal questions?”

  “Why would I? It’s not like I care,” she said, but he doubted that very much. “He left my mother for someone much older. Someone with better prospects. He only used her, you see, to stay in the country. My mother never got over him.”

  “You learned to cook like this from your mother?”

  “A little bit from my father before he left. Despite the bastard he is, I do enjoy this type of food.”

  Etán’s gaze softened with compassion. “Mind if I try?” He motioned with his eyes to the pineapple.

  She took another bite. “I don’t share my food when I’m upset.” Looking at him from under her eyelashes, she spoke through chewing. “Never tried pineapple dipped in curry?”

  Etán crossed his arms. “No, can’t say I have.” His senses were piqued.

  She sighed, pinched a big piece with her fork, and rolled it in the red powder. She held it toward him. Leaning forward, he took the piece she offered him in his mouth, took his time to savor it, and then closed his eyes in ecstasy.

  “Wow.” She laughed. “Food really turns you on, doesn’t it?”

  He took the chair opposite hers. “Mmm.” He licked his lips. “This is delicious. Can’t think why I’ve never tried it before.”