He got down on one knee in front of her. “Zenna, I’ve broken every promise I’ve made to myself from the day I met you because I love you. I love you in all the ways you’ve wanted me to love you, body, soul, and mind, and more. I love you with all of my senses and all of my being. Zenobia, will you marry me?”
She looked at him, baffled.
“Zenna,” he pleaded, “please say yes, because I cannot live without you. I cannot have a life without you in it, and...” he looked around, “People are really starting to stare.”
Her bright smile was reflected in her eyes. “I will, Etán Perez-Cruz.”
He straightened and took her in his arms, kissing her with a passion that almost made her forget about the spectators they were attracting.
Finally, he released her, breathless. “Your new travel office on the estate is ready. I’ve let you have your little play at independence with that flat of yours. It’s about time you move back to Sol y Sombra. The place isn’t the same without you, and I hate my new PR agent.”
“Mauricio isn’t so bad,” she said.
“It’s hard for anyone to live up to your heresy,” he complained. “You’ve spoiled me. Emmie drives me mad asking about you every day. I’ve had my old, and ... your old ... suites joined. I want you by my side, Zenna. Night and day.”
“I think I can live with that,” she teased. She touched his face.
He took her hand in his. “Let’s go. Want to know where we’re going?”
She nodded.
He took an envelope from the inside of his jacket pocket and gave it to her. She opened it and pulled out two flight tickets.
“Tahiti?” She looked up in surprise. “You’re taking me to Tahiti for dinner?”
His arms went around her, pulling him back into the warmth of his body. “Elope with me, Zenna. Let’s get married. Tomorrow. In Tahiti.”
“Ana and Pedro will never forgive you ... us...” she started.
He chuckled. “They had their big wedding with Luca and Clara. They will forgive us. When we get back, they can arrange a ceremony for us. They can splash out and go wild, do whatever their hearts desire. Your mother can come from England, and whomever else you want to invite. When you become my wife, I just want to share it with you. Just me and you.”
She looked into his eyes, smiling. “Say, for example, I was to say yes, would you love me if I cooked a chicken and broccoli dish, wearing a tracksuit and one of your T-shirts when you come home at night?”
“Honey,” his hands slipped underneath her sweater, his palms flattening over the warm skin of her tummy, “I’ve told you already, but I’ll tell you again. It doesn’t matter to me what you wear or what you cook. Or if you cooked at all.”
She leaned back to stare up at him. “What about my black, slick, and sexy?”
“Now you are looking for trouble,” he groaned, “conjuring such wicked images in my mind in public.” His hands moved to her behind, pulling her tighter against him. “Get into the car before I pull you over my lap and show you right here and now what you do to me.”
She giggled. “In that case, I’ll seriously have to think about it.”
He grabbed her to him, crushing her against his chest. “Whatever you do, woman, just promise me you won’t buy your own car. Let me do the car shopping.”
She giggled. “I may just let you.”
His lips found hers. When he kissed her, the world started turning, and everything stopped at the same time.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my publisher, Nancy Schumacher, for your faith in my winemaker, and for your inspirational motivation.
I am eternally grateful to my editor, Mel Jacob, whose tireless, meticulous work and uplifting comments took the manuscript to a higher level.
My sincere thanks to Francisco Baettig, award winning winemaker from Viña Errazuriz in Chile, and his wife Laetitia Delbrel, who introduced me to the art of winemaking and inspired the setting for the novel. Francisco and his team’s KAI Carmenere 2006 was voted best wine at the International Berlin Tasting held in New York in 2010, and he was awarded the prestigious Winemaker of the Year in Chile award in 2012. He continues to entice our senses with his excellent blends of Chilean superstar wines.
I raise my glass from this book to my best friend, Tania Smith, who brought a new level of fantasy to my story by inspiring me with her exceptional sense of taste and smell, which she applies daily in her flavor creations.
I would not have been able to grasp the intricate process and practical complications of wine creation and tasting without the input of Pilar Browne, whose patient guidance kept me on the right track. Pilar was a winemaker at Viña Casa Rivas and Viña Casas del Bosque in Chile before she moved to fruit production in the agricultural sector.
A grateful thank you to Maryna Cilliers who proposed the name Zenobia for the heroine in the naming competition, and to all the readers who participated in her creation by voting for the name. With your input, she was not only baptized, but also adopted a character of strength and humor deserving of her warrior queen name.
Barbara Meerveld contributed to the naming competition by suggesting Zenobia’s surname with British flair. Thank you for completing the Rambling picture, Barbara.
Thanks to the artistic brilliance and keen eye of Kyle Hepp, world-renowned photographer, the essence of the story was captured on the cover. Thank you for an unforgettable cover shoot, Kyle.
A warm thank you to cover model Rodrigo Farah, by whose hands models and actors raise from ordinarily pretty to exceptional glamor. Your inner beauty is the pinnacle of your career.
I would like to especially acknowledge the management of Viña Cousino Macul in Santiago, Chile, for hosting the book cover photo shoot in their lusciously beautiful, antique cellar and vineyard.
Thank you to Becca Barnes for a cover design that seduces all senses.
A special embrace and my appreciation go to the Santiago Writers Group, whose loving critique, insight and professional support help me grow, every day, from word to word. You kept me going when I needed to.
My Santiago book club played an invaluable role in proofreading the final manuscript. A special thank you goes to Aileen Sabanal, Laura Emery and Claire Moss for their hawk eyes.
Thank you to my neighbors, Rosa and Guido Girardi Brière, who rescued me and saved me from taking a handcuffed ride downtown when the police confiscated my innocently bought stolen car! You have been my adopted family in Chile ever since. My heartfelt thanks for the scenes that you have inspired.
And always thank you to my husband, Alban Morin, who stood patiently by my side, unfalteringly tasted wine with me, traveled to vineyards and beyond, and sent me off in a glider to soar over the Andes as inspiration for the metaphorical hawk flight, in which Zenna receives visionary training. Without your support, this story would not have been born.
Thank you to all the readers, my family and friends, who invest time in taking a journey with me through the pages of this book.
About the Author
South African born Charmaine Pauls followed a writing career path in all the facets of her communications degree, including public relations, journalism, advertising, and brand marketing. She resides in Chile with her husband and children.
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The Winemaker Page 34