They worked quickly and quietly, and when they were done, Lucia and Eliana went into the kitchen where each of them helped themselves to some coffee and one of the scones from the plate of baked goods Eliana had set aside for the family.
The kitchen was long and narrow. It had originally been a side porch, but her parents had enclosed and converted it when Lucia was in college. The old wooden farm table where they were required to gather for family dinners every night when she and her sisters were growing up sat at one end of the room by a bank of windows that looked out over the back of the property.
Lucia took her breakfast there and sat down. The sun was just peaking over the top of the trees, painting the vineyard’s newly emerging spring leaves with strokes of gold and reflecting off the early morning dew. Beyond, the mountains grounded all, low and ridged, cloaked in their famous blue haze, a comforting sentinel in their familiarity.
She bit into a still-warm almond scone and rolled her eyes in delight. “This tastes so good.” She licked her lips and glanced up at Eliana who joined her at the table. “If you don’t need help with anything else this morning, I’ve got some errands to run in town.”
“I should be fine. We ordered box lunches from Kayla’s for today since the group’s finishing up early.”
“That works, especially since Cat may still be out of commission. I should be back by eleven, so in plenty of time before they finish up.” Lucia took a sip of coffee to wash down the pastry. “Oh, by the way, are you around this evening?”
“Yup. Why?” Eliana eyed Lucia with a grin. “You have another date with tall, dark, and sexy and need someone to cover for you?”
“Actually, he’s coming over to meet with all of us. I told him about our plans to expand. It turns out he’s an architect and deals with regulations and all that stuff back in Italy. He offered to check with the county to find out if we can do what we want and said he’d come by this evening to fill us in.”
“That was magnanimous. First he changes his plans and stays a couple of extra days, and then he volunteers to go down to county and wade through their red tape to gather information for us…” Eliana arched her brows. “Hmm, interesting.”
“He’s a nice man, and he works with building codes all the time. He said it wasn’t a big deal.”
“Yeah, and he was probably so infatuated with you last night that he would have volunteered to do anything for you.”
“He wasn’t infatuated.”
“Oh, really? Why do you think he’s still here after telling you the night you met that he’d be leaving the next day?”
“Maybe after discovering there was so much to see and do in the area, he thought he’d tack on a few extra days to explore the sights.”
“Yeah. I can tell you what sights he wants to explore.” Eliana leaned forward and fixed her with a stare. “Speaking of which, sister, how was your date last night?”
“It was fine. We went on a picnic. We talked a lot. He’s a great conversationalist.”
“Umm hmm. Did he manage to kiss you at any point between all of his words?”
“Maybe.” Lucia’s grin betrayed her.
“Busted. You so kissed him. I can see it all over your face, and from the looks of it he knocked your socks off.”
“I wasn’t wearing socks, but okay, yeah, the man can kiss.”
“And?”
Lucia glanced toward the doorway. “And I think I just heard some of our guests out in the dining room.”
Eliana stood up and carried her dishes to the sink. “Fine, but I want details later. Since I’m currently not seeing anyone, I’ve got to get my thrills vicariously through you and Cat.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. Antonio will probably be leaving tomorrow or the day after, and although Cat hasn’t said anything, I’ve got a suspicion there’s trouble brewing between her and Mitch.”
Eliana pulled a frown. “Can’t say I’d be sorry if they split. Cat’s seemed off lately, and I’ve developed some bad feelings about him.”
“Same here. I’ve been biting my tongue because I haven’t wanted to upset her, but I’d like to hear why you feel that way to see if my concerns are valid. Maybe we can grab a few minutes this afternoon when no one else is around.”
“Okay, good. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the reason she’s got a migraine.”
A short while later Lucia sent texts to Marcella and Cat asking if they could get together for a family meeting at six. She’d promised Antonio pasta marinara as a thank you for helping them out, but if Cat wasn’t feeling up to cooking, he might have to be satisfied with pasta à la Lucia.
She checked on a few odds and ends before leaving for town. As she turned onto John Mosby Highway, she was aware of an increased energy flowing through her, and there was only one thing she could attribute it to. She would see Antonio again this evening.
THEY WERE GATHERED in the library, flames licking over the logs in the fireplace, adding a touch of warmth to the cool spring evening, as Antonio briefed them.
“The code doesn’t permit you to operate a restaurant as part of the winery if it generates more than thirty percent of your revenue. You can still offer complimentary breakfasts and snacks for guests, or cater on-site events like the one you had here this week, but you’re limited beyond that.”
“So if I were to open a restaurant, it couldn’t be associated with the winery at all?” Cat’s disappointment rang clear in her tone.
“If you want to open a full-service restaurant, then no.”
“I was afraid the answer would be something like that, but a part of me hoped there’d be an exception that would let us do what we wanted right here. I’d already envisioned turning the solarium into this wonderful dining area with stacking glass doors that would open to the terrace for alfresco dining. It would have been perfect.”
Antonio scribbled a note on the pad he had on his lap and then glanced at Lucia. “I stopped to take a look at the land that’s for sale down the road before I came here.” He looked around at everyone and added, “Lucia told me if the laws didn’t permit you to do what you wanted on-site you might consider purchasing it and building there. If you did that, you’d be working with a blank slate. You could do whatever you wanted in terms of the design.”
“We might be able to get the land at a good price since it’s been on the market for so long. If not, another possible option might be the Richards’ property. It’s been vacant since Jordan’s uncle died and left it to him. If we were able to get in touch with him, he might consider selling,” Lucia said.
“If he wanted to sell it, I think he would have put it on the market by now,” Marcella threw out, and Lucia thought her tone sounded almost defensive. “Buying the property down the road and building what you want there sounds like the best alternative to me.”
Caterina must have picked up on something as well and frowned, then said, “It has been for sale a long time, so if we can get it, we’d all be able to stay put and keep the family home.” Always one to need some kind of plan, even a loose one, she added, “We’d have to hire a lawyer to get all the legal stuff figured out since Lucia and I wouldn’t be able to keep our interest in the winery, but we can work all that out if we decide this is how we want to proceed.”
She looked over at Antonio. “Based on what you found out, that could work, right?”
He leaned back in his chair and Lucia followed him with her eyes. He might be one of the most beautiful men she’d ever seen, and she enjoyed looking at him, but beyond that he had a casual elegance she found irresistible, in his style, his gestures, the way he moved.
He nodded in Cat’s direction. “As long as the inn and restaurant aren’t a part of the winery and don’t contribute to its revenue, then yes. It’s a good piece of land,” he added, offering his opinion. He looked thoughtful for a moment. “There’s a lot of potential to create something very special.”
Eliana leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. “Lucia told us you’re an archi
tect. It’s too bad you’re leaving soon or we might have been able to convince you to give us some ideas.” She looked at Lucia and winked.
“When are you leaving?” Caterina asked him. “Any chance we’d have a little time to pick your brain before you do?”
“I hadn’t planned on staying beyond Friday.” Antonio glanced toward Lucia and their eyes connected; it was a brief meeting, but long enough for her to feel the tug.
“I don’t have a fixed schedule, though, so I suppose I could stick around a few extra days and put together some concept drawings. That is, if you’re serious about wanting my ideas.”
His offer surprised her, and Lucia’s heartbeat tripped at the prospect of him staying a while longer. “That’s really nice but we wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.”
“It won’t. I’d already considered staying a few extra days. There’s a lot more to do and see around here than I realized.”
“That’d be great,” Caterina said. “We’ll pay you, of course, whatever your hourly rate is. Just let us know up front and if it’s too steep, we can fire you before you get started.”
Antonio chuckled. “We’ll work out some agreeable terms. It would help if you and Lucia each put together a list of anything specific you’d like incorporated into the design, the feel you’re going for, how you need it to function, general size. I won’t be doing any detailed drawings, but it’ll be useful having an idea of your vision even if they’re only concept sketches. I’ll give you my email and as soon as I get them, I can start working on something.”
“If you’d like, you could have a room here now since the accountant group is gone,” Marcella offered. Everyone looked at her and Lucia was surprised she hadn’t thought of it herself. If he wanted to walk the property, or take measurements, or whatever else architects did when they were designing a project, it made more sense for him to stay there than to drive back and forth from Middleburg.
Antonio glanced at her, raised his brows as if he wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Of course it made sense since one of the reasons he’d be staying longer was to do some drawings for them.
“Good idea, Marcella,” she said, and then turned back to Antonio. “If it would make it easier for you and you want to make the move, I’ll schedule you into a room.”
Antonio nodded. “It would be convenient. I’ll stay where I am tonight and check in here tomorrow.”
With that settled, they went into the solarium to have dinner. As promised, they were having pasta marinara. While Cat put the finishing touches on the meal, the rest of them gathered around one of the tables that had been set up for the accountants’ conference to share a bottle of red that Marcella had selected from their cellars.
Antonio was the curiosity here, and her sisters readily engaged him in conversation, peppering him with questions, even Marcella who normally preferred to listen rather than speak. For the moment, Lucia was the one to slip into that role.
She smiled lightly, content to watch him charm her siblings, to observe and soak him in as she might the subtle nuances in the changing colors of the sky during a particularly wonderful sunset.
Blinking, she glanced down at her wine. She had seen sunsets so beautiful they had halted her breath. She’d have frozen them in time if she could have because it was almost painful to watch them slip away, to know she might never see one just that gorgeous, just that perfect ever again once the night swallowed it up. She supposed that was why so many people took pictures of them, so they could remember, so they didn’t feel like they were lost to them forever.
Lucia reached into the back pocket of her jeans for her cell phone and then held it out in front of her. Antonio looked at her from across the table where he sat flanked by two of her sisters. She zoomed in on his face and snapped a picture.
THE MOON WAS high, big and bright as it climbed into the sky and illuminated the rows of meticulously trained vines to Antonio’s left, beside where he and Lucia were taking a walk after dinner.
“You were right. Caterina’s a gifted chef. Whatever she did to that marinara sauce, it was one of the best I’ve ever tasted.”
“That’s high praise considering you live in the epicenter of the pasta world.” The wind blew several strands of hair across her face. Antonio wanted to reach up and tuck them behind her ear, just to touch her in some way.
She beat him to it, gathering the dark mass together and with a couple of quick twists secured it into a knot on the back of her head without the aid of any pins or clips—one of those intriguing things all women seem to know how to do without even thinking about it. He found it fascinating, although he found most things about women fascinating…and with this woman, even more so.
“She is amazing,” Lucia agreed. “And not because she’s my sister.”
“I get the impression you and your sisters are all talented at what you do.”
“I think so.” Lucia grinned over at him, the moonlight a soft wash of light bathing her face. “Our parents used to always say, pay attention to the times you feel the happiest and most content because within them are clues to help you choose which paths will lead you to the most fulfillment and satisfaction in your life. I didn’t always realize how much sense that made at the time, but they were right. And if you enjoy what you do, you’re probably going to be much better at it than someone who doesn’t.”
“Good advice. You’re fortunate your parents didn’t try to push you into a job they thought you should pursue versus one you wanted.”
She searched his eyes a moment, her expression a pause between breaths waiting to be released. “Did that happen to you?”
“No.” He shook his head and her face softened into a smile. “I’ve seen it often enough, though, even with loving parents who believe they’re doing what’s best for their kids. They push them in one direction or try to dissuade them from another.”
“Yeah, I only hope if I ever have children I’m able to find the right balance between encouraging them to spread their wings and tethering them to me with one of those child leashes until they go off to college.”
He laughed and she joined in.
“I’m sure I won’t be that overprotective, but it can’t be easy.” She slipped her hands into her jeans’ pockets. “So did you always want to be an architect?”
“Not until after I went to university. I’ve always had a fascination with buildings, their design and their history, and I realized I wasn’t the type of person who could do the same thing day in and day out. I prefer projects that have a beginning, middle, and an end, and then am able to move on to something new. When the time came to make a decision about what I was going to do with my life, becoming an architect seemed like a good choice. I haven’t regretted it, so I guess you could say I’m one of the lucky ones who enjoys my work.”
She stopped and put a hand on his forearm. “That’s nice, and it’s also very nice of you to offer to do some drawings for us. I hope you didn’t feel awkward about saying no to my sisters; they can be a convincing force when they want to be.”
“Not at all. I meant it when I told you I was already considering staying another week to visit some of the museums in DC and tour a couple of the local wineries. Besides, I’ll enjoy putting some ideas together for you. New projects are always exciting, and designing something from the ground up even more so.”
“If we like what you come up with, maybe we can just use your drawings for the job.”
He shook his head. “You wouldn’t be able to do that. An architect will still have to do detailed spec drawings that your builder will work from. You can ask someone else to incorporate some of the ideas into their design, but whoever you hire is going to have their own ideas, which you might like better, and from a professional standpoint, they’d probably prefer to come up with their own design rather than finalize someone else’s.”
“Well, we won’t tell them where the ideas came from, then. We’ll just present them as things we’d like.”
Anto
nio turned toward her and took a hold on her shoulders. “That would probably make for a better working relationship.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. The connection felt natural to him, physically satisfying, yes, but oddly comforting as well, and it had been a challenge when they were with her sisters not to touch her.
“Since I’ll be staying longer than originally planned, what are the chances I could convince you to spend a day or two playing tourist with me?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him, a delicious curve of temptation. “Oh, I think they might be fairly high, but I should at least let you try to persuade me before I commit to anything.”
“Okay, I don’t know if this will help my cause, but I’ve wanted to do it all night.” He tilted his head down, ran his tongue over her lips, tasted her smile, licked it up, and then molded his to hers. She kissed like the sun, warm and bright, heating his blood. He opened his mouth, angling it for a better fit, and groaned when he felt her fingers dig into his back.
When he broke the kiss to come up for air a couple of minutes later, she leaned into his chest. “All right.” She sounded as breathless as he felt. “You convinced me.”
“Are you sure?” He ran his fingers down her cheek, enchanted by the softness of her skin, and then lifted her chin so he could see her face. “I’m willing to put some more effort into it to reduce the possibility of you backing out at the last minute.”
“Not necessary.” She coughed on a laugh and held up a hand. “Any additional effort and you could probably persuade me to take part in more than a little sightseeing with you.”
“Would that be a bad thing, Lucia?” He stared into her eyes, drawn even more to her when she didn’t look away.
She studied him a few seconds before answering. “Not bad necessarily, but unwise perhaps.”
“Ah, yes, wisdom, the great extinguisher of passion’s flames.”
“Who said that?”
“Me, I just made it up.”
She smiled. “Maybe you should have been a poet instead of an architect.”
Lucia (The Bonaveras) Page 7