Love's Harvest (A Salmon Run Novel Book 1)

by Gwen Overland

  “I was sorry to hear about your loss. Robert was a good man and always so generous toward my parents.”

  Julia and Robert dined often at the Ristorante Sabatini when Adriana’s parents still worked there, but she’d not had the opportunity to return since Adriana had taken the business over.

  “It’s good to see you too, Adriana. May I introduce you to my orchard manager, Diego Gonzales-Martinez?”

  Diego offered his hand. “Mucho gusto, Adriana. This is my first time here, but I find your restaurant absolutely breathtaking.”

  “Thank you, Diego. My brother tells me you folks at the winery had quite a morning yesterday,” Adriana continued while seating Julia and hand her a menu.

  “Your brother?” asked Diego suspiciously. He was hoping the woman’s brother hadn’t been on one of the two truckloads James and Duncan brought out.

  “Stefano Sabatini’s one of Sheriff Barbara’s deputies,” Julia explained.

  “Ah, sí. Your brother along with the other men were most helpful. We at the winery are grateful they came when they did.”

  Adriana nodded and handed Diego his menu. “According to my brother, it was you and your sister Mariela who saved the day.”

  She then turned to Julia. “You two enjoy your dinner. Your waiter’ll be with you shortly.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Alone at last, Diego stared at the lovely woman seated across from him. He set down his menu and took her two hands in his. He’d come a long way since the days of his youth. After losing his one and only Paulina to his best friend Jorge, he vowed to never look at a woman seriously again. Yet tonight the only thing on his mind was to open himself up to this lovely woman and share not only his body but his heart as well.

  He prided himself on his self-control, his ability to appear as if he was in complete charge of himself and his emotions. Though, the truth was that since falling in love with Julia, he was no more in control than a jumping bean.

  As his thumbs caressed the backs of Julia’s hands, she felt the same electricity she’d felt earlier zinging up her arms, circling her heart, and exploding down into her lady parts. The heat of his touch caused her heart to beat wildly. So much so that Julia wondered how she was going to get through the meal without passing out.

  “Are you doing okay, Julia? Perhaps this isn’t as easy for you as we thought.” At first Diego interpreted Julia’s shakiness as fear rather than sexual energy. Yet as soon as she grinned, he got the message.

  “I’m doing fine, Diego. Please don’t worry about me. You and this evening are everything I imagined and more.”

  “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable when you’re out with me. We both know it’ll take some time for others to get used to seeing us as a couple, but that’s not our problem. As far as I can tell, our only problem is how we can find even more time to spend together, mi bella Julia.”

  He studied Julia as she lowered her shapely body into her chair. He was doing everything he could think of to thrill her. His only prayer was that this moment would last forever, that the messy business with James and Duncan would soon disappear, and that the Nooksack Valley Winery and Vineyard would eventually find its rightful place in the eyes of not only Julia but the entire community of Salmon Run as well.

  Chapter 11

  It’d been years since Julia spent such a lovely time with a man. Diego possessed an ease about him which Julia effortlessly fell in tempo with. He listened to every word she said and took in every silent nuance they created in between sips of wine and bites of dinner.

  Of course, it helped that the salmon was fresh and grilled to perfection. Yet Julia believed the evening was less dependent upon the atmosphere and more about the man himself. True, she was more than fascinated with his charm and good looks. However, Diego for her now had become a true friend. Something she’d wanted for what seemed like forever.

  The evening was slowly slipping away, and Julia still hadn’t found the right moment to present Diego with the new position at the winery. She took a long swallow of wine and then began what she hoped would be a simple request followed by a simple answer.

  “Diego, I’ve been thinking for some time now but especially since the events of this week about your position at the winery. I feel it’s time I offered you a much more substantial situation.”

  Instantly Diego’s face grew serious. “Please don’t feel you have to buy my affection, Julia. Work’s one thing and my feelings for you are quite another.”

  Julia was blowing this, and she knew it. “Of course, I understand your reticence, but the promotion I wish to offer has more to do with all the responsibilities you take on at the winery. You’ve done so much more this last year than merely manage the vineyard. Plus, I can’t hope to get this business off the ground without your and Mariela’s help.”

  Diego stared at the wine he swirled in his glass. “Go on.”

  To recapture Diego’s attention, Julia took the wine glass out of his hand and put her hands on his. “I’m not able to pay you anymore than I am, but I want us to be partners. In the business, I mean. My thought was I’d make Gayle my Office Manager, Mariela Director of Marketing and Sales, and you Director of Production. That way I could concentrate on Public Relations, which is probably the only thing I’m actually any good at.”

  He remained silent.

  Julia felt fresh tears filling her eyes. She didn’t want to cry, but she was so afraid Diego would either say no or leave, she was beside herself.

  “Please don’t be offended, Diego. My offer has nothing to do with my feelings for you but more about my respect for the many things you do so well for the Nooksack Valley Winery and Vineyard. I need you, Diego, for many reasons, not the least is your affection.”

  The tension of the moment was making her sweat. “Yet this is about work, about turning this winery around and making it one of the best in the state—hell, in the whole country. Please tell me you’ll at least think about it.”

  Diego searched her eyes. “And if I say no, what’ll become of us then?”

  Julia felt her face grow hot. This evening wasn’t turning out exactly the way she’d hoped. Yet he’d asked a fair question and deserved a truthful answer.

  “I want us to grow together, not merely as friends, but as partners in every sense of the word. If you don’t want that as well, then I understand. I suppose we can keep our work relationship as it is and still move forward with wherever it is we’re going, romantically speaking. But it’ll be awkward and not reflect how important you’ve become in my life. It’s really up to you.”

  Silence.

  Julia giggled nervously, anything to keep from crying. “Now I’m sorry I even brought it up. Oh, damn! I’ve ruined this entire evening, and I was having such a wonderful time before I opened my big mouth.”

  A slow smile gradually took over Diego’s face. “So you want to be partners in every sense of the word? Did I hear you right?”

  Julia’s heart began to pound. Oh, my God! This was it. He was going to dump her before they even got started. “Yes,” she said softly. “You heard me right.”

  Diego threw his head back and laughed. “Ah, Julia, you’ve made me the happiest man in the whole world. I accept, but under one condition.”

  Julia was shocked but elated at his response, and curious as to what that one condition could be. “And that is?”

  Diego leaned in and reached over to touch her face. “That you’ll be my partner, that you’ll share your bed with me, and that you’ll let me care for you as long as we both have breath to breathe.”

  Julia swallowed hard. It took but a few seconds for Julia to take in all of Diego’s words. She leaned her cheek against his hand, smiled, and then nodded. She at once kissed the inside of his palm.

  She heard Diego’s breath catch in his throat. “My God,
Julia! I think we better go before I draw attention to myself. You must know you’re making it enormously difficult for me to merely sit here.”

  “Oh, really. And how’s that?” she asked coquettishly. She’d never once in her life considered herself a vixen, but in this moment she felt like the sexiest woman in the universe.

  “You actually want to me stand and show you?” Diego wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.

  As soon as Diego started his facial acrobatics, Julia burst out laughing. No way could she keep up the sexual banter between the two of them. “Let me finish my wine first, and then I think we should go.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Diego did everything he could to calm down the energy he felt in his body. This woman turned him on as none other had in a long time. If ever. He tried not to imagine her naked and in his arms, but the more he worked at ignoring her, the more her presence invaded his consciousness to the point he could think of nothing or no one else.

  It’d been a long time since he felt this happy. He didn’t want to spoil it by saying the wrong thing or acting too crude, so he answered her as simply as he could. “Agreed.”

  ~ ~ ~

  It took James all afternoon and into the evening to allow the effects of the alcohol he’d consumed to calm him down. Duncan and he sat together most of the day in the bar at the Ristorante Sabatini, discussing where they’d failed the day before and what action, if any, they should take next. James wasn’t so much angry as he was panicked. Very few people knew about his gambling issues, not even Gayle. Duncan, being his money man, however, was more aware than James liked.

  Little use trying to hide one’s fruitless expenditures from one’s accountant, he thought. Besides, James truly didn’t know where else he could turn.

  “God dammit, Duncan. You nearly got my ass thrown in jail, not to mention destroyed my marriage. I should never’ve listened to you. Now the sheriff has her eye out for me, and I’m no closer to taking over that shit winery than I was when Robert was alive.” James threw down his bourbon and motioned to the bartender to fill his glass one last time.

  If James was the essence of a man falling apart, Duncan was the epitome of controlled calmness. Yesterday’s activities hadn’t ruffled him in the least. In fact, he was more positive than ever that the ownership of the vineyard and winery land would be James’s before the week was out.

  “I told you, James, I have a handle on this. Perhaps I overestimated Julia’s intelligence when I suggested you doctor the deed. Yet I’ve a plan that’s sure to work. It may be a bit dangerous, but I think for whatever danger we may accrue the reward in the end will be worth it.”

  James quickly sobered up. “Look, Duncan, I don’t want anyone to get hurt or killed, for that matter. Do you understand?”

  “Not even that meddling orchard manager of hers . . . what’s his name? Gonzales?”

  “Let me deal with him. You simply worry about the winery. Understand?” Part of James was glad he had someone like Duncan on his side. Yet another part of him knew Duncan could be perfidious if not carefully monitored.

  “Sure, sure, James. I won’t touch the guy. But as long as Gonzales-Martinez is in the picture, I guarantee you’ll never get a red cent out of that winery or its land.”

  James knew Duncan was right. Yet as far as he was concerned, a line had to be drawn between mere embezzlement and outright murder. After all, for years he’d represented every kind of criminal possible and knew the difference between those who broke the law because of some desperate need and those who did so merely for the rush.

  Unlike Duncan, who was a bad man masquerading under the guise of being a friend, James knew deep down that he, James Montgomery Reynolds, was basically a good man dealing as best he could with a terrible problem. Gambling had him in its clutches and wouldn’t let go.

  Over the past year James had gambled away his savings, his children’s education funds, and both his and Gayle’s retirement investments. On top of that, his full-time client load had rapidly diminished as he became more and more unable to keep up his professional obligations and duties. He was flat-ass broke and in danger of losing not only his place of business, but his home and his family.

  “I told you, I’ll take care of Martinez,” James sneered. “Your job’s to get me that land and pronto. I don’t care how you do it. I simply don’t want to know about it.”

  James slugged down the last ounce of his drink and stood up to leave. Duncan threw cash on the bar to cover the bill. Hell! James could no longer even afford to pay for his own liquor.

  As the two of them made their way out of the bar, James caught a glimpse of Julia seated with the very person he felt was responsible for his predicament: Diego Gonzales-Martinez. Quickly he said good bye to Duncan and sauntered in the direction of the Julia’s table.

  ~ ~ ~

  As soon as Julia saw him, she blanched.

  Diego immediately grew concerned over Julia’s change of behavior. “What’s the matter, Julia?”

  “It’s James, and he’s coming this way.”

  Whatever had gone on in Diego’s crotch earlier, by now had completely disappeared. He stood and swiftly turned to hold a wall of defense against what he hoped wouldn’t happen next.

  “Good evening, James,” said Julia.

  “Maybe it’s a good evening for you, but I find your behavior utterly reprehensible. Robert’s body hasn’t even begun to rot, and here you sit holding hands in public with a man you’re obviously sleeping with. It makes me want to vomit.”

  James could hardly stand without wobbling. Both Diego and Julia could smell the strong odor of stale liquor on his breath.

  Diego’s first reaction was to put his fist in James’s mouth, but thought better of it as he realized the man was as drunk as a skunk.

  “Señor James, we’re merely celebrating the recent first prize our Siegerrebe was awarded by the San Francisco International Wine Awards committee. You should be proud of your brother’s endeavors. After all, this wine’s the result of your family’s years of hard work and talent starting with your father.”

  James squinched his face into a grimace as he struggled to stay on his feet. “What do you know about my family, you worthless gigolo? What’s the matter with you, Julia? Did you need to be fucked so badly you brought this Mexican nobody into Robert’s bed?”

  James’s voice escalated in volume to where other customers in the restaurant turned their heads in curiosity. Diego was about to grab the man’s arm and escort him out of the building when Julia finally stood up and looked her brother-in-law straight in the eyes.

  “You’re drunk, James,” Julia stated in a loud and firm voice. “And you’re making a complete fool out of yourself. If Robert was still alive, he’d be disgusted by your attitude, your language, and your behavior. You need to worry less about Diego and me and concentrate more on salvaging your marriage. Gayle’s a fine woman and in my opinion doesn’t deserve you. Don’t ask me why, but she loves you and knows you’re troubled about something much bigger than what I do with the winery and what kind of relationship I have with Diego. Worry about your own house, James. You owe it to Gayle and your children and no one else.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Adriana, who’d been watching this entire scene from the reservation desk, briskly strode toward the trio. “Is there anything I can do for you, Julia? Call my brother or the sheriff?”

  Julia then grabbed her sweater and clutch and put her free hand in Diego’s. “No, but thank you,” Julia said softly. “We were about ready to leave anyway.”

  Diego placed the money for the meal in Adriana’s hands. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Señorita Sabatini,” Diego said smoothly. “We’ll be sure to come again soon.”

  Diego led Julia out of the restaurant to the applause of those who’d listened in on her words to James. Diego
immediately gave Fermin the valet ticket with a tip and asked him to quickly get his car.

  Meanwhile, inside the restaurant Adriana did her best to escort the chagrined James out the door. As soon as she placed her hands gently on his arm, he jerked violently away from her.

  “You obviously don’t care who it is you serve,” James bellowed. “I’ll not return to this ridiculous place again, you can count on that.” The patrons now laughed and booed at him. James was more angry than embarrassed. “You all make me sick! I hope you get food poisoning and die!” he yelled as he careened toward the restaurant door.

  Diego and Julia sped out of the parking lot just in time to deflect James’s continuing vitriol. As soon as James stumbled outside, he felt himself grow dizzy. He pressed his eyes closed as he searched his pants’ pocket for his valet ticket. It wasn’t there.

  Fermin, seeing that James needed a taxi more than his car, gingerly limped up him and smiled. “Can I help you, sir?”

  “Help me find my fucking car,” James slurred. Seconds later, he blacked out.

  ~ ~ ~

  They’d hardly gotten a block down the road when Julia started to giggle. Any other time in her life and she’d have been mortified by not only James’s behavior but her own. But tonight she felt for the first time in quite a while like she‘d finally broken through her what-will-everyone-think barrier.

  True, she’d been initially embarrassed when James came to her table and started in on her. Yet, as soon as the man attacked Diego, Julia felt an overpowering urge to if not pop him one, at least tell him off. Or as Alicia was fond of saying, rip him a new one.

  As soon as Diego got behind the wheel of his car, however, he grew silent. It was Julia’s guess that he was probably beating himself up for taking her out so soon after the funeral. She suddenly felt responsible for what the two of them had just gone through. Salmon Run, she told herself, was a small town and the odds of running into her brother-in-law were definitely stacked against them both. She thought about apologizing but instead howled with laughter.