by A. C. Arthur
Technically, she was his employee, but emotionally, she was so much more.
“Thanks, Mrs. Ramsey,” he said calling her by the name his mother had insisted he use when addressing her when he was a little boy.
Even though she’d tended to his injuries, seen him naked when he was sixteen when she’d stormed into his bedroom interrupting him with Kaley Hanson, and had even driven all the way to Columbia one night to pick him up when he was in danger of being expelled. It had been Mrs. Ramsey’s conversation with the dean that had kept Wade enrolled in school. That incident, as well as many more, had been kept between him and Mrs. Ramsey.
Everybody don’t need to know everything, she’d told him on more than one occasion. Wade loved her for everything she did for Basset Banks Vineyard and the things she took care of that had nothing to do with her role as Director of Facilities.
“Sure are proud of you two,” she said.
When Wade felt her hand at his side, reaching for his, he gladly linked his fingers with hers. “We couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
She was shaking her head, her shoulder length sparkling silver hair moving over her shoulders. Tonight she was wearing what she always wore when they had events either here at the winery, or at the Big House, a black skirt, neatly pressed white blouse and a black jacket.
“Not this time,” she told him. “Lauren really took the reins for this event and she had Brynne here to help her. They just came to me for menu and set-up input.”
“Lauren wanted this to be special,” he said. “I’ve been so involved with the Tuscany project that I don’t think I dedicated enough time to seeing this through.”
“You have your part to play in this company and so does she. It’s a team now, Wade. And you’re doing a great job.”
She squeezed his hand as she spoke and Wade looked at her once more. “You two are doing this your way and it’s good.”
Wade heard her words and he believed them, still, he couldn’t help but say, “He wouldn’t think so. He wouldn’t have done any of this.”
“He didn’t know everything,” she said in that candid way she had.
“He was the head of this household and the CEO of Basset Banks Vineyards. He created all of that on his own.”
“Lies,” she snapped. “Your mother was right by his side, giving just as many ideas as he did, but receiving credit for none of them. Your father was a hard man, Wade, we both knew that. He was successful and rich, but he was not nice.”
Wade winced at those last words because they were so true they were almost physically potent. Really, Wade thought he could still feel his father grabbing him by the back of his neck and slamming the front of his body into a wall as he berated him for something. Most times Wade couldn’t remember what he may have done to possibly deserve the treatment his father afforded him, but he remembered the assaults. It didn’t matter now, none of it did. He was the head of Basset Banks now, the vineyard and his investment firms, as well as the non-profit center. He was a success, regardless of all the times his father told him that would never be.
“Guests are arriving,” Mrs. Ramsey said and used a hand on the back of Wade’s neck to pull him down for a kiss on the cheek. “I don’t want you to think about the business tonight. It’s doing just fine. I want you to have fun with that beautiful woman that’s been sleeping in your bed.”
Wade wrapped his arms around her before she could pull away from him. When they broke apart he couldn’t help but smile and ask, “You noticed that, huh?”
Mrs. Ramsey shook her head. “It don’t matter that you’re an almost forty year-old man. I still know everything that goes on in that house and all I’ve got to say about it is, handle her with care. She’s not like these other women you’ve had.”
“I know.” Wade agreed with a nod. “She’s not.”
“And there’s more going on with her than she wants to admit, so just be patient and stand strong with her. Even when she pushes you away. You stand.”
She’d moved away before Wade could ask her about her comments. Why would she say that Brynne was going to push him away? What did she know about Brynne that he didn’t?”
Wade kept her close all night. Brynne wasn’t complaining, she actually enjoyed meeting other employees from the office of Basset Banks. There were some field workers that she knew from walking along the property and the manager of the winery who she’d actually referred to her cousins Max and Adam’s company when he was looking to renovate a hotel that he’d inherited in Las Vegas. And after her years working in the gallery, walking around and networking with people seemed natural to her. What wasn’t natural and had taken the first hour of the event to get used to was hearing Wade introduce her as his ‘friend’. She didn’t know how she’d expected to be introduced but she certainly hadn’t considered that he would say ‘friend’ in such a way that left no argument that they were sleeping together. As the night went on, however, she’d gotten used to the introduction, until now.
“This is my friend Brynne Donovan,” he said after a woman approached them.
She was an older woman but that was only discerned by the thin lines around her eyes. Otherwise, her slim figure and flawless alabaster complexion were gorgeously highlighted by the emerald green dress she wore. Her shoulder length blonde hair was elegantly styled, and diamond earrings hung in a dripping pattern from her ears.
“Brynne, this is Evelyn Terrington of Bonjour Winery located just down the road,” he continued.
Brynne had already extended her hand in the same fashion she’d done with every introduction. Only this time, she was left hanging.
“Donovan?” Evelyn asked with a raise of a brow that had been drawn on as a thin line. “Are you any relation to The Donovans of Donovan Oilwell and Donovan Multimedia?”
Letting her arm drop to her side Brynne cleared her throat before replying, “Yes. I am.”
“Oh, well. Isn’t this interesting,” she continued as she looked from the tip of Brynne’s shoes to the earrings at her ears. “A Donovan here in Napa Valley. That’s so very interesting.”
Brynne didn’t know how to respond to that and luckily she didn’t have to.
“Wade, darling. She’s ah…I mean, it was lovely meeting you. But I really must speak to Wade about business. Alone.”
The woman couldn’t have said anything to make Brynne happier than she was at hearing that last word.
“Sure,” Brynne said even though when she looked over to Wade she could tell he wasn’t happy. “I need to go over and see how the bidding portion of the auction is going.”
Wade had an arm around her waist during the introduction. Now, he lifted that hand to touch her cheek. “I’ll find you as soon as I’m done.”
Brynne smiled up at him. “I’ll be waiting,” she said because a part of her knew that Evelyn Terrington didn’t like her. The look on Evelyn’s face after Wade leaned in to kiss Brynne lightly on the lips, was proof of that fact.
Brynne crossed the room feeling a little triumphant about what had just transpired. She was so tired of people looking at her and deciding whether or not they liked her, or what type of person she was because of the way she looked. Evelyn Terrington seemed to be making her judgment based on Brynne’s name, which was even worse. Brynne had no idea what the woman knew about the Donovans, or which Donovans she may have met or had some type of dealings with in the past, but none of them were Brynne. Assuming something about her because of them was ridiculous, and exactly what Brynne had tried for so long to get away from.
After checking on the bids that were looking very well, Brynne made her way to the bar. Basset Banks wines flowed endlessly throughout the room as the wait staff had been instructed to make sure everyone had a glass in their hand at all times. Tonight they were featuring their six different cabernet offerings, as well as the three blends they offered exclusively to wine clubs. Lauren had insisted that tonight was a celebration but Brynne knew from helping Lauren double-check the
wine list that a number of the guests were sommeliers from a few of the surrounding vineyards as well as others from as far away as Rome.
Brynne asked for a glass of water as she’d already had two glasses of wine. Wade had made sure she’d eaten while they mingled. Brynne’s favorites for the night had been the lamb pizzettes and warm honey and black pepper brie. Basset Banks’ Mirage, a mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet santo was a perfect pairing to each and she’d been sure to tell Wade that this was a good combination. Now, she was thirsty from all the talking and she wanted a moment alone to get her thoughts together. Tonight was shaping up to be a success and she was happy for Lauren and Wade, but Lauren’s question after she and Wade had first arrived in the winery still hung like a dark cloud over Brynne’s head.
“When are you planning to tell Wade that you’re leaving?”
Dammit, Brynne knew she shouldn’t have joked about her and Wade sleeping together. Of course she’d already told Lauren about the developments between her and Wade. Still, joking about it tonight had no doubt brought the question to the forefront of Lauren’s otherwise pre-occupied mind.
“I haven’t decided yet,” she’d replied. “Meaning I don’t know when I’m going so it hasn’t occurred to me to tell him.”
“Do you love him?” Lauren had asked then. She’d stopped picking at the bows that had been tied to the back of the chivari chairs and turned to stare seriously at Brynne.
“Now is so not the time to talk about this, Lauren. Guests are going to be arriving soon,” Brynne had replied and hurriedly looked down at the clipboard with the program and auction list attached. She knew everything that had been printed on each one, but there was no way she could lie to Lauren’s face.
To her great relief, the doors had been opened just seconds later and the early arriving guests had entered. A few minutes after that Wade had found her and the night had begun. This was the first chance Brynne had to herself.
“If I weren’t seeing it with my own eyes I would not believe it,” Monica Lakefield said when she came to stand beside Brynne.
Brynne almost choked on her water.
“Monica! What are you doing here?” she asked as she stood up straighter and looked at the woman who had once been her mentor.
“You sent me an invitation,” Monica said and smiled. “And look at you! Girl, you’re gorgeous. And that dress, damn!”
Monica moved in closer and pulled Brynne into a hug at that point. Brynne returned the hug and had to focus on not spilling her water as she did.
“So this is what you’ve been doing with yourself,” Monica was saying as she stepped back.
A waiter was moving past and Brynne hurriedly stopped him, placing her glass on his tray before he left.
“Ah, yes. Like I said in my last email, I had some health issues to address.”
“And you certainly have addressed them. I mean it, Brynne. You look fabulous,” Monica said.
This meant a lot coming from a woman who Brynne had never seen with a hair out of a place, or wearing an outfit that didn’t look fantastic just because it was on her. Monica Lakefield was a little taller than Brynne. She was probably closer to Bailey’s five foot nine height. Tonight she wore black as well, a strapless dress with white and silver at the bodice and a sheer black bottom. Her hair was pulled back from her beautiful face. She was, as always, flawless. And she was here, that’s the part Brynne could not get over.
“I invited you to donate a portrait from the Lakefield’s private collection. I sent Renny the same invitation,” Brynne told her.
“I sent the two pieces that Karena and I selected for the auction. And last I heard from Karena, Renny was spending night and day in his home studio working on a new collection. His absence is driving Bree mad since that leaves her with the triplets the majority of the time,” Monica said.
Brynne sighed. It was good to hear about the family, or her extended family, she thought. That’s what the Lakefields and some of the Bennetts had become in the time she’d worked in New York.
“That’s why I keep telling my mother that marriage and children are for lunatics. I would be certified crazy if I were trapped in a house with three toddlers,” Monica continued.
“But you and Alex are engaged,” Brynne said.
Monica shook her head and laughed. “Alex and I are in love, yes. He gave me a ring. See,” she said and wiggled her hand with the almost blinding diamond in front of Brynne’s face. “But in the years we’ve been together he’s also given me clothes, necklaces, purses and just last week the prettiest watch from some new French designer. None of that is a prelude to us speaking any nuptials.”
“And he’s okay with that?” Brynne asked her. She didn’t know why but suddenly she wanted to know how about the dynamics of other people’s relationships.
“Alex is busy, just like me. Every now and then he talks about making things official. I pull out our calendars and we look at all the dates we’re not available at the same time. That sort of answers the question,” she stated.
“All work and no play,” Brynne said without thinking. Then she must have looked as mortified as she felt because Monica laughed out loud.
“Oh no, girl, we play. And we play as often as possible. We’re just not pressed about the marriage thing. Not right now anyway. But I didn’t come here to talk about me and Alex. I came to see you and find out what you were up to. I was happy to receive your emails but you didn’t quite sound like yourself. I also have a meeting with a young woman who does phenomenal work with metal and wax. She’s coincidentally in Sonoma, so when I received your invitation I knew I had to head out to the west coast.”
“Well, thanks so much for the donations. Lauren and Wade appreciate them,” Brynne told her.
“It was no problem,” Monica said. “So are you living here in Napa Valley now? I know your email said you were looking to get back to work in the industry, but I couldn’t tell how that connected to you and this vineyard.”
“Yes, Brynne Donovan, why don’t you tell us how and why you came to be here?”
Brynne looked over to see who had asked that question, but she wasn’t the one to respond.
“And who might you be?” Monica asked the newcomer to their conversation.
The woman—the impeccably gorgeous woman in the white formfitting dress and tan heels—looked at Monica as if she were one of the wait staff.
“I’m Mia Terrington,” she said like it should have been a known fact. “I grew up visiting Basset Banks so I’ve known Wade and Lauren forever. This place is like my second home.”
Yet, in all the months that Brynne had been here, she’d never seen her.
“Terrington?” Monica asked. “Of Bonjour Winery?”
“That’s right,” Mia snapped and returned her gaze back to Brynne. “And you were saying?”
“You’ve had their wine, Brynne. They carry it at Sam’s family’s restaurants. Remember we had dinner there a few times,” Monica said to her.
Brynne nodded because they had gone to Lucien’s in New York on more than one occasion. However, Brynne had never really paid attention to the wine they drank or who had made it. Monica, on the other hand, was a stickler for details.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mia,” Brynne said and decided she didn’t like this one—the daughter, she guessed—any more than she’d liked meeting Evelyn Terrington a little earlier.
“My mother said Wade introduced her to you,” Mia asked before flipping her long dark brown hair back over one shoulder.
“Oh, that was your mother? Yes, we’ve met,” Brynne replied, wishing like hell this woman would go on about her business just as her mother had done.
“And you still haven’t answered my question,” Mia said.
“Brynne!”
She turned to see Laruen heading for them. Brynne wanted to sigh, so much had seemed to be happening in the past few minutes. First this woman’s mother, then Monica appearing, then Mia and now Lauren.
Brynne secretly wished she were back in her room at this moment.
“Hey, we’re running late. We’re supposed to close out the auction now and then Wade and I will say thank you and goodnight,” Lauren said.
“Hello Lauren,” Mia said, once again interrupting, but looking as if she could care less about manners at this moment.
“Oh, hi, Mia. We’ve gotta go. Bye, Mia,” Lauren said and took Brynne by the arm, hurrying her across the room.
“Slow down, we’re not late, Lauren,” Brynne said when they were close to the auction table. “We still have another half hour until the announcement. We don’t want to stop now and potentially lose more bids.”
“No,” Lauren said when they moved past the auction table and through the patio doors. “But I’m sure the last person you want to keep talking to is the woman Wade used to be engaged to.”
Chapter 10
“You’re making mistakes,” Evelyn told Wade as they stood in the front office of the winery alone. “First, with that little center and now dumping your money into rehabbing that barren land in Italy. Neither of which are smart business moves. If you would just let me help—”
“Basset Banks Vineyard has been operating in the black every year since its third year in business. We’ve taken every top award statewide and dozens nationally. We’re more stable than the government right now,” he told her.
Wade was trying to hold on to his temper. He had a very slow burning fuse, but when it was lit, there was no shelter.
“You’re making decisions with your heart or…other parts, instead of with your head, Wade. I could understand that when you were younger, but now it’s time to get serious. A merger is the best course of action,” she insisted.
Evelyn’s husband Todd had been a keen businessman, but a vintner first and foremost. He’d taken the land his father had left to him and built it into a wine empire. Wade remembered Todd from dinner meetings with the man and Wade’s father, W.B.