“Call me Terry. I have to say, I didn’t expect a personal delivery.” He cast a curious glance at Ava. “And who have we here?”
“This is Avalon Reese. My . . . associate.” Will couldn’t very well call her his girlfriend, or lover. Or future wife.
“Please call me Ava.” She barely contained a grimace as her hand disappeared in Terry’s meaty grip.
She’d just told a new business associate to call her by her nickname, instead of insisting on him using her full name. Wonder and delight battled for a place in Will’s heart. She might have loosened up, but he’d gotten more organized. Enough so, they’d made the crucial delivery schedule.
“Will, I have a proposition for you. My guys will unload the shipment. Why don’t we step into my office?” Terry didn’t wait for an answer, just sauntered away, waving at his employees as he moved along.
Looking a bit confused, Ava offered a shrug as Will placed his hand at the small of her back and escorted her behind Terry.
Heading to a door on the far side of the cavernous warehouse, Terry led them through a surprisingly plush corridor, with doors opening off each side.
He ambled to the double-door entry at the end of the hall. The office contained sleek, modern furniture of such quality it could belong in the office of an advertising executive on Madison Avenue. Wing chairs sat in front of a teakwood desk. The buttery leather cradled Will’s ass like a hand. He immediately wanted one for his own office. If he owned something this luxurious, he’d happily park his butt in it and do paperwork all day long. He might not even miss working among his vines.
“Listen,” Terry began, propping his elbows on the desk. He steepled his fingers under his chin. “I’ve already sold out of your wine with this shipment.”
“What?” Will sank against the back of the chair.
Ava clutched his fingers and shared a bright smile.
“Yeah. As soon as my customers in the area learned of the pre-order, they snatched up their allotment like crazy. I had to limit how many each liquor store could order, so I could ensure all my customers had access.” Terry stroked a finger over the dark green glass of the signed bottle.
Will’s mouth hung open in shock, his heart pounding with excitement. He snapped his jaws together and firmed his grip on Ava’s hand. “That’s incredible. I would never have guessed.”
“I want to place my next order and ask about exclusivity.”
Will tamped down the jubilant thrill running through him. “Exclusivity?” His voice broke like a teen heading into puberty.
Terry nodded. “And expansion. My family owns distributorships all over the country. Shush Beverages wants to be the sole representative for Rolling In The Clover wines.” He reached into his desk and retrieved a file folder. Opening it, he withdrew a single piece of paper and spun it so Will could see.
It took a moment for the numbers on the paper to make sense to Will. His pulse accelerated to dizzying racehorse speed. Ava looked over his shoulder and gasped as his mouth snapped opened and closed like a fish out of water. His brain felt swamped by the sheer financial value of the contract Terry was proposing. In exchange for exclusivity, he’d offered a better percentage on future transactions and a bonus for each shipment delivered.
Will’s tongue refused every attempt to string two words together.
Ava recovered first. “Terry, this looks terrific, but I’m sure you’ll understand Will’s need to discuss this with his accountant before proceeding.”
Terry nodded, a knowing smile tugging the corners of his mouth. “Of course. Take your time to consider it. But understand, we want each varietal Rolling creates. Whites, reds, hell, if you had a damn Riesling we’d even want to corner that.” He shuddered. “Can’t abide the sweetness, myself, but my brother in Boston won’t drink anything else. Crazy bastard.”
“After Will has a chance to evaluate your proposal, I’m sure he’ll get right back to you. Won’t you, Will?”
The hard squeeze of her fingers finally jolted him from the suspended animation that had seized him at his first glance at the bottom line. “Um, yes. Of course. I can have an answer within a week.”
Terry slapped his palms on the surface of the desk. “Splendid. Now, how about a tour of the warehouse?”
As Will trailed behind Terry and Ava, he marveled at how everything in his life had fallen into place within the past three months, since he met Ava and fell so deeply for her.
She glanced over her shoulder at him, a smile filled with love and promise spread across her lush lips. With a quirk of her brow, she winked at him.
He quickened his pace to catch up, knowing beyond question, he’d follow this woman, the love of his life, anywhere.
Epilogue
Fairy lights in the arbor twinkled and danced in the breeze. The scent of lavender tickled Ava’s nose. The pleasant chatter between their gathered friends and family soothed her. The touch of Will’s fingers on her neck sparked pure delight.
Ava sipped her wine and reflected on the past three months of her life. What had started as an assignment . . . a job . . . had evolved to something greater and stronger. The day she and Guin had arrived at Rolling In The Clover, on the run from Bad-Ass, she’d functioned like a robot on autopilot, just going through the motions of life without really living.
Guin had tried her best over the years to force her to lighten up, but Ava had resisted, terrified of getting trapped in an existence where she had no idea where her home was.
But casting a glance along the length of the table, at the treasured faces illuminated in the soft glow of candles on either side, she knew. Her home, her life, was here with Will. She placed her palm over the hand he’d laid on her thigh, and squeezed. The movement evoked his answering caress on the nape of her neck. Will slid his fingers through her hair and dropped a kiss on the shoulder bared by her gauzy sleeveless sundress.
After a weekend stay in a swanky hotel in San Diego, they’d driven home to Cloverdale with no further incidents or breakdowns. The day after their return, she, Will, and Drake sat down and studied Terry’s proposal. Will had faxed the paperwork to Drake’s office before they got back on the road. After running the numbers, Drake compared them to the production they’d be capable of in the vineyard.
“You’re going to have to expand to meet this.” He’d indicated the numbers presented.
“Good thing I had my accountant looking into the possibility,” Will had shot back with a huge grin.
That had led to further meetings with Jared, who’d bargained for Will to lease the ground with him. When Will had challenged him, Jared had pointed out the rental money would all return to his heirs upon Jared’s demise. The shocked look in Will’s eyes showed he’d never considered the possibility of his father passing away. Not that it would happen for decades, but the fact loomed in the distance.
Their relationship had changed in that instant. No longer adversaries, but comrades in a fickle business, driven by things they couldn’t control. Now, they talked almost daily, about weather and sugar content, and regularly debated oaked versus unoaked Chardonnay. Ava smiled each time she witnessed the good-natured baiting and ribbing between the men, and she was certain Bettina grinned in her kitchen as well.
Will leaned forward and captured her mouth, his lips clinging and needy. She gave in to the sea of sensation his kiss evoked. The texture of his lips, the taste of strawberries and rich, red wine. The easy caress of his breath as he whispered, “Ready?”
Her eyes fluttering open, her gaze drifted in the deep amber of his. She scanned the laughing, drinking occupants surrounding the table. Jules and Alex had returned for the party. This time, when they dropped their bags in her room, she wasn’t displaced. She’d already moved fully in with Will, falling asleep curled against him every night, and waking in his arms each morning.
Jac and Luke had traveled from Oregon to partake in the fun. Even though they hadn’t been there for what she referred to as ‘Label-gate,’ Will considered them friends. They were staying with Brynn at the Carlysle. Ava had traveled north last week and had been charmed by the gingerbread trim and spacious rooms of the bed and breakfast.
Drake and Penny, and Penny’s date sat opposite Guin and the elder Bradfords. Further down the table, Ollie, Dirk, and the rest of Will’s employees sat. White-shirted, black-tied servers from a local catering company cleared plates and utensils, and poured more of Will’s excellent wine.
“Honey?” Will claimed her attention again.
“Sorry. Got lost in how wonderful this all is.” She smiled into his eyes. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
He nodded and pushed to his feet, still holding her hand. Sweet melody filled the air as he tapped his knife on the crystal stemware by his plate.
Once he had everyone’s attention, he cleared his throat. “First, thank you all for being here. We wouldn’t be the success we are without your help.” He lifted his glass and toasted their guest to a chorus of “hear, hear.”
Will motioned for quiet and then continued. “Today, I want you all to be the first to know that Clover Vines and Rolling In The Clover are merging to create Rolling Clover Vines. Dad and I are finally working together.”
Bettina’s eyes glistened with happiness as Will’s father shook hands with Drake and Alex. The way his chest puffed up, along with Will’s, solidified Ava’s belief this was what Jared had dreamed of all his life. Working side-by-side with his son. Happiness suffused her body, swelling her heart with joy.
Will squeezed her fingers. “I’d also like to announce that Rolling Clover has entered into an agreement with Shush Beverages for national distribution rights for our wine.”
Ollie, Dirk, and the rest of the vineyard employees pounded the table. Guin joined them, adding a shrill whistle to the slap of her palm on the table. She’d been in on the secret as office manager for both vineyards, and Ava knew it killed her to keep the news quiet. Her mother had turned into the model employee, and had even stuck up a mild flirtation with Jeff Baransette, the county sheriff.
Will had teased Guin that being chums with a law enforcement type would keep her from absconding with any of the company money. Mom had rolled her eyes, but didn’t hold back a smile letting Will know she didn’t mind his teasing.
Now, Guin lifted her chin and send Ava a happy smile. She knew what was coming next, as Will had already spoken to her.
Will drew Ava to her feet and tucked her close to his side. He gestured to the long table, dotted with fresh flowers, silver candlesticks, bone white china, and sparkling crystal. “This meal is actually just a rehearsal for a side business Rolling Clover is launching. Ava, Guin, and Penny will be starting up Lucky Clover Events. We’re opening the grounds to parties, graduations, and weddings later this fall. Lucky Clover will offer two venues, one here, one at my folks’ vineyard.” He beamed a smile down the length of the table, focusing his gaze on Ava’s new business partners. “What Guin and Penny don’t know, is they already have their first customer.”
Penny’s eyes rounded. As Will squeezed Ava closer to his side, awareness dawned on Guin’s face.
Tears flooded Mom’s eyes, cascading down her face to drip into the corners of her smile. “Ooh. A wedding?”
Ava smiled, moisture gathering behind her eyes. “That’s right. A wedding.”
Will caught her close and pulled her in for a hug in the midst of cheers and shouted congratulations.
Burying her face against his broad chest, Ava simply breathed. The spicy, fresh outdoor scent of this man she’d fallen in love with, despite his laissez faire attitude and his penchant for shirking responsibility in favor of playing hooky, spoke to something deep inside her.
If home was where the heart was, then Ava had found her place with Will.
Also from Gemma Brocato and Soul Mate Publishing:
RISKING THE VINE
Jacqui Bishop’s dating life is dead in the water, but her professional prospects look outstanding. Promised a management position, she embarks on a team-building course at a northern California winery. Shocked when her boss promotes a less qualified rival, Jac opts to chuck her job and revive the family farm.
Luscious Luke Rossi has been banished to Team Vino to learn how to be the team player his boss wants. Once there, he finds he’d rather play on Jac Bishop’s team. But a labor dispute and a boss who only wants a yes-man forces him to leave Jac’s side.
As the daytime exercises give way to nighttime passions, Jac learns there’s more to life than a nine-to-five existence. But resigning her job and moving to a farm hundreds of miles from Luke could spell doom for the couple. Their affair will require teamwork of a different kind. For Jac, the looming question is whether her budding relationship with Luke will thrive or die on the vine.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/khmg4q6
Chaos Among the Vines (Romancing the Vine Book 2) Page 26