Fate Actually (Moonstone Cove #2) - Elizabeth Hunter Page 0,63
kind of rivalry, you know?”
Nico and Ruben were laughing at something Megan said, both men watching the pretty blond woman intently.
Lovely. This was shaping up to be more than slightly predictable.
“Of course.” Toni kept her eye on the trio. “Ruben and Nico being on good terms means that two of the most competitive men I know will suddenly decide not to compete over something else.”
Henry added, “And the likelihood of that is pretty small.”
“Yep.” She turned to him. “Ruben ever give up why Fairfield wanted those five acres over by the creek so badly?”
“I was trying to work my way around to asking that when you ladies showed up.”
“Then why don’t we stay for a drink?” Toni turned on her most charming smile. “We can see if any interesting information pops up.”
Chapter 21
“I’m telling you,” Ruben said with a broad smile, “you ladies need to come up to the winery for a tasting. We’ll treat you like queens.” He cast a look at Nico. “Unlike this guy.”
“Just because we go for a more rustic experience—”
“Your tasting room is in a barn, man.”
Ruben and Henry laughed while Nico shrugged a little. “We’re getting there, okay? Not all of us have Bay Area bank accounts to play with.”
“Well, that I can’t argue with.” Ruben raised his beer. “And you’ve still got more productive acreage than me, so I should probably shut up.”
“Any word on what’s going to happen?” Toni asked. “I heard through the rumor mill that Fairfield’s fiancée is in charge of the estate now. Any truth to that?”
Ruben nodded slowly. “I think so. She’s supposed to come down this weekend and take a look at the place. I guess the memorial was last week. They were holding off because the coroner still hadn’t released the body, but then his parents insisted.”
“So horrible what happened to him.” Megan’s expression was tragic. “I met him a few times, and he was just so polite. Had so many big plans.”
“Huh.” Nico rolled his eyes. “I shouldn’t say anything. Everyone knows how I felt about the man.”
“That’s all in the past now,” Ruben said. “Now I can be the one to convince you to sell that five acres.”
Nico and Henry laughed, and Ruben gave Toni a rueful smile.
“I had to try.” He shrugged. “Hoping the new boss won’t be quite as obsessed as the old boss.”
“I know your plans are just going to be amazing.” Megan leaned toward Ruben. “Do you have anything drawn up? I’m so curious.”
Ruben looked triumphant. “I do. I mean, I have what Whit and I were working on. I know it’ll change, but if you wanted to come over to the winery this week—”
“Ooh!” Megan clapped her hands. “I think we could do Wednesday, don’t you think, Toni? Grab Katherine and go over to Fairfield’s for a tasting on Wednesday?”
Nico looked like he’d bitten into a lemon.
Toni glanced at him and then Megan. “Sure. I’m game for that.”
“That’s right.” Henry rubbed Toni’s back. “Wine Wednesdays.”
“It’s tradition.” One that Toni would have to work around in a tasting room. “I’m in if Katherine is.”
“Sounds like fun.” Megan beamed at Ruben. “Can’t wait to see it.”
“Why do we want to see this place?” Katherine was leaning forward from the center seat in the back of the car. “I thought we didn’t trust the Fairfield people.”
“We don’t.” Toni was driving down the twisting road to Fairfield Family Wines since she couldn’t drink. “Not even a little bit. But Ruben brought up buying that strip of land again yesterday, which makes me curious about why they want it. I’m hoping if we can see the plans they’ve drawn up—”
“Didn’t Ron the accountant say something about that? Something about a wine cave?” Megan asked. “Do you think he was right?”
“The acreage he’s talking about buying is a thin strip of land right along the creek that butts up to a rocky hill that’s completely undeveloped. There’s no good reason to dig a wine cave out there,” Toni said.
“Why would you dig a wine cave at all?” Katherine asked. “Is it a tourist gimmick?”
“Oh no. They serve a few different purposes, and if you can afford one—or if you buy an old vineyard that already has one—they’re really valuable. Personally, I think more wineries are going to start digging them because it saves you a lot of energy aging wine underground. You don’t have to pay for the warehousing, and the underground is always the perfect temperature and humidity. It’s a classic for a reason.”