Saving Grapes - Madeline Kirby Page 0,7

put a lot of that into motion already. Some of them are still valid, and the others can be reinstated pretty easily. I called the architect who drew the original plans, to talk about some revisions incorporating some new technology. We’re meeting day after tomorrow, and he thinks he can have the new plans done by early next week.”

“What about this land?” Ben indicated the area above the house they had mentioned earlier. “What’s planned there?”

“I’m still thinking about that. The original plan was to expand the vineyard, but it’s kind of at the tipping point now. If we put in more, I’ll have to take on more help, and I don’t want to get too big. Anyway, I don’t have to decide now.”

“Okay, so where do I fit in? What can I do, other than keep working the fields? Research? Bookkeeping? Whatever you need – it would be good to put this education to use, you know?”

“You’re right. How about tomorrow we both work out in the vineyard in the morning. After lunch we can work in the office. It’ll be kind of boring to start with, but I’ll need to get you up to speed on some of the legalities of the business – taxes and that kind of thing. Saturday we’ll do a little sightseeing.”

“Sightseeing?”

“I’ll take you to some of the nearby wineries, take a couple of tours so you can see how things work, get a feel for it. We’ll do some tastings, too. If you’re serious about signing on for this, you’ll need to learn about the end product, not just the process. What do you think?”

“Sounds great.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I want to learn whatever I can. I know I haven’t been here very long, but so far I really like it, and if you’ve got work for me and I’m not just in the way, then I’m totally on board for whatever you’ve got planned.” Especially if it means we’ll be working long hours in close quarters – but he left that thought unsaid.

Thom couldn’t get his brain to shut down enough to sleep that night, so he sat out on the porch, thinking about the day he’d had, and all the work ahead. Ben seemed committed to the project, and if he was sincere about wanting to stick around for a while, then this could really happen. He was torn, because he was still attracted to the younger man, and having him around, working closely with him, and seeing Ben get excited about the work that thrilled him was certainly not lessening those feelings. But at the same time, Ben was like a gift from the gods – someone with an education in agriculture, and business, who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the field or complain about doing paperwork and research. If Ben worked out, there was no way he was letting him get away. But Ben was young, and even if he stuck around to work, eventually he was going to want a social life, and that would mean dating, and Thom would just have to deal with that when it happened.

Chapter 4

THOM SHIELDED his eyes from the sun with his hand and watched the big white pick-up come up the drive towards the house. This was the third and last builder interview, and he wasn’t looking forward to it. He had a sinking feeling it would have to be this one, though, because the first two hadn’t left the best impression. He watched as Ross O’Connor climbed down from the crew cab and did a slow 360, getting the lay of the land. Ross was a giant of a man, six-foot-five and solid muscle from working on job sites alongside his men. His shaggy red hair caught the breeze as he turned and started walking towards Thom, and the sun picked up bits of gold in his five o’clock shadow.

“Hey, Thom,” he said, reaching out to shake Thom’s hand.

“Hi Ross.”

“Have to say I was surprised when your name popped up on my caller ID. Pleasantly surprised, though.”

Thom didn’t like the way Ross swept his gaze down, then up again, lingering in places Thom didn’t want the other man thinking about. The fact that Ross already knew exactly what those places looked like made him blush. He stepped away from the larger man to lead him into the house. “It’s strictly business, Ross.”

“I’ve heard that before,” Ross replied with a chuckle.

“I mean it, Ross.”

“They always mean it, at first.”

Thom